Co-Founder of Jabu | Transforming the Restaurant Industry through Predictive AI & Sustainability | Former EY & UN World Food Programme | Global Strategy & Audit Expert
Standing before a packed room in Lisbon, moments away from pitching his startup for the final time in the “From Start-to-Table” accelerator, Kenny Laport wasn’t just thinking about predictive AI for restaurants. He was carrying a journey that began in the modest suburbs of Paris, passed through the corporate high-rises of La Défense and Amsterdam, and reached as far as the vital logistics hubs of the World Food Programme in Rome. In that high-stakes moment, with over 200 pairs of eyes on him, Laport reflected on his purpose: to build, to help, and to innovate. Looking back on the intensive competition, he later mused, “2 pitches in 2 days. 1 final in Lisbon. More than 200 people in the room. And yet, the message (almost) didn’t change. At Jabu, our goal is clear: help restaurants with predictive AI.” This unwavering clarity of purpose and his resolute belief in a larger mission form the cornerstone of his leadership.
Martinican Roots and an Untapped Passion to Create
Laport grew up in the Paris region, but his core identity is inextricably linked to his Martinican origin. This heritage is not just a source of personal escape from the intense pace of Europe but the bedrock of his resilience. He traces his professional ambitions back to a desire to break new ground, a feeling rooted in his childhood. “I always wanted to create something, without knowing what form that expression would take (whether art or business),” Laport recalls. Born into a modest background where his parents had to leave school early to support their families, the immediate goal was simply to attain a high school diploma—a massive achievement in their context.
For a young Laport, the path forward wasn’t clearly defined. He considered a legal career, largely because of the respect his parents had for the profession, before ultimately charting a course to Grenoble Ecole de Management. But it was a lack of representation that fueled his deepest motivation. “I didn’t have many strong role models when I was younger,” Laport notes. “There were not many successful Black individuals of Caribbean origin visible in business.” This realization didn’t diminish his ambition; it ignited a fire. It instilled in him a determination to not only succeed but to become the visible proof that such a path was possible, creating a legacy where he could give back to those who supported his ascent.
Global Accountability and the Corporate Classroom
Laport’s professional journey began at EY (Ernst & Young), where he plunged into the world of financial audit, management, and strategy for major international companies. This era was a rigorous classroom, providing him with the analytical tools that would later define his entrepreneurial approach. Early on, he showed a commitment to innovation and social contribution, volunteering with the EY Foundation to mentor and support budding entrepreneurs in their growth strategies. This desire to contribute to the growth of others has remained a core tenet of his leadership philosophy.
His acumen in risk modeling, data migration, and financial optimization opened global doors. From Paris, his career advanced to CRH in Amsterdam as a Global Internal Auditor, focusing on strategy and SOX compliance. However, his most pivotal corporate role came with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome. There, as a Management Accountability Analyst, the stakes shifted from profit margins to humanitarian lifelines. Working across financial, strategic, and operational functions, he was tasked with securing the complex logistics required to deliver food supplies to crisis zones. This international dimension fundamentally shaped his worldview, compelling him to approach every challenge with a focus on global impact and tangible, meaningful action.
AI, Sustainability, and the Entrepreneurial Leap
In January 2023, Laport took his greatest leap and co-founded Jabu. Combining his operational and financial expertise with a forward-thinking vision, Jabu leverages predictive AI to solve one of the restaurant industry’s most significant challenges: food waste and inefficient resource management. His mission is to empower restaurants through advanced technology, a goal that perfectly synthesizes his desire to “create” with a drive for sustainability. “At Jabu, our goal is clear: help restaurants with predictive AI,” Laport reiterates, summarizing a focus that has the potential to revolutionize the foodtech landscape.
This entrepreneurial venture has already taken him onto the international stage, from the finals in Lisbon to representing France in the prestigious UAE FoodTech Challenge. Laport is a leader who sees the value in every experience, whether a victory or a near miss. After Jabu was named a finalist from a field of 1,200 applicants in the UAE challenge, he reflected on the significance of the experience over the outcome: “We’re coming back with more than just a title: an incredible experience, meaningful connections, and an even stronger drive to build ambitious new projects. This is only the beginning!” This approach embodies the advice he now shares with Gen Z and emerging leaders: “Be curious, be open, talk to people, grow your network, and seize every opportunity.” While an academic path like his own provides a strong foundation, he now firmly believes that one person can make a difference and one action can lead to a life-changing decision. Guided by the philosophy of Oscar Wilde—“Always aim for the moon, because even if you fail, you’ll land among the stars”—Kenny Laport continues to reach for the stars, ensuring the hospitality industry is ready for the future.
Editorial Note
Kenny Laport’s transition from high-stakes corporate auditing to the frontier of AI entrepreneurship serves as a powerful testament to the value of diverse experience and unyielding curiosity. By bridging the gap between rigorous financial oversight and innovative technology, he is not only solving operational inefficiencies in the restaurant industry but also paving the way for a more sustainable future. His journey invites us all to reflect on our own leadership: Are we settling for the path laid before us, or are we aiming for the moon to see where we might land?
