Parcelly

Founded in 2014 by Sebastian Steinhauser, Parcelly operates as a logistics technology platform aimed at resolving first and last-mile delivery challenges. Steinhauser, the company's CEO, drew inspiration for the venture from his own dissatisfaction with online delivery experiences. His background in the financial industry, including roles as Vice President at several global banks, preceded his entrepreneurial career. He is joined by co-founder Michael Kuhlmann, who serves as the company's CTO.

The core of Parcelly's business is a carrier-agnostic network of Pick-up and Drop-off (PUDO) locations that leverages underutilized space in local businesses and commercial properties. This model transforms places like shops and gyms into storage and distribution hubs without requiring purpose-built infrastructure. The company's technology platform and mobile app allow partners to manage their redundant space and monetize it by handling parcels. For consumers, it provides a network of convenient locations to collect or return online purchases. The revenue model initially included per-parcel fees and monthly subscriptions for consumers.

Parcelly serves a diverse B2B clientele, including online retailers, carriers, and corporations. Its solutions are designed to integrate with logistics and retail partners, offering services such as Click & Collect, returns consolidation, cross-docking, and hyper-local warehousing, also known as 'dark stores'. These services aim to increase operational efficiencies, reduce failed delivery attempts, and support sustainability goals by minimizing van traffic. The company has established partnerships with major players like DHL, UPS, and Booker Group (Tesco).

Headquartered in London, with offices in Germany, Parcelly has expanded its network to over 4,500 locations across the UK, Germany, and Ireland. A significant milestone was the Series A funding round in March 2022, which raised $6.7 million, led by Scania Growth Capital. This investment was aimed at fueling international expansion into the US and Europe and further developing its hyper-local warehousing solutions.

Keywords: urban logistics, last-mile delivery, first-mile fulfillment, PUDO network, click and collect, logistics technology, parcel storage, e-commerce solutions, returns management, hyper-local warehousing, dark stores, carrier agnostic, supply chain technology, delivery optimization, parcel consolidation, sustainable logistics, retail tech, on-demand storage, cross-docking, distribution hubs