Fretlink

About Fretlink

Fretlink is a digital transport organizer operating in the European road freight market, a sector valued at over €300 billion. The company was established in Paris, France, in November 2015 by Paul Guillemin (CEO), his cousin Antoine Le Squeren (Chief Science Officer), Didier Duval, and Frédéric Menou (CTO). The founding team combines expertise from transport, entrepreneurship, and technology, with Menou previously serving as CTO at Capitaine Train (now Trainline) and Duval bringing over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. The idea originated when a client asked Guillemin, who was running a digital agency at the time, to develop a Transport Management System (TMS), revealing the industry's lack of digitization.

Fretlink's core business revolves around its proprietary "Transport Operating System," a SaaS platform that connects shippers with a network of mostly small and medium-sized carriers. For shippers, including major companies like Saint-Gobain, Nestlé, and Intermarché, the platform offers a way to secure, manage, and optimize their transport plans, providing data centralization and real-time tracking to improve logistical cost visibility and avoid ancillary fees from delays. For carriers, the system provides intelligent load offers to fill underutilized truck space, aiming to tackle the significant inefficiency of an estimated 25% of trucks on European roads running empty. This model is designed to foster long-term partnerships by ensuring fair market rates and consistent service, moving away from a pure price-comparison model. Fretlink's revenue is generated through its role as a digital freight forwarder, taking full responsibility for shipments.

The company has secured a total of $34.4 million in funding over four rounds. A significant Series B round in April 2019 raised €25 million ($28 million), led by Edenred Capital Partners and TIP Trailer Services, with participation from existing investors like Daphni, Elaia, and Breega Capital. This funding was earmarked for expanding its service offerings for carriers—such as fuel cards, trailer rentals, and maintenance contracts—and for geographic expansion, with plans to open offices in Germany and Belgium. By centralizing the fragmented market—where 90% of transport companies are small regional operators—Fretlink provides these smaller players access to large industrial tenders previously out of reach.