Revolutionizing Restaurant Safety: How Health Tech is Safeguarding Food Quality for Suppliers

PathSpot, co-founded by Christine Schindler, is shaking up the food safety scene with its cutting-edge hand hygiene technology. Schindler, drawing from her background in public health, aims to combat the troubling rise in foodborne illnesses. By providing a smarter way for restaurants and food suppliers to manage hygiene, PathSpot is making meals safer for everyone.

Christine launched PathSpot in 2017, motivated by her experience in both biomedical engineering and public health. While working in hospitals, she noticed gaps in food safety practices and realized that simple, affordable tools could make a big difference. Determined to address these issues, she set out to innovate.

The need for PathSpot is evident. In just 2024, several high-profile outbreaks highlighted weaknesses in the food supply chain. Incidents like the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak and the Boar’s Head listeria recall showed the importance of maintaining high food safety standards. With high turnover rates in the food industry, effective training is essential to prevent such outbreaks.

Focusing on hand hygiene, Schindler developed a hand-washing system with sensors that detect germs, ensuring workers are clean before handling food. This innovation was crucial, as poor hand hygiene is a major cause of illness.

“PathSpot is the first to offer practical hand hygiene verification with its HandScanner,” said Dr. Bizhan Pourkomailian from McDonald’s. This device is fast, reliable, and encourages staff to take ownership of their hygiene practices.

In 2022, PathSpot broadened its offerings by adding a temperature monitoring system and, in 2023, a digital tool for tracking expiration dates and conducting food safety audits. Schindler initially targeted restaurants due to their urgent need for better hygiene practices.

PathSpot’s reputation grew quickly, driven by happy customers spreading the word. It expanded beyond restaurants to include suppliers, manufacturers, grocers, cafeterias, and hotels. The solution’s effectiveness and user-friendly nature led to solid growth.

With recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30 and successful fundraising efforts totaling $23 million, PathSpot has partnered with various well-known brands like Marriott and Taco Bell.

Schindler’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Finding product-market fit and successfully scaling the business were her main hurdles. “The first step is ensuring that your product truly meets the needs of those you’re trying to serve,” she emphasized. Instead of creating in a vacuum, she engaged with restaurant owners to understand their challenges.

This customer-driven approach was vital to shaping PathSpot into a solution that meets real demands in the food industry. With a solid product, the focus then shifted to scaling operations—upgrading manufacturing, building data systems, and expanding the team.

As a first-time leader, Schindler took the initiative to learn quickly. She leaned on a strong team, sought advice from mentors, and connected with fellow entrepreneurs to share experiences. This network proved invaluable for navigating common startup challenges.

Christine Schindler and PathSpot represent a significant shift in food safety. By prioritizing hand hygiene and expanding their tech capabilities, they’re not only protecting public health but also changing how the food industry approaches safety standards.