The University of Memphis Crews Center for Entrepreneurship brought founders and entrepreneurs from the tech community into a virtual room with someone who’s been in the kitchen, literally and metaphorically, for 35 years. D’Bo’s Daiquiris & Wings didn’t just share their story. They opened the books, the mistakes, and the quiet discipline that turns a family business into a Memphis institution.
The Memphis Original: How D’Bo’s Became the Godfather of Hot Wings
What was built
D’Bo’s Daiquiris & Wings began with a simple observation.
Thirty-five years ago, the founders recognized a gap in Memphis’ food landscape and moved decisively to fill it. Introducing hot wings to a city that would eventually make them part of its culinary identity. The title “Godfather of Hot Wings in Memphis” isn’t branding; it’s a reflection of timing, consistency, and staying power.
Longevity didn’t come from luck. It was built through repetition, reputation, and a deep understanding of the community. As the business evolved, a new generation of leadership stepped in with formal training and corporate experience, shifting the operation from instinct to infrastructure. Growth became less about expansion and more about professionalizing what already worked.
What emerged is a business rooted in Memphis but built for durability. Proof that longevity isn’t romantic. It’s operational.
The Real Math: Food, Labor, and Rent
What was presented
The conversation turned toward operational realities that many founders learn the hard way. D’Bo’s emphasized keeping food and labor costs below 30% each, identifying these alongside rent as the three biggest expenses. Balancing labor schedules, managing supply and demand, and learning through costly mistakes shaped how the business operates today. The message was clear: time and money are directly connected, and operational discipline determines whether a restaurant survives its third year.
Key takeaways
Most businesses take three years to figure out profitability. Plan accordingly.
Delegation and team collaboration prevent burnout and create scalability.
Why it matters for Memphis
Memphis has a rich hospitality culture, but operational literacy often stays behind closed doors. Conversations like this push founders past enthusiasm and into the mechanics that make enthusiasm sustainable.
For Tech Founders
Food, labor, and rent map cleanly to burn rate and infrastructure. The point isn’t restaurants. It’s that every business has three numbers that quietly decide survival.
The Right Partners, The Right Documentation
What was presented
D’Bo’s outlined how partnerships succeed or fail based on shared vision, shared grit, and shared accountability. Contracts outline expectations. Regularly scheduled meetings maintain alignment. Standard operating procedures document everything, creating a point of reflection for the entire team. The takeaway was unmistakable: success becomes sustainability when you have documentation to guide you.
Key takeaways
Partnerships work when vision and work ethic are aligned from the start.
SOPs aren’t bureaucracy. They’re insurance against chaos.
Why it matters for Memphis
Structure isn’t a luxury. It’s a competitive advantage. When early‑stage founders adopt documentation early, they scale faster and rebuild less.
For Tech Founders
Partnerships only work when expectations are written, not assumed. SOPs here are the same thing as your operating system. The thing that keeps the company from drifting.
Hiring, Training, and Paying Yourself
What was presented
D’Bo’s shared their approach to hiring people who are trainable, coachable, and willing to grow. All of this while balancing schedules to control labor costs without sacrificing customer service. The conversation also addressed a question many founders avoid: how to pay yourself. D’Bo’s approach is grounded in profit-and-loss schedules, not arbitrary draws. They also emphasized the humbling reality of entrepreneurship and the importance of staying on top of numbers in real time.
Key takeaways
Hire for character and capability to learn, not just current skill.
Paying yourself sustainably requires financial discipline, not optimism.
Why it matters for Memphis
Founders often underestimate both the difficulty of building a team and the discipline required to manage cash flow responsibly. Hearing these lessons from a thriving Memphis business ground the work in local reality.
For Tech Founders
Hiring for coachability mirrors hiring for learning velocity. Paying yourself from real numbers mirrors managing runway with discipline, not optimism.
Leveling Up: Adaptability, Research, and Intentionality
What was presented
The D’Bo’s team described entrepreneurship as a constant pivot, requiring adaptability, financial reserves, and a willingness to learn from others. They encouraged founders to consume podcasts, study publications, and reach out to people in their industry for coffee chats. Ideally, keeping conversations short, focused, and research-driven. LinkedIn became a tool for learning, not just networking. Market research wasn’t abstract; it was asking people about their ups and downs, differentiation strategies, and lessons learned. The night closed with a reminder that intentionality separates wishful thinking from sustainable business.
Key takeaways
Surround yourself with people who have answers you don’t, and ask them directly.
Entrepreneurship is a process; luck is just timing meeting preparedness.
Why it matters for Memphis
For emerging founders in a smaller market, this approach demystifies how to access knowledge and build networks without waiting for formal introductions. It also reinforces Memphis’ culture of accessible mentorship. Where reaching out isn’t presumptuous, it’s expected.
For Tech Founders
Their “coffee chats” are your customer interviews; their adaptability is your iteration loop. The throughline is staying curious enough to adjust before the market forces you to.
Closing Reflection
What stood out wasn’t the polished presentation. It was the honesty. D’Bo’s didn’t sugarcoat the mistakes, the financial discipline, or the humbling realities of building a business that lasts. They reminded the room that entrepreneurship isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s about differentiation, documentation, and doing the work others skip.
For student founders watching virtually, this wasn’t motivation. It was a blueprint. Memphis thrives when its established businesses open their doors, so the next generation knows what the work actually looks like.
Get in Contact with Crews Center for Entrepreneurship
Connect with the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship by emailing at [email protected] or by messaging them on Instagram @uofmcrewscenter.
Learning doesn’t stop when the room clears.