Liftit

Liftit is a Colombian logistics technology company that operates a configurable, integrated transportation management platform used by shippers, carriers and independent truck drivers to plan and execute first-mile, middle-mile and last-mile truck deliveries in Latin America. The platform integrates with shipper systems through APIs, automation and semi-automated Excel load files to capture orders, then uses a proprietary algorithm to design delivery routes that are dispatched to independent owner-operator drivers, referred to as "Lifters." Dashboards give shippers route and timeline planning, delivery-status visibility and estimated times of delivery to share with end customers, while back-office functions let internal teams update information and adjust pricing when breakdowns, losses or other incidents occur during transport.

The company positions its platform as a connector across three sides of the delivery ecosystem — carriers, independent drivers and shipper-side internal teams — with the aim of increasing the pool of available fleets and drivers and shortening delivery times. Data captured on deliveries is used for operational decision-making and cost reduction. Regional algorithms are pre-adjusted to local conditions in each market it serves. Founded in January 2017 and headquartered in Bogotá, Liftit was described in 2018 as making over 100,000 deliveries per month, and its clients have included Falabella, Walmart and Frubana.

Founding story

Liftit was founded in 2017 in Bogotá by three Colombian founders: Brian York, Ángel Celis Botto and Felipe Betancourt. York was born in Colombia, adopted at two weeks old by a US family and raised south of Boston; he returned to Colombia in 2009 and built businesses there in part to reconnect with his origins. Before Liftit he worked as an accountant and as CFO of Chris Sacca's fund Lowercase Capital, then founded several startups, including an early venture described as a "Facebook for sports fans" that raised roughly $3M and failed. Liftit's earliest operations were run through Facebook and WhatsApp, with the first three customers acquired on a budget of about $5 per day before institutional fundraising.

Business model

Liftit charges for transportation management services according to pricing models and the service packages clients select. It combines its software platform with a network of independent owner-operator truck drivers who execute the deliveries, matching shippers with carriers based on end-customer needs, vehicle type and the characteristics of the goods. The company has stated an intention to also offer a software-as-a-service product so smaller shippers can manage their own delivery operations directly on the platform.

Revenue is generated from transportation management services priced according to defined pricing models and client service packages, with a planned future software-as-a-service offering aimed at smaller shippers.

Traction

Reported more than 100,000 monthly deliveries as of December 2018 and over US$14M raised at that time. The company said it had achieved profitability in Chile and Colombia by mid-2020 and experienced a significant increase in demand across Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic. Built In lists 270 total employees, while the company's own description on that page cites 300+ employees. Customers include Falabella, Walmart and Frubana.

Latest developments

In 2022 Liftit was recognized by Logistics Tech Outlook as a top logistics technology company in Latin America, with Fernando Matias identified as President, and stated plans to add a software-as-a-service offering for smaller shippers.