FJ Labs

Founded in 2015, FJ Labs is a New York-based venture capital firm focusing on stage-agnostic investments in marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. Their investment range varies from $50,000 to $5,000,000, typically at seed or series A stages.

Matias Barbero

Investor

Zineb Belghiti

Analyst

Agapitos Diakogiannis

Investor

Fabrice Grinda

Partner

William Guillouard

Venture Partner

Arne Halleraker

Partner

Christopher Keshian

Investor

Ariel Lebowits

CFO

Mark Lurie

Venture Partner

Jose Marin

Partner

Daniel Simon

Venture Partner

Luke Skertich

Investor

Guimar Vaca Sittic

Venture Partner

Jeff Weinstein

Partner

Andrea Xu

Investor

Past deals in Illinois

Paro

Convertible Note in 2025
Founded in 2015, Paro operates a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals for on-demand remote support. Services span bookkeeping and accounting tasks, financial analysis, and fractional CFO strategy, powered by AI technology.

Hunt Club

Venture Round in 2025
Founded in 2014, Hunt Club operates an online platform that connects professionals with open positions at partner companies. It leverages technology and relationships to source, qualify, and hire talent, providing access to a network of over 5 million candidates referred by subject matter experts.

Chowbus

Venture Round in 2024
Chowbus, Inc. is a food ordering and delivery platform specializing in Asian cuisine, allowing users to conveniently order dishes from various restaurants through its online and mobile applications. The platform features a diverse menu that includes Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese food, catering to a growing demand for authentic ethnic dining experiences. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Chowbus not only facilitates food delivery but also offers additional services such as shuttle, pickup, and grocery options. By empowering local ethnic restaurants with technology and marketing tools, Chowbus aims to enhance their operational efficiency and increase sales, while providing customers with a streamlined, dish-centric ordering experience. The application is accessible on major platforms, including the App Store and Google Play.

Provi

Series C in 2023
Provi is a Chicago-based company that operates the largest online marketplace for the wholesale alcohol industry. Founded in 2016, Provi connects buyers, such as liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, with distributors and suppliers, simplifying the historically complex ordering process. The platform enhances communication and operational efficiency for both on-premise and off-premise buyers by centralizing orders and providing tracking and analytics tools. With a presence in key U.S. markets, Provi serves about 10 percent of licensed retailers, contributing to significant time and cost savings while reducing errors in the ordering process. The company has been recognized for its workplace culture and has formed strategic partnerships to further enhance its service offerings. Through its innovative approach, Provi is reshaping the wholesale alcohol landscape.

Chowbus

Venture Round in 2023
Chowbus, Inc. is a food ordering and delivery platform specializing in Asian cuisine, allowing users to conveniently order dishes from various restaurants through its online and mobile applications. The platform features a diverse menu that includes Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese food, catering to a growing demand for authentic ethnic dining experiences. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Chowbus not only facilitates food delivery but also offers additional services such as shuttle, pickup, and grocery options. By empowering local ethnic restaurants with technology and marketing tools, Chowbus aims to enhance their operational efficiency and increase sales, while providing customers with a streamlined, dish-centric ordering experience. The application is accessible on major platforms, including the App Store and Google Play.

Tovala

Series C in 2022
Tovala is a Chicago-based company that offers a unique combination of a smart oven and a fresh meal delivery service, aiming to simplify dinner preparation for busy individuals. Founded in 2015 and launched in 2017, Tovala's system features an internet-connected countertop steam oven designed for multi-step cooking, paired with gourmet chef-prepared meals. This innovative approach allows users to enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals with minimal effort, requiring only the scanning of a barcode to initiate the cooking process. Tovala's service addresses the growing demand for convenient and nutritious meal solutions in today’s fast-paced lifestyle.

Hunt Club

Series C in 2022
Founded in 2014, Hunt Club operates an online platform that connects professionals with open positions at partner companies. It leverages technology and relationships to source, qualify, and hire talent, providing access to a network of over 5 million candidates referred by subject matter experts.

Loadsmart

Series D in 2022
Loadsmart is a logistics technology company that provides an online platform for shippers and carriers to quote, book, and track freight. The platform aims to move freight quickly and efficiently by offering real-time quotes, automated pricing, and streamlined shipper-carrier interactions. By leveraging technology and logistics data, Loadsmart seeks to optimize pricing, booking, and shipment visibility, delivering transparent, reliable freight services to shippers and carriers. Founded in 2014, the company is based in Chicago, Illinois.

DwellSocial

Seed Round in 2021
DwellSocial, Inc. is a Chicago-based company that operates an online platform designed to connect homeowners with contractors for various home projects and services. Founded in 2017, the platform facilitates professional referrals from users and group members, enhancing job opportunities within communities. Additionally, DwellSocial empowers neighborhoods by aggregating demand for meals from local restaurants, enabling pop-up dining experiences in suburban areas. This approach allows restaurants to expand their service areas, reach new customers, and optimize delivery logistics by consolidating orders from nearby patrons. By leveraging community engagement, DwellSocial aims to enrich local economies and improve access to both home services and dining options.

Loadsmart

Series C in 2020
Loadsmart is a logistics technology company that provides an online platform for shippers and carriers to quote, book, and track freight. The platform aims to move freight quickly and efficiently by offering real-time quotes, automated pricing, and streamlined shipper-carrier interactions. By leveraging technology and logistics data, Loadsmart seeks to optimize pricing, booking, and shipment visibility, delivering transparent, reliable freight services to shippers and carriers. Founded in 2014, the company is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Chowbus

Series A in 2020
Chowbus, Inc. is a food ordering and delivery platform specializing in Asian cuisine, allowing users to conveniently order dishes from various restaurants through its online and mobile applications. The platform features a diverse menu that includes Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese food, catering to a growing demand for authentic ethnic dining experiences. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Chowbus not only facilitates food delivery but also offers additional services such as shuttle, pickup, and grocery options. By empowering local ethnic restaurants with technology and marketing tools, Chowbus aims to enhance their operational efficiency and increase sales, while providing customers with a streamlined, dish-centric ordering experience. The application is accessible on major platforms, including the App Store and Google Play.

Provi

Series A in 2020
Provi is a Chicago-based company that operates the largest online marketplace for the wholesale alcohol industry. Founded in 2016, Provi connects buyers, such as liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, with distributors and suppliers, simplifying the historically complex ordering process. The platform enhances communication and operational efficiency for both on-premise and off-premise buyers by centralizing orders and providing tracking and analytics tools. With a presence in key U.S. markets, Provi serves about 10 percent of licensed retailers, contributing to significant time and cost savings while reducing errors in the ordering process. The company has been recognized for its workplace culture and has formed strategic partnerships to further enhance its service offerings. Through its innovative approach, Provi is reshaping the wholesale alcohol landscape.

Hallow

Seed Round in 2019
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

Series A in 2019
Founded in 2014, Hunt Club operates an online platform that connects professionals with open positions at partner companies. It leverages technology and relationships to source, qualify, and hire talent, providing access to a network of over 5 million candidates referred by subject matter experts.

Chowbus

Seed Round in 2019
Chowbus, Inc. is a food ordering and delivery platform specializing in Asian cuisine, allowing users to conveniently order dishes from various restaurants through its online and mobile applications. The platform features a diverse menu that includes Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese food, catering to a growing demand for authentic ethnic dining experiences. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Chowbus not only facilitates food delivery but also offers additional services such as shuttle, pickup, and grocery options. By empowering local ethnic restaurants with technology and marketing tools, Chowbus aims to enhance their operational efficiency and increase sales, while providing customers with a streamlined, dish-centric ordering experience. The application is accessible on major platforms, including the App Store and Google Play.

Mystery Tackle Box

Venture Round in 2017
Mystery Tackle Box, a subsidiary of Catch Co., provides a monthly subscription service that delivers fishing products directly to anglers. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, it connects users with an array of fishing supplies, including lures, jigs, spinner baits, terminal tackle, and accessories, tailored to various fishing specialties such as bass, panfish, and inshore saltwater. The subscription plans feature a variety of items packed into a "mystery box," allowing users to discover new products while also receiving additional resources like fishing magazines, stickers, and access to contests. In addition to the subscription service, Mystery Tackle Box also offers gift subscriptions, apparel, and specialty boxes available for purchase online.

Shipbob

Series B in 2017
Founded in 2014, Shipbob Inc. specializes in online shipping and fulfillment software for small e-commerce businesses. It aggregates services from major carriers like FedEx, UPS, and USPS, offering pickup, packaging, warehousing, batch fulfillment, and tracking solutions through its mobile app.

Paro

Convertible Note in 2017
Founded in 2015, Paro operates a platform that connects businesses with freelance finance professionals for on-demand remote support. Services span bookkeeping and accounting tasks, financial analysis, and fractional CFO strategy, powered by AI technology.

Shiftgig

Series C in 2017
Shiftgig, Inc. is a technology company that operates a workforce management platform designed to connect individuals seeking temporary work with businesses requiring on-demand staffing. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Shiftgig serves a variety of industries, including food service, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and experiential marketing. The platform allows businesses to post job opportunities while enabling workers to browse and claim shifts that align with their skills and schedules. By collecting data on hiring requirements and worker qualifications, Shiftgig facilitates timely matching and effective event management. The company also provides mobile applications for both Android and iPhone, enhancing accessibility for users. With additional offices in cities such as Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, and New York, Shiftgig aims to streamline staffing processes and optimize workforce management for its clients.

Returnly

Seed Round in 2016
Returnly Technologies, Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Chicago and Madrid, specializes in providing subscription-based, digital return experiences for direct-to-consumer brands. Its core product, Returnly, streamlines the return process for both shoppers and retailers by automating reverse logistics and offering solutions like International Returns for global shoppers. Returnly's platform integrates with users' stores, carriers, and logistics, and CRM systems, enhancing the overall shopping experience with an average consumer satisfaction score of 91%.

Shiftgig

Series B in 2015
Shiftgig, Inc. is a technology company that operates a workforce management platform designed to connect individuals seeking temporary work with businesses requiring on-demand staffing. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, Illinois, Shiftgig serves a variety of industries, including food service, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and experiential marketing. The platform allows businesses to post job opportunities while enabling workers to browse and claim shifts that align with their skills and schedules. By collecting data on hiring requirements and worker qualifications, Shiftgig facilitates timely matching and effective event management. The company also provides mobile applications for both Android and iPhone, enhancing accessibility for users. With additional offices in cities such as Milwaukee, Atlanta, Dallas, and New York, Shiftgig aims to streamline staffing processes and optimize workforce management for its clients.
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