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Axle Payments Rebrands to Denim, Raises $126 Million to Scale Financial Automation and Payments Plat
The new brand symbolizes the company's mission to build a stronger supply chain through its flexible and easy-to-use platform
NEW YORK – Sept 15, 2022 – Denim, the leading financial enablement platform for the freight and logistics industry, today announced the closing of a $126 million Series B led by Pelion Venture Partners, including $26 million in equity financing and $100 million in debt financing. The funding is a combination of equity to scale its platform and debt financing to provide working capital to freight brokerages. Along with its new capital, the company also reintroduced itself as Denim.
“The core challenge our clients face is adapting to the pressures of an increasingly complex and unpredictable supply chain. Freight brokers — and the shippers and carriers they work with — must find ways to evolve how they do business together with smarter tools,” said Bharath Krishnamoorthy, chief executive officer and co-founder of Denim. “Denim is pioneering the financial enablement market to meet this challenge, benefiting all parties along the supply chain. With the support of our investors, we’ll continue to scale and serve our clients while strengthening our position as a payments ecosystem that powers the supply chain.”
Last year, Denim quadrupled its revenue, and this year facilitated nearly 60,000 jobs between shippers, carriers and freight brokers through its platform. This year alone, the brand scaled the team 200%. Denim will leverage the funding to continue scaling the team and fuel product expansion efforts to meet the growing needs of the $134 billion freight broker market. Specifically, Denim will continue to build on its strong customer demand by providing flexible financing and automation tools that reduce daily payments and collections tasks by 75%.
The Series B funding round, which was led by Pelion Venture Partners, included participation from Crosslink Capital, Anthemis, Trucks VC, FJ Labs, Tribeca Early Stage Partners, and Refashiond Ventures. In total, Denim has raised $165 million in three years.
“Denim’s innovation within the freight and logistics space has connected thousands through a payments infrastructure that streamlines the flow of money and data — an area where we see a great need for technological advancement and one where Denim will continue to capitalize. We are excited to partner with Bharath, Shawn, the rest of Denim’s leadership team, and our co-investors as the company continues its growth trajectory,” said Blake Modersitzki, managing partner at Pelion Venture Partners.
The new brand, Denim, symbolizes the company's goal to build a stronger supply chain through reliable, flexible and easy-to-use tools. Comparable to how denim revolutionized the way people work and dress, Denim’s financial enablement platform is on a path to making freight shipment payments easy and trustworthy at every step of the supply chain.
“Denim embodies who we are as a team and what we want to achieve in the freight and logistics industry - to be a reliable, essential, and universal partner to our clients,” said Shawn Vo, chief technology officer and co-founder of Denim. “In the last year, our business has evolved and grown dramatically, including enhancements to our platform that help our clients optimize their financial decisions and considerable additions to our teams. We’re excited to unveil our new name and branding as we move into the next phase of growth.”
For more information, please visit www.Denim.com or follow Denim on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Denim
Denim is a financial enablement platform for the logistics industry that offers an ecosystem of intelligent financial products, operations tools, and time-saving automation. Its proprietary technology enables freight brokers to simplify their financing operations and easily access the working capital they need to grow in the competitive, $2 trillion logistics market. Denim automates invoicing, collections, and payments — ultimately reducing daily payments and collections tasks by 75%. A remote-first company, Denim has been named a Best Place To Work by Built In and Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company. Denim is not associated with Axle Logistics.
Toyota Material Handling and Toyota Material Handling MidSouth partner to donate 5,000-pound-capacity pneumatic forklift at Concrete Industry Management’s annual charity auction.
The forklift’s winning bid of $40,000 significantly contributed to the auction’s total proceeds of $2.15 million, supporting CIM’s mission to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the concrete industry. Offered at five universities, CIM equips students with technical, communication and management expertise, preparing them for successful careers in a rapidly evolving industry. Proceeds from the auction are used to assist CIM in funding higher education programs that offer degrees in concrete industry management.
“Toyota is proud of our dealership, Toyota Material Handling MidSouth, for their commitment to philanthropy and the future development of our industry and workforce,” said Bill Finerty, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling. “We are extremely proud to partner with MidSouth on this forklift donation. With Toyota’s local and national involvement, we hope to highlight the incredible impact of the Concrete Industry Management’s annual charity auction.”
“Toyota embodies the belief in supporting local communities and the future of others,” said Nick Edwards, TMH MidSouth Sales Manager. “TMH Midsouth is grateful for the opportunity to support a new generation that shapes the communities and industries we serve.”
This donation builds on Toyota’s legacy of giving back. Previously, TMH MidSouth has supported regional non-profit food banks, Goodwill Industries and flood victims of East Tennessee, further solidifying Toyota’s commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact in the communities it serves.
By supporting programs like CIM, Toyota reaffirms its commitment to strengthening communities and empowering future professionals and supporting education programs that pave the way for tomorrow’s workforce.
Learn more about Toyota Material Handling’s philanthropic initiatives here.
About Toyota Material Handling
Toyota Material Handling offers material handling products and solutions, including forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, pallet jacks, container handlers, automated guided vehicles, and tow tractors, along with aerial work platforms, fleet management services, and advanced automation engineering and design. Toyota’s commitment to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction, the hallmark of the Toyota Production System, extends throughout more than 230 locations across North America. With access to an industry-leading lineup of material handling products, Toyota dealers are uniquely positioned to help solve wide-ranging challenges in warehousing and distribution. Built for every application, Toyota can provide the most complete set of solutions for material handling, automation, energy, advanced logistics, and warehouse optimization. For more information or to learn more, visit ToyotaForklift.com.
About Toyota Material Handling MidSouth
Toyota Material Handling MidSouth is a full-service dealer for Toyota Material Handling North America, the leading forklift manufacturer. With locations across Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama, TMH MidSouth delivers comprehensive material handling solutions, including new and pre-owned equipment, rentals, warehouse supplies, and maintenance services. Committed to enhancing efficiency and productivity, TMH MidSouth provides businesses with reliable, innovative solutions backed by the trusted quality and performance of Toyota forklifts. For more information, visit TMHMidsouth.com.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 2,750 miles away from Silicon Valley, Matthew Chang, founder of Chang Robotics, today announced his next business venture: TheChang Robotics Fund. The Fund is targeting a $50M raise to address the numerous needs and market opportunities the Chang Robotics engineering team identified in their daily operations by investing in disruptive technologies designed to confront the industry's most urgent challenges—from labor shortages to energy efficiency to environmental remediation. By utilizing innovative intellectual property and the engineering and management expertise of Chang Robotics, the Fund seeks to scale its targeted innovations into impactful, transformative, and profitable businesses.
Global industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, face mounting pressures such as intensifying global competition, workforce constraints, escalating expenses, and the urgent need for environmental restoration. Tackling these issues demands a new paradigm of intelligent automation, energy efficiency, and sustainable innovation.
The Fund's investments target early-stage innovators in smart manufacturing, robotics, industrial AI, and energy transformation, developing localized solutions with global applications.
“We don't just fund innovation—we build the industry leaders of tomorrow.”
The idea for the Fund was inspired by Matthew Chang's track record of collaborating with talented startups and investing in them using Chang Robotics engineering expertise. "Our company has a strong ability to spot ideas with real potential," said Chang. "Through The Chang Robotics Fund, we're investing in startups that will shape the future of their industries. I'm confident the companies we support will achieve great success in the years ahead."
The Fund team is a conglomerate of experts from various fields, bringing an unparalleled diversity of wisdom to this project. Matthew Chang, the General Partner, is joined by Dr. Don Capener, Fund Strategist, Forrest Hayes Jr., Fund Director, Robert Sterling, Chief Financial Officer, and Phil Hudgens, Fund Controller. Their fields of experience include asset management, serial entrepreneurship, engineering, venture capital, academia, corporate M&A, and investment banking, amongst others. Their ventures have reached across global markets—spanning the US, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific—demonstrating a deep understanding of diverse markets and economies.
The key to the success of this fund lies in the unique relationship that Chang Robotics has with each potential portfolio company. Whether it is engineering, robotics automation, or consulting, Chang Robotics will work with each portfolio company to ensure their innovations come to life. When asked about this concept, Forrest Hayes, Fund Director, said, "Those relationships with our investment companies, along with the insider knowledge we gain, are critical. Matthew has the vision to harness the intellectual property and capital to conceive a product that fits into the market and will lead to substantial returns for our stakeholders."
On January 29th at 2:00 pm EST. Matthew Chang will join Robert Sterling, CFO and friend of the Fund, to share more of the story behind the Chang Robotics Fund and dive into the trends reshaping automation and investment. If you are interested in investing or simply hearing more about the Fund's vision, you can register here.
About Chang Robotics Chang Robotics is a DBE-certified engineering firm at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, collaborative robotics, and disruptive automation. Founded in 2017, Chang Robotics has rapidly grown, delivering innovative, data-driven solutions, including some of the world's largest autonomous systems. Recognized as one of Fast Company's 2024 Best Workplaces for Innovators, the company revolutionizes supply chain automation and enhances workforce productivity through human-focused robotics. With a commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Chang Robotics empowers businesses across manufacturing, government, healthcare, and beyond. More information is available at ChangRobotics.ai and on LinkedIn.
Miami, FL – January 28, 2025 – Magaya Corporation, the leading freight management platform for logistics service providers (LSPs), today released a report detailing the state of digitization in freight forwarding and the divide that presently exists between shipper expectations and forwarder capabilities.
In November 2024, independent research firm Adelante SCM and Magaya surveyed executives in the logistics services industry, as well as supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies. The research found a substantial gap between what the shippers expect in terms of technological capabilities and what their logistics service providers currently offer.
“Shippers are clear in their expectations: they want visibility, ease of use, and fast response times from their LSPs. Those that fail to meet the technology expectations of their customers are highly likely to lose business moving forward, while the ones that meet or exceed customer expectations will grow and gain market share,” said Adrian Gonzalez, Adelante SCM CEO. “As one respondent shared, ‘we have some logistics partners who have best-in-class technology, while others lag behind with limited visibility and delays in messaging. We're actively working to rid ourselves of the latter.’”
Key findings of the report include:
●90% of shippers said that technological capabilities are extremely or very important when evaluating and selecting 3PLs/freight forwarders.
●Real-time shipment tracking, integration capabilities, and automated documentation and compliance were the top three most requested technological capabilities shippers want from their LSPs.
●Only 23% of the freight forwarders surveyed have digitized more than 75% of their overall business processes/transactions. Less than 40% are using a freight forwarding management system.
●Improving productivity/efficiency is the main driver for digitization among freight forwarder respondents, followed by improving customer experience and lowering costs.
“This report highlights a critical gap between shipper expectations for digitization and what many forwarders currently deliver, which presents an incredible opportunity for forwarders to differentiate themselves, “ said Gary Nemmers, Magaya CEO. “By leveraging innovative solutions like the ones Magaya offers, forwarders of any size can not only close the gap, but exceed expectations with better visibility, ease of use, and faster service. There's plenty of room to compete for those willing to embrace smarter technology strategies.”
Adrian Gonzalez will join Magaya on February 25 at 2 P.M. ET for a deep-dive webinar to review the report findings and explore strategies forwarders can implement to close the expectation gap. Click here for more information.
About Adelante SCM
Adelante means “forward” or “move ahead” in Spanish. We chose this as our name because we are moving supply chain and logistics leadership forward by making it easier for industry professionals to share ideas, knowledge, and advice with each other. Our services include Talking Logistics, an online video talk show and blog featuring thought leaders and newsmakers in the supply chain and logistics industry. And Indago, a community of supply chain and logistics practitioners who are committed to sharing practical knowledge and advice with each other in a trusted and confidential manner — while giving back to charitable causes that make an extraordinary difference in lives every day. Visit adelantescm.com to learn more.
About Magaya
Magaya, the number one freight management platform for logistics service providers, is Moving Freight Forward with a Digital Freight Platform that optimizes the entire origin-to-destination supply chain through flexible, interoperable, and modular cloud-based software. Whether used together as an integrated suite or independently, Magaya solutions enable businesses of all sizes to simplify complex logistics processes, enhance the customer experience, and grow revenues alongside profits. At Magaya, we are passionately devoted to our customers’ success and don’t hesitate to go the extra mile. There are no limits to your growth with Magaya. Visit magaya.com to learn more.
Atlanta, GA – ORTEC, a leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, is excited to announce its membership in the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the only national membership organization dedicated to wine and spirits distributors.
“Joining WSWA is an important milestone for ORTEC toward our goal to become a trusted technology partner to wine and spirits distributors,” said Mat Witte, CEO of ORTEC Americas. “We envision a future of collaborating with fellow members to drive innovation and optimize operations that benefit their business, their customers, and the industry as a whole.”
As a member of WSWA, ORTEC is committed to leveraging its expertise in advanced analytics and optimization to support the goals of the wine and spirits distribution industry. This collaboration will enable ORTEC to share insights and innovative solutions that can help streamline loading and delivery while improving efficiency across the sector.
About ORTEC ORTEC is a leading provider of advanced analytics and optimization solutions, dedicated to helping organizations enhance their operational efficiency and decision-making processes. With a strong focus on innovation, ORTEC leverages cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights to address complex challenges across a number of industries, including logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration with clients enables businesses to optimize their resources, reduce costs, and drive sustainable growth. By integrating advanced analytics into their operations, ORTEC empowers organizations to make informed decisions that lead to transformative outcomes and a competitive edge in the market. Discover more at ORTEC | NEWS.
About WSWA WSWA plays a vital role in advocating for the interests of distributors on federal, state, regulatory, and legal issues that impact the beverage alcohol industry. The organization focuses on critical policy areas, including taxation of family-owned businesses, state-based alcohol regulation, social responsibility, and impaired driving prevention. Additionally, WSWA offers programs designed to promote the careers of its members and help their businesses thrive in a diverse and dynamic industry. Learn more at wswa.org.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich., Jan. 28, 2025 – Targeting the reduction of work-related injury for healthcare workers and shortening time-to-market for medical device OEMs, KUKA Robotics will bring two advanced medical innovations featuring cobot automation to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in booth #540. The event takes place in San Diego, California, March 10-14, and attendees will see how KUKA’s LBR iisy cobot solution helps reduce the incidence of arm and shoulder injury to ultrasound technicians and sonographers. A second cobot demonstration will feature a KUKA Robot Development Kit using a LBR MED 14 R820 cobot that helps slash development time for unique medical device solutions.
Because of the repetitive nature of their work, sonographers and ultrasound technicians commonly experience musculoskeletal disorders such as tendonitis and rotator cuff injury from their work that requires them to apply pressure with abnormal arm and shoulder positioning. Using robot technology such as KUKA’s LBR iisy cobot, however, can take the strain off these technicians by precisely conducting these repetitive exams autonomously. Equipped with a Haply Inverse3 Hapatic Feedback Teleop Device and an OptoForce FT Sensor, the LBR iisy robotic arm can be controlled and manipulated to apply the proper amount of force to the imaging head for a proper reading.
The FT sensor accurately measures the forces applied by the six-axis LBR iisy cobot to the ultrasound probe and relays a scaled down force reading to the haptic feedback device. As a result, the ultrasound tech receives a sense of touch input while avoiding unnatural pressure and strain on their arm, hands and shoulders.
As a collaborative effort between KUKA, Northern Digital, Inc. (NDI) and custom medical device cart manufacturer MPE, KUKA’s Robot Development Kit speeds time-to-market for those OEMs developing special medical device solutions, such as robot-assisted brain tumor biopsy cells. One such cell uses a KUKA LBR MED cobot equipped with NDI optical cameras and trackers that allow it to assist in the deployment of the biopsy needle while making any necessary adjustments via dynamic tracking for safe, precise operation.
The LBR MED, based on the sensitive KUKA LBR iiwa robot, is HRC-compliant with redundant integrated torque sensors, giving it robust haptic capabilities, the ability to perceive external influences and safe collision detection. The seven-axis lightweight robot is flexible and easily integrated into a variety of medical solutions and activities.
All KUKA automation solutions, including those shown during the AAOS annual meeting, are backed by the company’s expert service and support for training, complete system engineering and simulation, readily available spare parts, robot refurbishment and more, all of which are easily accessible through the my.KUKA.com site.
KUKA
KUKA is a global automation corporation with sales of around 3.3 billion euro and roughly 14,000 employees. The company is headquartered in Augsburg, Germany. As one of the world’s leading suppliers of intelligent automation solutions, KUKA offers customers everything they need from a single source: from robots and cells to fully automated systems and their networking in markets such as automotive, electronics, metal & plastic, consumer goods, e-commerce/retail and healthcare.