The Venture Codex

Participated · Equity · Mar 2024

SquareDash provides claim funding plus a subscription-managed billing service that administers billing, payment, and collections for roofing and restoration businesses. The platform is targeted at contractors typically in the $2 million to $15 million revenue range and aims to solve cash-flow challenges tied to insurance claims. Founded in 2022 by U.S. Navy veteran Matt Fruge and based in Fort Worth, Texas, the company was built from the founder’s prior roofing experience. SquareDash offers same-day payment on approved claims and a subscription option to outsource the billing and collections workflow. The company plans to use new capital to expand its payment advance and subscription services, grow the team, and invest in sales and marketing. Financially, SquareDash announced it has raised over $20 million in total financing and has added a credit facility to support operations and growth.

Participated · Seed · Oct 2022

Tumble operates a proprietary smart laundry software platform and app that converts shared washers and dryers into connected, revenue-generating assets while providing residents an all-digital experience. Core features include cashless payments, real-time machine availability and cycle tracking, remote locking, push notifications, predictive maintenance and Smart Support for issue reporting. The company says its platform frees onsite teams at least 52 hours per year on average, enables 90% of maintenance to be handled remotely and resolves 99% of service tickets; it is deployed in thousands of units across California with multiple property management partners. Founded in 2019 and launched in San Francisco in 2021, Tumble reports it has quadrupled its market share and plans expansion to 25 additional major metros and 200 cities nationwide, including Chicago and NYC in 2023. Tumble is also preparing a pickup-and-delivery service to let consumers earn using existing apartment laundry rooms and to broaden consumer-facing offerings. The company intends to use new funding to scale its platform nationwide and support the upcoming delivery service.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2022

Murphy's Naturals, based in Raleigh, NC, is an outdoor lifestyle company producing natural products designed to enable people to enjoy life outside, including products in the natural mosquito repellent space. Led by CEO Philip Freeman, the company aims to remove barriers—product, planet, or protection—that prevent people from getting outdoors. Murphy’s is expanding its retail footprint to include REI and Walmart in 2024. The company intends to use new funding to scale and expand retail distribution nationwide, increase manufacturing capacity, and scale its distribution framework. It also plans to support research and development of new products both within the natural mosquito repellent space and beyond. The business recently completed an $8M Series B to support these initiatives. Murphy's Naturals is a veteran-owned, family-operated outdoor lifestyle company best known for plant-based mosquito repellents and other natural outdoor products. Founded in 2014 and certified as a B Corporation, the company emphasizes responsibly sourced ingredients and environmental and social impact. Its products contain concentrated natural repellent oils and are sold online and in retailers nationwide. Murphy's Naturals donates 2% of all revenue to aligned organizations, with 1% specifically to 1% For The Planet. The company plans to use new capital for R&D on innovative products, to increase production capacity, and to expand brand and marketing efforts. Leadership includes founder and CEO Philip Freeman, a U.S. Navy veteran, and NRV partner Laura Markley joined the board in November 2021. Murphy’s Naturals creates earth-friendly personal care products from natural, responsibly sourced ingredients. Its mosquito repellents are 100% DEET-free and use plant-based ingredients such as essential oils. The company is a Certified B Corporation and a 1% For The Planet member, contributing 2% of gross revenues to environmental and community causes. Murphy’s products are available at retailers including Target, Amazon, Grove Collaborative, and the Murphy’s Naturals website. CompanyFirst led an investment in Murphy’s Naturals with One Better Ventures participating, and representatives from both firms joined the company’s board of directors. The financing is intended to help fuel the company’s continued growth and success.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2021

Sandboxx is a Washington, DC-based platform that links service members with loved ones, career content, and lifestyle utilities. Its initial product, Sandboxx Letters, digitizes the process of sending physical letters by allowing users to write in the app while Sandboxx prints and delivers letters to recruit installations. Sandboxx Letters supports more than 70% of the recruit pipeline and includes reply stationery, envelopes, and additional items such as gift cards. The company says its delivery gets support to new service members days earlier than traditional mail. Sandboxx closed an $8M growth funding round led by Boathouse Capital with participation from PenFed Foundation and others. Led by CEO and co-founder Sam Meek, the company is expanding beyond basic training with features including a digital wallet for on-post shopping, a career advancement tracker, and secure unit communications, with a roadmap supporting service members from recruitment to retirement.