SME shipping specialist Sendle has raised $35 million in a Series C funding round to expand further in the U.S. following strong growth during the pandemic.
The latest funding, led by Afterpay-backed AP Ventures alongside returning investors including Federation, Full Circle and NRMA, will drive investment in building out its U.S. network of logistics, delivery, and technology partners.
“As we gear up for further growth in the United States, AP Ventures brings valuable experience in international expansion with Afterpay as the number one buy-now-pay-later service in the U.S.,” said James Chin Moody, CEO and co-founder of Sendle. “Our Series C funding will help us to continue to reshape package delivery for small businesses in the U.S. We are excited to be working with an organization as passionate about creating value for small businesses as we are.”
Tenfold volume growth
Sendle, which describes itself as ‘the 100% carbon neutral shipping carrier designed for small business’, said it now has more than 800,000 users globally, having experienced record growth in 2020 with COVID-19 accelerating the shift to eCommerce. In the United States, its small business package volumes increased more than tenfold in 2020 compared to the previous year.
The company commented: “The raise comes during the most significant shift in retail the world has ever seen, as businesses both large and small moved further online as a result of the pandemic. Due to the surge in orders and deliveries, traditional carriers like UPS and FedEx have continually increased rates, squeezing small businesses unable to meet minimums where cost benefits begin. Sendle has ambitious plans to reshape package delivery in the U.S. by providing value and opportunity for small businesses and early stage startups, no matter how much volume they ship.”
Sendle, which launched in Australia in 2015 and later expanded to the U.S., aims to ‘democratize’ shipping for small businesses with “sustainable package delivery that is simple, affordable, and reliable”.
The company offers flat-rate shipping across the U.S., “with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or warehousing required”. Merchants simply purchase a label and schedule a pickup from Sendle, and their package can be dropped off or picked up from their front door. It integrates with all leading eCommerce platforms including Etsy, eBay, Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce.
