Global trade is one of the world’s oldest and largest industries, valued at approximately $25-30 trillion. Yet, over the last 75+ years, the majority of investments in global trade have been directed toward physical infrastructure like ports, aircraft and roads. As the world continues to integrate, evidenced by global trade growing 300% over the last 2 decades, and trade flows continue to diversify, there is an urgent need to build technology that connects the physical infrastructure and SMB players who are the backbone of global trade.
Starboard’s founding thesis is simple: global trade will become increasingly volatile and complex over the next twenty years. As the sector continues to struggle with a lack of human capital, an AI-first virtual infrastructure is needed to ensure global logistics and trade continue to operate effectively and efficiently.
We believe that the key to solving this problem lies in helping freight forwarders unlock the power of technology and scale. Freight forwarders are the connective glue of global trade. Today, around 80k SMB freight forwarders connect millions of importers/ exporters, ports, ships and other infrastructure to make the $30 trillion of global trade possible. These SMB forwarders still rely on emails, phones, and 90s-built tech to execute transactions which can involve up to ~50 touchpoints and 15-20 parties. Our AI-first tech enables these SMB freight forwarders to operate at ~50-70% higher efficiency, reduce burnout in their teams and offer the best in class service to the importers/ exporters they serve.
The biggest barrier to tech adoption in logistics has been the lack of standardization in processes and data. We built Starboard’s platform to tackle this challenge head-on by offering an AI-powered operating system for freight companies. Our technology converts unstructured data from emails, documents, and live APIs into structured data, enabling real-time processing of shipments, quotes, and client issues.
Traditional ERP and TMS systems struggle to handle the sheer volume of unstructured data, often relying on large teams to manually clean and process it. Our AI control tower automates key tasks like document generation, invoice reconciliation, and quoting. This allows businesses to focus on their core operations and products. As a result, early adopters have seen an 80% reduction in manual entry and a twofold increase in productivity. These improvements translate into significant operational cost savings—up to 50%—and enhanced supply chain efficiency.
By harnessing AI and machine learning, our team is making logistics faster, smarter, and more reliable for companies that need it most.
Today, we are excited to announce our $5.5 million funding round led by Eclipse with participation from Garuda Ventures and Everywhere Ventures. This will add firepower to our mission of creating the virtual infrastructure that will power the SMB global trade of tomorrow.
The funding will accelerate product development, expand our engineering team in Toronto, and support our efforts to acquire new customers in the logistics space. Toronto’s vibrant tech ecosystem and diverse talent pool make it an ideal location for our team to grow and execute our ambitious roadmap. With this investment, we’re equipping freight forwarders with the tools they need to simplify supply chain complexities and thrive in a competitive ecosystem. Starboard is poised to scale our platform and lead the digital transformation of global trade for all businesses.
As we move forward, our vision remains clear: to create key virtual (tech and financial) infrastructure for all players in global trade. We believe enabling SMB forwarders to grow by unlocking the power of technology and scale is the first step towards a balanced and more integrated SMB global trade and economy
If you’re ready to join us on this journey, whether as a partner, investor (we put early employees in the same category as investors), or customer, we’d love to connect. Visit Starboard’s website to learn more about how we’re redefining what’s possible in global logistics.