Dynamo Dispatch (2025/05/19)
Issue 332 | Stord, Outgo, Flock Freight
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Weekly Commentary 💭
💥 We’re proud to share that Dynamo portfolio company Stord has raised $200M in financing to continue delivering its mission of providing a best-in-class, end-to-end fulfillment platform. This platform enables eCommerce brands to deliver an Amazon-like experience to their customers. We’re grateful to have been a part of Stord’s earliest days, and look forward to continuing on the journey.
🌎 China to US and US to China bookings both saw major week-over-week surges, 91.7% and 136.7%, respectively, following the 90-day tariff reduction decision between the two nations. While still down on a YoY basis, the agreement provided much needed relief to the chokepoints importers & exporters were facing in moving goods. Thank you to Dynamo portfolio company Vizion for the insightful global trade data.
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Make, Move & Monetize 📦
⭐ Walmart Becomes Biggest Retailer Yet to Pass Through Tariff Price Increases. Walmart announced plans to raise prices this month and into early summer as tariff-related cost increases begin to impact its merchandise, with some prices—like bananas—already rising. Despite strong recent sales, Walmart cautioned that ongoing tariff uncertainty could disrupt business and it may absorb some costs to remain competitive. Although a temporary US-China tariff deal has reduced rates from 145% to 30%, Walmart and other retailers still expect meaningful price hikes for consumers. Related, Shippers, Carriers Adjust Strategies as Trade Policy Remains Obscure.
Tariff Two-Step: After Pause, China-US Container Traffic Increases. Container bookings from China to the US surged 277% in the days following a temporary pause in tariffs between the two countries, signaling a rapid rebound in demand for eastbound trans-Pacific shipping. Despite this surge in bookings, other indicators like the SONAR Ocean TEU Volume Index still show a week-over-week decline in actual container departures from China. Major players like Flexport and Maersk are seeing increased booking inquiries and offering discounts to fill ship capacity, reflecting both renewed interest and lingering supply chain uncertainty. BNSF, UP Prepping for July Cargo Rebound After Tariff-Induced Lull.
Waymo Recalls 1,212 Robotaxis Over Software Bug After Low-Speed Crashes. Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, recalled 1,212 vehicles after a software bug in its fifth-generation system caused several low-speed collisions with barriers. The issue was quickly resolved with a software update, and Waymo noted that its newer sixth-generation platform avoids the problem entirely. This follows previous recalls, including one in June after a vehicle hit a utility pole, highlighting the ongoing complexity of scaling autonomous navigation. Despite the setbacks, Waymo continues to expand its driverless services across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, supported by partnerships with Uber and Lyft. Related, Amazon's robotaxi unit Zoox agrees to software recall after self-driving Las Vegas Crash.
Shein Leases Massive Vietnam Warehouse to Mitigate US Tariff Risks. Shein has leased nearly 15 hectares of warehouse space near Ho Chi Minh City, its first major facility in Vietnam, as it looks to reduce reliance on China amid ongoing US-China trade tensions. The move is part of a broader diversification strategy that includes sourcing from countries like Turkey and Brazil, as well as responding to rising tariffs on Chinese goods. While Shein continues investing heavily in its China-based supply chain, including a $500M hub near Guangzhou, the growing threat to the US "de minimis" exemption is pushing the company to rethink fulfillment routes. This regulatory gap gives Vietnam-based operations like Shein's new warehouse a key cost advantage, especially for low-value e-commerce exports to American consumers. Related, China-US Air Freight Tumbles on 'De Minimis' Tariff; Airlines Adjust Routes
China Resumes Rare Earth Magnet Exports After Temporary Freeze. Relieving Carmakers. China has resumed issuing export licenses for rare earth magnets after a one-month freeze that disrupted global supply chains and alarmed automakers and electronics manufacturers. The halt began in early April 2025 under new rules requiring case-by-case government approval for magnet exports containing critical materials like neodymium. By mid-May, companies including Volkswagen and unnamed US firms began receiving limited approvals, easing short-term pressure. Still, the episode underscores China’s control over rare earths and the supply chain vulnerabilities it creates. Related, A New Cold War is Brewing Over Rare Earth Minerals.
Cyberattack Forces Nucor to Idle Multiple Steel Mills Across the US. Nucor, North America’s largest steel producer, temporarily shut down some operations after detecting unauthorized access to parts of its IT systems. The company activated its incident response plan, took systems offline, and began containment and recovery efforts but did not specify which facilities were affected. The disruption was described as precautionary, with production paused at only select sites. The incident reflects the broader rise in cyberattacks targeting global industrial manufacturers. Related, Cyberthreats Surge Against US Logistics Infrastructure.
Ocean Carriers Line Up Hefty Rate Hikes On Oversupplied Asia-Europe Trade. Ocean carriers are pushing rate hikes of over $3,000/FEU on the Asia-Europe corridor starting June 1, despite persistent overcapacity and weak demand that have driven spot rates down by up to 70% since January. Major players like CMA CGM, MSC, and Hapag-Lloyd are testing the market with aggressive pricing, though shippers report offers as low as $1,200/FEU. Analysts say the imbalance between record vessel supply and flat demand will likely cap any sustained rebound. Meanwhile, diverted cargo from the China-US route and port congestion in Northern Europe may trigger a short-term crunch in June.
Avocados, Auto Parts and Ambushes: Inside Mexico’s Cargo Theft Crisis. Cargo theft in Mexico remains a severe issue, with 81% of incidents in Q1 ‘25 involving violence and concentrated largely in the central and southeastern regions—especially the states of Mexico and Puebla. Criminals mainly intercepted moving trucks (62.6%), though parked vehicle thefts also rose in high-crime zones. To counter rising threats, companies like Overhaul and Descartes advocate for multilayered security using real-time tracking, AI-powered behavioral analysis, and fraud detection tools to identify and block digital and physical threats to freight. Related, Highway Releases Freight Fraud Index Revealing 400,000 Sophisticated Fraud Attempts in Q1 2025.
Freight Crash May Turn Into Sudden Revival. Freight market sentiment is improving after a 90-day US-China tariff truce triggered a short-term rebound in shipments, especially from Chinese exporters looking to beat future deadlines. FreightWaves’ Craig Fuller and SONAR’s Zach Strickland expect a surge in volumes over the coming weeks, possibly resembling post-COVID recovery or Chinese New Year rebounds. Intermodal remains strong as shippers prioritize lower-cost rail for non-urgent freight, while tender rejections are holding near 5% despite weak truckload volumes, suggesting hidden demand and capacity tightening. Across the US, Ohio To Join In International Truck Inspections.
Trump Says He Doesn’t Want Apple Building Products In India. President Trump publicly rebuked Apple CEO Tim Cook, saying he opposes the tech giant’s growing iPhone production in India and wants more manufacturing brought back to the US. Trump referenced Apple’s $500B US investment pledge and pressured Cook to shift focus from India where Apple aims to make 25% of global iPhones to domestic facilities instead. The comments come amid escalating trade talks with India, which Trump criticized as one of the world’s highest-tariff nations. While Apple has begun US manufacturing for select products, experts say shifting iPhone production stateside would drive prices as high as $3.5K per unit.
The Future of Supply Chain 🎙️
Check out our podcast series that’s been running since 2018. On each episode of the Future of Supply Chain, we sit down with a different entrepreneur, investor, or industry veteran to discuss innovation, technology, and the most exciting opportunities in supply chain as we build the future of the industry together.
Fundraises and M&A 💸
💥 Stord Raises $80M in Series E Funding. Dynamo portfolio company Stord is an end-to-end fulfillment platform enabling mid-market eComm brands to provide an Amazon-like experience. The round was led by Strike Capital with participation from Baillie Gifford, NewView Capital, G Squared, and Georgia Tech Foundation alongside existing investors Kleiner Perkins, Franklin Templeton, Founders Fund, BOND, Sozo Ventures, 137 Ventures, and Lux Capital. The funding comes alongside $120M in debt financing from Silicon Valley Bank and ORIX Group.
Voltra Raises $1.8M in Pre-Seed Funding. Voltra is an energy startup building developer tools for edge-controlled electric grids, starting with a unified API platform for EV chargers, batteries, and microgrids. The funding will support product development and early deployments with fleet operators, condo developers, and microgrid integrators. The round was led by Contrary, with participation from Hanover Capital and Velocity Fund.
Akeno Raises €4.5M in Seed Funding. Akeno is an AI production planning platform that delivers real-time, automated optimization for batch industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food. The funding will support team expansion, geographic growth across Asia and North America, and further development of its adaptive planning technology. The round was led by Cusp Capital, with participation from TS Ventures and another.vc.
Scription Maintenance Raises $7.8M in Seed Funding. Scription Maintenance is a commercial foodservice tech company turning equipment repair into a subscription model, eliminating hourly billing and aligning incentives around equipment uptime. The funding will support expansion across North America. IA Capital led the round, with further participation from Markd.
Metafoodx Raises $9.4M in Funding. Metafoodx is an AI-powered food operations platform helping commercial kitchens reduce waste and optimize production using a patented 3D AI scanner. The funding will support expansion of its real-time data and automation tools that cut food waste by up to 90% and deliver rapid ROI for food service providers. The round was led by Trustbridge Partners, with participation from BlueRun Ventures and ScalableVision Capital.
InfinitForm Raises $12.7M in Seed Funding. InfinitForm is an AI-powered design optimization platform that generates manufacturable, performance-optimized CAD models for sectors like aerospace, automotive, and industrial engineering. The funding will accelerate product development, expand engineering and go-to-market teams, and meet rising customer demand. The round was led by UP.Partners, with participation from Schematic Ventures, Counterpart Ventures, Yamaha Motor Ventures, and former Autodesk CEO Carl Bass.
Clarium Raises $27M in Series A Funding. Clarium is an AI-powered healthcare supply chain resiliency platform that helps hospitals and health systems predict disruptions, manage inventory, and optimize substitutions to reduce waste and improve outcomes. The funding will accelerate the development of its platform, expand its team, and deepen partnerships with leading US health systems. The round was led by Northzone with participation from General Catalyst, AlleyCorp, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Texas Medical Center Ventures, and 1984 Ventures.
Arkestro Raises $36M in Funding. Arkestro is a predictive procurement platform using AI, behavioral science, and game theory to accelerate sourcing cycles and unlock hidden savings for enterprise procurement teams. The funding will support global expansion, innovation in AI-driven supply chain optimization, and deeper traction across industrial sectors. The round was led by Altira Group and Aramco Ventures, with participation from NEA, Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT), and Activant.
Optimal Dynamics Raises $40M in Series C Funding. Optimal Dynamics is an AI decision platform for trucking companies, automating complex logistics decisions. The funding will support platform expansion, team growth, and continued scale across strategic, tactical, and real-time planning for carriers and brokers. The round was led by Koch Disruptive Technologies.
Cart.com Raises $50M in Growth Funding. Cart.com is an unified commerce and logistics platform helping enterprise and mid-market brands manage eComm, fulfillment, and marketing across channels. The new capital will fuel global expansion, strategic acquisitions, and product development to support demand generation and resilient commerce infrastructure. The round includes funding from BlackRock, Neuberger Berman, eGateway Capital, and other strategic investors.
Flock Freight Raises $60M in Series E Funding. Flock Freight is a shared truckload freight brokerage platform. The round will fuel initiatives such as hiring, expanded integration capabilities, deeper partnerships with managed transportation providers, and enhanced tools for carrier engagement. The round was led by O’Neil Strategic Capital and joined by Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, SignalFire, GLP Capital Partners, Bracket Capital and more.
DAT Acquires Outgo. DAT operates the largest load board for truckload freight in North America and provides rate benchmarking and digital freight tools to connect carriers and brokers. Outgo is a fintech startup that automates payments, factoring, invoicing, and collections for carriers. DAT acquired Outgo to integrate in-house payment and factoring services into its platform, enhancing trust, cash flow support, and end-to-end value for carriers in a tight-rate freight market.
Who's Hiring? 👩💻
Be sure to check out the Dynamo website for more job opportunities at our portfolio companies!
Insurance Producer at LogRock in Concord, NC (Remote)
Senior Software Engineer, ML at Raft in Bengaluru, India.
Central Operations Specialist at Gatik in Mountain View, CA