FJ Labs

Paro is a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals, including bookkeepers, accountants, and analysts, offering remote, on-demand support. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Paro utilizes artificial intelligence to match companies with experts who can address various financial needs. Their services encompass month-end accounting, tax preparation, financial modeling, cash flow management, and strategic advisory, among others. By leveraging a community of highly vetted finance specialists, Paro aims to provide tailored solutions that help businesses navigate immediate challenges and drive growth. This approach combines industry expertise with advanced technology, allowing companies to efficiently access the finance and accounting support they require to manage and expand their operations.

Provi is a Chicago-based company that operates the largest online marketplace for the wholesale alcohol industry, simplifying the ordering process by connecting buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Founded in 2016, Provi's platform enhances communication and efficiency for both on-premise and off-premise buyers, including liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. By centralizing the ordering process, Provi enables users to order directly from alcohol distributors while providing tools for order tracking and analytics. As of 2022, the marketplace includes about 10 percent of licensed retailers in the U.S. Provi has received significant funding, totaling $125 million, and has been recognized for its workplace culture. The company also formed a partnership with SevenFifty to further enhance its offerings.

Tovala is a Chicago-based company founded in 2015 that offers an innovative solution for meal preparation by combining a smart oven with a fresh meal delivery service. The Tovala oven is an internet-connected countertop steam oven designed for multi-step cooking, allowing users to prepare meals effortlessly by simply scanning a barcode. The accompanying meal service provides chef-crafted meals, ensuring that customers can enjoy healthy, home-cooked dishes without the hassle of extensive cooking. Launched in 2017, Tovala aims to simplify dinner preparation for busy individuals, making it easy to access delicious and nutritious meals.

Hunt Club, Inc. is an Internet-based recruiting platform established in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company connects a network of professionals who refer candidates to partner organizations with open positions. By leveraging technology, Hunt Club transforms a vast network of over 10,000 subject matter experts into a powerful resource, providing access to around 5 million referred candidates. This approach enhances the recruitment process by focusing on relationships and referrals, allowing organizations to identify and hire quality talent that may not be accessible through traditional recruitment methods.

Loadsmart, Inc. operates an online platform that facilitates the booking of trucks for freight transportation. Founded in 2014 by Felipe Capella and Ricardo Salgado, the company provides shippers with instant access to real-time bookable rates, enabling them to obtain quotes, book trucks, and track their shipments from pickup to delivery. Loadsmart's platform streamlines interactions between shippers and carriers, helping shippers move their freight efficiently while ensuring carriers keep their trucks full. The company is headquartered in New York, New York, with an additional office in Chicago, Illinois.

DwellSocial, Inc. operates an online platform that connects homeowners with contractors for various home projects and services, facilitating professional referrals and job opportunities. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, DwellSocial also focuses on enhancing community engagement by aggregating demand for meals from local restaurants. The platform enables restaurants to expand their reach into suburban areas by organizing restaurant pop-ups, allowing them to serve new customers efficiently. By leveraging community power, DwellSocial offers a diverse selection of dining options, enabling customers to discover and order from their favorite local restaurants based on their zip codes. This dual approach supports both home improvement needs and local dining experiences, fostering strong community ties.

Loadsmart, Inc. operates an online platform that facilitates the booking of trucks for freight transportation. Founded in 2014 by Felipe Capella and Ricardo Salgado, the company provides shippers with instant access to real-time bookable rates, enabling them to obtain quotes, book trucks, and track their shipments from pickup to delivery. Loadsmart's platform streamlines interactions between shippers and carriers, helping shippers move their freight efficiently while ensuring carriers keep their trucks full. The company is headquartered in New York, New York, with an additional office in Chicago, Illinois.

Provi is a Chicago-based company that operates the largest online marketplace for the wholesale alcohol industry, simplifying the ordering process by connecting buyers, distributors, and suppliers. Founded in 2016, Provi's platform enhances communication and efficiency for both on-premise and off-premise buyers, including liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. By centralizing the ordering process, Provi enables users to order directly from alcohol distributors while providing tools for order tracking and analytics. As of 2022, the marketplace includes about 10 percent of licensed retailers in the U.S. Provi has received significant funding, totaling $125 million, and has been recognized for its workplace culture. The company also formed a partnership with SevenFifty to further enhance its offerings.

Hallow is a Catholic prayer and meditation app that hopes to help folks grow closer to God. It helps in finding peace, deepen the relationship with God, and sleeping soundly every night. It was founded in 2018 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Hunt Club, Inc. is an Internet-based recruiting platform established in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company connects a network of professionals who refer candidates to partner organizations with open positions. By leveraging technology, Hunt Club transforms a vast network of over 10,000 subject matter experts into a powerful resource, providing access to around 5 million referred candidates. This approach enhances the recruitment process by focusing on relationships and referrals, allowing organizations to identify and hire quality talent that may not be accessible through traditional recruitment methods.

Chowbus, Inc. is a technology company based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in an Asian food ordering application that connects users with local restaurants offering Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese cuisine. Founded in 2015, Chowbus provides an online and mobile platform that allows users to conveniently order food while also offering delivery, pickup, shuttle, and grocery services. The application, available on both the App Store and Google Play, focuses on enhancing the dining experience by providing a dish-centric ordering interface. In addition, Chowbus empowers ethnic restaurants with the necessary technology and marketing tools to grow their businesses, ultimately facilitating increased sales and customer reach.

Mystery Tackle Box, Inc. offers a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company provides various subscription plans that include lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackles, and fishing magazines, along with accessories like stickers and contests. The service caters to different fishing preferences, offering boxes tailored for species such as bass, trout, catfish, and ice fishing. In addition to subscription boxes, Mystery Tackle Box also sells gift subscriptions, rods, reels, apparel, and specialty boxes online, ensuring a comprehensive selection of fishing gear at accessible prices.

ShipBob Inc. is a technology company that specializes in providing online shipping and fulfillment services tailored for small e-commerce businesses. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, ShipBob offers an end-to-end fulfillment solution that includes warehousing, order management, and package delivery, enabling direct-to-consumer brands to ship products within 1-2 business days. Its platform integrates with various e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, and eBay, allowing merchants to manage orders, track inventory, and communicate with customers effectively. ShipBob's services encompass pickup, packaging, batch fulfillment, and returns, supported by a network of fulfillment centers across the United States, including a key facility in Dallas, Texas. The company also provides a smartphone application for scheduling pickups and tracking shipments.

Paro is a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals, including bookkeepers, accountants, and analysts, offering remote, on-demand support. Founded in 2015 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Paro utilizes artificial intelligence to match companies with experts who can address various financial needs. Their services encompass month-end accounting, tax preparation, financial modeling, cash flow management, and strategic advisory, among others. By leveraging a community of highly vetted finance specialists, Paro aims to provide tailored solutions that help businesses navigate immediate challenges and drive growth. This approach combines industry expertise with advanced technology, allowing companies to efficiently access the finance and accounting support they require to manage and expand their operations.