Participated · Series B · May 2018

Mandaê operates a digital, multi-sided platform that coordinates pickups, cross-docking and last-mile transport to optimize parcel journeys and lower shipping costs for businesses, claiming up to 35% savings. The company uses routing and package-separation optimizations, carrier selection and integrations (API, e-commerce platforms, ERPs) to provide tracking, service quality control, dashboards and reverse logistics. Its asset-light model partners with multiple private couriers and facilities to allow lower-volume shippers access to alternatives to the national postal service. Mandaê currently serves shippers in São Paulo state. The company plans to use the new financing to expand to other regions of Brazil and accelerate growth. Mandaê’s product roadmap and operations emphasize improving quality, speed and cost for SMBs amid rapid e-commerce growth. Mandaê operates a mobile and desktop platform that handles pick-up, professional packaging, carrier selection and shipping for individuals and small-volume businesses. The company connects the long-tail of shippers to high-quality private transporters, including a strategic partnership with Total Express, giving small sellers access to the same couriers used by large e-commerce players. Mandaê started introducing private transporters onto its platform to bridge a gap in Brazil’s logistics market, where private couriers previously served only the largest companies. The startup reported strong 2015 operational traction: a 10x increase in shipment volume, over 8x revenue growth, 25,000 pickups, 160,000 packages shipped, more than 2,500 customers and an NPS of 79. Mandaê plans to use new funding to accelerate growth, scale operations and expand its team. The company is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. Mandaê operates an MVP in Greater São Paulo that lets users photograph an item in a smartphone app and request pickup—within about an hour the company collects, packs and ships the item. Customers pay the amount they would pay to Correios plus a R$10 fee; Mandaê captures margin by routing shipments through partner carriers that provide discounts reportedly up to 70%. After one month of operation the startup had about 40 customers (mostly small and medium businesses) and had processed more than 300 packages. Co‑founders Marcelo Fujimoto and Karim Hardane bring logistics and startup experience—Hardane worked at accelerator 21212 and as director at Wimdu in London, while Fujimoto previously worked in investment banking at JPMorgan in New York focused on transport and logistics. The company is using seed funding to develop the underlying technology and prove traction, and plans to pursue a Series A. Operational challenges include refining the complex backend systems and addressing scalability given staff costs, though Fujimoto says those costs are currently below projections. Mandaê also automates claims and tracking interactions with partner carriers through its system to simplify customer support.