Speakers

With a background in critical infrastructure and a strong problem-solving mindset, Alex Ostenson has spent the past five years tackling one of rural America’s most pressing challenges: preserving access to sustainable, local grocery stores and slowing the expansion of food deserts.

After launching a bold hybrid 24-hour grocery model and operating rural locations firsthand, Alex quickly recognized a critical gap: Most retail software and systems are designed and priced for large chains, leaving small, independent stores underserved. In response, he began building practical, cost-conscious technology to support his own operations, which evolved into Rural Grocery Solutions and the Talvik platform: A purpose-built ecosystem for membership management, 24-hour hybrid shopping, access control, self-checkout, and data-driven insights designed specifically for rural grocers.

Today, Alex works hands-on with store owners across the United States, helping them modernize operations, stabilize revenue, and extend food access in communities that might otherwise lose their only grocery store. His work blends real-world store operations with cloud automation, POS integrations, and AI-assisted tools—always grounded in the practical realities of rural life.

At the core of Alex’s mission is the belief that rural communities deserve technology built for them: accessible, affordable, and purpose-driven, not retrofitted from big-box retail. With the right tools, small grocery stores can not only survive but thrive for generations.