FJ Labs

FJ Labs is a venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. The firm is stage-agnostic, focusing on marketplaces and consumer-facing startups, with a particular emphasis on sectors such as B2B, B2C, financial services, mobile technology, advertisement technology, e-commerce, food technology, gaming, health technology, real estate technology, restaurant technology, ridesharing, SaaS, and virtual reality. FJ Labs invests primarily in seed and Series A rounds, with an investment range between $50,000 and $5,000,000. The firm has backed notable companies including Alibaba Group, Beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, ADORE ME, and Earnest.

Matias Barbero

Venture Capital

Zineb Belghiti

Analyst

Camila Bustamante

Investor

William Guillouard

Operating Partner

Arne Halleraker

Partner

Erez Kalir

Venture Partner

Chris Keshian

Investor

Ariel Lebowits

CFO

Jose Marin

Founding Partner

Anshul Ruparell

Founder

Luke Skertich

Investor

Andrea Xu

Investor

Past deals in Illinois

Paro

Series C in 2023
Paro is a growth platform that brings a talent community and businesses together to navigate immediate challenges and architect a plan. Powered by proprietary AI technology and in-depth industry expertise, Paro matches businesses with the right expertise and solutions to solve problems and drive growth. Their elite community of finance and accounting experts provides a range of services to clients, from bookkeeping and accounting to highly specialized corporate development and strategic advisory. By harnessing the power of people and technology, Paro empowers businesses and professionals to pursue meaningful work and go beyond even their loftiest goals.

Chowbus

Series A in 2020
Chowbus, Inc. is a food delivery platform specializing in authentic Asian cuisine, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company operates an online and mobile application that allows users to order food from a curated selection of local independent restaurants offering Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese dishes. Chowbus empowers these restaurants by providing them with technology, marketing tools, and a unique bundling feature that enables customers to order from multiple restaurants in a single delivery without additional fees. The platform focuses on enhancing the user experience with real food pictures and reliable delivery services. By prioritizing local ethnic restaurants, Chowbus aims to make authentic Asian food more accessible, distinguishing itself from traditional third-party delivery services.

Provi

Series A in 2020
Provi is a Chicago-based company that operates a platform designed to streamline the ordering process in the alcohol beverage industry. Established in 2016, it serves bars, restaurants, and retailers by facilitating direct orders from various alcohol distributors through a centralized system. This platform simplifies operations by enabling users to place orders for spirits, wine, and beer with a single click, thereby improving efficiency and reducing errors. Provi empowers thousands of buyers, distributors, and brands to make informed business decisions while accessing a diverse selection of craft beverages at competitive prices. By providing features such as order tracking and analytics, Provi helps its customers save time and money in the complex process of wholesale alcohol transactions.

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 specializing in authentic Asian cuisine, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company operates an online and mobile application that allows users to order food from a curated selection of local independent restaurants offering Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese dishes. Chowbus empowers these restaurants by providing them with technology, marketing tools, and a unique bundling feature that enables customers to order from multiple restaurants in a single delivery without additional fees. The platform focuses on enhancing the user experience with real food pictures and reliable delivery services. By prioritizing local ethnic restaurants, Chowbus aims to make authentic Asian food more accessible, distinguishing itself from traditional third-party delivery services.

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 is a growth platform that brings a talent community and businesses together to navigate immediate challenges and architect a plan. Powered by proprietary AI technology and in-depth industry expertise, Paro matches businesses with the right expertise and solutions to solve problems and drive growth. Their elite community of finance and accounting experts provides a range of services to clients, from bookkeeping and accounting to highly specialized corporate development and strategic advisory. By harnessing the power of people and technology, Paro empowers businesses and professionals to pursue meaningful work and go beyond even their loftiest goals.

Shiftgig

Series C in 2017
Shiftgig, Inc. is a technology company that operates a mobile platform connecting businesses in need of temporary staffing with individuals seeking short-term work. The platform facilitates on-demand job opportunities across various sectors, including food service, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. By aggregating hiring requirements and worker skills, Shiftgig enables timely and efficient matches between employers and qualified candidates. The company also offers an application for both Android and iPhone, allowing businesses to post job openings that skilled workers can claim. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Shiftgig has expanded its presence with additional offices in cities such as Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, and New York. The company's services assist staffing agencies in managing their workforce more effectively, providing insights that help streamline operations and support strategic growth.

Returnly

Seed Round in 2016
Returnly Technologies, Inc. provides a subscription-based service designed to streamline the product returns process for online shoppers. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in Chicago and Madrid, the company offers a software as a service tool that enables shoppers to return items directly through the retailer's platform. Returnly allows customers to use return credit for new purchases before sending back the original items, thus mitigating product risk for retailers. The company's solutions also include international returns management and various tools for large-scale retailers, aiming to enhance the online shopping experience by reducing friction associated with returns.

Shiftgig

Series B in 2015
Shiftgig, Inc. is a technology company that operates a mobile platform connecting businesses in need of temporary staffing with individuals seeking short-term work. The platform facilitates on-demand job opportunities across various sectors, including food service, hospitality, retail, and experiential marketing. By aggregating hiring requirements and worker skills, Shiftgig enables timely and efficient matches between employers and qualified candidates. The company also offers an application for both Android and iPhone, allowing businesses to post job openings that skilled workers can claim. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Shiftgig has expanded its presence with additional offices in cities such as Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, and New York. The company's services assist staffing agencies in managing their workforce more effectively, providing insights that help streamline operations and support strategic growth.

Reverb.com

Series A in 2015
Reverb.com is an online marketplace specializing in the buying and selling of new, used, and vintage music gear. The platform aims to facilitate safe and secure transactions while inspiring musicians to explore and enhance their sound. Reverb.com features an integrated price guide that utilizes transaction data to assess market values for a diverse array of musical instruments and equipment. This approach allows consumers to engage in easy and affordable trading of music gear, contributing to a vibrant online community of music enthusiasts.
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