Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on solutions for the logistics sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we want to share our insights with you. This time, we are taking a look at promising cold chain startups.
Heat Map: 5 Top Cold Chain Startups
For our 5 top picks, we used a data-driven startup scouting approach to identify the most relevant solutions globally. The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 interesting examples out of 246 relevant solutions. Depending on your specific needs, your top picks might look entirely different.
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INPROUS – Temperature-Controlled Packaging
The packaging industry is constantly evolving in order to cater to the demanding needs of cold chain logistics. Companies are looking for packaging with better insulation material and pallets that are significantly more resistant to damage during transport. Several industries are embracing eco-friendly packaging solutions and are turning towards reusable containers to reduce waste.
The Spanish company INPROUS develops ecological and specialized packaging solutions for pharmaceutical logistics, diagnostic laboratories, and hospitals. They provide a variety of reusable refrigerated thermal containers that can be continuously monitored. The containers are designed to maintain temperature for up to 96 hours for transporting pharmaceutical and biological products. They also provide cold pallets and thermal protection sheets to neutralize the effects of extreme ambient conditions.
SmartCAE – Simulated Temperature Control
Cold supply chain companies face the challenge of ensuring the quality and safety of temperature-sensitive products during shipping and distribution. These perishable goods are tested in a variety of environmental conditions that recreate different physical situations. This iteration process is used to fine-tune and optimize conditions that are traditionally cost and energy-intensive. Computer simulations are a solution for testing solutions faster at lower costs.
The German company SmartCAE develops virtual models of the cold chain for testing and optimization purposes. SmartCAE offers software tools for designing and analyzing the performance of the packaging by simulating conditions of an insulated shipping system. The software also analyzes the data to quantify losses if the system fails to maintain the required temperature.
SolarFreeze – Sustainable Mobile Cold Chain
The fact that cold chain logistics uses a wide range of refrigerants and consumes too much energy for storing temperature-sensitive products makes it a challenging environment for becoming sustainable. Innovative solutions are necessary to strike the right balance between the energy-intensive processes of cold chain logistics and addressing the various environmental issues that are starting to impact everyday life.
The Kenyan company SolarFreeze develops mobile cold storage units powered by solar energy. Electricity generated by photovoltaic panels is stored in the form of ice to provide cooling during non-solar hours. These solar-powered cold container rooms are used for the storage and transportation of perishable goods. SolarFreeze also provides cold storage as a service for the farmers, who can access information about their products using a mobile application.
HashMove – Smart Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
As a cold chain is a complex form of logistics that requires stringent temperature control and high energy consumption, many companies find it tough to own and operate refrigerated fleets, mainly due to cost concerns. Thus, they are turning to 3PL providers for outsourcing some elements of distribution, warehousing, and fulfillment. The repeating nature of these tasks is especially valuable for artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) startups looking to provide 3PL solutions.
UAE-based startup HashMove develops a digital platform for manufacturers and suppliers to collaborate with logistics providers to outsource their cold chain operations. These 3PLs provide assets like warehouse facilities and or a transportation fleet to the manufacturing companies at low costs. HashMove also provides real-time tracking and monitoring of goods with integrated IoT cloud technology.
CloudTrack – Temperature Monitoring
Monitoring the condition of temperature-sensitive products being shipped across significant distances is crucial for many businesses if they are to avoid unnecessary losses. Monitoring the temperature of products while they are in transit allows for improved quality and safety in industries like agriculture, food, and pharma. The rising demand for real-time temperature monitoring and location tracking has given rise to many innovative startups working on cold chain solutions.
The Indian startup CloudTrack develops Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for real-time monitoring of cold chain logistics. Their software sends alerts via SMS, calls and app notifications when the temperature changes contrary to the preset thresholds. In addition, they provide real-time tracking of the entire fleet. CloudTrack uses geofencing technology for automatic check-in & check-out and provides insights for route optimization and planning for the entire fleet.
What About The Other 241 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence for your Proof of Concept (PoC), partnership, or investment targets. The 5 cold chain startups showcased above are promising examples out of 246 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria and collaboration strategy, get in touch.
