Blackbird Labs Inc.

Rewiring the Restaurant Business Model

Blackbird Labs Inc. is a Web3 hospitality technology platform founded in 2022 by Ben Leventhal, the co-founder of Eater and Resy. The company aims to directly connect restaurants and customers through a unique payments and loyalty ecosystem. By allowing diners to check in, earn rewards, and pay seamlessly using the $FLY cryptocurrency on the Flynet protocol (built on Coinbase's Base network), Blackbird is tackling the notoriously thin margins of the restaurant industry. With over 1,000 restaurants already signed up and $85 million in total funding—including a recent $50 million Series B round—the company is rapidly expanding its footprint beyond its initial strongholds in New York, San Francisco, and Charleston.

A Culture of Innovation and Hospitality

At Blackbird Labs, the culture sits at the intersection of cutting-edge blockchain technology and the deeply human world of hospitality. The team is driven by a mission to empower independent restaurant owners who have historically been at the mercy of extractive tech platforms. While specific internal culture details are scarce, the company's public messaging emphasizes building tools that foster genuine connections between restaurants and their regulars. Employees are expected to share a passion for dining and a belief in the potential of decentralized networks to create fairer economic models for small businesses.

What You'll Actually Do

Working at Blackbird means tackling complex challenges in integrating Web3 technologies with everyday consumer behaviors. Engineers, particularly those focused on backend and blockchain systems, work on the Flynet protocol, ensuring secure, fast, and scalable transactions. Product and design teams are tasked with abstracting away the complexities of crypto to deliver a seamless, intuitive experience for diners—one where earning $FLY feels as natural as swiping a credit card. Go-to-market and operations roles focus on onboarding new restaurant partners and educating them on the benefits of the Blackbird ecosystem, from reduced payment processing fees to enhanced customer data ownership.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation at Blackbird Labs appears competitive, particularly for technical roles. According to Levels.fyi data from 2026, the median salary for a Data Scientist is around $164K. While comprehensive salary bands for other positions are not publicly verified, the company's substantial funding suggests an ability to attract top talent with strong base salaries and equity packages. Benefits likely include standard tech startup offerings, though specific details remain largely undocumented. As the company grows, early employees stand to benefit significantly from equity if Blackbird succeeds in its ambitious vision.

The Interview Process

While detailed, step-by-step accounts of the interview process at Blackbird Labs are limited, the company's focus on elite engineering talent suggests a rigorous vetting procedure. Candidates for technical roles should expect deep dives into system design, blockchain fundamentals (particularly Layer 2/3 solutions), and practical coding assessments. For non-technical roles, interviews likely emphasize industry knowledge, strategic thinking, and a demonstrable passion for the restaurant space. Given the startup environment, cultural fit and adaptability are undoubtedly key evaluation criteria across all departments.

Why Join / Why Not

Why Join: Blackbird offers a rare opportunity to work at the vanguard of consumer Web3 applications with a founder who has a proven track record of successful exits in the restaurant tech space (Eater to Vox, Resy to Amex). If you are passionate about food, believe in the utility of blockchain beyond speculation, and want to build products that directly support small businesses, Blackbird is an exciting place to be.

Why Not: The intersection of crypto and consumer tech remains highly volatile and regulatory uncertain. If you prefer the stability of an established tech giant or are skeptical about the mass adoption of tokenized loyalty programs, Blackbird's core premise might not resonate with you. Furthermore, as an early-stage startup, the environment will demand high adaptability and a tolerance for ambiguity.