[ Read time: 4 minutes]

Today’s number is $7 million. That is the amount on-demand delivery platforms Frayt has recently closed in their Series A.

Hello and welcome back to news, trends & insights in the industry.

In today’s edition:

• 3 Start-ups ( Deliveroo, Frayt, JackBe)

• 2 Old guards (Hyundai, GM)

• 1 Tech in the TMS (TrueTMS)

• 1 Logistics Origins (History of Air Cargo)

Let’s dive in.

In the Box

Deliveroo targets GCC region expansion with dark kitchens.

With rivals like Uber’s Careem and Deliver Hero’s Tabalat, the on-demand food delivery company has eyes on expanding in the GCC (Gulf Cooperations Council) with dark kitchens.

The London-headquartered food delivery company has been expanding into the region since 2016 after setting its location in UAE, later Kuwait, and Qatar.

“The Gulf is an interesting market because many of the restaurants already delivered themselves because of the low cost of labor…Having a completely centralized customer service function, we were able to drive customer satisfaction much higher than either the restaurant alone or an online marketplace that didn't do their own logistics,” - Co-founder and CEO William Shu

Frayt closes $7 million Series A

The on-demand delivery platform announced it has raised $7 million in Series A funding. The amount will be used to continue executing and building a marketplace for shippers to obtain last-mile delivery services to encourage the network’s entrepreneurial spirit.

The funding was led by Refinery Ventures with the participation:

• Capital Midwest

• Venture 53

• JobOhio Growth Capital Fund

We are looking to empower these independent contractors and truly treat them as owners of their businesses. These guys and gals are out there driving, running a business, utilizing technology, and buying a commercial vehicle. We recognize that entrepreneurship and we are trying to foster that within our network.” -Luke Denny, co-founder, and CEO, told FreightWaves.

JackBe raises $11.5 million for expansion and development

The Cincinnati-based premier curbside drive-thru grocery start-up announced funding of $11.5 million. The start-up that opened its first store in Oklahoma City will use the funds to fast-track development and expansion.

The investment came from the following;

• WeFunder campaign

• Angel Investors

• GP Investment LLC

"We believe that grocery shopping can be better and have embarked on a mission to make buying groceries 'nearly' fun again. With our seed funding and pre-series A funding, we’ve built and opened the first premier curbside drive-thru grocer in the U.S., to serve people in and around Oklahoma City. Our first store is paving the way to take our concept to suburbs nationwide.

The investment validates our concept as well as our vision to foster a fundamental shift in the way people shop for groceries. We look forward to quickly expanding, offering individuals and families alike curbside grocery convenience without compromising on customer care, value, or quality.” - Alex Ruhter, CEO of JackBe

Technology

TrueTMS is out of stealth mode

Transportation management system ( TMS) TrueTMS is out of stealth mode to help small freights navigate their operations.

According to George Thellman, the company director of business development and strategic relations explained that using the cloud system, TrueTMS offerings are easy and flexible to meet the needs of carrier customers.

TrueTMS offers a couple of features:

• ELD Integration

• On-demand customized reporting

• Local management

• Driver dispatch

Old Guards

General Motors

The automaker giant leads investment in lithium extraction and refining startup EnergyX of $50 million.

The move is for GM to get the much-needed product to power their line of electric vehicles. However, the details of the investment were not disclosed regarding the stake GM got from the start-up.

GM will get exclusive access to some of the lithium that EnergyX sources from mining companies in North and South America.

Side note: In January the automaker invested $650 million in Lithium America as well,

Hyundai Motors

A week after KIA Motors which falls under Hyundai Motors announced its investment of $24 billion in electrification and future business areas, the giant automaker announced to invest $18 billion in South Korea’s EVs by 2030.

In the ceremony, that the South Korean president attended, his office pledged to support the auto industry in the first half year in the transformation to ‘vehicles of the future'.

Logistics Origins

History of Air Cargo

The history of air cargo can be traced back to the early days of aviation, when balloons, dirigibles, and even carrier pigeons were used to transport mail and small packages. However, the first official air cargo flight took place on November 7, 1910, when a few bolts of silk were transported by air from Dayton to Columbus, Ohio. The following year, in 1911, experiments with the movement of the post were started, and by 1914, regular air service had begun in the United States.

During the early years of aviation, air cargo was primarily used for the transportation of mail and other small packages. However, the introduction of Contract Airmail routes in 1925 played a crucial role in the development of the US commercial aviation industry. These routes provided a reliable means of transporting mail and other goods across the country, which in turn helped to spur the growth of the airline industry.

During World War II, the aviation industry experienced rapid expansion, as large-scale movements of freight were carried out to support the war effort. In particular, the transportation of supplies and equipment to support the Allied forces was a major focus of air cargo operations during this time.

Following the end of the war, the focus of air cargo operations shifted back to the transportation of commercial goods. In the early 1970s, door-to-door express package services were introduced, which helped to further expand the air cargo industry. Companies like DHL and Federal Express (now FedEx) played a major role in the growth of the industry during this time.

The introduction of wide-bodied jets in the 1970s marked another major milestone in the history of air cargo. These larger aircraft could carry significantly more cargo than their narrow-bodied counterparts and helped to increase the efficiency and profitability of air cargo operations.

Today, air cargo is an integral part of the global economy, with millions of tons of goods being transported by air each year. From perishable goods like fresh produce and seafood to high-value items like electronics and pharmaceuticals, air cargo plays a critical role in the movement of goods around the world. As demand for air cargo continues to grow, the industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and innovations helping to drive further growth and efficiency.

Thank you for reading.

My goal is to break down complex technologies in the logistics and supply chain industry. Hope it is worthwhile.

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Over and out,

Okerosi