# Darrell Jobe

> Darrell Jobe is the founder of sustainable-packaging company Vericool and a self-taught packaging inventor whose work connects two kinds of replacement: plant-fiber cold-chain shippers designed to displace expanded polystyrene, and jobs designed to give formerly incarcerated people a route back into the workforce. Raised in Richmond, California, he entered packaging after leaving jail, spent more than a decade learning the trade, founded Vericool in 2015, and later continued its intellectual property and product work through Vericool World LLC.

- **Role:** Founder of Vericool; manager of Vericool World LLC
- **Organizations:** Vericool Inc., Vericool World LLC, Container Consulting Service, Inc.
- **Known for:** Founded Vericool in 2015 and developed plant-fiber cold-chain packaging intended to replace expanded polystyrene., Was identified as the inventor on multiple U.S. packaging patents; Vericool's current site lists seven U.S. patent numbers across its product lines., Closed a $19.1 million Series A financing round in 2020 with investors including Radicle Impact Partners, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, ID8 Investments and AiiM Partners.

## Career timeline

- **1999** — At age 23, Jobe resolved while incarcerated to leave his former life behind, be a better father and contribute positively to his community.
- **c. 2000** — Entered the packaging industry after months of pursuing an interview and says he doubled his sales territory in his first year.
- **c. 2001-2015** — Worked for roughly 14 years at a family-owned packaging company based in Gilroy, learning the trade and eventually purchasing a share of the business.
- **2015** — Founded Vericool Inc. to develop recyclable and compostable alternatives to expanded-polystyrene cold-chain packaging.
- **2017** — BillerudKorsnäs Venture acquired a minority stake in Vericool.
- **2019** — Received Alameda County recognition and the Tri-Valley Hero Innovation award; Vericool was also named a California Senate district Small Business of the Year.
- **2020** — Vericool closed a $19.1 million Series A financing round.
- **2021** — Vericool joined Apple's first Impact Accelerator cohort; later that year Vericool Inc.'s board voted to liquidate the company.
- **2021-2022** — Jobe formed Vericool World LLC, which purchased certain Vericool Inc. assets and continued work around the brand, products and patents.
- **2024-2026** — Public patent records and the live Vericool site show continuing patent and product activity under Vericool World LLC.

## Achievements

- Founded Vericool in 2015 and developed plant-fiber cold-chain packaging intended to replace expanded polystyrene.
- Was identified as the inventor on multiple U.S. packaging patents; Vericool's current site lists seven U.S. patent numbers across its product lines.
- Closed a $19.1 million Series A financing round in 2020 with investors including Radicle Impact Partners, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, ID8 Investments and AiiM Partners.
- Built a second-chance employment program that Vericool said had hired 75 formerly incarcerated men and women by late 2019.
- Selected with Vericool for Apple's first Impact Accelerator cohort in 2021.
- Received the 2019 Tri-Valley Hero Innovation award and formal recognition from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
- Vericool was recognized as a Small Business of the Year by California State Senator Steve Glazer's district and received a StopWaste Business Efficiency Award.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — The live Vericool site, operated by Vericool World LLC, markets Recycoolers, Vericooler retail coolers, paper liners and Earth Wrap, and lists seven U.S. patent numbers plus pending patents.
- **2025-07** — California business-registry data reported Vericool World LLC as active, with Jobe listed as manager.
- **2024-10** — A USPTO notice identified Jobe as inventor of a compostable-insulation patent owned by Vericool World LLC.
- **2021-08** — Apple selected Vericool for the inaugural Impact Accelerator cohort for Black- and Brown-owned environmental businesses.
- **2020-03** — Vericool announced a $19.1 million Series A financing.

## Links

- Website: https://vericoolpackaging.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrell-jobe-3b10a533
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vericoolcompany
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsUwt2wxTEA
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VericoolPackaging

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/darrell-jobe
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18