10 Innovative Shipping Startups to Watch in 2025

Dayana Mayfield

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Shipping startups are reshaping the way goods move across the globe. And, with a $6.09 trillion global e-commerce market who can blame them.

By leveraging technology, these innovative companies tackle inefficiencies, enhance sustainability, and blur the lines between traditional shipping, logistics, and delivery. 

From rethinking container logistics to pioneering eco-friendly delivery solutions, shipping startups are driving the next wave of transformation in global trade and commerce.

This post is dedicated to shipping startups—from what they are, to who's leading the pack and some areas that are ripe for new players. So dive in and see what inspiration comes.

What is a shipping startup?

A shipping startup is a company that leverages technology to innovate and streamline the transportation of goods. These startups focus on improving processes such as freight handling, shipment tracking, and delivery logistics.

Shipping vs logistics startups

Shipping startups specialize in the physical movement of goods, focusing on tasks like freight forwarding, container logistics, and long-haul transport. Logistics startups, on the other hand, encompass a broader range of operations, including inventory management, warehousing, and supply chain coordination. While their roles are distinct, shipping startups often integrate logistics services to offer end-to-end solutions.

Shipping vs delivery

Shipping typically involves moving goods over long distances, such as regional or international freight, while delivery refers to the final leg of the process—getting goods from a hub to the end customer. Delivery focuses on localized, last-mile logistics, often tailored to individual consumers.

Blurring the lines of tradition

While shipping, logistics, and delivery serve different purposes, they overlap in the broader supply chain ecosystem. One of the ways shipping startups are disrupting the industry is by adopting approaches that blur these traditional lines.

How are shipping startups changing the industry?

Shipping startups are at the forefront of a major transformation in the global shipping and logistics industry. These innovative companies are leveraging cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to tackle some of the industry's most persistent challenges. Here’s how they are changing the game:


How are shipping startups changing the industry infographicShipping startups are at the forefront of a major transformation in the global shipping and logistics industry. These innovative companies are leveraging cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to tackle some of the industry's most persistent challenges. Here’s how they are changing the game:

1. Digitalizing shipping processes

Startups are streamlining shipping operations through advanced digital platforms, eliminating manual inefficiencies. These platforms offer integrated tools for freight forwarding, shipment scheduling, and real-time monitoring. 

With nearly 70% of online shoppers considering delivery speed crucial when making purchases, the importance of efficient transportation cannot be overstated.

2. Emphasizing sustainability

With climate change a pressing concern, sustainable shipping is a must. From electric-powered long-haul trucks to carbon-neutral delivery solutions, companies are minimizing the environmental footprint of shipping operations​.

3. Enhancing real-time visibility

Real-time tracking has become a non-negotiable feature in modern shipping. Platforms that provide live shipment monitoring are enabling businesses to track goods at every stage of their journey. 

With 20.1% of retail purchases expected to take place online and the global same-day delivery market’s projection to reach $9.96 billion by 2025, enhancing real-time visibility enhances customer trust and reduces supply chain blind spots​.

4. Optimizing operations with artificial intelligence

AI-powered startups are optimizing shipping routes, predicting equipment maintenance needs, and automating container logistics. These innovations significantly reduce costs while improving efficiency and accuracy in operations​.

AI tools will continue to play a pivotal role as same-day delivery demand surges. For instance, 99% of retailers plan to offer same-day delivery by 2025 to meet consumer demand for rapid fulfillment. And only 35% say they can do that today.

5. Bringing blockchain into logistics

Transparency and trust are critical in global shipping, so it makes sense to use blockchain technology. By leveraging secure, tamper-proof digital documentation, startups are addressing long-standing issues like fraud, inefficiency, and disputes in supply chain transactions​.

10 noteworthy shipping startups worth watching

From maritime shipping to long haul transports, these startups are changing the shipping game.

1. Northbound

NorthboundYear established: 2023
Location: San Francisco, USA
Funds raised: Undisclosed

Pioneering automation in the shipping sector, Northbound has introduced an AI-powered SaaS platform that is reshaping container logistics. By automating container tracking and streamlining processes, the company addresses inefficiencies in global shipping operations. Northbound’s platform is designed to minimize delays, reduce manual interventions, and optimize resource allocation.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Implements cutting-edge AI to automate container logistics.

  • Focuses on eliminating delays and inefficiencies in container movement.

  • Provides actionable insights and real-time data for better decision-making in logistics.

  • Supports large-scale container operations with scalable, cloud-based technology.

  • Offers tools to enhance resource allocation and improve shipping efficiency.

  • Positioned as a solution for both small-scale operators and global logistics enterprises.

2. Zoomo

ZoomoYear established: 2017
Location: Sydney, Australia
Funds raised: $90 million

With its e-bike subscription service tailored for urban deliveries, Zoomo is revolutionizing the last mile delivery segment. The company provides delivery businesses and gig workers with electric bikes designed for efficiency and sustainability.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Provides cost-effective e-bike solutions for last-mile delivery, ideal for urban settings.

  • Reduces carbon emissions with a sustainable alternative to traditional delivery vehicles.

  • Offers flexible subscription models, making e-bike adoption accessible to small businesses and independent couriers.

  • Includes full-service maintenance plans.

  • Focuses on enhancing the efficiency and reliability of last-mile logistics.

3. Packfleet

PackfleetYear established: 2021
Location: London, United Kingdom
Funds raised: $8 million

Packfleet is championing sustainability in logistics. They operate a carbon-neutral courier service designed to revolutionize urban deliveries. The startup’s eco-conscious approach combines electric vehicles with modern technology to create an efficient and environmentally friendly delivery network.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Operates a fully carbon-neutral delivery service powered by electric vehicles.

  • Combines technology and eco-consciousness to support sustainable logistics practices.

  • Focuses on small businesses, offering scalable delivery solutions tailored to their needs.

  • Utilizes advanced technology for route optimization.

  • Promotes transparency by offering real-time tracking and seamless communication between customers and couriers.

4. Trucksters

TruckstersYear established: 2018
Location: Madrid, Spain
Funds raised: $20 million

At the forefront of freight innovation, Trucksters is tackling the inefficiencies of long-haul trucking with an innovative relay system. Rather than sticking with traditional point-to-point delivery, their system’s supply chain logistics allows truck drivers to hand off trailers at relay points, enabling continuous movement without extended rest stops.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Introduces a relay trucking model that minimizes delivery times and keeps freight moving 24/7.

  • Improves driver working conditions by eliminating excessively long shifts.

  • Offers a sustainable solution by optimizing routes and reducing idle time, lowering emissions.

  • Targets inefficiencies in long-haul logistics, addressing a persistent bottleneck in freight transport.

  • Demonstrates scalability across international markets, with applications in both local and cross-border logistics.

  • Positioned as a disruptor in the freight industry by rethinking conventional trucking operations.

5. CloudTrucks

CloudTrucksYear established: 2019
Location: San Francisco, USA
Funds raised: $141.6 million

CloudTrucks is redefining how owner-operators and small trucking companies manage their businesses. Its virtual trucking carrier platform streamlines administrative tasks such as scheduling, payments, and expense management.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Provides owner-operators with tools to streamline scheduling, payments, and compliance.

  • Offers a virtual carrier platform that eliminates traditional administrative burdens.

  • Improves profitability for small trucking companies through cost-efficient operations.

  • Integrates real-time tracking and analytics to optimize delivery performance.

  • Aims to empower independent truckers and small fleets in a competitive logistics market.

6. ClickShip

ClickShipYear established: 2021
Location: Toronto, Canada
Funds raised: Undisclosed

Designed with e-commerce sellers in mind, ClickShip is a fulfillment partner that offers a user-friendly product that integrates seamlessly with popular online store builders like Shopify and WooCommerce. The platform simplifies shipping by providing real-time rates, automated order fulfillment, and streamlined logistics management—all from a single dashboard.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Specializes in providing seamless integration with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix.

  • Automates shipping processes, from rate comparison to order fulfillment, saving time for e-commerce sellers.

  • Offers real-time tracking and shipping insights, enhancing operational efficiency.

  • Helps small and medium-sized businesses compete by providing access to discounted shipping rates.

  • Simplifies logistics management with a centralized dashboard.

  • Tailored specifically for the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.

7. CargoX

CargoXYear established: 2017
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Funds raised: $7 million

CargoX is disrupting global shipping by bringing blockchain technology to supply chain management. Its Smart Bill of Lading has replaced traditional paper documentation with a secure, tamper-proof digital solution, making it faster and more cost-effective to handle shipping transactions.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Leverages blockchain to create tamper-proof, secure shipping documentation.

  • Replaces traditional paper-based Bills of Lading with a digital Smart Bill of Lading.

  • Speeds up document handling and reduces associated costs in global shipping.

  • Enhances transparency in the supply chain.

  • Addresses fraud and inefficiency.

8. Sennder

SennderYear established: 2015
Location: Berlin, Germany
Funds raised: $350 million

Sennder is a digital freight forwarder that connects shippers directly with carriers, cutting out the middleman to reduce costs and improve efficiency. The company’s platform is transforming how goods are moved across Europe, making it a key player in modern logistics.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Eliminates inefficiencies in freight logistics by directly connecting shippers and carriers.

  • Digitizes the road freight process.

  • Reduces costs for shippers by removing traditional intermediaries.

  • Optimizes routing to reduce empty truck miles and fuel consumption.

  • Supports cross-border logistics with scalable, tech-driven solutions.

9. ShipIn Systems

ShipIn SystemsYear established: 2018
Location: Boston, USA
Funds raised: $24 million

ShipIn Systems is revolutionizing maritime shipping with its visual fleet management platform. By leveraging on-vessel cameras and AI-driven analytics, ShipIn enhances operational transparency and safety across the shipping industry. The platform delivers real-time insights into vessel performance, security, and compliance.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Introduces visual fleet management, providing real-time visibility into vessel operations.

  • Enhances safety with AI-driven analytics that identify risks and prevent accidents.

  • Improves operational efficiency by identifying inefficiencies in vessel performance.

  • Offers a proactive approach to compliance.

  • Bridges the gap between maritime operations and modern technological advancements.

10. Nuvocargo

NuvocargoYear established: 2019
Location: New York City, USA
Funds raised: $37 million

Blending logistics and technology, Nuvocargo focuses on simplifying cross-border shipping between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. By offering freight forwarding, customs management, and supply chain financing on a single platform, Nuvocargo bridges gaps in traditional logistics.

What makes this startup worth watching:

  • Combines freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and supply chain financing in one platform.

  • Focuses on the key North American trade corridor.

  • Addresses language and cultural barriers with a bilingual, bicultural approach.

  • Provides real-time shipment tracking and actionable insights.

  • Supports businesses with financing options, easing cash flow constraints for shippers.

  • Streamlines complex cross-border shipping processes.

3 shipping startup business ideas

Now that we’ve seen the shipping companies shaking things up, let’s jump into some startup shipping ideas 

1. Decentralized urban micro-hubs for fast delivery

Urban congestion is a growing problem, and decentralized solutions could revolutionize last-mile delivery by reducing delays and costs—especially as the global same-day delivery market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.6% from 2025 to 2030.

  • The problem: Dense urban areas face significant delivery challenges, including traffic congestion and lack of storage space for staging goods close to customers. This poses significant challenges to satisfy the growing same-day delivery demand.

  • The solution: Create a network of micro-hubs—small, strategically placed distribution centers within cities—where delivery companies can stage goods for faster and more efficient last-mile deliveries. Use real-time data to allocate space dynamically and integrate partnerships with local couriers and sustainable transportation options like cargo bikes or EVs.

2. Real-time marine freight optimization platform

Shipping by sea is often delayed by inefficiencies in port operations, container availability, and route planning. A platform that optimizes these factors in real time could improve the reliability of maritime logistics.

  • The problem: Ports are prone to bottlenecks, leading to delays, higher costs, and inefficiencies in global supply chains.Startups like ShipIn Systems focus on safety and performance on the vessel, but there’s a gap in addressing port-to-vessel coordination and end-to-end maritime optimization.

  • The solution: Develop a platform that leverages AI to provide real-time insights into port conditions, container availability, and optimal shipping routes. Offer predictive analytics to help shipping companies avoid delays and reduce costs associated with idle vessels and underutilized cargo space..

3. Circular economy logistics platform

A logistics platform focused on moving and managing goods for the circular economy—such as reverse logistics for recycling, reusing, or refurbishing products—could address a growing need.

  • The problem: Traditional shipping systems are not optimized for reverse logistics, creating inefficiencies in retrieving and processing returned goods or recyclable materials. And with proposals like California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act, the demand for reverse logistics has the potential for exponential growth.

  • The solution: Build a logistics platform that specializes in circular economy needs, such as collecting end-of-life products, coordinating repair or refurbishment, and delivering recycled materials back to manufacturers. Include tracking and analytics tools to help businesses meet sustainability goals.

Ready to build a shipping SaaS startup?

While there are many great startups tackling the challenges of the shipping industry, there is still room for more. If you're ready to jump into the $6.09 trillion global e-commerce market with a shipping SaaS startup make sure you do it with the right team.

At DevSquad, we specialize in helping entrepreneurs and startups build high-quality SaaS products that are scalable, user-focused, and ready for the demands of the market. You bring the vision, and we bring the product strategy, design and development needed to bring that vision to life. 

Ready to build the next shipping SaaS startup? Learn more about our SaaS development process.

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