FJ Labs

FJ Labs, established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, is a stage-agnostic investment firm focusing on marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. It invests in seed and series A rounds, with a typical investment range of $50,000 to $5,000,000. The firm's portfolio includes notable companies such as Alibaba Group, Beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, Adore Me, and Earnest, spanning sectors like e-commerce, fintech, and ad tech.

Matias Barbero

Investor

Zineb Belghiti

Operations Associate

William Guillouard

Operating Partner

Arne Halleraker

Partner

Christopher Keshian

Investor

Ariel Lebowits

CFO

Jose Marin

Co-Founder

Güimar Vaca Sittic

Venture Partner

Jeff Weinstein

Partner

Past deals in Illinois

Paro

Convertible Note in 2025
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.

Hunt Club

Venture Round in 2025
Hunt Club, established in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois, operates an online platform that facilitates executive recruitment through relationships and referrals. The company connects a network of over 10,000 professionals, including executives, managers, and industry experts, with partner companies seeking to fill open positions. Hunt Club's proprietary technology automates the process of sourcing, qualifying, and hiring talent, providing access to a pool of 5 million candidates not typically accessible through traditional recruitment channels.

Chowbus

Venture Round in 2024
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.

Provi

Series C in 2023
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.

Chowbus

Venture Round in 2023
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.

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
Hunt Club, established in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois, operates an online platform that facilitates executive recruitment through relationships and referrals. The company connects a network of over 10,000 professionals, including executives, managers, and industry experts, with partner companies seeking to fill open positions. Hunt Club's proprietary technology automates the process of sourcing, qualifying, and hiring talent, providing access to a pool of 5 million candidates not typically accessible through traditional recruitment channels.

Loadsmart

Series D in 2022
Loadsmart operates an online platform designed to streamline the process of booking trucks for shippers and carriers. The company's technology enables users to obtain real-time bookable rates instantly, facilitating efficient interactions between shippers and carriers. Loadsmart was founded in 2014 by Felipe Capella and Ricardo Salgado and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in New York, New York.

DwellSocial

Seed Round in 2021
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

Series C in 2020
Loadsmart operates an online platform designed to streamline the process of booking trucks for shippers and carriers. The company's technology enables users to obtain real-time bookable rates instantly, facilitating efficient interactions between shippers and carriers. Loadsmart was founded in 2014 by Felipe Capella and Ricardo Salgado and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional office in New York, New York.

Chowbus

Series A in 2020
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.

Provi

Series A in 2020
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

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
Hunt Club, established in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois, operates an online platform that facilitates executive recruitment through relationships and referrals. The company connects a network of over 10,000 professionals, including executives, managers, and industry experts, with partner companies seeking to fill open positions. Hunt Club's proprietary technology automates the process of sourcing, qualifying, and hiring talent, providing access to a pool of 5 million candidates not typically accessible through traditional recruitment channels.

Chowbus

Seed Round in 2019
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

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
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

Convertible Note in 2017
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.
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