UniUni, the Richmond-based delivery startup, has closed a USD $30 million Series C extension led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Participating investors include Celtic House Venture Partners, LFX Venture Partners, Lanchi Ventures, and Joy Capital.

According to the company, it will use the additional funding to further expand in the U.S. The move will involve building more warehouses and robotic sorting centers to “reduce costs and increase efficiency and accuracy.” The outfit will also continue focusing on software developments, such as AI integrations to improve customer service and optimize driver delivery routing.

UniUni has raised a total of USD $120 million since its founding in 2019. It was recognized in 2023 as one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada and earlier this month ranked fourth on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 awards, with its annual revenue increasing nearly fourfold in the past year. Over the last 12 months, the startup has doubled its total number of warehouses and increased parcel volume by 425 percent. It now operates in 180 cities in Canada as well as in Los Angeles.

“Logistics is a massive market undergoing structural change due to the accelerating demands of the e-commerce era with a new class of carriers emerging,” said Bryan Wu, a partner at Bessemer. “UniUni brings a new model of delivery that addresses the pressing demands for e-commerce platforms and online retailers. We’ve been impressed with the company’s traction and growth and look forward to partnering with the UniUni team as they continue to expand their footprint across North America.”

The former restaurant delivery startup, which began with just a few drivers, got its big break thanks to a chance encounter. When a person connected to fast-fashion giant Shein spotted one of UniUni’s “We deliver the goods” vans, they jotted down the number. Shortly afterward, co-founder Peter Lu received an unexpected call about becoming Shein’s delivery partner as it was expanding globally. Then, another one of the top-ranking apps in Canada — Temu — turned to UniUni for its services. At the time, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an upswing in delivery needs, leaving major companies struggling to find enough staff and vehicles.

UniUni’s clients now include emerging e-commerce platforms as well as established online retailers and brands. What sets the company apart from traditional couriers is its crowdsourcing model, similar to Uber’s, which employs contract drivers using their own cars. This approach allows them to reduce costs while maintaining only a fleet of trucks to transport goods from airports to warehouses.

The company also invests heavily in technology to improve its delivery and service. Its algorithm plots routes to minimize crossing streets during drop-offs. For drivers, this saves time, reduces fuel consumption, and lowers the risk of potential hazards. For customers, it means faster parcel deliveries at fees as low as half the typical cost of competitors.

To date, UniUni delivers tens of millions of parcels annually in Canada. It has grown to employ 500 staff members and 10,000 registered drivers.

Don’t miss out on exclusive stories on Vancouver’s innovators. Become a member of Vancouver Tech Journal now.