{"data":{"type":"company_profile_ai","id":145340,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/blueco","retrieval_urls":{"canonical":"https://wefunder.com/blueco","json":"https://wefunder.com/blueco.json","markdown":"https://wefunder.com/blueco.md","ai_json":"https://wefunder.com/blueco.ai.json","ai_text":"https://wefunder.com/blueco.ai.txt","changelog_json":"https://wefunder.com/blueco.changelog.json","schema":"https://wefunder.com/.well-known/ai-profile-schema.json"},"updated_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","generated_at":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"company":{"id":145340,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","slug":"blueco","name":"Blue Co","tagline":"A Warehouse Platform Powering America’s Product \u0026 Service-Based Business Economy.","location":"Raleigh, NC","website":"https://www.bluecowarehousing.com/","total_amount_raised":160729,"total_investors":91,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true},"key_claims":[{"claim_id":"claim-total-raised","text":"Total raised on Wefunder: 160729","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-total-raised","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-06T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-total-investors","text":"Total investors: 91","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-total-investors","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-06T05:01:04Z"}],"verified_facts":[{"claim_id":"claim-total-raised","text":"Total raised on Wefunder: 160729","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-total-raised","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-06T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-total-investors","text":"Total investors: 91","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-total-investors","provenance":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-06T05:01:04Z"}],"company_claims":{"tagline":"A Warehouse Platform Powering America’s Product \u0026 Service-Based Business Economy.","story":"Blue Co was born out of firsthand experience and a clear gap in the market.After stepping away from Founded Communities, I acquired a biohazard remediation company. One of the first things that struck me was that the business was operating out of a residential storage facility. As I looked closer, I realized this wasn’t unique—many service-based businesses like plumbers, electricians, and restoration companies were doing the same.Running a company out of a storage facility was inefficient and frustrating. The experience made it clear that these businesses were settling for spaces that didn’t truly support their operations. That led me to ask a simple question: Could we take the flexibility and community of coworking and apply it to operational, service-based businesses?To validate the idea, I partnered with a team of students from NC State’s e-Clinic to conduct in-depth customer discovery. The feedback was consistent and overwhelming—this was a real, widespread problem, and there was no purpose-built solution.Across the cities we researched, operators repeatedly faced the same challenges:Spaces that didn’t fully fit their needs, with no room to growNo loading docks, forcing costly lift-gate deliveriesTime wasted waiting on shipments and coordinating accessPoor infrastructure for inventory, vehicles, and crewsAnd that was just the beginning.With that insight—and with the guidance and support of my advisors—I made the decision in 2023 to step away from Raleigh and Cary Founded and launch Blue Co Warehousing: a flexible, community-driven warehouse and operations platform built specifically for service-based businesses.The rise of AI, macroeconomic conditions, and cultural trends are increasing the supply of businesses Blue Co serves.According to multiple reports from 2025, trade school enrollment rose approximately 14.4% from 2023 to 2024 alone and the 5 year annual growth rate is expected to grow around 6.6% through 2030. It was 3.2% for the 5 years prior. (1)There are over a million unfulfilled skilled labor jobs in the US.Additionally, the ‘convenience economy’ has driven over 1.1m third party sellers to be created in the US alone.Then there’s the rise of unattended retail - smart vending, micro markets, and autonomous “smart stores” which leverage computer vision, cashless/tap-to-pay systems, and AI-driven inventory analytics. Smart vending and micro markets are growing ~13% annually projected to reach $10.5 billion by 2030 (2).These types of businesses need flex space as they grow and this doesn’t even scratch the surface of HVAC, plumbing, and other trade-based businesses.Our collective team and advisors have scaled business to over $100m in sales.Our networks include businesses from various industries Blue Co serves so it gives us a “leg-up” when we’re having conversations with potential tenants.This might explain our conversion stats.We believe our proposal to conversion rate would be higher as we’ve had to turn down multiple potential tenants who toured because we don’t have enough space.And yes, our platform also helps businesses receive their deliveries so they don’t have to ‘wait around’ or hire full time staff just for receiving.There are of course competing companies in co-warehousing, but we have leveraged our network and experience in building co-working for over a decade to incorporate the key features the target businesses we serve need.It’s not just that our families have chosen to call this place home and build businesses here.NC has been ranked #1 for business by CNBC 3 out of the last 4 years.In the worst case scenario, we become run a cash flow positive 5-location operation in NC which partially owns its real estate:RaleighNorth Raleigh - planning to own real estateCharlotteDurham - planning to own real estateFuquay-Varina - rights to buy its real estateBut considering the demand we’re receiving organically, our plan is to expand throughout the Southeast with partners who want to solve this need for this growing segment of US small businesses.Adding just 2 to 3 sites per year until we reach 20, we could be at $24m+ of annual revenue by 2032.We’ve already identified 3 projects for 2026 alone.And our projections above doesn’t even include the potential value of the real estate.Additionally, we believe sustainable demand exists to open more than 4 locations per year and possibly even more by partnering with real estate partners.For comparison, Raleigh Founded leases all of its locations and has made and continues to make real estate developers a lot of money.So for Blue Co, we plan to be the real estate developer / general partner and share in 20% of the ownership. Then we lease that real estate back to Blue Co’s operating company, adding more value to our community-owned enterprise.The future of Blue Co is co-ownership in and among its members and allies.Collectively they invested to scale what is currently the fastest growing part of the employment economy and share in asset value created.We welcome you to join our Blue Co investor community.Warmly,Jason Widen","quick_facts":["$1.6m ARR run rate with $2.4m in booked lifetime revenue as of 2025 Q3","34% conversion rate - proposal to tenant (2025 Q3)","94% warehouse utilization and 92% retention rate","Founder is a successful serial entrepreneur in CRE and Co-founder of Raleigh Founded, co-working","Featured in ABC, Triangle Business Journal, WRAL Techwire"]},"computed_metrics":{"total_amount_raised":160729,"total_investors":91,"team_size":5,"featured_investor_count":5,"faq_count":5,"recent_post_count":0},"quick_facts":[{"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"$1.6m ARR run rate with $2.4m in booked lifetime revenue as of 2025 Q3","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-fact-1","observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-12T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"34% conversion rate - proposal to tenant (2025 Q3)","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-fact-2","observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-12T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"94% warehouse utilization and 92% retention rate","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-fact-3","observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-12T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Founder is a successful serial entrepreneur in CRE and Co-founder of Raleigh Founded, co-working","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-fact-4","observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-12T05:01:04Z"},{"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Featured in ABC, Triangle Business Journal, WRAL Techwire","citation":"https://wefunder.com/blueco#claim-fact-5","observed_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","expires_at":"2026-06-12T05:01:04Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":100629,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100629","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"equity","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2025-12-20T02:45:14Z","funding_closed_at":"2026-05-01T03:59:59Z"},"investor_memos":[],"team":[{"id":3988156,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:3988156","name":"Jason Widen","title":"Founder \u0026 CEO","role":"founder","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/jason.widen"},{"id":6498782,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498782","name":"Becca Djuric","title":"Operations Director \u0026 Community Manager of Blue Co Raleigh","role":"employee","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/becca.djuric"},{"id":6498771,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498771","name":"Gianna D'Auria","title":"Marketing Manager \u0026 Community Manager of Blue Co Charlotte","role":"employee"},{"id":6498784,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498784","name":"Christopher Gergen","title":"Advisor","role":"employee"},{"id":6498785,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498785","name":"Will McGuire","title":"Advisor","role":"employee"}],"featured_investors":[{"id":12651,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:12651","name":"Tim McLoughlin","bio":"Entrepreneur turned VC. Managing Partner at Cofounders Capital which has raised $100m and deployed $70m.","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/tim.mcloughlin","endorsement_quote":"Many of the startups we’ve invested in at Cofounders Capital came out of Raleigh Founded. I’ve seen the fruits of the community Jason Widen and team cultivated there and have no doubt fruit will bear out of Blue Co Warehousing. Separate from Cofounders Capital, I’ve personally wanted to invest in cash flowing operating companies and real estate in the Southeast. Having the opportunity to invest in Jason alongside so many people I trust was incredibly compelling."},{"id":12691,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:12691","name":"Triangle Tweener Fund","bio":"2025 Q2: Ranked #1 Most Active investor in Southeast. The Tweener Fund focuses on startups in the Triangle region of NC generating $1m/yr to $80m/yr in revenue or startups with 10 people to 500 people. tweenerfund.com","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/triangle.tweener.fund","endorsement_quote":"Blue Co founder and CEO, Jason Widen has a long track record of innovating around coworking and community in the Triangle's startup ecosystem. When we had the idea for Blue Co, we jumped at the opportunity to be one of the first investors and have since added 3 follow-on investments. We are big believers in the 'digitalification' of everything including services such. Nearly every company in the burgeoning service industry needs fractional warehouse space and a wide spectrum of services such as those being innovated by Blue Co. While we've enjoyed being along for the ride for for over two years, Blue Co is only getting started and we are excited to support future expansion now that the model is very solid and ready to aggressively roll out to more markets to help the under-served community of service organizations.\""},{"id":12652,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:12652","name":"Jes Lipson","bio":"ShareFile (acquired by Citrix), Raleigh Founded’s Co-Founder, Levitate’s Founder \u0026amp; CEO","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/jes.lipson","endorsement_quote":"I’ve known Jason Widen since we co-founded Raleigh Founded over 13 years ago. His unwavering focus and dedication to building that community made it an easy decision for me to invest in Blue Co Warehousing—on one condition: that he focus on growing Blue Co and eliminate distractions. It’s inspiring to see how that commitment is shaping what I believe will meet one of the greatest needs for today’s fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs- service-based companies."},{"id":12874,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:12874","name":"Mark Saad","bio":"Serial Entrepreneur - Feelgoodz, Sherpa Collaborative, and recently bought Southern Wake Regional (aka Triple W) airport in Fuquay-Varina NC","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/mark.saad.1","endorsement_quote":"Blue Co Warehousing is filling a massive gap in the market that most operators overlook. There’s a clear hole between traditional self-storage and long-term industrial leases—and Blue Co sits perfectly in that middle ground. They provide flexible, scalable space for businesses that are growing, seasonal, or simply don’t fit the rigid models of conventional warehousing. What makes Blue Co especially compelling is the upside. Demand for flexible logistics space is exploding, and Blue Co has built a model that meets that demand without overcomplicating it. The potential for expansion—both in footprint and in services—is enormous. This is one of those concepts that feels obvious once you see it, and it’s hard to imagine the market not rewarding it as more businesses discover what Blue Co offers."},{"id":12656,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:12656","name":"Jess Ekstrom","bio":"Forbes Top Rated Speaker on Motivation, 2x TEDx Speaker, Helping Women Land Speaking Spots at Mic Drop Workshop, Co-Founder of Shatter and Shift, Co-Founder \u0026amp; CEO of Headbands of Hope","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/jess.ekstrom","endorsement_quote":"I invested in Blue Co Warehousing because Jason Widen has a proven track record—not just as a successful business owner, but as a true community builder. Blue Co embodies that same spirit, creating opportunity for the next generation of blue-collar and e-commerce entrepreneurs."}],"relationships":[{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_team_member","target_entity_id":"wefunder:user:4963762","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/jason.widen"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_team_member","target_entity_id":"wefunder:user:4919329","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/becca.djuric"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_team_member","target_entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498771"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_team_member","target_entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498784"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_team_member","target_entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:6498785"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_featured_investor","target_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:16506","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/tim.mcloughlin"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_featured_investor","target_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:16544","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/triangle.tweener.fund"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_featured_investor","target_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:16507","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/jes.lipson"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_featured_investor","target_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:16713","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/mark.saad.1"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_featured_investor","target_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:16511","target_url":"https://wefunder.com/jess.ekstrom"},{"source_entity_id":"wefunder:company:145340","relation":"has_latest_fundraise","target_entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:100629"}],"faq":[{"question":"As a % of total sq ft, how much was used in 2025? A Utilization rate of 90% plus is stated in the deal specs. That would indicate without a price increase (more revenue), profitability is questionable. Scaling with more space is that an option at this point? $8 million valuati...","answer":"The 90% utilization rate you’re referencing reflects our pilot location, which is already profitable on a standalone basis. We are intentionally using this location as the proof point for our operating model and as the blueprint for future growth. We opened our third location this past summer. Based on our historical performance, locations typically require 12–18 months to fully stabilize, and we expect this site to reach stabilization within the next six months. Looking ahead, we plan to sca..."},{"question":"What does it take to open up a new location? Do you see this driven primarily from investment or profitability?","answer":"Our current estimates, based in part on ongoing and recent negotiations, suggest that the capital expenditures required to open new locations may range from approximately $250,000 to $500,000 per site, depending on factors such as size, location, and buildout requirements. We generally target achieving positive cash flow at the location level within approximately 12 to 18 months; however, this timing is not guaranteed and may vary based on market conditions and execution. We intend to use a c..."},{"question":"What is the exit plan (acquisition, IPO, merger, etc.) in which investors will be able to see a ROI?","answer":"Thanks for the question. This is an important one. Our focus is on building a scaled, regional co-warehousing platform. As outlined on our page, we’re working toward a multi-location footprint—targeting growth to ~20 locations over time across the Southeast. If we execute on that strategy, we would expect to evaluate strategic opportunities as the company matures, which could include an acquisition or similar transaction. That said, timing and outcomes are uncertain, and there is no guarantee..."},{"question":"amazing. this is the missing piece I have been looking for! funny some started calling me \"Walmart\". in short cause through companies I am a share holder in I can provide many things people need(one stop shop). people love that. Over 160 in my portfolio ..few questions 1. as I...","answer":"Thanks for the thoughtful questions — really appreciate you digging in. 1) Tours Yes we can coordinate tours outside standard times. If you’re in NC this weekend, feel free to email us at jason@bluecowarehousing.com and we’ll try to accommodate based on availability. 2) Profitability / financials / margins Our planned expansion model is informed by the unit economics at our 510 Pylon Dr pilot location. That location helped us understand pricing, occupancy, and operating costs, and gave us con..."},{"question":"Hi Jason. What's your estimated TAM for Blue Co?","answer":"Co-warehousing is a relatively new concept with fewer competitors, but the TAM for storage and warehouse data that I found sits at roughly 54 billion."}],"recent_posts":[],"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-05T05:01:04Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2026-06-03T17:13:26Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2026-06-03T17:13:26Z","as_of":"2026-06-06T00:52:03Z","confidence":"medium"}}}}}}