Just a few short years ago, FreightTech was a relatively unknown term. It is not anymore and venture capitalists and investors have taken notice, flocking to the space in recent years as more and more technology startups look to disrupt the freight space. In 2019, investment in supply chain technology surpassed $10.4 billion, according to Pitchbook.
Since its launch in 2017, FreightWaves has been at the forefront of the FreightTech space. That investment is now going a step further, giving FreightTech investors and founders a forum to share their thoughts, ideas and best practices with the FreightWaves community through the FreightWaves FreightTech Venture Summit on Wednesday.
As with all events, the FreightTech Venture Summit is free to attend. The virtual event, sponsored by Ryder System, will kick off at 9 a.m. EST Wednesday. The entire event can be streamed on live.freightwaves.com.
“FreightWaves’ FreightTech Venture Summit is the only place where you can get insight and advice on the FreightTech space regardless of where your company is along its growth stage,” Craig Fuller, founder and CEO of FreightWaves, said. “This special one-day event will cover all your needs, from seed to IPO.”
Steve Case knows something about starting a technology company. The co-founder of AOL will deliver the opening keynote address. Case is now chairman and CEO of Revolution, a Washington-based investment firm that backs entrepreneurs at every stage of their development. Revolution Growth has invested nearly $1 billion in growth-stage companies including Sweetgreen, Tempus, Tala, DraftKings and Clear. Revolution Ventures has backed more than two dozen venture-stage companies, including Framebridge, PolicyGenius and Bloomscape. And its Rise of the Rest Seed Fund has invested in more than 130 startups in over 70 U.S. cities in partnership with many of America’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors.
“Any discussion of the most innovative technology company founders must include Steve Case,” Fuller said. “AOL was synonymous with the internet in the 1990s and helped usher in new forms of communications for businesses and everyday Americans. Now, as chairman and CEO of Revolution, Case continues to guide and mentor entrepreneurs seeking to build their own AOL and I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.”
In addition to Case, the FreightTech Venture Summit will feature a mix of sessions with leading innovators and investors in the FreighTech space. Karen Jones, executive vice president-chief marketing officer and head of new product development for Ryder System, will also deliver a keynote address. Jones will be joined by FreightWaves President George Abernathy to discuss new options for technology innovation.
Attendees to the virtual and free FreightTech Venture Summit will hear from some of the leading venture capitalists (VCs) in North America that will share their insights with the FreightTech Venture Summit audience.
The VCs will take center stage when Jon Bradford, partner of Dynamo Ventures, joins FreightWaves’ Anthony Smith, economist, and Zach Strickland, market analyst, for a special episode of FreightWaves’ popular Freightonomics.
David Dolan, who focuses on M&A and capital raises for transportation and supply chain and logistics companies as managing director of DC Advisory, and Ben Weinberg, managing director of Susquehanna Growth, will then discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on venture capital attitudes.
FreightWaves’ Spencer Piland will then conduct a special Fireside Chat with Kevin Diestel, managing director of Sapphire Ventures.
In the afternoon, Fuller will host a fireside chat with Paris Cole, CEO of Truckstop.com, and Phil Yates, founding partner of Bregal Sagemount. That chat will be followed by another Fireside Chat with Earnest Sweat, associate partner of Greatpoint Ventures, who will be joined by Kunal Mehat, principal with Hearst Ventures.
Will O’Donnell, managing partner of Prologis Ventures, and Jessica Robinson, co-founder and partner of Assembly Ventures, will discuss how FreightTech companies can create greater value.
Ty Findley, managing partner of Ironspring Ventures, will be joined by Zach Barasz, director of G2VP, to discuss the advantages of working with sector-based funds.
Fuller will be joined by Andrew Korn, partner at Sageview Capital, for a special Fuller Speed Ahead episode. Brit Fitzpatrick, executive director of Blue North, will also be part of a Fuller Speed Ahead episode during the event.
“We are very fortunate to have such an impressive list of VCs that have agreed to share their insights,” Fuller stated. “Attendees will walk away with an impressive knowledge base after listening to these leading experts in venture capital.”
The FreightTech Venture Summit will also include some of FreightWaves’ most popular programming, including special episodes of Freightonomics, WHAT THE TRUCK?!? and Great Quarter, Guys.
Speakers also scheduled to appear include Matt Silver, CEO of Forager; Brian Laung Aoaeh, co-founder and general partner of Refashiond Ventures; Bob Brunn, vice president of investor relations and corporate strategy-finance for Ryder System; Charley Dehoney, president of Fitzmark Omaha; Eli Soler, president of Truckered-In; Ryan Schreiber, co-founder and adviser of Kinetic; Ted Ailing, partner at Dynamo; and Thiago Olsen, managing director of Engage.
In addition, the FreightTech Venture Summit will feature a series of founder stories from Alden Woodrow, co-founder and CEO of Ike; Justin Bailie, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Rose Rocket; Greg Price, founder and CEO of Shipwell; Karthryn Schifferle, founder of Work Truck Solutions; Anshur Prasad, co-founder and CEO of Leaf Logistics.
The FreightWaves FreightTech Venture Summit will take place Wednesday. The entire event, which is free to view, can be streamed on live.freightwaves.com on the FreightWaves TV app.