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§ Private Profile · Seattle, WA, USA
E-commerce shipping service providing discounted shipping for small to medium-sized online retailers, integrating with order management platforms.
Bellevue, Washington-based Equaship provides discounted shipping and logistics services tailored specifically for small to medium-sized e-commerce retailers. Operating as a direct alternative to major incumbent carriers like FedEx and UPS, the company utilizes an asset-light business model by partnering with third-party logistics providers such as Blue Package Deliveries rather than owning physical transportation fleets. The platform integrates directly with existing e-commerce order management systems, offering its delivery services to a potential market of over two million online sellers while generating estimated shipping cost reductions of 26 to 77 percent. Equaship has been backed by a syndicate of private and angel investors, securing at least $900,000 in early funding alongside corporate support from its largest institutional investor, Newell Rubbermaid. The logistics company was founded in 2009 by Ron Wiener and a team of industry veterans.
Equaship has raised $900K across 1 funding round.
Equaship has raised $900K in total across 1 funding round.
EquaShip is a Seattle-based technology-enabled parcel delivery service launched in 2011 that provides affordable shipping rates to small and medium-sized e-commerce sellers, manufacturers, and distributors, enabling them to compete with larger players offering "free shipping."[1][2][3] It serves shippers handling 1 to 750 packages per week by acting as a "fourth carrier" integrated into platforms like Vendio and ShipWorks, offering discounts of 26%-77% below FedEx and UPS retail rates without owning trucks or planes—instead leveraging a network of regional carriers via partners like Blue Package Delivery.[1][2][3] Key features include transparent all-in pricing, built-in insurance, track-and-trace, PO Box delivery, and no contracts or credit checks, addressing the pain point of high costs that force small shippers out of business in a duopoly-dominated market.[2][3][4]
The company demonstrates early growth momentum, raising $600,000 in funding just two months post-launch and rolling out beta services with regional pickups expanding coast-to-coast.[1][5]
EquaShip was founded in Seattle around 2011 by CEO Ron Wiener, alongside shipping and retailing veterans from UPS, Amazon, and DHL, who united to build a scalable alternative to major carriers like UPS and FedEx.[1][5] The idea emerged from recognizing how small e-commerce sellers and single-point shippers—lacking widespread fulfillment centers—faced uncompetitive rates in an ecosystem demanding free shipping, leading many to close.[2] Early traction came swiftly: within two months of launch, EquaShip secured $600,000 in funding to accelerate growth and struck key integrations with e-commerce platforms like Vendio and ShipWorks, positioning itself as a seamless fourth option on shipping screens for millions of users.[1][2][5] A pivotal partnership with Blue Package Delivery provided non-asset-based consolidation using regional carriers, enabling faster push-through of packages compared to majors.[2]
EquaShip rides the explosive growth of e-commerce post-2010, where small merchants struggled against giants like Amazon benefiting from volume-discounted shipping in a UPS/FedEx/USPS duopoly.[1][2] Its timing capitalized on rising demand for "free shipping" that squeezed independents without scale, positioning EquaShip as a democratizing force via tech integrations that make competitive rates accessible without fulfillment overhauls.[1][3] Market forces like parcel consolidation trends and regional carrier networks favor its model, reducing barriers for SMBs and fostering a more fragmented, efficient ecosystem—much like how software disrupted logistics for enterprises.[2][4] By enabling millions of merchants to sustain operations, it indirectly bolsters the diverse startup-driven e-commerce landscape.
EquaShip's early integrations and funding signal potential for nationwide expansion beyond beta, scaling to full coast-to-coast pickups while deepening platform partnerships.[1][2] Rising e-commerce volumes, automation in regional logistics, and SMB resilience post-pandemic will shape its path, possibly attracting acquisition by majors seeking small-shipper access or further venture capital for tech enhancements like AI routing.[5][6] Its influence could evolve from niche disruptor to standard "fourth carrier," empowering more entrepreneurs to thrive in competitive shipping—ultimately fulfilling its founding vision of affordable scalability for the underdogs.[1]
Equaship has raised $900K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $900K Seed in June 2011.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2011 | $900K Seed | — | Rapoport Investments | Announced |
Equaship has raised $900K in total across 1 funding round.
Equaship's investors include Rapoport Investments.