FJ Labs

FJ Labs is a U.S.-based investment firm established in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. The firm operates with a stage-agnostic approach, primarily targeting marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. FJ Labs focuses its investments on seed and Series A rounds, with a financial commitment ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000. The firm has invested in a variety of notable companies, including Alibaba Group, beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, and ADORE ME.

Matias Barbero

Investor

Zineb Belghiti

Associate

Camila Bustamante

Analyst

Andres Santos Cantu

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Agapitos Diakogiannis

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Nancy Dong

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Vivian Graves

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Fabrice Grinda

Founding Partner

William Guillouard

Venture Partner

Arne Halleraker

Partner

Mark Lurie

Venture Partner

Jose Marin

Founding Partner

Martin Pustilnick

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Guimar Vaca Sittic

Venture Partner

Luke Skertich

Investor

Kelly Tully

Head of Platform / Investor

Jeff Weinstein

Partner

Andrea Xu

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Investor

Past deals in Illinois

Paro

Series C in 2023
Paro operates a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals, including bookkeepers, accountants, financial analysts, and CFOs, who offer remote, on-demand support. The company's services encompass various financial tasks, such as month-end accounting, tax preparation, expense classification, and payroll, as well as financial analysis services like budget forecasting, financial modeling, and KPI tracking. Additionally, Paro provides fractional CFO services that include cash flow management, market research, fundraising strategies, and strategic planning. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Paro aims to redefine the employment model in the finance sector by leveraging technology to match clients with highly vetted professionals who can meet their specific financial needs on an hourly basis.

Chowbus

Series A in 2020
Chowbus, Inc. is a food delivery platform that specializes in authentic Asian cuisine, enabling users to order from a variety of restaurants through its online and mobile application. The app showcases a curated selection of local independent eateries, featuring real food images and a unique bundling option that allows customers to order from multiple restaurants in a single delivery without additional fees. Chowbus also supports restaurants with technology, tools, and marketing expertise to enhance their business growth. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company aims to simplify the discovery of Asian food that may not be readily available on conventional delivery platforms. It offers various services, including shuttle, pickup, dine-in, and grocery options. Chowbus has gained recognition as one of the fastest-growing consumer-facing marketplaces in the United States.

PartySlate

Venture Round in 2020
PartySlate, Inc. operates a website for event professionals worldwide. Its platform enables users to browse, search, and save event ideas for weddings, fundraisers, mitzvahs, birthdays, milestones, holidays, corporate events, etc. posted by event professionals; and provides images from decor companies, event planners, caterers, photographers, venues, entertainers, and more. The company also connects users with event professionals. PartySlate, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Chowbus

Seed Round in 2019
Chowbus, Inc. is a food delivery platform that specializes in authentic Asian cuisine, enabling users to order from a variety of restaurants through its online and mobile application. The app showcases a curated selection of local independent eateries, featuring real food images and a unique bundling option that allows customers to order from multiple restaurants in a single delivery without additional fees. Chowbus also supports restaurants with technology, tools, and marketing expertise to enhance their business growth. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company aims to simplify the discovery of Asian food that may not be readily available on conventional delivery platforms. It offers various services, including shuttle, pickup, dine-in, and grocery options. Chowbus has gained recognition as one of the fastest-growing consumer-facing marketplaces in the United States.

Mystery Tackle Box

Venture Round in 2017
Mystery Tackle Box, Inc. is a subscription service that specializes in delivering fishing products to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company offers various subscription plans that include an assortment of lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, fishing magazines, and contest opportunities, along with stickers and other fishing-related items. The subscription boxes cater to different fishing preferences, covering species such as bass, trout, panfish, walleye, catfish, inshore saltwater, and ice fishing. In addition to its monthly subscriptions, Mystery Tackle Box sells gift subscriptions, rods, reels, apparel, specialty boxes, and various fishing accessories through its online platform. The service aims to provide anglers with affordable access to a diverse range of fishing supplies.

ShipBob

Series B in 2017
ShipBob, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, offers an online shipping and fulfillment platform tailored for small e-commerce businesses. The company provides an end-to-end solution that includes warehousing, order fulfillment, and shipping services, enabling direct-to-consumer brands to deliver packages in 1-2 business days. ShipBob's technology integrates with various e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, and eBay, facilitating streamlined order and inventory management, customer communication, and predictive analytics. Additionally, ShipBob aggregates shipment services from major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS, and offers features such as a smartphone application for scheduling pickups and tracking shipments. With a network of fulfillment centers across the United States, including a warehouse in Dallas, Texas, ShipBob aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of supply chain operations for online merchants.

Paro

Convertible Note in 2017
Paro operates a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals, including bookkeepers, accountants, financial analysts, and CFOs, who offer remote, on-demand support. The company's services encompass various financial tasks, such as month-end accounting, tax preparation, expense classification, and payroll, as well as financial analysis services like budget forecasting, financial modeling, and KPI tracking. Additionally, Paro provides fractional CFO services that include cash flow management, market research, fundraising strategies, and strategic planning. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Paro aims to redefine the employment model in the finance sector by leveraging technology to match clients with highly vetted professionals who can meet their specific financial needs on an hourly basis.

Shiftgig

Series C in 2017
Shiftgig, Inc. operates a mobile platform that connects businesses in need of temporary labor with individuals seeking short-term work. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, the company serves various industries including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. Its platform facilitates on-demand shift opportunities by enabling businesses to post job openings and allowing qualified workers to claim them based on their skills and availability. Shiftgig collects data on hiring requirements and worker capabilities to ensure efficient and timely matches. The company also provides tools for event management, enhancing the overall staffing process. In addition to its Chicago headquarters, Shiftgig has offices in several major cities, including Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New York.

Returnly

Seed Round in 2016
Returnly Technologies, Inc. offers a subscription based service that connects to user’s store, carriers, and logistics and CRM to offer shoppers the best product returns flow on web and mobile. It offers Returnly, a software as a service tool that lets shoppers return items within store and automates reverse logistics work; and International Returns, a solution that lets global shoppers return items online. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in San Francisco, California with additional offices in Chicago, Illinois and Madrid, Spain.

Shiftgig

Series B in 2015
Shiftgig, Inc. operates a mobile platform that connects businesses in need of temporary labor with individuals seeking short-term work. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, the company serves various industries including healthcare, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. Its platform facilitates on-demand shift opportunities by enabling businesses to post job openings and allowing qualified workers to claim them based on their skills and availability. Shiftgig collects data on hiring requirements and worker capabilities to ensure efficient and timely matches. The company also provides tools for event management, enhancing the overall staffing process. In addition to its Chicago headquarters, Shiftgig has offices in several major cities, including Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New York.

Reverb.com

Series A in 2015
Reverb.com is a provider of an online marketplace intended for new, used, and vintage music gear. The company's marketplace was built to foster safe and secure transactions, inspire musicians to discover more ways to expand their playing and sound, and cultivate the most vibrant and inspired music community anywhere online.