Ecommerce Delivery Startup Relay Raises $35m

Relay launched a generative AI Courier Training Tool that, it claims, has boosted courier proof-of-delivery compliance by 82%.

Relay, which was founded in 2022 and focuses on the backbone of ecommerce delivery for retailers, has announced a $35 million Series A round led by Plural.

The round also includes continued participation from its seed investors, Project A and Prologis Ventures, the VC arm of logistics real estate firm Prologis. The new capital will be used to scale Relay’s UK wide delivery network and to continue building its engineering and operational team.

Relay’s AI powered platform enables a decentralised delivery model using hyperlocal nodes, moving away from the  “hub and spoke” model used by incumbents. By significantly reducing shipping distances, consolidating deliveries, and automating key workflows, Relay says that it drastically cuts operating expenses for itself and its merchants.

This model has attracted re-commerce platforms like Vinted, social commerce businesses like TikTok, international marketplaces including Temu, and UK retailers such as THG Fulfil.

In 2024, Relay launched a generative AI Courier Training Tool that, it claims, has boosted courier proof-of-delivery compliance by 82%. By preventing fraudulent activity and reducing customer support overhead, its technology aims to save retailers millions of pounds per year in claims and loss prevention.

Now live in major UK cities, including London and Manchester, Relay plans to expand nationwide over the next two years. It was founded by Jonathan Jenssen (CEO) and Nicole Mazza (CCO), who previously served as UK General Manager and Commercial Director at last mile delivery company Stuart.

“Logistics isn’t a transportation challenge – it’s a psychological problem grounded in complicated mathematics,” said Jenssen. “We’re using technology to build critical logistics infrastructure that brings down costs while improving delivery speed and reliability. We’ve already proven this model with some of the UK’s largest ecommerce retailers, and with support from our partners and investors, we’re ready to scale our network across the country and beyond.”

Taavet Hinrikus, Partner at Plural, said, “There is a global opportunity to reinvent parcel delivery for the digital age. Jonathan and Nicole are the perfect pair to do this, having lived and breathed the last-mile delivery revolution for almost a decade. Their asset light model, optimised by AI, is already leading to delivery times that are a fraction of incumbents. I look forward to working with them closely to build an ambitious new delivery platform.”

Philipp Werner, Partner at Project A, said, “Since leading Relay’s seed round, we’ve consistently been impressed by the team’s execution capabilities. This new funding round is a testament to their achievements, enabling them to further invest in their technology and expand their impressive portfolio of top-tier clients.”