SHALIN PATEL

Shalin Patel serves as the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Vibe Restaurants. At 25 years old, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by moving to East Texas and opening the doors to his first fast food restaurant. As the owner-operator, he was deeply involved in every aspect of the business, including daily operations, back office tasks, HR, marketing, and development. Over the next 4 years, he opened 5 restaurants. This hands-on experience was instrumental in his understanding of the nuances of the fast-food industry and in learning the art of scalable business operations. Recognizing the potential for further expansion, Shalin then partnered with his college friends, Irfaan and Faisal, to create Vibe Restaurants. Today, Vibe Restaurants is a multi-brand company (Little Caesars, Wingstop, and Whataburger) that operates 125 restaurants in multiple states, with plans for ongoing growth. This growth has not only been in numbers but also in building a strong company culture and an effective management team.

Shalin was born in Kenya and considers Houston home. He is married to Rupali and has a 5-year-old son, Shaan, with another child due in August '24. He loves playing soccer and LEGOs with his son, as well as creating memories with his family through travel around the world. He also enjoys playing basketball and any racket sport. Some of his other passions include entrepreneurship, food, and anything experience-related. As part of giving back, Shalin mentors others starting in the restaurant space, supports several local causes, and has established the Vibe Founder’s Fund to assist his employees in times of need.