Forge

Forge operated as a dynamic, on-demand staffing platform targeting the services and distribution sectors, with a particular focus on retail, quick-service restaurants (QSR), and third-party logistics (3PL) companies. The firm was founded in 2015 by Stacey Ferreira, a serial entrepreneur who had previously co-founded and sold MySocialCloud to Reputation.com. Ferreira's journey began after she dropped out of New York University to accept a Thiel Fellowship, which provided the catalyst for developing Forge. Her experience co-authoring a book on millennial entrepreneurs shaped her vision for a more flexible future of work, directly inspiring Forge's business model.

The company's core business centered on a mobile application that connected businesses with pre-vetted, hourly workers. For its clients, Forge offered a tool to manage fluctuating labor demands by allowing store managers to post available shifts. For individuals seeking work, the platform provided the flexibility to browse and select shifts at various approved locations, manage their schedules, and receive prompt payment for hours worked. This model aimed to give hourly employees the same level of flexibility enjoyed by gig economy workers in other sectors. The company generated revenue by facilitating these connections between businesses and the flexible workforce. Significant clients included well-known brands like Little Caesars, Dunkin' Donuts, and Red Robin.

Forge achieved several key milestones, including raising $1.5 million in venture funding and acquiring a smaller competitor, ShiftMe, in February 2019 to advance its talent-sharing mission. The company's trajectory culminated in its acquisition by WorkJam, a leading digital workplace provider, in February 2020. The acquisition was a strategic move for WorkJam to deepen its capabilities in open shift marketplaces and flexible scheduling for frontline employees. Following the acquisition, founder Stacey Ferreira joined the WorkJam team as Director of Digital Workplace, continuing her work in shaping technology for the frontline workforce.

Keywords: on-demand staffing, flexible scheduling, hourly workers, retail staffing, QSR staffing, 3PL logistics, workforce management, talent sharing, shift marketplace, gig economy, employee scheduling app, WorkJam, Stacey Ferreira, mobile staffing, contingent workforce, hospitality staffing, restaurant jobs, frontline employees, schedule self-service, open shift marketplace