Oway

Oway is an AI-driven freight platform that turns America’s empty truck space into a new category of freight shipping. Every year 50% of U.S. truck space goes unused, a $100B+ inefficiency. Oway uses AI to automatically price, match, and sell that space in real time, giving businesses freight shipping that is dramatically faster and cheaper than traditional options.

We're building the largest decentralized network of America’s empty truck space - a transparent infrastructure layer any shipper, broker, or carrier can plug into. For shippers, this means freight costs that are up to 50% lower than traditional LTL (shipments from 1 to 12 pallets), along with faster delivery windows because freight moves directly from dock to dock without the slow handoffs, warehouses, or cross-docking infrastructure that LTL depends on. For carriers, Oway’s integration can increase annual revenues by up to 30% with minimal impact on existing schedules. They simply earn more by monetizing space that would have gone unused.

Our mission is to transform empty truck space into an asset that strengthens U.S. competitiveness. By lowering the cost of goods sold, we help businesses grow. By improving carrier margins, we make trucking more sustainable. And by digitizing and decentralizing freight, we are laying the foundation for a resilient, transparent logistics layer that can support America’s reindustrialization in the decades ahead. Oway makes freight shipping as simple as ridesharing - click a button, book a truck, and move goods at the true cost of available capacity.

High-Level Overview

Oway is an AI-driven logistics platform that acts as the first AI infrastructure layer for America's empty truck space. It automatically prices, matches, and sells unused truck capacity in real time, enabling businesses to ship freight faster and at significantly lower costs by ridesharing pallets along existing truck routes. This approach cuts out warehousing transfers and reduces shipping costs by up to 50%, making freight shipping more efficient and affordable for shippers while increasing revenue for carriers[1][3][4].

For an investment firm, Oway’s mission centers on revolutionizing freight logistics by leveraging AI and decentralized technology to optimize underutilized trucking capacity. Its investment philosophy likely focuses on supporting innovative, tech-driven solutions that disrupt traditional industries, particularly in logistics and supply chain sectors. Key sectors include AI, decentralized platforms, and transportation logistics. Oway’s impact on the startup ecosystem is notable as it introduces a new protocol for freight ridesharing in Western markets, fostering efficiency and sustainability in shipping[2][3].

As a portfolio company, Oway builds an AI-powered marketplace platform that serves shippers and freight carriers by matching shipments with empty truck space. It solves the problem of underutilized freight capacity, which accounts for about 40% of trucking space in the U.S., reducing costs and carbon emissions. Oway’s growth momentum is supported by a $4 million seed round, backing from Y Combinator and General Catalyst, and early traction demonstrating significant cost savings and operational efficiencies[2][3][5].

Origin Story

Oway was founded in 2023 by Phillip Nadjafov, who brought expertise in AI and logistics to address inefficiencies in freight shipping. The idea emerged from recognizing the vast amount of empty space in trucks traveling across the U.S. and the manual, inefficient freight ridesharing practices common in China but absent in Western markets. Early pivotal moments include securing Y Combinator backing and raising $4 million in seed funding, validating the concept and enabling rapid development of their AI-driven decentralized platform[2][3][6].

Core Differentiators

• AI-Powered Matching: Uses machine learning to dynamically match partial shipments with available truck space on existing routes, optimizing load efficiency.
• Decentralized Platform: Connects shippers and carriers directly, eliminating middlemen and reducing costs.
• Cost Efficiency: Cuts shipping costs by up to 50%, e.g., shipping a pallet from Los Angeles to Dallas for as low as $140 versus $350 market rate.
• Speed and Reliability: Enables overnight shipping with fewer transfers, reducing damage risk by minimizing unloading and reloading.
• Compliance and Insurance: Integrates electronic logging device (ELD) data for route and driver compliance, with comprehensive insurance exceeding industry standards.
• User Experience: Free to access, instant quotes, and no hidden fees or accessorial charges, with a customer-friendly refund policy[1][3][4][5].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Oway rides the growing trend of AI-driven optimization and decentralized marketplaces disrupting traditional logistics. The timing is critical as the U.S. freight industry faces rising costs, inefficiencies, and environmental pressures. Market forces such as mandated electronic logging devices and increasing demand for faster, cheaper shipping favor Oway’s model. By enabling ridesharing of freight, Oway reduces carbon emissions and supports sustainability goals while empowering smaller carriers and shippers through transparent pricing and direct connections. This innovation influences the broader ecosystem by setting new standards for freight efficiency and digital transformation in logistics[2][3][5].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Oway is positioned to expand its decentralized freight network, enhance AI capabilities for even smarter routing and pricing, and potentially integrate more deeply with supply chain management systems. Trends shaping its journey include increasing demand for sustainable logistics, growth in e-commerce requiring faster shipping, and broader adoption of AI and decentralized technologies in transportation. Oway’s influence may evolve from a niche freight ridesharing platform to a foundational infrastructure layer for the entire U.S. trucking industry, driving systemic efficiency and environmental impact reduction.

By pioneering the AI infrastructure layer for empty truck space, Oway is not only transforming freight logistics but also setting a precedent for how AI and decentralization can unlock value in traditional industries[1][2][3].