Dynamo VC

Profile

In an effort to be more transparent, we invite founders to read our three-part series around what we invest in, how we make decisions, and how we support companies post-investment.

We are a team of former operators and specialist investors who are committed to helping our founders execute on their vision. We leverage our deep domain expertise to support founders with product and strategy, sales and business development, and recruiting and talent development.

Dynamo Ventures is an industry-focused fund based on our experience, expertise, and network. The team is made up of Ted Alling and Barry Large who previously built Access America Transport, a logistics business that subsequently merged with Coyote Logistics and sold to UPS for $1.8B. Alongside, Jon Bradford and Santosh Sankar who have made 120+ early stage investments over the last decade.

To champion greater transparency, we have outlined below what we invest in (and what we don’t). We will continue to update this post to ensure that we reduce any ambiguity. For more detailed information, read on!

Industry
Dynamo Ventures is an industry-focused fund specializing in startups in one of two broad areas: supply chain (the movement of goods) or mobility (the movement of people). If a business does not check one of these boxes we are not the right investors for you. Given the background of the fund’s founders, we will always be slightly more biased towards the supply chain.

Supply Chain
Dynamo Ventures thinks about the supply chain across the following five distinct areas that reflect the flow of goods from the “factory floor to the front door.” While this might be overly simplistic, it makes for an easy and relatable conversation.

Factories, Facilities and Farms. We will invest in the support functions in a factory, facility, or farm such as procurement, safety and maintenance. However, we are highly unlikely to invest in production capabilities that would be very industry-specific. Portfolio examples include ChAI and a company in stealth focused on manufacturing workflow collaboration
International Logistics. This includes all things related to ships and planes, containers, ports and airports, international freight forwarding, et al. Portfolio examples include Steam Logistics and Vector AI
Surface Transportation. This typically includes all things related to trucks and trains, digital freight brokerage, autonomy, etc. Portfolio examples include Sennder, Gatik, Starsky Robotics, and LEAF Logistics
Warehousing and Fulfilment. This includes warehousing and distribution optimization, warehouse robotics, inventory harmonization, and related functions. Note, this area has a significant overlap with factories. Portfolio examples include Stord, SVT Robotics and PlusOne Robotics
Last Mile. This includes solutions for getting goods to a store/customer. Note, we don’t invest in B2C startups so we would not invest in a startup such as Doordash or Instacart; instead, we look for enabling technologies that help last-mile. Portfolio examples include nextmv, Manna Aero, and Skupos