ABOUT
Lisa Falzone is an American entrepreneur renowned for co-founding Revel Systems, an innovative iPad-based point-of-sale (POS) company, in 2010. Under her leadership, Revel Systems revolutionized the POS industry by offering cloud-based solutions tailored for restaurants and retail establishments. In June 2024, Revel Systems was acquired by Shift4, a leading payment processing company. Following this acquisition, Lisa co-founded Athena Security, where she currently serves as President, focusing on advanced security solutions.
Her visionary approach has earned her accolades, including recognition in Forbes' "30 Under 30" and Fortune's "40 Under 40" lists.
BEFORE RICHES
Lisa Falzone's journey to entrepreneurial success began with a foundation in academia and athletics. She graduated from Stanford University in 2007 with a degree in history and was a competitive swimmer, contributing to the university's swimming program.
After graduation, Falzone ventured into the venture capital industry, gaining insights into business operations and investment strategies. However, a significant turning point occurred when she suffered a severe back injury from lifting a couch, resulting in a herniated disk that left her bedridden for several months. During this period of immobility, Falzone began contemplating various business ideas and started a blog featuring inspirational quotes from entrepreneurs. This blog led her to connect with Chris Ciabarra, who would later become her co-founder.
Their shared interest in technology and innovation sparked the inception of their entrepreneurial journey together.
HOW SHE MADE 1st MILLION
The inception of Revel Systems was marked by a blend of innovation, resilience, and serendipity. In 2010, Falzone and Ciabarra identified a significant gap in the market for modern, user-friendly POS systems. They envisioned leveraging the newly released iPad to create a cloud-based POS solution that would replace outdated, bulky cash registers. Their initial challenge was to develop a prototype without substantial funding.
Demonstrating remarkable determination, Falzone secured a $28,000 investment from an individual she met in a coffee shop, which was pivotal in paying their programmers and bringing their concept to life. The duo worked tirelessly to overcome technical hurdles, such as enabling the iPad to print receipts and process credit card payments. Their perseverance paid off when they successfully launched Revel Systems, offering businesses a comprehensive, intuitive, and efficient POS platform. The company's rapid growth attracted significant investments, and by 2016, Revel Systems was valued at approximately $500 million, boasting over 20,000 active POS terminals and partnerships with major clients like Goodwill and Ben & Jerry's. Falzone's ability to transform a personal setback into a groundbreaking business venture underscores her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation.