ClearJet, the Austin-based logistics technology startup, closed a $25 million Series B led by Edison Partners. The company operates a marketplace connecting shippers with unused cargo capacity aboard commercial flights, leveraging AI to optimize the matching process.
ClearJet addresses a persistent inefficiency in air cargo. Commercial airlines fly with empty cargo holds regularly. The startup's platform lets shippers access this spare capacity at lower rates than traditional freight forwarders charge. Its AI engine handles the logistics complexity that makes manual coordination impractical at scale.
The cargo logistics market remains fragmented and analog despite digitalization waves across other verticals. Traditional freight forwarders rely on phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets. ClearJet automates pricing, capacity matching, and booking in real-time. This reduces friction for both airlines seeking revenue from otherwise wasted space and shippers hunting cost savings.
Edison Partners leads a crowded field of firms betting on logistics infrastructure. The venture firm has backed similar supply chain plays. ClearJet's positioning as the "Uber of cargo" appeals to this investor appetite, though the comparison simplifies the actual business model. Unlike ride-sharing, ClearJet doesn't control the supply side (airlines). It negotiates capacity contracts and then sells access to shippers, closer to a B2B marketplace than a platform with dual-sided control.
The Series B reflects investor confidence in ClearJet's traction. Raised funding rounds for logistics marketplaces have cooled since 2021's venture peak, with many players struggling to unit economics. ClearJet's exclusivity about this raise suggests strong momentum and likely strategic interest from logistics incumbents or major airlines.
The startup operates in a space where giants like Flexport, DHL, and traditional freight forwarders hold entrenched positions. Flexport raised $3.2 billion at a $