Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to HaoTing (Howard) Wang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

HaoTing (Howard), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

Nine years ago, as a college student in Taiwan, I witnessed the growing urgency of saving our planet. Protecting and preserving the environment became a critical issue that demanded our attention. Amidst the rise of topics like electric cars and meat alternatives, one solution stood out for its efficiency, affordability, and ethical impact – adopting a vegan diet. Though the idea seemed ambitious, it ignited a spark within me to explore all possibilities.

Influenced by the values of Buddhism, the Taiwanese food culture had a strong foundation of vegetarian and vegan practices. Drawing from this rich heritage, I saw an opportunity to fuse the American food culture with a plant-based approach. I embarked on a journey to the United States, pursuing my master’s degree in Sports Management while conducting extensive research for my business venture.

The journey wasn’t solely about the product; it involved understanding the culture, embracing trends, and selecting the perfect location. Years of meticulous planning and analysis culminated in the opening of our first restaurant in Englewood, Colorado.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Delicious Mission: V Revolution is a Fast-casual restaurant, passion for the environment drives us to create delectable and innovative vegan cuisine. Located in Englewood, CO, we specialize in Asian fusion dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. Our menu showcases a wide range of mouthwatering options, including flavorful noodle and rice bowls, irresistible vegan burgers and sandwiches, and classic appetizers. Every dish is meticulously crafted using only the highest quality 100% vegan ingredients.Quench your thirst with our diverse selection of beverages, which includes refreshing options such as non-dairy boba milk tea, freshly made fruit green tea, and invigorating kombucha.

The Thing that set V Revolution a part from other I would say ” WE MAKE IT HAPPEN”. From our menu you will see a modern adaptation of dishes we are familiar with, but with a twist that is less damaging to our planet.
For long-time vegans, we bring back the recall of good dishes in a better version without any harm. Our Vegan Crab Cheese Wontons are a perfect example of this.
For the people who just want to enjoy the good foods, they will be pleasantly surprised to discover that our dishes are so delicious that they can’t even tell the difference. We often receive calls from customers double-checking that they are indeed eating vegan food and not animals. This is exactly why we have been successful and continue to grow.

As a first-time entrepreneur, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved. It takes a team of dedicated individuals, including our amazing customers, to bring our vision to life. From the very beginning, our goal has been to become a nationally recognized franchise chain to fulfill our mission and maximize our impact.

Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey towards a greener and more sustainable future. Together, we can make a positive impact on our planet, one delicious meal at a time.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a 28-year-old foreigner with no prior experience in operating a business and lacking any resources from the United States, I embarked on the journey of opening a plant-based restaurant in Denver during the COVID pandemic. Just a few weeks after our grand opening, the entire city went into lockdown. This was just the tip of the iceberg in whole journey.

Starting with such a background, I encountered numerous challenges and learned countless lessons along the way, many of which came the hard way. Despite lacking various skills required for restaurant management, I held onto a clear vision of where I wanted to take the business. I dedicated myself to learning and absorbing as much knowledge as possible.
One particular story that truly reflects my determination and resilience occurred last year, during our second year of operation. Despite achieving awards and impressive sales performance, I recognized that our operational methods were not aligned with my vision for a standardized, systematized, and reproducible model for our future franchise plan. This realization prompted a major change. Although change is often met with resistance, I decided to overhaul our approach. This decision led to losing more than half of our crew and the need to recreate all our sauces from scratch to align with our new mission and plan.

This period was incredibly challenging and marked by stress and uncertainty. I’m not only have to worry about missing payroll, but also have to reevaluating operational costs, and concurrently developing an entirely new set of sauces. It was an all-consuming endeavor, and undoubtedly the most daunting and trying phase of my journey.

Nevertheless, we triumphed over these challenges and managed to steer the business back on course. Through sheer determination and relentless effort, we not only overcame adversity but also emerged stronger than ever before.

Ultimately, my journey has reinforced a crucial piece of advice that I’d like to share with fellow entrepreneurs: always have a backup plan for every endeavor. While hard work is essential, it’s equally important to recognize that reality might not align with your desires.

In the face of uncertainty and unexpected challenges, having a backup plan can serve as a safety net, providing a path forward even when things deviate from the intended course. Flexibility and preparedness are key components of successful entrepreneurship.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Respect, observation, and trust form the foundation of how I nurture and lead my team.

With many of my employees boasting more experience than I do, my approach is one of learning and collaboration. I treat them as partners, valuing their advice and the diverse ways they approach tasks. Their perspectives offer insights I may not have considered, contributing to continuous improvement and growth.

My strength lies in observing people and discerning their strengths, weaknesses, and comfort zones at work. Armed with this knowledge, I strategically position each team member to amplify their skills and foster a harmonious team dynamic. This process requires patience and adaptability, as we fine-tune roles and responsibilities to fit everyone’s abilities.

Crucially, trust plays a pivotal role in this approach. While adjusting roles and responsibilities, I trust my team’s capabilities and engage actively throughout the process. This mutual trust encourages open communication and enables team members to perform at their best.

In essence, my leadership is an ongoing cycle of respect, observation, and trust. By championing the strengths of each individual and ensuring their contributions align seamlessly, we collectively pave the way for optimal outcomes while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vrevolutionusa.com/#
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v_revolution80113/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VRevolutionLLC/
• Twitter: V Revolution LLC

Image Credits
V Revolution Website & myself