Flexport
About
About Flexport
Flexport provides freight forwarding, customs and fulfilment services through a connected logistics platform. Merchants and brands use its network to move goods, store inventory, prepare orders and arrange distribution. Robotics forms part of the warehouse infrastructure Flexport operates within that wider service.
Its Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin fulfilment centre uses robots to bring stored inventory to workers at picking stations, reducing travel during order preparation. Flexport describes the site as having more than 386 robots and 250,000 storage bins. Warehouse operations connect inventory availability with order and shipment information in the company’s software. Customers buy logistics and fulfilment services, while Flexport manages the operating workflow and supporting facilities. The company’s role at the site is fulfilment operation and automation integration rather than manufacturing the robots.
Deployments
- Operating use
2026-09-29 - More than 350 robots were operating in Flexport’s new automated fulfillment centre outside Chicago at its September 29 broadcast. - One fulfillment centre, not Flexport-wide fleet - Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Source
Funding
- 2022-02-07 - Series E - $935M - Andreessen Horowitz and MSD Partners lead Flexport Series E
valuation: $8B - Flexport completed Series E financing to expand its global logistics platform and international network. - source: flexport.com
- 2019-02-21 - Growth financing - $1B - SoftBank Vision Fund leads Flexport growth financing
Flexport secured growth financing to develop its logistics platform and expand global trade services. - source: flexport.com
Investors
- DST Global - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2019-02-21 - latest 2022-02-07
- Founders Fund - Participant - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2019-02-21 - latest 2022-02-07
- SoftBank Vision Fund - Lead - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2019-02-21 - latest 2022-02-07
- Andreessen Horowitz - Lead - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2022-02-07
- Cherubic Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2019-02-21
- Kevin Kwok - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2022-02-07
- MSD Partners - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2022-02-07
- SF Express - Participant - Angel / Individual - 1 funding event - first seen 2019-02-21
- Shopify - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2022-02-07
- Susa Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2019-02-21
Team
- Ryan Petersen - Founder and CEO
Resources
Curated durable documents and official technical references.
- Flexport API reference
WEB · Logistics software API · Flexport
Source
Timeline
Events
- 2026-09-29 - Deployment - Flexport introduces operating robotic fulfillment centre near Chicago
The goods-to-person operation brings inventory to workers during order preparation. Flexport lists 250,000 storage bins at the Pleasant Prairie facility. The company describes robotics as a new part of its fulfillment network alongside its logistics software and services.
Source - 2024-01-22 - Market Signal - Flexport discloses Shopify convertible-note financing
The financing strengthens the logistics company’s cash position during its profitability programme. Ryan Petersen linked the capital to building an end-to-end platform for global commerce.
Source - 2022-02-07 - Funding - Andreessen Horowitz and MSD Partners lead Flexport Series E
Shopify joined existing investors DST Global, Founders Fund, SoftBank Vision Fund and Kevin Kwok. The company moved nearly$19 billion in merchandise across 112 countries in 2021. The proceeds support software development, geographic expansion and investments in logistics startups.
Source - 2019-02-21 - Funding - SoftBank Vision Fund leads Flexport growth financing
Founders Fund, DST Global, Cherubic Ventures, Susa Ventures and SF Express participated. Revenue approached $500 million in 2018 and the team grew to almost 1,000 employees. Its plan combines software, freight infrastructure and hands-on supply-chain services in one operating platform.
Source