Rebalancing the
Transport Network
Our Origin Story
We began with an ambitious goal: to build airships capable of delivering goods to the most remote parts of the world. We fully designed one, ready to revolutionize transportation.
However, we soon realized that introducing a new mode of transport wasn’t addressing the core issue.
The real challenge wasn’t how goods moved - it was where they stopped.
The pandemic exposed a critical vulnerability. Ports, airports, and rail yards—the nodes of global trade—became bottlenecks, stalling economies worldwide. While innovation surged elsewhere, these hubs remained largely unchanged, awaiting transformation.
The real challenge
wasn’t how goods moved, it was where they stopped.
Recognizing this, we shifted our focus. We saw an immense problem yet to be resolved—one that, if addressed, could fundamentally change how goods move around the globe. We dove headfirst into the $12 trillion global supply chain logistics industry, targeting these crucial intersections.
To truly understand the nuances of this challenge, we immersed ourselves in it. Just a month after refocusing, we boarded a container ship and sailed the North Sea (even weathering a hurricane along the way… not a joke, ask us about this some day).
Over four months, we visited ports, terminals, and rail yards, refining our mission along the way.
Enter Nodal.
Sailing the North Sea
Our Purpose
The global supply chain is much like the internet—a vast network of networks. In this complex system:
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Ports and terminals are like data centers—they process and distribute the flow of goods, just as data centers handle and route digital information.
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Containers are like data packets—they carry essential contents from one point to another.
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Ships, trains, and trucks are like the transmission pathways—they move containers across the network, similar to how data travels through cables and wireless signals on the internet.
Just as a sluggish data center can bottleneck the entire internet, an inefficient port can create ripple effects throughout global trade. Yet, unlike the internet, the supply chain lacks a crucial component: efficient distribution of load across the network.
Just as a slow data center can bottleneck the entire internet, an inefficient port can affect global trade.
Cargo transportation often grinds to a halt as vehicles idle at overcrowded port terminals, despite ample capacity in the network. Nodal's mission is to rebalance this network, enhancing the resiliency, speed, and affordability of cargo transport.
Our Team
Where We Start
We begin at the heart of the supply chain: the ports and terminals. We empower these critical hubs to increase efficiency and attract more traffic by providing the most comprehensive terminal software.
Our technology optimizes their operations, enabling them to handle more volume with less waste.
Our immediate goal? To drive a 10% global decrease in port turnaround times.
By reducing delays and cutting trade costs, we streamline the movement of goods and ultimately stimulate growth in trade volumes and global GDP.
Our Investors
In June 2024, Nodal raised its first round of capital, led by Riot Ventures, to launch its first terminal product.