Aman Narang was born in Assam, India, into a family that valued education and adaptability. His father, an IIT Kharagpur graduate who worked with ITC after a brief stint at IBM, moved frequently for work. Aman grew up in Kolkata, Delhi, and Nepal, experiencing diverse cultures and educational environments.
One of the most formative chapters of his early life came when he was sent to boarding school in Dehradun while his family lived in Nepal. The transition was difficult. Yet, it cultivated independence and mental toughness—qualities that would later define his entrepreneurial path.
Inspired by his older brother, who had moved to the United States, Aman set his sights abroad. He completed high school in the U.S. before earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science from MIT. At MIT, he developed not just technical depth but also the collaborative spirit that would later give birth to Toast.
Aman Narang: From Endeca to Entrepreneurship
After MIT, Aman Narang joined Endeca, a powerful business intelligence platform that powered nearly half of the top 100 e-commerce sites in the United States. There, he spearheaded the development of the mobile commerce business and played a pivotal role in advancing the platform’s capabilities.
When Endeca was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2012, it became a turning point. Aman and his colleagues, Steve Fredette and Jonathan Grimm, had already been discussing the idea of building something meaningful together.
For Aman Narang, Toast was not initially about restaurants. It was about working with people who shared his values—talent, trust, and an unwavering focus on customers.
The Early Struggles of Toast
The first year of Toast’s journey was far from glamorous. Aman and his co-founders tested multiple ideas—most of which failed. They spent countless hours in bars and restaurants near MIT, speaking with owners and observing operations.
One early idea—a QR code system to browse menus and pay—didn’t even make it past a single restaurant trial. Funding was scarce. Venture capitalists hesitated; restaurants were viewed as low-margin, risky businesses.
At one point, even their families questioned whether it was time to “get a real job.”
But Aman Narang believed in understanding problems at the ground level. The deeper they immersed themselves in the restaurant ecosystem, the clearer the opportunity became.
Restaurants were using fragmented systems from a dozen vendors. Tablets for Uber Eats. Separate systems for DoorDash. Manual re-entry into POS terminals. Allergy notes that could be missed. Chaos behind the scenes.
Aman and his team envisioned something radical: move everything to the cloud, open it up with APIs, and unify the entire restaurant ecosystem under one seamless platform.
Their first major investment—$500,000 from Endeca’s founder Steve Papa—gave them breathing room. And from there, the foundation of Toast was laid.
Aman Narang: Building the Backbone of the Restaurant Industry
Under Aman Narang’s leadership, Toast built a fully integrated cloud-based platform covering:
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Point-of-sale systems
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Online ordering
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Payroll and staff scheduling
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Marketing and loyalty programs
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Inventory management
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Accounting integration
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Kitchen display systems
Toast introduced integrated handheld devices that allowed servers to take orders and payments directly at the table while instantly communicating with the kitchen. The result? Faster service, improved accuracy, and enhanced guest experience.
Restaurants could now access real-time analytics from their phones. They could turn tables faster. They could build independent digital channels rather than relying solely on delivery aggregators.
Today, Toast processes approximately $160 billion in restaurant transactions annually in the United States alone—out of a total industry size estimated between $800 billion and $1 trillion.
That scale reflects more than technology. It reflects trust.
Aman Narang as CEO: A New Era Begins
On January 1, 2024, Aman Narang officially stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer of Toast. Having previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Co-President, he brought a comprehensive understanding of the company’s operations, strategy, and culture.
His first full year as CEO in 2025 marked a defining chapter:
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30,000 net new locations added
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Total locations reaching 164,000
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Annual Recurring Revenue surpassing $2 billion
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Total revenue hitting $6.2 billion (24% year-over-year growth)
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GAAP net income of $342 million, a dramatic turnaround from $19 million in 2024
These numbers were not accidental. They were the result of disciplined execution and long-term thinking.
Innovation at Scale: Toast IQ and Beyond
In February 2026, Aman Narang was named among Forbes’ 250 America’s Greatest Innovators—a recognition of his role in transforming the restaurant industry.
One of his most ambitious initiatives has been Toast IQ, a conversational AI assistant that helps restaurant owners manage menus, inventory, and marketing campaigns. Within four months of launch, more than half of Toast locations had adopted it.
But Aman’s vision goes further.
He is steering Toast toward becoming the “backbone of in-person commerce.” That means expanding beyond traditional restaurants into:
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Grocery stores
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Convenience stores
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Liquor stores
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Gas stations
Each of these sectors, he notes, still relies on outdated technology systems from decades ago. The opportunity is enormous.
In 2026, Toast is also launching a dedicated drive-thru product targeting quick-service restaurants and fast-food chains—an aggressive move into a high-volume segment.
Financial Milestones and Personal Success
Following Toast’s IPO in 2021, Aman Narang reached billionaire status. As of late 2025, he owns over 3.2% of Toast’s shares, valued at approximately $521 million.