A Chance Encounter Sparks an Idea
In 2012, while interning at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia, electrical engineering student Evan Jarecki crossed paths with Corey Hewett, a fellow Georgia Tech engineer and serial young entrepreneur. Corey had already started several small businesses, including operating 30 vending machines in Peachtree City. Frustrated by the outdated handhelds and clunky tech he used to run his vending business, Corey began to imagine a better way: a mobile-first platform to manage vending operations.
When Georgia Tech announced its Startup Summer program in 2014, Corey pitched Evan on the idea of replacing legacy vending handhelds with a sleek iPhone-based system. Evan had a job offer at Gulfstream lined up—but the entrepreneurial fire had been lit. With encouragement from his family, Evan deferred the safe career path and joined Corey in chasing something bigger.
Building Gimme: Learning Before Coding
Evan and Corey didn’t start with code—they started with interviews. They spoke with hundreds of vending operators, consumers, and suppliers to understand the industry’s pain points. A phrase they heard repeatedly: “One day, someone will replace these handhelds with an app.” That validation became the spark for their prototype.
Southern Refreshments and Eagle Vending Step In
The real break came when two Atlanta operators opened their doors:
Dan Hart of Southern Refreshment Services
Jimmy Bryan of Eagle Vending
Both men shared insights, gave tours, and invested their time into the young entrepreneurs. Most importantly, Dan Hart wrote the first check to fund Gimme’s hardware build and even provided office space inside Southern’s warehouse. Evan spent six months riding vending routes, shadowing drivers, and pressure-testing workflows before the first product went live.
As Evan recalls, “If you could live with your first customer for a year, you’d build a much better product. That’s exactly what we got to do.”
From Prototype to NAMA Launch
By 2016, after two years of development, Gimme was ready to show the world at NAMA. Dan Hart and the Southern Refreshments team became advocates on the show floor, bringing peers to the booth. Their credibility, paired with Evan and Corey’s passion, helped Gimme close early customers right at the expo. Soon after, deposits turned into deployments.
Scaling Up and Defining the Niche
Over the next several years, Gimme matured into a full Vending Management Software (VMS) platform, complete with route driver apps, warehouse tools, and back-office systems. Alongside the software, Gimme also built a wireless DEX key—a simple, portable device that connected machines via Bluetooth. The product found use not only in vending but also in traditional grocery and convenience distribution, giving Gimme another growth channel.
Through it all, one theme remained constant: support as the differentiator. Evan emphasized, “When our customers reach out, they don’t feel like a ticket number. They get white-glove service, and that’s something they talk about more than anything.”
A Transition in Leadership
In 2023, Evan took over as CEO while Corey stepped back. It was a natural transition after nearly a decade of collaboration. The focus shifted from building the product to scaling, integrations, and partnerships. Gimme had become one of the few independent VMS providers in an industry where many competitors had been acquired and consolidated.
Lessons From the Journey
Reflecting on the first decade, Evan points to several key learnings:
Surround yourself with great people. The mentorship of Dan Hart and Jimmy Bryan gave Gimme credibility and early traction.
Start with discovery, not code. Hundreds of interviews shaped the right product before a single line was written.
Support is strategy. In an industry where machines break and frustrations are common, how you respond matters as much as what you sell.
Think long-term. Gimme wasn’t built for a quick flip but for a ten-year journey—and beyond.
Looking Ahead
Today, Gimme supports vending, micro markets, and OCS operators across the country. With integrations into other leading technologies and continued focus on ease-of-use for drivers, managers, and warehouse staff, the company remains committed to helping independent operators thrive.
As Evan says, “We’re still early. Our mission hasn’t changed: give operators the tools they need to be more efficient, more accountable, and more confident in growing their businesses.”
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