How to reinvent franchising with tech and transparency

With Eugeny Naidenov, Ultimate Guitar founder, at the westernmost Dodo Pizza in Russia—in Baltiysk, near Kaliningrad.

In a small town, we saw good service, an awesome product, and a super clean and welcoming pizzeria. Feeling really inspired. Everything we’ve been working so hard and relentlessly on at Dodo Pizza is bearing fruit. There are only 33 thousand people living in Baltiysk. Yet, just a few months since its launch, our pizzeria already nets around 1.5 million rubles ($23,000) a month.

Dodo Pizza in Baltiysk was opened by Denis Usalev and Darya Mishueva. They gave up their fancy Moscow jobs and moved to Baltiysk. They took loans and invested all their money in their first pizza shop. Darya dreamt of living on a sea. Denis wanted to start his own business. Now they live on a sea and deliver happiness to their customers every day.

Daria and Denis are deeply involved in their business. They do everything—from buying fresh vegetables to working at the cash desk and doing deliveries. They work 24/7 but don’t look tired—they look happy.

It’s an utmost pleasure to work with such partners as Denis and Darya. It’s a blessing—and a huge responsibility. Thank you for your trust in our brand, Denis and Darya!