Prefix Raises $7.5M to Fix $500B Facility Management Problem for Restaurants and Retailers

The startup's AI-powered platform aims to streamline operations and reduce costs for multi-site brands.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:37pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a collection of premium, polished metal and glass objects arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the various components of a facility management system and conveying the abstract concepts of corporate strategy, efficiency, and optimization.A conceptual still life representing the streamlined facility management solutions offered by Prefix to help multi-site brands optimize operations and reduce costly downtime.NYC Today

Prefix, a New York-based startup, has raised a $7.5 million seed round to further develop its AI-powered facility management platform. The platform connects multi-location restaurant and retail brands with local service providers to coordinate maintenance, repairs, and compliance more efficiently, helping to reduce downtime and costs.

Why it matters

Facility management is a massive $500 billion industry, yet many operators still lose over 10% of their profit margins due to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and outdated systems. Prefix's solution aims to address this problem by acting as a coordination hub between brands and local service providers, using AI to handle communication, scheduling, and task tracking.

The details

Prefix's platform plugs into a brand's existing systems, acting as a centralized hub to manage the full lifecycle of facility-related jobs, from initial request to technician check-in, completion updates, and invoicing. The startup focuses on high-stakes services like HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, and electrical work, where delays can shut down operations. Since launching, Prefix has grown to support nearly 2,000 locations across 50 brands, reaching $2.5 million in annual recurring revenue within two years and posting 500% year-over-year growth.

  • Prefix launched its platform in 2024.
  • The startup reached $2.5 million in annual recurring revenue within two years of launching.

The players

Prefix

A New York-based startup that has developed an AI-powered facility management platform to help multi-location restaurant and retail brands coordinate maintenance, repairs, and compliance more efficiently.

Jared Schwartzentruber

The CEO of Prefix, who co-founded the company with the goal of alleviating the most significant headaches in multi-site facility management.

Newell Slade

The Senior Facilities Manager at Cafe Zupas, a Prefix customer that has rolled out the platform across 100 locations in eight states.

Brian Hollins

The Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital, one of the lead investors in Prefix's $7.5 million seed round.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We set out to alleviate the most significant headaches in multi-site facility management by improving the flow of data, communication, and service. We are providing a critical layer that helps to optimize operations both in the stores, and in the back-office.”

— Jared Schwartzentruber, CEO, Prefix

“Prefix removes the uncertainty from facilities management. An issue during peak hours is an immediate problem. Their 24/7 emergency support, real-time work order visibility, and dedicated account manager who knows our operations have given our team something straightforward but hard to find – confidence that the job is handled.”

— Newell Slade, Senior Facilities Manager, Cafe Zupas

“Multi-site operators are managing hundreds — sometimes thousands — of vendors across vastly different geographies, each with their own communication preferences, pricing structures, and compliance capabilities. What makes Prefix so compelling is that it solves the coordination problem at scale — acting as the connective tissue between large brands and the best local technicians in every market they operate in.”

— Brian Hollins, Founder and Managing Partner, Collide Capital

What’s next

Prefix plans to use the $7.5 million in new funding to support continued development of its AI infrastructure, expand go-to-market efforts, and help the company scale beyond its current footprint toward 10,000 locations across the U.S.

The takeaway

Prefix's solution addresses a critical pain point for multi-location restaurant and retail brands, providing a centralized platform to streamline facility management and reduce the operational and financial costs associated with downtime and inefficiencies. By acting as a coordination hub between brands and local service providers, Prefix aims to unlock real value for its customers through faster repairs, fewer breakdowns, and more reliable facility uptime.