uShip.com has closed on a $18 million Series C financing round with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
The Austin-based startup plans to use the money for development, sales and marketing and to expand globally, according to a news release. Since its founding in 2004, uShip has raised $28 million including this round. Other investors include Benchmark Capital and DAG Ventures.
As part of the deal, Maritza Liaw, partner at KPCB, will join uShip’s board.
“Kleiner Perkins funding and resources will propel uShip’s next phase of growth. Commercial freight is trending toward complete automation and greater efficiency, meaning uShip’s PRO platform has the opportunity to impact the entire industry, from enterprise shippers to freight brokers to carriers,” Matt Chasen, CEO and founder of uShip, said in a news release. “We’ve already built an online shipping marketplace of over 1.6 million shipping customers and 325,000 registered carriers, a key distinction between our efforts and those of our competitors. KPCB’s funding and support will allow us to continue our global expansions plans and further develop our innovative shipping platform.”
uShip is a disruptive player in the transportation industry and KPCB sees a “huge opportunity for growth in the commercial sector,” Liaw with KPCB said in a news release.
uShip targets both business shippers and freight brokers as well as consumers. Its platform helps connect truckers and other people with extra space to transport products with people who need to move goods.
uShip is available in 18 countries and plans to expand further in Latin America and Europe.
In addition, the third season of Shipping Wars, an A&E real-life series that features uShip, premiered on Dec. 12.
“The show follows six independent truck drivers who use uShip to competitively bid to transport oversized loads found on the marketplace. Seasons 1 and 2 attracted 2-3 million viewers per episode, placing it among cable’s top 10 shows (Nielsen).”
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