Portfolio

A short list, on purpose.

We would rather know a few companies deeply than many by name. Below: what Yesteryear has invested in, and — kept clearly separate — what our founder has built and operated.

Investments

Companies Yesteryear has backed

Cinderacindera.com
Angel investment

Cindera gives homeowners a living wildfire-readiness score for their property and a short, prioritized plan to raise it. Completed work is documented with photo and video proof, then connected to grants, matching dollars from cities and fire districts, and better insurance outcomes — including a path off FAIR Plan coverage. Built for homeowners; used with cities, fire departments, HOAs, and insurers.

We backed Cindera because it sits where several of our interests meet: property, climate resilience, insurance, and software that serious operators depend on.

Climate resiliencePropertyInsuranceConsumer & civic

Visit Cindera

Founded & operated

Companies our founder built

Personal track record, not portfolio. The companies below were co-founded by Jesse Forrest personally. They are not investments made by Yesteryear Ventures, Inc.; any interests in them are held personally. They are listed here because they are the clearest evidence of how we think and what we know.

Upwardsformerly WeeCare · upwards.com
Co-founder & CTO · 2017 – present

The care platform that matches families with child care and partners with employers and government agencies to make care accessible — while giving the caregivers who provide it the tools to run sustainable businesses. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Upwards has raised more than $60 million through its Series B and serves families nationwide.

Care economyMarketplaceEmployers & government
JoimoManhattan Beach & San Diego
Co-founder · 2008 – 2013 · Acquired

A community built organically around adult sports and recreation — leagues, events, and activities across Southern California. Acquired by South Florida Club Sport and VAVi Sport & Social Club.

CommunityEvents
FindSportsNowManhattan Beach
Co-founder · 2007 – 2016

A platform for event coordinators to promote, manage, and accept payments for their activities, and a marketplace for people to find the sports and recreation they care about. Our founder's first company, and the first time he built payments from scratch.

PaymentsMarketplace

Operating roles

Where the experience came from

Senior engineering roles held by our founder before and alongside the companies above. Listed for context; not Yesteryear investments.

  • TradesyDirector of Engineering, 2014 – 2017. Rebuilt the engineering organization of one of the largest U.S. fashion resale marketplaces through a period of rapid growth. Tradesy raised roughly $187 million and was later acquired by Vestiaire Collective.
  • Zynx HealthTechnical Lead, 2013 – 2014. Clinical decision-support software used by hospitals and health systems.
  • American ExpressSenior Technical Lead, Enterprise Growth, 2012 – 2013. Led a team building independent web businesses outside the core card model.
  • SometricsTechnical Lead, 2011 – 2012. In-game payments and virtual-currency platform for publishers. Acquired by American Express.
  • Northrop GrummanSoftware Engineer, 2006 – 2010. Held a Top Secret clearance.

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