We Back Builders. Founded by @Jason  Team behind   This Week in Startups: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisWeekIn  @twistartups    The LAUNCH Accelerator https://launchaccelerator.co/ @launchincubator    The Syndicate https://thesyndicate.com/ @thesyndicate415    Founder university: https://www.founder.university/ @founderuni    Remote Demo Day  https://remotedemoday.com/ @remotedemoday

LAUNCH

Geekdom Fund is a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage tech startups. Its partners are in the trenches with their companies. From weekly calls to biannual deep dives, Geekdom Fund looks for ways to help out its portfolio companies whether it is pitch meetings, talent referrals, or grant writings. The firm was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

Geekdom Fund

We currently host three syndicates:  Jason's Syndicate Deals are selected and shared by Jason Calacanis. The SaaS Syndicate Our latest syndicate, launching on November 1st, focuses on software-as-a-service. The All-In Syndicate Deals are selected by three members of the All-In Podcast (Chamath Palihapitiya, David Friedberg, and Jason Calacanis).

The Syndicate.com

Benchmade Modern

BenchMade Modern offers a hybrid online/in-store experience, putting you in full control of your sofa shopping experience and delivering a made-to-order product, customizable by the inch.   Until now, finding a new sofa meant traipsing from one store to another, comparing colors and sizes and eventually settling for something that wasn't quite right. Making such a big purchase online seems risky and, in both cases, delivery can take up to 12 weeks. Returns are cumbersome, to say the least.   BenchMade Modern changes that with a fully-integrated, multi-platform shopping experience that gives you exactly the sofa you want.   Peruse the website using custom-designed software or visit the pilot San Francisco store to become familiar with BenchMade's eight collections in styles ranging from ultra-modern to classic and contemporary. Each style, customizable by the inch – including sectionals, chaises and corner sofas – ensures you'll find the sofa to fit your space, not the other way around.   Their stores are purposefully designed to fit within just 800 square feet of space and includes a minimal but inviting lounge area facing a wall of eight mounted sofas. A large robotic arm fetches each sofa, giving you the opportunity to sit on and feel it.   Their stores display just one version of each style, but the customer-controlled software lets you choose your exact size in every variation and orientation, on their in-store app or from home.

BenchMade Modern is a direct-to-consumer furniture company founded in 2015 that specializes in custom sofas, sectionals, and other upholstered seating. The company offers highly customizable products that are made to order in the US, with manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Los Angeles. BenchMade Modern allows customers to customize nearly every aspect of their sofa, including size (in 5-inch increments), fabric, cushion fill, and leg finish. Their sofas feature hardwood frames with plywood reinforcement, high-resilience foam cushions, and a choice of over 100 performance fabrics and leathers.

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Furniture Tech

DTC Home Furniture Company, BenchMade Modern, Trademarks Rebellious Luxury™

BenchMade Modern is a direct-to-consumer furniture company founded in 2015 that specializes in custom sofas, sectionals, and other upholstered seating. The company offers highly customizable products that are made to order in the US, with manufacturing facilities in Dallas and Los Angeles. BenchMade Modern allows customers to customize nearly every aspect of their sofa, including size (in 5-inch increments), fabric, cushion fill, and leg finish. Their sofas feature hardwood frames with plywood reinforcement, high-resilience foam cushions, and a choice of over 100 performance fabrics and leathers.
A key differentiator for BenchMade Modern is their quick production time - they are able to manufacture and deliver custom sofas in as little as five weeks, significantly faster than the industry standard of 8-12 weeks or more. The company offers 3D visualization tools on their website to help customers design their sofas, and will send free fabric swatches and true-to-size paper printouts to assist with planning. BenchMade Modern provides a 100-day trial period for their products and a lifetime warranty on frames and suspension.

Casper Sleep Inc. is an award-winning sleep company known for its design-driven products, unparalleled customer support, and seamless shopping experience. The company has revolutionized the mattress industry by offering a direct-to-consumer model, allowing customers to purchase affordable, high-quality mattresses online and have them delivered in a compact box.
Casper's mattresses are designed with three core principles in mind: cooling, support, and comfort. The company's research and development arm, Casper Labs, obsessively engineers its sleep offerings, including mattresses, pillows, bedding, and furniture. In January 2024, Casper unveiled a new line of mattresses reflecting the most up-to-date needs of customers, set to launch in February 2024.
Casper operates on a subscription-based model, where customers can purchase products directly from their ecommerce platform or through authorized retail partners. The company offers a 100-night risk-free trial, allowing customers to return the mattress if unsatisfied, and has it donated to charity or recycled. As of October 2019, Casper served over 1 million customers across eight countries and generated USD 439 million in revenue for the year.

Casper

MADE is a pioneering, family-founded British business dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-end, contemporary furniture. Their pieces are meticulously crafted from sustainable materials like solid wood sourced from European managed forests and estates with proper certifications. MADE embraces innovative technologies and continuously refines its practices to minimize environmental impact, aiming for low resource consumption, reduced emissions, and minimal waste disposal.
The company utilizes its own timber and sawdust waste to heat its factory, offers reupholstery services to extend furniture lifespan, and uses recyclable packaging materials. By producing furniture made-to-order, MADE ensures a respectful approach to resource utilization. With an internal Environmental Management system and ISO14001 accreditation, the brand maintains ethical working practices and a commitment to reducing harm to the environment, achieving the highest 'A' level rating on its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

MADE

Simba Sleep is a British company that manufactures mattresses, mattress toppers, and other bedding products. Its flagship product is the Simba mattress, designed using data from over 10 million sleepers and featuring 2,500 conical pocket springs combined with responsive memory foam. Simba utilizes advanced technologies like open-cell foam structures and graphite-infused cooling layers to enhance breathability and temperature regulation.
The company sources materials from local UK suppliers and manufactures its products in Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Simba emphasizes environmental sustainability by using eco-friendly materials and processes. Its mattresses are designed to adapt to different body types and sleeping positions, providing optimal comfort and support.
As of 2024, Simba has achieved sales of over 750,000 sleep products worldwide and has amassed over 200,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.76 stars. The company offers a 200-night trial period and a 10-year warranty on its mattresses.

Simba Sleep

Havenly is an online interior design service that provides professional design assistance to customers across the US. It connects customers with vetted interior designers who create customized design plans based on the customer's style preferences, space, and budget. The service offers two main packages - the Havenly Mini (USD 79) for a room refresh, and the Havenly Full (USD 129) for a complete room redesign.
The design process begins with a style quiz to determine the customer's design aesthetic. Customers are then matched with a designer based on their preferences, and they collaborate through an online platform. The designer shares initial concept boards, which the customer can provide feedback on, leading to a final design with a layout plan, 3D renderings (for the Full package), and a curated shopping list for purchasing furniture and decor.
Havenly's strength lies in its ecommerce integration, allowing customers to conveniently purchase the recommended products directly through the platform. The company partners with over 200 retailers to offer a wide range of furniture and decor options across various styles and price points. In February 2022, Havenly acquired The Inside, a direct-to-consumer home furnishings brand offering customizable furniture, expanding its product offerings.
In May 2022, Havenly introduced in-person design services in select US markets, combining virtual tools like 3D renderings with hands-on consultations and styling by designers. This expansion aligned with the company's mission to make interior design more accessible and personalized.

Havenly

GAIA is a leading Mexican furniture manufacturer renowned for its commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The company is the first in Mexico to develop furniture using certified wood sourced from sustainable forests, steering clear of materials like MDF. GAIA's product line encompasses a diverse range, including sofas, chairs, dining sets, tables, beds, wardrobes, and more, catering to residential and commercial spaces alike.
The brand prides itself on offering high-quality, natural designs that prioritize functionality and durability. GAIA's philosophy revolves around creating innovative, eco-friendly products that can be recycled, thereby minimizing their environmental impact. In addition to its nine branches across Mexico, the company has forged partnerships with local NGOs, further solidifying its dedication to sustainability.
GAIA has pioneered a new concept of modularity for its bathroom furniture line, enabling customers to customize and compose their desired solutions from various components. This approach allows for tailored aesthetics by selecting from nine distinct front panel designs, including Simple, Natura, Twist, Robin, Orizzonte, Auto, Wave, Domino, and Garden. Customers can independently create and price their ideal furnishing solutions, ensuring a personalized experience.
The company's recent catalogue expansion introduced a range of vanity unit configurations, with options for drawer modules, door modules, open compartments, and side modules. GAIA offers a versatile selection of countertop materials, including polished or matte white ceramic, crystal glass, matte resin, marble, and wood, catering to diverse design preferences.
In February 2021, GAIA unveiled its flagship store in Mexico City's Colonia Roma area, a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. The store's façade features a striking design with hand-made black concrete panels and steel beams, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.

GAIA

Includes companies that offer furniture for a monthly rental, offered on a subscription basis or rent-to-own basis

Companies that develop customized furniture based on specifications (material, color, design, etc.) selected on the website by the customer

Companies that develop IoT-enabled furniture, usually controlled via a mobile app (e.g., an app-controlled bed that allows users to customize bed settings, create lighting scenarios, open safe drawers, etc.)

Companies that provide an online marketplace for P2P and B2B2C buying and selling for both used and new furniture

Companies that offer ready-made furniture sold directly through the website

Companies that offer virtual interior design solutions to design spaces, including furniture. These companies also typically offer furniture sourcing, installation, and coordination activities

Companies that develop lego-like and modular furniture systems that are easy to assemble and disassemble. Also includes space-saving expandable furniture systems

Customized furniture based on specifications selected on the website by the customer or virtual designs

IoT-connected furniture typically with the option of control through a mobile app

Furniture rental platforms that offer furniture on subscription basis or rent-to-own basis

Some companies offer IoT-connected furniture with the option of control through a mobile app

Benchmade Modern

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