VP

Vijen Patel

Founding Partner at The 81 Collection

Chicago, Illinois

Overview

Work Experience

T8

The 81 Collection

  • Founding Partner

    2022 - Current

    The 81 Collection is a Founders Fund for un-sexy industries (Founders and leaders of Tide Cleaners, Grubhub, ShipBob, Industrious, Farmer's Fridge, Cubii, others). We built companies in hard industries, and it was lonely when we started. Most seed venture capitalists said our industries were too low margin, capital intensive, and difficult to scale. We were outsiders. Now, we can look back at the $20 billion of value created and the 10,000 employees whose financial trajectory we altered. The same qualities that made our businesses unattractive at seed stage are now our greatest strengths. Our entrenched hardware is a barrier to entry, our revenue is inextricably tied to our customer’s daily needs, and our loyal employees who once made $20 per hour now make $100K per year. We chose the harder path, built the right kind of businesses, and improved America. As we look around, 19% of GDP still attracts a majority of venture capital activity. We believe 81% of the U.S. GDP is starved of innovation. Tackle a real, often very difficult, problem and we'll have your back. We exist to lighten your load.

OK

One Knoxville SC

  • Co-Owner

    2021

TC

Tide Cleaners

  • Advisor

    2020 - 2021

    Transitioned to an advisory role starting in July 2020.

  • CEO

    2018 - 2020

    Retained post-acquisition of Pressbox and named CEO of Tide Cleaners. We saved Americans 350 hours per year from doing their laundry. Grew to 2,000 locations across 15 cities by the end of 2020.

  • Co-Founder | CEO of Pressbox

    2013 - 2018

    Launched Pressbox in June 2013 and sold to Procter & Gamble in July 2018. Pressbox re-created the traditional storefront dry cleaning experience with 24/7 smart hardware and software. We bootstrapped the company and funded the growth of 130 employees, 1,200 locations, and 10 cities off our balance sheet.

FF

Friedman Fleischer & Lowe

  • Associate

    2011 - 2013

    One of 25-person team to analyze and execute growth equity investments as part of a $3B fund, helping the firm achieve #1 ranking by Dow Jones's Private Performance Ranking. Focused on consumer, retail, and healthcare opportunities.

M&

McKinsey & Company

  • Senior Business Analyst

    2010 - 2011

  • Business Analyst

    2008 - 2010

    Corporate Finance Group in NYO

GS

Goldman Sachs

  • Summer Analyst

    2007 - 2007

    Investment Banking Division

Education

Relevant Websites