What Zencargo does

Zencargo is a London-headquartered digital freight forwarder founded in 2017 by Alex Hersham, Richard Fattal, and Jan Riethmayer. The company combines freight forwarding services across ocean, air, road, and rail modes with an AI-powered platform that consolidates structured operational data into a single source of truth, providing SKU-level visibility, predictive forecasting for port congestion and ETAs, prescriptive optimization logic, and Scope 3 emissions reporting. The underlying platform was transitioned from a Ruby on Rails monolith to a microservices and event-driven architecture running on Kubernetes, Kafka, Java, Kotlin, Spring Boot, TypeScript, and React, with deployment frequency of 10-20 times daily. Integration partnerships with Tive (in-transit visibility), byrd (e-commerce fulfillment), AGR Dynamics (planning), and Pledge (sustainability) extend platform capability without proprietary build-out.

Zencargo sells primarily to enterprise and mid-market businesses, with named customers spanning fashion (PANGAIA), luxury retail (Harrods), beauty (Sephora UK, Beauty Pie), manufacturing (Thetford Europe), furniture/retail (Swoon), and agriculture/animal nutrition (Denkavit). The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with dedicated account management and customer success teams, supported by a website "Get Started" funnel and content marketing (podcast "Freight to the Point", weekly market update newsletters, webinars). Pricing is bespoke and quote-based, structured around multi-year contracts rather than standardized tiers, with revenue generated through a mix of freight transaction fees, recurring platform subscription, and expert/professional services where Zencargo consultants act as an extension of customer teams.

The company is venture-backed (Picus Capital, Samos Investments, HV Capital, Digital+ Partners) with approximately £42 million in total disclosed funding as of the May 2021 £30M Series B led by Digital+ Partners. Operations span offices in London, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Chicago, and Los Angeles, with UAE NextGenFDI participation extending presence into the Middle East. The company has received multiple industry recognitions including Deloitte Technology Fast 50 (7th, 2021), FT Tech Champion (Shipping and Transport, 2021), Supply Chain Excellence Award (2021, with Swoon), and BIFA Freight Excellence Award (2020). Headcount has scaled from a 3-person founding team to approximately 260-300 employees by 2021-2022.

Name

Zencargo

Legal name

Worldwide Freight Logistics Limited

Website

https://zencargo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zencargo is a London-headquartered digital freight forwarder combining AI-powered supply chain visibility and forecasting technology with bespoke ocean, air, road, and rail forwarding services for enterprise customers including Harrods, Sephora UK, PANGAIA, and Denkavit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Freight Forwarding

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

FCL (Full Container Load) Ocean Forwarding (TLACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Time-Critical & AOG (Aircraft on Ground) Specialized Forwarding (TLACAJAI), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

Keywords

• Digital freight forwarding
• Supply chain management
• Freight forwarding services
• Logistics technology
• Supply chain visibility

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight forwarding services: Core revenue from freight forwarding services across ocean, air, road, and rail freight. Zencargo operates as a digital freight forwarder providing customized freight solutions with global carrier network connections.
2. AI platform and technology services: Revenue generated from providing access to their AI-powered platform for supply chain visibility, analytics, and optimization. Platform provides real-time tracking, predictive forecasting, and control capabilities.
3. Consulting and expert services: Zencargo consultants act as an extension of customer teams to identify areas for improvement across air, ocean and road freight and provide solutions. This expert service component adds value beyond basic forwarding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zencargo is a digital freight forwarder that combines AI-powered technology with bespoke freight forwarding services across ocean, air, road, and rail freight. The offering centers on the Zencargo AI Platform for real-time shipment visibility, SKU-level tracking, predictive forecasting, and prescriptive control, supported by global carrier procurement and logistics experts who act as an extension of customer teams to design customized freight solutions for enterprise businesses and fast-growing startups.

Product overview

Zencargo is a digital freight forwarder offering a unified platform-plus-services model combining AI-powered technology with bespoke freight forwarding expertise. The core offering consists of the Zencargo AI Platform for visibility, analytics, and control, supported by freight forwarding services across Ocean, Air, Road, and Rail modes. The platform integrates with complementary services including sustainability tools for emissions tracking, and partners with third-party providers for specialized capabilities. The company operates as both a technology provider and freight forwarder, delivering solutions to FTSE 100 enterprises and fast-growing startups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zencargo AI Platform AI-powered digital platform providing real-time shipment visibility, predictive analytics, and collaboration tools for supply chain management; enables SKU-level tracking, performance monitoring, exception management, and prescriptive control for enterprise businesses and fast-growing startups.
• Ocean Freight Global ocean freight forwarding service for businesses moving containerized cargo across international trade lanes; powered by expert procurement and established carrier connections.
• Air Freight Fast, flexible air cargo solutions for urgent and high-value international shipments requiring rapid delivery.
• Road Freight Tailored overland freight services through a global network of carriers, providing flexible road transportation across European and international routes.
• Rail Freight Fast Asia-Europe rail freight services with real-time tracking, offering an alternative transportation mode for Eurasian trade corridors.
• Sustainability Tools Tools enabling customers to track, reduce, and offset Scope 3 supply chain emissions using accredited data, supporting environmental strategies and sustainability reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600%+ revenue growth year-over-year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• THG StudiosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2026Zencargo sponsored THG Studios AI-powered immersive shoppable catwalk event as logistics partner, showcasing integration of AI, automation, and supply chain logistics in enhancing consumer shopping experience from runway to delivery.
• DenkavitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2025Denkavit extended their partnership with Zencargo to strengthen global supply chain operations. The partnership was announced in June 2025, indicating an established and expanding relationship.
• UAE NextGenFDI InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Zencargo joined UAE's NextGenFDI initiative in September 2023, supporting UAE's digital freight forwarding development.
• PledgeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2022Partnership to bring climate transparency and action to supply chains. Helps customers track, reduce and offset Scope 3 supply chain emissions using accredited data.
• John Urban (Strategic Advisor)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2020GT Nexus Co-Founder and supply chain industry veteran joined as Strategic Advisor. GT Nexus was acquired by Infor for $675 million in 2015. Brings expertise in supply chain management software and control tower solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• FourKites: Predictive supply chain visibility and execution platform for shippers, carriers, and 3PLs. Comparable to Zencargo's AI-driven visibility and ETA forecasting capabilities, focused on enterprise shippers.
• Turvo: Cloud-based TMS and collaboration platform for shippers, brokers, and 3PLs. Comparable in providing technology-led supply chain management, with overlap to Zencargo's platform/visibility proposition for enterprise customers.
• project44: Supply chain visibility platform providing real-time shipment tracking across modes. Competes with Zencargo's visibility/AI platform layer; complementary in some integrations but a direct competitor for technology-driven supply chain analytics.

Direct peers

• iContainers: Digital ocean freight forwarder enabling online booking, pricing, and tracking of FCL/LCL shipments. Comparable in offering digital ocean forwarding to mid-market shippers, though with a less pronounced enterprise/AI positioning.
• Freightos: Online freight marketplace and booking platform for ocean, air, and trucking. Comparable as a digital-first freight platform competing for the same shipper customer base with technology-led booking and pricing transparency.
• Beacon: Digital freight forwarder providing ocean and air freight with a tech-forward platform for SMB and mid-market shippers. Operates in a similar digital-forwarding category, though Beacon leans more SMB whereas Zencargo skews enterprise.
• Flexport: Largest digital-first freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and trucking services with a technology platform for visibility and booking. Most directly comparable competitor to Zencargo across multi-modal digital forwarding and enterprise shipper focus.

Broad incumbents

• Descartes Systems Group: Logistics technology provider offering TMS, customs, routing, and visibility solutions. A broad incumbent serving global shippers, carriers, and forwarders with overlapping capabilities to Zencargo's platform offerings.
• Twill (Maersk): Maersk's digital freight forwarding arm offering simplified ocean, air, and inland bookings. Backed by the world's largest ocean carrier, Twill represents the incumbent digital-forwarding play and a key competitive threat to Zencargo.
• Kuehne+Nagel (myKN / digital offerings): One of the world's largest traditional freight forwarders investing heavily in digital platforms and visibility tools. A broad incumbent leveraging scale and carrier relationships to compete in the same enterprise digital-forwarding space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zencargoltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zencargo
• Instagraminstagram.com/zencargo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors10 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Zencargo