The logistics technology firm AELER has raised approximately US$7.5 million in an over-subscribed Pre-Series A financing round.
Backers include financing specialists Decisive, MACV, Tiger8, Virtual Network and well-known names like AA Sons (optician family Afflelou) as well as logistics industry heavyweights.
AELER has recently launched a smart shipping container, which is expected to reduce both operational costs and CO2 emissions due to the widespread use of composites and advanced Internet of Technology (IoT) systems.
According to AELER’s statement, the steel container that enabled the rise of the global economy and through which 80% of the world’s goods transit is the same now as it was 60 years ago.
“The logistics industry is ripe for a new technological breakthrough. With the AELER container, we are reworking the very foundations of this trillion-dollar industry,” pointed out Co-CEO of AELER, David Baur.
AELER said that its Unit One container is light, robust, insulated, smart and can hold more payload, while it provides a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions thanks to its additional payload and aerodynamic design, 11% more storage volume and up to 17% for flexitanks thanks to the container’s flat insides and drastic reductions in temperature variations thanks to the container’s structural insulation.
AELER noted that with its new box no more fitting time and costs will be needed to insulate or reinforce traditional containers, while it offers visibility allowing all stakeholders of a container and its contents to know where and ‘how’ it is any time.
This funding was received to meet the growing demand for AELER’s new generation container and expand its Container As A Service (CAAS), a subscription-based model that gives customers timely and flexible access to AELER’s containers, according to the announcement.
Co-CEO of the company, Naïk Londono said, “The support we’re receiving from both investors and customers – many leaders in their field – validates AELER’s transformational approach to what’s now becoming a fast-changing market.”
