About Podcast
In today’s fast-paced business landscape, scaling isn’t merely about expansion it’s about smart, strategic growth. For Chris Heffernan, founder and CEO of dlivrd, the road from a casual cheesesteak lunch in Florida to building a multi-market catering delivery powerhouse was fueled by vision, tenacity, and a keen sense for untapped potential. In this episode, Chris opens up about his entrepreneurial journey from balancing a corporate telecom role while launching a modest delivery service with just a leased Toyota Camry, to pioneering a logistics platform now operating in over 170 markets across the US and Canada. Facing challenges like onboarding restaurants and drivers, weathering pandemic cash flow crises, and shifting focus to the lucrative catering sector, Chris reveals how adaptability and technology partnerships transformed his startup into an industry disruptor. Key Takeaways:
- How spotting early market shifts can position you ahead of the curve.
- Lessons in resilience through operational hurdles and financial pressure.
- Insider tactics for scaling complex delivery networks efficiently.
- The power of pivoting to niche markets for sustainable growth.
- How tech integration and collaborative alliances drive long-term success.
Join us for an honest and motivating conversation packed with grit, innovation, and a slice of cheesesteak wisdom perfect for founders, leaders, and anyone looking to scale with purpose and creativity. Tune in to hear how Engin Özer is revolutionizing cross-language communication and what every entrepreneur can learn about scaling with resilience, insight, and a commitment to solving real-world problems.
- Identifying and Overcoming Startup Challenges: Learn key obstacles in food delivery startups and effective strategies to address them.
- Adapting to Market and Tech Changes: Understand how shifting conditions drive business model pivots like moving to catering logistics.
- Customizing Technology for Scale: Explore building tailored software to manage prescheduled deliveries and drivers efficiently.
- Managing Financial and Operational Issues: Assess gig economy challenges like cash flow and driver payments, and discover practical solutions.
- Expanding with Partnerships and Systems: Learn growth tactics using partnerships, integrations, and standardized onboarding for new markets.
Special Guest: Christopher Heffernan – Founder & CEO
Location: Philadelphia, PA USA
Air Date: July 06 ,2025
Websites:
- dlivrd: Scale your business with dlivrd’s scalable solutions, leveraging on demand delivery technology for real-time tracking and efficient logistics management.
- Fiverr: Connect with freelancers and make it all happen.
- UpWork: Upwork is the world’s work marketplace, connecting millions of businesses with independent talent around the globe.
Books:
- Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
Video:
Podcast:
- Business Infrastructure Podcast – Managing Virtual Teams in a Freelance Economy
Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
Producer & Voiceover Artist: Clarence Levy III
Audio Editors: Olanrewaju Adeyemo and Sabor! Music Enterprises
Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
Show Notes: Hashim Tale
Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.More About Guest, Christopher Heffernan:
Chris Heffernan is a driven entrepreneur and logistics innovator with a deep understanding of food delivery systems and catering logistics. After being inspired by a local cheesesteak restaurant’s delivery model during a 2011 vacation in Florida, Chris founded dlivrd a pioneering catering and food delivery logistics company now serving over 170 markets across the U.S. and Canada.
Chris’s journey exemplifies determination and adaptability, starting with no technical background and managing orders personally from a leased Toyota Camry while still working in telecommunications. He transitioned from a small-scale, self-managed delivery service to scaling a sophisticated logistics operation that balances technology development with strategic partnerships. In 2018, a key insight during a conversation with a Boston Market manager led Chris to pivot dlivrd’s focus toward next-day prescheduled catering deliveries, creating custom technology and integrating with aggregators like EasyCater to drive efficient growth.
Leading a team committed to innovation, Chris has overseen the development of automation tools, streamlined driver onboarding, and optimized payment processing systems, helping dlivrd quadruple revenue between 2020 and 2023 despite pandemic-related setbacks. His vision centers on blending cutting-edge technology with scalable systems and exceptional customer service, positioning dlivrd as a top logistics partner for high-value catering orders.
Chris’s entrepreneurial story highlights the importance of resilience, market insight, and customer focus, showing how embracing change and leveraging technology can turn challenges into opportunities for sustained growth.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 20-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand. 