Locus uses proprietary algorithms and deep machine learning to automate logistics tasks such as planning, vehicle allocation, driver assignment, routing and tracking. Its platform is popular with FMCG, retail, e-commerce and distribution-heavy businesses where logistics can be a large portion of cost of goods sold. The company says it has helped customers save over $150 million in logistics costs and eliminated tens of millions of kilometres of travel. Locus operates in North America, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Indian subcontinent, with the vast majority of its revenue coming from international markets, especially North America. The startup plans to use new capital to expand into additional markets and broaden its technology team. CEO Nishith Rastogi said the company already generates enough cash and termed the $50 million raise "insurance money." Locus is an Indian logistics startup that uses AI to map out and automate logistics workflows. It automates planning, organizing, transporting and tracking of inventories, including route optimization and on-the-ground decisioning. The company serves clients in FMCG, logistics and e-commerce, including Tata Group companies, Myntra, BigBasket, Lenskart and Bluedart. Locus analyzes clients' past data to identify patterns and automate decisions at scale and has built tools such as a product-measuring scanner for e-commerce. The company has a 110-person workforce, half of which is located outside India, and half of its IP and revenue comes from its non-India team. Locus is operationally profitable and plans to use new capital to develop products and expand into Southeast Asian and North American markets, having secured some anchor clients for expansion. Locus, founded in 2015 and based in Bengaluru, builds machine-learning and AI-driven software that automates complex logistics and operational decisions for enterprises. The product focuses on optimizing the operational side of logistics—moving people and goods at scale—by determining optimal routes, fleet sizing and other operational approaches rather than simply finding the fastest route. The company pivoted from an initial safety app to logistics tracking and also offers a low-cost $500 "SizeUp" scanner for measuring packages to make its tech portable and affordable. Locus says its ML models can surface non-obvious decisions (for example, recommending different return routes based on observed travel data) that can outperform human analysts. It has begun expanding into North America (U.S. and Canada) and Southeast Asia, and plans to use new capital to grow its presence in those markets. Leadership describes the CEO role as a "chief supply chain officer," and the company intends to add a dedicated technical team in Tel Aviv to complement work in India as it prepares for a larger Series B. Mara Labs Inc. provides Locus, a SaaS-based platform to manage intra-city logistics and on-field workforces. The platform features a route-planning engine, live fleet control and tracking, predictive alerts, reporting and simulations, proof of delivery with signatures, customer notifications, and a mobile app for field staff. Founded in March 2015 by Nishith Rastogi and Geet Garg, the company operates out of Jersey City, New Jersey and Bangalore, India. The company intends to use the funds to continue developing the platform and to expand its team. Financially, the company completed a $2.75M Series A round. In conjunction with the funding, Balakrishnan V of Exfinity Venture Partners will join Locus’ board.

Total raised

$79M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Jun 2021