What Rail-Flow does

Rail-Flow GmbH is a Frankfurt-based software company founded in 2020 by Dominik Fürste and Osman Akdemir that develops and operates a digital platform for rail freight and intermodal transport. The platform combines marketplace and SaaS modules — Purchase & Tender Management, Rail Offer Management, Rail Transport Management System (RTMS), Rail Fleet Management, Resource Sharing Broker, Rail Capacity Broker, and the Intermodal Digital Hub — into two integrated hubs (Digital Rail Freight Hub and Intermodal Digital Hub) covering the full lifecycle from quotation through invoicing. An AI Data Processor module automates document-to-data conversion across PDFs, email, Word, and Excel, and the Intermodal Capacity Broker offers over 5,700 bookable intermodal connections across approximately 30 European and Asian countries. Rail-Flow serves three primary customer segments — railway undertakings (Güterbahnen), rail forwarders (Bahnspeditionen), and industrial shippers (Verlader) — with named enterprise logos including thyssenkrupp Steel, ArcelorMittal, BASF, VTG Rail Logistics, and RheinCargo.

The company operates a sales-led enterprise go-to-market with direct field sales plus inside sales, distributing on quote-based annual subscriptions tailored to usage volume and feature requirements. It has scaled to 174 employees across 6 offices in Germany, 507 customers, and 1,056 platform users, generating €10M in revenue in 2025. Capital structure includes a €3.6M seed round (May 2023, Rethink Ventures and Futury Capital) and a €12.5M Series A (December 2025, led by Trill Impact Ventures and Bonsai Partners); a strategic merger with Rotterdam-based Simply Deliver was completed in July 2025 to add API-based real-time visibility and proof-of-delivery capabilities. ISO 9001 (2024) and ISO 27001 (2025) certifications support enterprise procurement, and stated plans target geographic expansion into Australia and North America alongside deeper AI integration into the capacity brokerage.

Name

Rail-Flow

Legal name

Rail-Flow GmbH

Website

https://rail-flow.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rail-Flow is a Frankfurt-based SaaS company that operates a digital platform connecting railway undertakings, freight forwarders, and industrial shippers for rail freight and intermodal transport management across Europe, serving enterprise customers with documented and AI-assisted logistics workflows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Freight Logistics Software

NAICS

Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Rail Transportation (48211)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Terminal Scheduling, Slot Management & Throughput Optimization (TLAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rail Intermodal Forwarding (Container/Rail-Ramp) (TLACAEAC), Intermodal Terminal Value-Added Services (Cross-Dock, Transload, Stuffing/Stripping) (TLAJAFAL), Domestic Rail Freight Forwarding (TLACADAA)

Keywords

• Rail freight software
• Intermodal logistics platform
• Transport management system
• Rail capacity brokerage
• Logistics digitization

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription Platform: Subscription-based SaaS platform providing rail freight digitization, intermodal capacity optimization, and logistics management tools to railway undertakings, forwarders, and shippers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rail-Flow develops and operates an AI-powered digital platform that digitizes rail freight and intermodal transport logistics. The platform covers the full logistics process from offer, purchase, and tender management through transport execution, fleet management, and invoicing. It connects railway undertakings, rail forwarders, and industrial shippers via SaaS modules and brokerage marketplaces across 30+ countries in Europe and Asia.

Product overview

Rail-Flow operates a digital platform combining marketplace and SaaS solutions for rail freight and intermodal transport. The core offerings include the Digital Rail Freight Hub (comprising Purchase & Tender Management, Rail Offer Management, Rail Transport Management System, Rail Fleet Management, Resource Sharing Broker, and Rail Capacity Broker modules) and the Intermodal Digital Hub (comprising Intermodal Offer Management, Intermodal Capacity Broker, and Intermodal Transport Management modules). The AI Data Processor enables automated document processing across all modules. The platform serves shippers, railway undertakings, and rail forwarders with end-to-end coverage from quotation through invoice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Simply Deliver: Advanced API-based solutions for data automation, real-time visibility, and proof of delivery workflows for logistics service providers, headquartered in Rotterdam with a strong footprint across the Benelux region.
• Intermodal Capacity Broker
• Digital Rail Freight Hub
• Resource Sharing Broker

Products and services

• Digital Rail Freight Hub

Quantifiable outcome

• €10M revenue in 2025 demonstrating commercial traction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Simply DeliverflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic merger completed in 2025 combining Rail-Flow with Simply Deliver to create a comprehensive digital rail freight platform. This represents a major strategic consolidation strengthening Rail-Flow's market position and capabilities.
• Fraunhofer IMLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Resource Sharing Broker research project. Fraunhofer IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics) is Germany's leading applied research institution for logistics, providing academic rigor and innovation to joint development efforts.
• BELogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Resource Sharing Broker project focused on digital resource sharing solutions for rail logistics. BELog contributes industry expertise and practical requirements to the joint development initiative.
• Shift2RailsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean rail research and innovation initiative focused on advancing rail transport technology. Rail-Flow's participation connects the company with broader industry innovation efforts and research funding opportunities.
• BGL (Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman freight transport and logistics association representing road transport and logistics companies. Partnership supports market visibility and industry relationship development.
• Allianz Pro SchienesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman rail advocacy alliance promoting increased rail transport share. Partnership aligns Rail-Flow with broader industry promotion efforts and sustainability messaging.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Forto: European digital freight forwarder offering a technology platform for managing ocean, road, and air shipments; comparable as a Europe-headquartered freight digitization SaaS player targeting enterprise shippers, though primarily ocean/road rather than rail.
• Modality Systems: UK-based TMS vendor specializing in rail and intermodal freight management; closely comparable to Rail-Flow's Rail Transport Management System and Intermodal modules for European railway undertakings and forwarders.
• Log-hub: Supply chain and logistics analytics SaaS provider offering rail and intermodal visibility, network optimization, and scenario planning; comparable to Rail-Flow on rail-specific analytics and network design modules for shippers and rail operators.
• sennder: European digital road freight forwarder connecting shippers with carriers via a SaaS platform; comparable as a European freight digitization player with a network-effect marketplace model, though focused on road FTL rather than rail/intermodal.
• Beacon Freight Services: Intermodal freight technology and rail box provider serving North American intermodal shippers; comparable to Rail-Flow's Intermodal Capacity Broker on intermodal container visibility and capacity, though focused on North American Class I rail networks.

Direct peers

• project44: Supply chain visibility platform offering real-time shipment tracking and carrier connectivity across modes; comparable to Rail-Flow's tracking, telematics integration, and visibility modules for shippers and logistics service providers globally.
• Transporeon: European multimodal transport management system and freight network platform acquired by Trimble; directly comparable to Rail-Flow as a SaaS-based freight/transport management platform serving shippers, carriers, and forwarders across Europe, and an existing integration partner of Rail-Flow.
• FourKites: Supply chain visibility and predictive ETA platform for shippers, carriers, and 3PLs; comparable on multi-modal shipment visibility and shipper-facing analytics, with overlap on rail and intermodal use cases in North America and Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Descartes Systems Group: Logistics technology SaaS provider covering transportation management, customs, routing, and visibility; comparable as a long-tenured European/global logistics SaaS incumbent serving similar shipper and carrier buyer profiles.
• WiseTech Global (CargoWise): Global logistics execution platform serving freight forwarders and 3PLs with end-to-end TMS, customs, and visibility; comparable to Rail-Flow on forwarder-facing SaaS and intermodal workflows, but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rail-flow

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rail-Flow