• SkyCell

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2020

  SkyCell develops smart hardware and software for pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics, including insulated "smart containers" and a logistics platform called SkyMind. Its containers use machine learning and sensors to maintain strict temperatures, humidity levels, and vibration control, and the company has begun selling components such as its smart thermometer. SkyCell says its containers are on average about half as heavy as competitors’, which it equates to roughly 50% less CO2 from air transport. The company reports roughly 50% annual growth and moves about $2.5 billion worth of pharmaceutical products and ingredients per month. Customers include pharmaceutical companies and a large network of cargo partners. SkyCell plans to use the new funding to double down on work with companies operating in Asia and the U.S. SkyCell designs and manufactures insulated, “smart” transport containers for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, underpinned by roughly 140 patents. Its latest container version can maintain conditions for up to 180 hours and is paired with an analytics platform that provides recurring revenue and shipment monitoring. The company says it now transports $1.5 billion of pharmaceutical products each month (finished and raw materials), representing hundreds of millions of doses. After pandemic disruptions, SkyCell reports a return to a 40–50% growth rate. The firm is focused on sustainability, aiming to transition to a CO2-neutral supply chain and reduce industry waste tied to disposable solutions. SkyCell is 10 years old and is choosing to remain focused on pharmaceuticals rather than diversify into other temperature-sensitive markets like food. SkyCell designs and manufactures self-charging hybrid containers that maintain stable temperature conditions, deflect shock, and protect temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals on long journeys. Its containers include embedded IoT sensors and shipment monitoring software that provide worldwide tracking and near-real-time quality oversight. The startup positions its product to reduce risk in transporting biologics and other temperature-sensitive drugs. Following an investment by Lazard Asset Management, SkyCell says it is financially equipped to accelerate innovation and expand its global reach. The company emphasizes growth ambition as a global leader in temperature-controlled container solutions and a trusted partner to pharmaceutical companies worldwide. SkyCell develops smart containers and a SaaS solution (SECURE) to enable safe, secure, and sustainable transportation of temperature‑sensitive pharmaceuticals. Its hardware is designed to predict, reduce, and control risks associated with cold‑chain logistics while the SECURE platform provides end‑to‑end shipment oversight and automated approval capabilities. The company has expanded its global service footprint with new centers in locations including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seoul, Rome, Toronto, Tokyo, and Ireland. SkyCell significantly increased headcount (45% growth since its previous funding round in April 2020) and is focused on converting a growing pipeline of global pharma and biotech clients. The firm plans to use new funding to grow sales teams, further differentiate its hardware and SaaS offerings, and improve client experience to become a preferred distribution solution for the cold chain. SkyCell builds insulated, instrumented "smart containers" and a software platform to maintain strict temperature, humidity and vibration conditions for pharmaceuticals in transit. Its containers withstand temperatures from -35°C to 60°C and the hardware and software are covered by about 100 patents. The company operates a logistics network using some 22,000 air freight pallets and says its failure rate is under 0.1% while cutting CO2 emissions on a typical shipment by almost half. SkyCell works with eight of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies and is in validation trials with another seven. The company was founded in 2012 in Switzerland and counts customers involved in COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccine development among its clients. New capital will be used to expand in the U.S. and Asia and to double its fleet to become the largest pharmaceutical-transportation company globally.

No current team members are available.