AI-Powered Freight Dispatcher SmartHop Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Funding

Designed specifically for small carriers and owner-operators, SmartHop offers a business-in-a-box solution with tools to support business growth.

MIAMI, July 21, 2020 — SmartHop, a Florida-based tech-enabled dispatch solution empowering small trucking companies to grow their businesses, today announced that it has closed a $4.5 Million Seed round led by Equal Ventures, a seed stage venture fund based in New York. Additional investors in the round include Greycroft, Las Olas VC. The company has also recruited a group of industry veterans and strategic angels to help the company scale.

SmartHop’s platform, designed to be a trucker’s trusted “copilot”, offers easy load booking, end-to-end back-office support, and above-market rates per mile (RPM) so customers can truck smarter not harder. The company is creating the largest country-wide network of reliable carriers, connecting truckers with guaranteed above-market rates to keep their business running profitably. SmartHop’s all-in-one solution provides strategic analyses of carriers for seamless digital booking, load suggestions based on location, date, hours of service and preferred trip type, and detailed performance reports supported with strategies for improvement.

“We created SmartHop to service a majority of the freight industry that has lacked the tools to grow their businesses efficiently,” said Guillermo Garcia, Co-founder and CEO of SmartHop. “We’re excited to work with our investors and industry veterans to streamline success for small carriers and owner-operators so they can take control of their business and feel the freedom of being an independent trucker again.”

Over 90% of trucking companies in the U.S. are categorized as small businesses and operate with fewer than six trucks. SmartHop’s simple to use platform is designed for these small companies to improve efficiency and have enhanced capabilities compared to leading carriers, without needing to be a sophisticated enterprise. As the industry’s imposed rules and restrictions put truckers at a disadvantage when booking loads and leveraging buying power, SmartHop was founded with the goal of solving​ this problem and empowering freight companies and drivers with the tools to optimize their loads, plan smarter routes, and grow their businesses. SmartHop’s easy-to-use platform removes the modern-day headaches of running a small trucking business.

“Guillermo and the SmartHop team offer a competitive advantage for small carriers by utilizing the latest technologies and tactics to provide truckers everywhere with the opportunity to level up their livelihood,” said Rick Zullo, Co-founder and Partner at Equal Ventures. “We believe SmartHop will continue to serve as a reliable copilot for truckers as they navigate the industry.”

SmartHop was founded by co-founder and CEO, Guillermo Garcia, who started his career in supply chain for Nestle in Venezuela before founding ALCARIN, one of the largest integrated logistics solutions in Venezuela. Because of its innovative and large addressable market, the company has attracted top-tier investors and angels to help further the company’s mission. Among these investors include Alex Yeager, director at Redwood Logistics, Andrew Leto, founder of GlobalTranz and Emerge TMS, and Jett McCandles, founder of logistics company, Project44.

“Guillermo has assembled the technology and team to reshape the trucking industry and empower thousands of truckers to operate with a new sophistication,” said Will Szczerbiak, Principal at Greycroft. “We’re excited to support SmartHop as they continue to build out their offerings to provide small carriers with opportunities for additional growth.”

About SmartHop

North American truckers move billions of tons of freight annually, and SmartHop is here to move with them as their trusted copilot. Founded for truckers by truckers, SmartHop uses artificial intelligence to deliver smart load recommendations, full-service dispatch, and fintech products for small trucking companies. We handle everything truckers need so they can focus on the road. For more information, visit: www.smarthop.com.

About Equal Ventures

Equal Ventures Management, LLC, is a seed stage venture fund based in New York, NY, that invests in early stage companies within the insurance, logistics, retail infrastructure and the care economy industries. Equal Ventures focuses on backing the founders and businesses that are disrupting legacy markets. Their goal is to identify potential solutions to the market before it’s obvious. www.equal.v​c

About Greycroft

Greycroft is a seed-to-growth venture capital firm that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs to build the world’s most transformative companies. They have deep experience in both consumer and enterprise technology and have made over 300 investments, including Acorns, Bird, Huffington Post, Icertis, Plated, Scopely, Shipt, TheRealReal, Thrive Market, Trunk Club, and Venmo. www.greycroft.co​m

About Las Olas VC

Las Olas Venture Capital is an early stage fund based in Fort Lauderdale, FL that invests in early stage B2B startups in a variety of industries, including tech and logistics. Its​ mission is to find entrepreneurs in non-obvious places and maximize their impact by connecting them to networks of capital, talent, and customers in well-established startup ecosystems.