Relay Targets UK Expansion with $35M AI-Powered Delivery Boost

Relay, a UK-based ecommerce startup founded in 2022 by Jonathan Jenssen and Nicole Mazza, has announced a successful $35 million Series A funding round led by Plural. The funding will be instrumental in expanding Relay's operations across the UK, targeting established players in the sector such as DPD, Evri, and Yodel. With a focus on AI and machine learning, Relay aims to revolutionize delivery services by enhancing speed, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency for both merchants and consumers. By integrating AI for hyperlocal deliveries and improving security measures through a generative AI courier training tool, Relay intends to tackle challenges around delivery inefficiencies and security. Their approach, which consolidates deliveries and automates workflows, has already improved compliance rates and reduced fraud. Relay delivers for recommerce marketplaces like Vinted and global players like Temu, and has ambitions to scale its delivery network and bolster its engineering and operational team. With total funding of $50 million, including from notable investors Project A and Prologis Ventures, Relay is poised to make significant strides in the delivery sector, adapting to the demands of the digital age.