Chain.io takes the next step in connecting the Supply Chain Digital Nervous System

Supply chains have historically been plagued by rigid, inefficient, and slow point-to-point connections managed by error-prone, manual processes. 73% of companies rely on spreadsheets for supply chain functions. The software ecosystem is fragmented and has been slow to adopt modern API-based approaches to integration. Chain.io is removing these root obstacles by creating interconnected networks built with supply-chain best practices in mind.

Last week, Chain.io announced it closed a $11M Series A round of financing. Grand Ventures co-led Chain’s Seed round back in April 2021 and we are excited to participate in their Series A as well. Chain.io’s Series A round was co-led by Fontinalis Partners and High Alpha. Mercury, Eve Atlas and Waybury Capital also participated in the round.

Chain.io is a purpose-built supply chain iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) aimed squarely at the next-wave of supply-chain software that has emerged over the past half of a decade. These emerging solutions are API-based, and treat integrating with third party platforms & services as a first class citizen of their design principles, and not relegated to an afterthought.

Below are the key reasons why Grand Ventures invested in Chain.io in 2021 and why we continue to be bullish on them today.

1. Market and Technology— Chain.io sits at the convergence point of two areas Grand Ventures is intensely focused on— digital supply chain and middleware. These happen to be two very distinct things — middleware exists in just about every corner of the software ecosystem, ranging from Enterprise, to FinTech, to Observability and every type of software in-between. Chain.io checks both of these boxes in that they are core middleware purpose-built rapidly evolving digital supply chain landscape via their integration platform. Many of Grand Venture’s investments are into companies where we see this kind of convergence across multiple core investment thesis areas.
2. Team — When you talk to Brian Glick, Chain.io CEO, it’s clear that you’re talking to someone who eats, sleeps, and dreams about solving the most challenging supply chain problems. Brian is well recognized as a top industry expert within the digital supply chain world. The key to building middleware in any space is to have a deep understanding of all the technology endpoints that are being connected/integrated, and Brian’s decades of experience has yielded a deep understanding of the entire supply chain software landscape. That deep understanding and year of experience has very much been imprinted in Chain.io’s digital supply chain platform.
3. Growth — In the past year Chain.io has more than doubled the number of out-of-the-box (OOTB) integrations included with the platform, doubled their customer count, and doubled the amount of data/connections that are flowing through their platform. They are growing in all the ways that matter.

This combination of innovative middleware tech in a sector that is rapidly going through a digital transformation, incredibly deep industry expertise and deep technical horsepower, along with continued explosive growth is what differentiates Chain.io and why Grand Ventures is bullish on the company.

Looking Ahead

Chain.io will leverage the Series A funding to continue growing its network, adding more integrations for transportation and supply chain platforms, as well as geographic expansion across North America, Europe, and Asia.

We share in Brian’s excitement to be a part Chain.io’s journey, and are incredibly optimistic about what lies ahead.

Note: We’re actively looking for new Supply Chain / Logistics software companies as a foundation in GVII. If you’re a founder in the Supply Chain / Logistics software company or a VC looking at deals in the space, let’s connect!