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FreshX
Techstars '23Techstars '23Chicago, US · 7 known investors
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FreshX provides a platform for booking temperature-controlled (reefer) less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, connecting shippers and freight brokers with a network of refrigerated carriers across the US. The platform offers instant rate quotes, real-time pricing, and transparent comparisons of carrier options and service levels.
Also known as Fresh X
Founders & leadership
Investors · 7
How we know: Caruso Ventures's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · research · freightcaviar.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Valor Equity Partners's portfolio page · research · freightcaviar.com · Not right? Tell us
How we know: research · freightcaviar.com · Not right? Tell us
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements- Undisclosed amountPre-Seed RoundJul 2024Source ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Sep 2026FreshX is a Chicago-based supply chain software company focused on temperature-controlled (reefer) less-than-truckload freight. Its platform allows freight brokers, food shippers and carriers to find, price and book reefer LTL shipments across the United States, with real-time rates and visibility into pick-up and drop-off dates, insurance and service levels so that options can be compared before booking.
The product is positioned as a software-as-a-service and marketplace solution for cold chain logistics, covering booking, rate analytics, route optimization and cold chain planning and intelligence. Carriers publish dynamic pricing models and schedules to the platform, which brokers and shippers then query for instant quotes. The company describes network-level optimization intended to reduce empty miles.
FreshX markets access to its Refrigerated Carrier Network (RCN), which it describes as comprising more than 120 carriers together with a network of over 100 warehouses and cross-dock facilities nationwide.
Founding story
Clay Curran, MBA '23, is identified as founder and CEO; a July 2024 trade report also names Lance Hackney as a co-founder, describing the founding team as including a former freight brokerage partner. Advisors named include Matt Silver and Lars Ward, with support from University of Chicago professors Mark Tebbe and Steven Kaplan.
Business model
FreshX operates a marketplace/SaaS platform in which refrigerated LTL carriers upload dynamic pricing models and schedules, enabling freight brokers and shippers to obtain instant quotes and book capacity directly through the platform. Carriers can join the Refrigerated Carrier Network free of charge.
Traction
By July 2024 the platform was live in beta with carriers, brokers and shippers. The company's site cites a network of more than 120 carriers and over 100 warehouses and cross-dock facilities, and includes a testimonial from a sales representative at a top-50 freight brokerage.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
FreshX addresses cold chain transportation and storage for food companies and freight brokers, a segment where complexity has increased and demand has grown for fast, transparent and flexible temperature-controlled freight solutions.
FreshX targets reefer LTL, a segment it describes as an underserved part of the supply chain that typically relies on manual quoting processes. It emphasizes instant, transparent pricing and schedule visibility from a dedicated refrigerated carrier network, plus network-level route optimization aimed at reducing empty miles.
Technology
A marketplace platform on which carriers upload dynamic pricing models and schedules to support instant quoting and booking, combined with rate analytics, route optimization and cold chain planning and data insights, with end-to-end automation.
Go-to-market
The company sells through demo requests on its website and recruits refrigerated LTL carriers to join its network for free. It has gained visibility through university venture competition coverage, freight trade press and industry podcasts.
Freight brokers, food shippers and refrigerated LTL carriers.
Geography
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with carrier, warehouse and cross-dock coverage described as nationwide across the United States.
History
The company won first place at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business's 2024 Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge in June 2024, receiving a $1 million investment that included the $185,000 Rattan L. Khosa First-Place Prize — the largest single-team award in the competition's 28-year history. In July 2024 it announced a $2.7 million pre-seed round, at which point the platform was live in beta with carriers, brokers and shippers.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 2
Companies working in the same space as FreshX.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsAs of July 2024 the FreshX platform was live in beta, working with carriers, brokers and shippers to refine the service.
FreshX won first place at the Edward L. Kaplan, '71, New Venture Challenge at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, receiving a $1 million investment that included the $185,000 Rattan L. Khosa First-Place Prize — the largest single-team investment in the competition's history. Judges awarded $1.9 million across 11 finalist teams.
$1M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- FreshXgetfreshx.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does FreshX do?
- Chicago-based software platform for instant quoting and booking of temperature-controlled (reefer) LTL freight across the US.
- Who founded FreshX?
- FreshX was founded by Clay Curran.
- Who are FreshX's investors?
- FreshX's investors include Caruso Ventures, Dorm Room, Techstars, Valor Equity Partners, LongJump Ventures, OCA Ventures, Origin Ventures.
- Where is FreshX headquartered?
- FreshX is headquartered in Chicago, US.