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§ Private Profile · New York City, NY, USA
On-demand freelance marketplace connecting small business owners with vetted web developers and designers for website platforms.
Ask Lorem is a New York City-based on-demand freelance marketplace that connects small business owners with vetted web developers and designers for technical support and website customizations. The platform specializes in providing rapid technical fixes and complex software integrations for users operating popular content management and e-commerce systems. Operating with a core team of five employees, the company utilizes a commission-based business model to generate revenue from transactions between clients and its network of freelance experts. To date, the enterprise has successfully raised a total of $3.6 million in venture capital funding, which includes a $2.5 million seed round backed by prominent investors such as Flybridge Capital Partners, Founder Collective, and HubSpot Ventures. As a graduate of the Techstars accelerator program, Ask Lorem was founded in 2017 by Sam Wilcoxon, Charlie Fogarty, and Chase Lee.
Ask Lorem has raised $6.5M across 3 funding rounds.
Ask Lorem has raised $6.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ask Lorem has raised $6.5M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.5M Other Equity in October 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2018 | $2.5M Venture Round | Chip Hazard | FJ Labs, Fresco Capital, Andrew Lindsay | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2018 | $3M Seed | — | First Star Ventures, Flybridge, Founder Collective, Freestyle Capital, Clark Landry, KIM Perell | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2017 | $1M Seed | Flybridge | First Star Ventures, Founder Collective, Freestyle Capital, Clark Landry, KIM Perell, Frederick Townes, Randy Parker | Announced |
Ask Lorem has raised $6.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ask Lorem's investors include Chip Hazard, FJ Labs, Fresco Capital, Andrew Lindsay, First Star Ventures, Flybridge, Founder Collective, Freestyle Capital, Clark Landry, Kim Perell, Frederick Townes, Randy Parker.
Ask Lorem (also known as Lorem Technologies) is a New York City-based technology startup founded in 2016 that operates an on-demand marketplace connecting business owners, particularly e-commerce brands, with vetted freelance experts for website setup, customization, and optimization.[1][2][3] The platform initially supported tools like WordPress, Shopify, and MailChimp but pivoted to specialize in Shopify development, design, and marketing tasks such as theme customization, app development, email marketing, and conversion rate optimization.[1][2] It serves small businesses and e-commerce merchants seeking quick, expert help as an alternative to broader platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, with a focus on building and enhancing websites to drive sales.[1][3] By 2021, it acquired competitor Storetasker and rebranded under that name, reflecting strong growth in the Shopify ecosystem; the company employs 20-49 people and generates $5M-$10M in revenue.[2][4]
Ask Lorem was co-founded in 2016 by Sam Wilcoxon (CEO) and Charlie Fogarty (COO), both with prior freelancing experience, after they spent two and a half years prototyping and killing ideas to find a viable startup concept.[1][2] The idea emerged from observing pain points in website builders like Squarespace, Shopify, and WordPress, where small business owners—such as the founders' parents—struggled with customization; they initially aimed to build better versions of these tools but shifted to a marketplace model.[1] Bootstrapped for eight months in expensive New York City through side consulting, they validated the concept by showing prototypes to friends and networks, then fundraised via VC meetings, securing at least three Seed VC rounds.[1][2] Early traction came from focusing vertically on websites to build supply-side freelancers, setting the stage for expansion into e-commerce.[1]
Ask Lorem rides the explosive growth of e-commerce and no-code/low-code platforms, where Shopify powers millions of stores but merchants need affordable, expert customization without full agencies.[1][2] Timing aligns with the post-2016 boom in direct-to-consumer brands and freelance gig economy, amplified by pandemic-driven online shifts, making specialized marketplaces essential for scaling digital presence.[2] Market forces like Shopify's app ecosystem expansion and rising demand for CRO/email tools favor it, as general platforms dilute expertise.[1][3] By consolidating via Storetasker acquisition, it influences the ecosystem by professionalizing Shopify freelancing, reducing fragmentation, and enabling faster store growth for underserved SMBs.[2]
Ask Lorem's Shopify pivot positions it for sustained growth amid e-commerce's maturation, potentially expanding into AI-driven design tools or multi-platform support as merchant needs evolve.[1][2] Rising trends like headless commerce and edge AI integrations could boost demand for its vetted experts, while scaling the network might attract larger enterprise clients. Its influence may grow through further acquisitions or partnerships, solidifying it as a key enabler in the $100B+ Shopify services market—watch for Series A traction or global expansion to capitalize on this momentum.[2][4]