Driving the Future of Kitchen Automation: Alana Abbitt, Chief Product Officer at Miso Robotics
Alana Abbitt, Chief Product Officer at Miso Robotics, was awarded the Top Women in Restaurant Technology – Innovator Award at MURTEC 2025 Experience Matters.
Abbitt’s product management journey began at startup Bridg, where she worked with restaurant POS data to boost customer loyalty. Following Bridg’s acquisition by Cardlytics in 2021, she moved to IoT powerhouse Ring, applying her technical skills to real-world environments.
“When I brought my IoT experience from Amazon to Miso Robotics, it felt like finding the perfect synergy between my technical background and my passion for transforming how people experience food and hospitality,” she says.
Making a Difference
Abbitt is energized by building technology that makes a tangible difference in people’s daily lives. Through firsthand experience in restaurant kitchens, she’s seen how the most meaningful innovation goes beyond automation—it’s about solving real challenges and elevating human potential.
“I'm passionate about how IoT and intelligent systems can create safer, more efficient kitchen environments while preserving the creative and personal aspects of food service,” she says.
Looking ahead, Abbitt is excited about democratizing access to kitchen automation.
“We recently reduced the physical footprint of our robotic solution by 40% while improving functionality. That means restaurants who previously couldn’t consider automation now can. Our rental service model—no upfront investment—is a key step in making this kind of tech available to more operators,” she explains.
Walking in Their Shoes
Abbitt prides herself on working closely with Miso’s restaurant partners to learn what they truly need.
“By working in our customers’ kitchens, we changed our entire development process. Instead of starting with tech, we start with the real-world challenges our customers face”
This approach led to meaningful changes in Miso’s flagship product, Flippy, making it smaller, easier to install, and more intuitive.
“When restaurant partners told us that every day of downtime hurts their business, we cut our installation time by 75%.”
Real-life restaurant deployments are an ongoing source of insight. Collaborations with WD Partners and Ecolab have provided third-party validation of Miso’s impact—proof that the tech delivers ROI and real operational benefits.
One standout initiative was the launch of Miso’s pop-up restaurant program. Every team member—from engineers to execs—worked actual kitchen shifts, to experience working in a busy restaurant kitchen firsthand.
"This hands-on experience not only improves our products but also creates natural mentorship opportunities as team members learn from each other across disciplines and understand the real impact of our work,” she says
On Mentorship
Mentorship has been a cornerstone of Abbitt’s career.
“Exceptional mentors taught me that true innovation happens when you embrace diverse perspectives and ground your work in real-world experience. That shaped my leadership philosophy at Miso," where we've built a culture that encourages everyone to share their insights, regardless of their role,” she explains.
Today, she’s committed to lifting others as she climbs.
"Just as my mentors invested in my growth, I'm committed to creating paths for others to advance," she says.
Recognition and Momentum
Receiving the Innovator Award is, to Abbitt, a reflection of collective achievement.
“When we compressed an 18-month development cycle into six months while maintaining quality, it proved that responsible innovation can move quickly without cutting corners. This award validates our team’s commitment to blending technical excellence with human-centered solutions. It motivates me to continue pushing boundaries while ensuring our innovations remain accessible and beneficial to the entire restaurant community,” she says.