Jeff Bezos Invests in Digital Freight Forwarder Beacon

May 31, 2020

© THATREE / Adobe Stock
© THATREE / Adobe Stock

Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos has picked British startup Beacon, a digital freight forwarder, for his latest investment.

Beacon said on Sunday it raised over $15 million in Series A fundraising, from investors including Bezos and venture capital firm 8VC.

The startup, formed by two former Uber Technologies Inc executives two years ago, is already backed by Uber founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, along with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Beacon is also a supply chain finance firm that provides real-time data of cargo delivery and a marketplace view of global shipping costs and prices.

“With digitalization accelerating globally as a result of COVID-19, we believe the future of the traditional freight forwarder is more precarious than ever,” CEO Fraser Robinson said in a statement.

Beacon, whose logistic services include global ocean, air and truck freight, said the funds raised will be invested in new hires, technology and market expansion.

Amazon did not immediately respond to request for comment.


(Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Logistics News

Enstructure to Support Sims’ Houston Expansion

Enstructure to Support Sims’ Houston Expansion

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority Elects Governor Tate Reeves as 2026 Chairman

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority Elects Governor Tate Reeves as 2026 Chairman

Jotun-Coated Vessels See 11.8m Tons of Avoided CO₂ Emissions

Jotun-Coated Vessels See 11.8m Tons of Avoided CO₂  Emissions

Brazil Pauses Ivory Coast Cocoa Imports with Phytosanitary Concerns

Brazil Pauses Ivory Coast Cocoa Imports with Phytosanitary Concerns

Subscribe for Maritime Logistics Professional E‑News

Hungarian Central Bank launches investigation into certain MOL shares transactions
US LNG dominance to continue growing ten years after first cargo
US Travel Group and lawmakers urge Trump to resume using Global Entry program