Blackbird Labs just landed a massive $50 million funding round to scale its blockchain-based payment and loyalty platform for restaurants. The startup, founded by Ben Leventhal—who also co-founded Resy—plans to use the funding to fuel product development, expand geographically, and deepen restaurant-customer engagement through Web3 technology. This move marks a significant moment for the hospitality industry as it shifts toward a decentralized, community-driven future.
A Bold Vision for Restaurants
Blackbird Labs envisions a world where restaurants own direct relationships with their customers. Instead of relying on third-party platforms to handle reservations, payments, and loyalty, restaurants can now control those touchpoints themselves. Blockchain technology lies at the heart of this model.
Ben Leventhal believes restaurants must evolve beyond simple point-of-sale systems. “Restaurants are community hubs. They deserve tools that allow them to build direct, long-term relationships with guests. That’s what Blackbird delivers,” he said.
The startup integrates loyalty, identity, and payment into one seamless experience. Diners can check in at a participating restaurant using the Blackbird app or an NFC tap. Once checked in, guests earn loyalty rewards, access exclusive perks, and pay through the app—without the need for traditional credit card processing.
Funding Led by Notable Backers
This latest funding round attracted some of the most respected names in venture capital. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) led the round, with participation from QED Investors, Union Square Ventures, and Shine Capital. A16z’s crypto arm, which has backed major blockchain projects like Uniswap and OpenSea, views Blackbird as a breakthrough application of Web3 for real-world use cases.
In a statement, a16z general partner Arianna Simpson said, “Blackbird represents the next generation of restaurant infrastructure. It brings transparency, loyalty, and direct ownership to both restaurants and guests. We’re excited to support this team as they redefine hospitality.”
This funding brings Blackbird’s total capital raised to over $70 million. The startup previously raised a seed round in 2023 to launch its pilot in select cities.
Product Expansion: Blackbird Club
With this new capital, Blackbird Labs will launch “Blackbird Club,” a membership-based loyalty and engagement system for diners. Members can earn and redeem $FLY—Blackbird’s native token—for perks like priority reservations, chef meetups, exclusive menu previews, and more.
The company uses blockchain to store and verify guest activity and rewards transparently. Every check-in or purchase links to a verified digital identity, enabling restaurants to track real engagement without relying on opaque metrics from third-party platforms.
Restaurants using Blackbird Club will own their guest data and loyalty programs without intermediaries. Diners, in turn, will carry their reputation and rewards from one restaurant to another within the network—something that traditional loyalty systems simply don’t allow.
Geographical Growth Beyond Pilot Markets
Blackbird initially launched in New York, San Francisco, and Charleston. In these cities, dozens of independent restaurants and high-end venues tested the platform during a controlled pilot phase. The response exceeded expectations.
Restaurants reported stronger repeat visits, larger ticket sizes, and smoother payment processes. Diners appreciated the sense of exclusivity and connection with their favorite venues. Encouraged by this success, Blackbird now plans to expand into new U.S. markets including Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, and Miami.
The company will also explore international pilots by late 2025. Cities like London, Tokyo, and Paris—with their blend of tech-savvy consumers and world-class dining—offer ideal environments for Blackbird’s next phase.
A Seamless Guest Experience
The Blackbird platform removes friction from the dining experience. Guests no longer need to fumble for cards, wait for the check, or download multiple apps for each restaurant’s rewards. Instead, they tap to check in and let Blackbird handle the rest—loyalty points, digital receipts, payments, and personal engagement.
The app also includes guest profiles that reflect dining history, preferences, and reputation scores. A frequent guest at one Blackbird-enabled restaurant might unlock benefits at another location without ever dining there before. These reputation-based perks create a social layer around dining that no traditional loyalty program offers.
Guests can also link their crypto wallets to access advanced features like staking $FLY tokens for VIP status or trading reward NFTs for experiences. However, Blackbird ensures that the platform remains intuitive for non-crypto users as well. “We built this for everyone, not just Web3 natives,” said Leventhal.
Empowering Restaurants with Ownership and Data
Traditional reservation and payment platforms often take a hefty cut of restaurant revenue. They also control guest data, making it difficult for restaurants to understand or market to their clientele. Blackbird flips that model.
Restaurants using Blackbird gain full visibility into customer behavior, spend history, and loyalty metrics. They can build personalized offers, set their own reward rules, and communicate directly with guests—all without intermediaries.
Chef-owner JJ Johnson, whose Harlem-based restaurant FIELDTRIP uses Blackbird, described the impact: “For the first time, I know who my regulars are, how often they come, and how to thank them. That’s powerful.”
The platform also offers actionable insights. Managers can identify VIPs, spot churn risk, and trigger automated outreach to encourage return visits. This kind of CRM system gives small and mid-sized restaurants tools usually reserved for large chains.
Web3 for the Real World
Blackbird stands out as one of the few Web3 startups successfully merging blockchain with real-world utility. While much of the crypto world focuses on speculation, Blackbird creates tangible value through community engagement and improved operations.
Its use of NFTs for rewards, tokens for loyalty, and decentralized identities for guest tracking sets a new standard for hospitality tech. Blackbird doesn’t just ride the Web3 wave—it applies it in a way that makes sense for the industry.
By anchoring every guest action on the blockchain, Blackbird creates a verifiable reputation system that benefits both sides of the hospitality equation. Guests gain recognition and rewards, while restaurants gain trust, data, and ownership.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Of course, scaling a blockchain-based platform in a traditionally analog industry won’t come without challenges. Many restaurants still rely on legacy POS systems and may hesitate to embrace unfamiliar tech.
To overcome that, Blackbird invests heavily in onboarding and integration. The company offers plug-and-play tools that work with most POS providers. They also assign account managers to help restaurants set up loyalty campaigns and analyze customer data.
Another hurdle lies in education. While Web3 offers advantages, the average diner may not understand NFTs, tokens, or decentralized identity. Blackbird solves this by abstracting the tech layer. Guests experience only the benefits—fast check-ins, personalized perks, and smooth payments—without technical complexity.
Leventhal remains confident. “People don’t need to understand how it works. They just need to feel the magic when they dine.”
Conclusion
Blackbird Labs just secured a game-changing $50 million to bring blockchain innovation to the hospitality sector. With this funding, they plan to expand rapidly, launch Blackbird Club, and empower restaurants to reclaim ownership of their guest relationships. In doing so, they don’t just modernize restaurant payments—they redefine hospitality for the Web3 era.