What b.labs ventures does

b.labs ventures is a privately held venture studio and think tank headquartered at 150 Bay Street, Jersey City, NJ, founded by serial entrepreneur Arman Rousta. The studio was first piloted as Ajustco in 2014 and formalized in 2018 with an initial capital raise; it operates a "Golden Square" of four interconnected portfolio companies — Basement Sports (mixed-reality youth sports gaming with Polygon-based NFTs), Kidcoin (family financial management app), Blend FC (youth athletics), and Timebug (freemium productivity/goal-setting app) — alongside adjacent ventures including 7 Pillars of Digital Marketing (education/certification), BeMoved (transformational tourism), The Advocator, and the internal agency Blueliner, which has been operating for over 20 years.

The studio's technology stack is consumer-mobile-centric: portfolio products are distributed via the iOS App Store and Google Play, with Basement Sports incorporating Polygon-network NFTs and OpenSea trading for player avatars and digital collectibles. Blueliner serves as a captive services platform supplying technology, marketing, and management resources to portfolio companies at lower overhead than independently staffed startups, while also delivering SEO, web development, and digital marketing services to external tourism clients (hotels, airlines, tourism boards).

b.labs monetizes through a hybrid of venture-studio investment returns, professional services revenue from Blueliner (e.g., SEO services quoted at $3,000–$5,000/month per small hotel), freemium consumer apps with NFT minting ($25 per player) and merchandise sales, and education/certification revenue from 7 Pillars. Go-to-market is omnichannel: direct enterprise sales for tourism services, self-serve PLG via app stores for consumer products, event-driven workshops led by Rousta, and community-led content via The Polymath Project podcast. Named enterprise clients include the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (10+ year AOR), CHTA, Chaa Creek, Los Tanza airlines, and Health City.

Name

b.labs ventures

Legal name

b.labs ventures

Website

https://blabsventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

b.labs ventures is a Jersey City-based venture studio and think tank, founded by Arman Rousta in 2018, that builds and operates an interconnected portfolio of consumer apps (Basement Sports, Kidcoin, Timebug, Blend FC) and tourism-marketing services through its internal agency Blueliner, serving families with children and enterprise tourism clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Studio Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD), Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)

Keywords

• Venture studio
• Digital marketing agency
• Mobile app development
• Marketing certification
• Startup incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Venture Studio Investment Returns: b.labs operates as a think tank and venture studio, investing capital, technology, and marketing resources into portfolio companies with the goal of developing successful startups. Has had an exit and continues to add high-growth potential ventures.
2. Internal Agency Services (Blueliner): Blueliner provides technology and marketing services to portfolio companies and external clients including tourism boards, hotels, and airlines. Powers startups with expertise across various technology and marketing disciplines.
3. Portfolio Company Revenue: Each venture generates revenue: Kidcoin (financial literacy app), Basement Sports (gaming/merchandise), Timebug (productivity app), Bemoved (tourism), The7Pillars (marketing education).
4. 7 Pillars Marketing Training & Certification: Education and certification programs for tourism and marketing professionals, including bootcamps and DIY training modules.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

b.labs ventures is a venture think tank and startup studio that develops portfolio companies through deep operational investment, supplemented by an internal agency (Blueliner) that provides technology and marketing services. The firm holds 5-7 active ventures at a time, spanning consumer apps (Timebug, Basement Sports, Kidcoin), digital marketing agency services (Blueliner), marketing methodology and certification (7 Pillars), transformational travel (BeMoved), youth development (Blend FC), and advocacy (The Advocator).

Product overview

b.labs ventures is a venture think tank that develops paradigm-shifting startup companies through its holistic ecosystem approach. The company operates The Golden Square, a group of interconnected socially conscious companies (Basement Sports, Kidcoin, Blend FC, and Timebug) that collaborate to improve communities and children's lives. Portfolio includes Timebug (quantified self productivity app), Basement Sports (mixed reality sports gaming), Kidcoin (family financial management), Blueliner (digital marketing agency), 7 Pillars (marketing methodology/education), BeMoved (transformational travel), Blend FC (youth development), The Advocator (advocacy), and Ajustco (original pilot venture). The company is industry agnostic, investing capital, technology, and marketing resources into portfolio companies, with a sweet spot of 5-7 active ventures at all times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Golden Square: A group of interconnected, socially conscious companies that collaborate to improve communities and the lives of children. Cornerstone ventures include Basement Sports, Kidcoin, Blend FC, and Timebug.
• The Polymath Project

Products and services

• Timebug Quantified-self productivity app for individuals that syncs motivation, goal setting, and time management. Features include vision creation, meditation, journaling, and a Board of Advisors module across core life categories.
• Basement Sports Mixed-reality sports gaming platform and experiential social network that allows kids of all ages to play Baseball, Soccer, and Hockey from home using an app combined with physical equipment kits.
• Kidcoin Smart money management app for kids and families that enables parents to manage allowances, gift giving, and rewards while children can setup wish lists, goals, and earn Micro Scholarships from sponsors.
• Blueliner Marketing Agency Two-decade-old full-service digital marketing and consulting agency that provides technology and marketing services to portfolio companies and external clients including tourism boards, hotels, and airlines.
• 7 Pillars of Digital Marketing Marketing methodology and education framework that provides a 7-pillar digital marketing framework, certification programs, bootcamps, and a marketing on-demand portal serving CHTA's 1,000+ hotel members and 33 national hotel associations.
• BeMoved Transformational travel brand focused on creating authentic, purpose-driven tourism experiences that connect visitors with local communities.
• Blend FC Socially conscious youth athletics and sports development program within The Golden Square, focused on improving communities and children's lives through sports.
• The Advocator Portfolio venture within b.labs focused on advocacy and support services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deep investment in 5-7 ventures vs. hundreds in typical accelerators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2019Launched 7 Pillars Marketing on Demand Portal exclusively for CHTA members (1,000+ hotels, 33 national associations). Provides instant access to affordable marketing services through 7 Pillars-certified vendors plus free DIY training on tourism marketing, SEO, social media, CRM, and ICO marketing.
• KidcoincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasement Sports and Kidcoin collaborate on NFT project: Gamers can livestream and earn Kidcoins as reward points when using NFT Teams. Integration between Basement Sports gaming platform and Kidcoin rewards/crypto system.
• Blueliner MarketingcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternal agency engine powering startups with expertise across technology and marketing disciplines. Provides staff resources to portfolio companies, allowing economical overhead. 7 Pillars is a partner company of Blueliner.
• BluelinercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-decade-old full service consulting and marketing agency providing technology services to b.labs ventures and external clients. Has developed 7 Pillars marketing methodology and certification programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Internet: Large global venture builder/incubator that builds and scales internet companies across emerging markets. Broader and more capital-intensive than b.labs, but operates on a similar thesis of building companies operationally rather than purely funding external founders.
• Wpromote: Large US digital marketing agency offering SEO, paid media, and consulting services to enterprise clients. Comparable to b.labs' Blueliner agency arm in service offering and target customer profile (mid-market and enterprise).

Direct peers

• High Alpha: Indianapolis-based venture studio that builds B2B SaaS companies from scratch with shared go-to-market services. Comparable to b.labs in operating model — studio builds companies in-house with a deep operational bench rather than external accelerator cohorts.
• Expa: Venture studio founded by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp that builds and launches technology companies with shared operational teams. Comparable studio-style approach to company creation with concentrated portfolio focus.
• Betaworks: New York-based startup studio that creates and invests in early-stage internet, media, and consumer companies using shared operational infrastructure. Comparable to b.labs' venture studio model with internal shared services and a portfolio-first approach.
• Atomic: Venture studio that builds and funds companies in collaboration with operators, providing shared services. Comparable to b.labs' studio structure with deep operational involvement in a small number of concurrent ventures.
• Idealab: Pioneer US venture studio that builds and operates multiple internet companies simultaneously with shared operational resources. Closely comparable to b.labs in concept — small portfolio, deep operational involvement, and a long-running thesis around company-building rather than seed-stage investing.
• Pioneer Square Labs: Seattle-based venture studio that conceives, builds, and launches technology startups with shared internal resources. Highly comparable operating model to b.labs, including the practice of co-locating engineering, design, and go-to-market teams across portfolio companies.
• Science Inc. Los Angeles-based startup studio that builds and operates consumer technology companies with shared resources and operational support. Directly comparable to b.labs' venture studio approach and portfolio of consumer-focused products.

Emerging players

• Obvious Ventures: Mission-driven VC firm that provides hands-on operational support to portfolio companies. Less of a true venture studio than b.labs, but comparable in providing deep operational involvement beyond capital.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/blabsventures
• Facebookfacebook.com/blabsventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b.labs-ventures
• Instagraminstagram.com/blabsventures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about b.labs ventures