Forto
Forto helps logistics teams digitize freight forwarding and shipment management.
Forto is a digital freight forwarder and logistics management platform that consolidates ocean, air, and rail freight booking, shipment tracking, and logistics operations into a single interface. The platform addresses a critical supply chain pain point: companies currently spend up to 100 hours booking and managing shipments through fragmented email, phone, and fax communications. Forto serves 2,500+ customers across 50+ countries with real-time quotations, automated documentation, customs clearance, and proactive shipment alerts powered by analysis of 1.2M+ monthly data points.
Problem solved
Companies waste 100+ hours manually booking and coordinating freight shipments via disconnected channels and lack visibility into shipments after departure.
Target customer
Mid-market to enterprise manufacturers, e-commerce brands, and industrial companies with complex international supply chains requiring digital freight management and real-time tracking.
Founders
M
Michael Wax
CEO & Co-Founder
Serial entrepreneur who founded KONUX (AI for rail efficiency, backed by Alibaba and NEA) between roles at Bain & Company and BMW.
F
Ferry Heilemann
Co-Founder
Co-founder alongside brother Fabian; previously founded DailyDeal and other ventures.
F
Fabian Heilemann
Co-Founder
Co-founder and entrepreneur; founder of Heilemann Ventures and AENU.
E
Erik Muttersbach
Co-Founder
Co-founder and board member; angel investor in 6 startups.
Funding history
Seed
Unknown
2016
Led by Cherry Ventures
· Unknown
Series A
Unknown
December 2017
Led by Northzone
· Unknown
Series B
Unknown
September 2020
Led by Inven Capital
· Unknown
Series C
$240M
June 2021
Led by SoftBank Vision Fund
· Citi Ventures, G Squared, Northzone, Inven Capital
Series D
$250M
March 2022
Led by Disruptive
· Earlybird, A P Moller Holding, existing investors
Total raised:
$610M
Pricing
Not publicly available. Platform operates on a quote-based booking model where customers receive real-time pricing for shipments.
Notable customers
Viessmann, Miele, Home24, Edeka, Zero, Miwebo, Osann
Website
Competitors
Flexport
Broader global logistics platform with stronger presence in air freight and higher operational complexity; Forto focuses on digital-first automation.
sennder
Primarily focuses on road freight and trucking; Forto spans ocean, air, and rail with integrated booking and tracking.
Zencargo
UK-focused freight forwarder with narrower geographic scope; Forto operates across 50+ countries with multi-modal capabilities.
DHL Global Forwarding
Incumbent player with vast scale and legacy systems; Forto competes as digital-native alternative displacing traditional forwarders.
Why this matters: Forto is a leading example of digital disruption in the $150B+ traditional freight forwarding market, having raised $610M to replace inefficient manual processes with automation. The company's October 2025 launch of FortoLabs—agentic AI for supply chain operations—signals the next evolution beyond booking automation into autonomous supply chain management.
Best for: Manufacturing, e-commerce, and industrial companies shipping internationally who need to eliminate manual freight booking processes and gain real-time supply chain visibility.
Use cases
Real-time freight quotation and booking
Manufacturers can request ocean freight quotes and instantly receive itemized pricing with transport options instead of waiting days for manual quotes. This compresses 100-hour booking cycles to hours.
Proactive shipment monitoring
The platform's Transport Management System analyzes 1.2M+ monthly data points to generate 'Moments of Truth' alerts that notify companies of shipment issues before they escalate, preventing supply chain disruptions.
Consolidated multi-modal logistics
E-commerce brands managing complex supply chains can consolidate ocean, air, and rail freight management in one platform with unified tracking, reducing coordination overhead across multiple freight forwarders.
Alternatives
Flexport
Larger, more established platform with greater operational complexity; better for companies needing white-glove service alongside digital tools.
Traditional freight forwarders (DHL, Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker)
Offer vast global networks and legacy relationships but lack modern digital interfaces; suitable for companies prioritizing personal relationships over automation.
Shippo
Focuses on parcel and small-package shipping; Forto specializes in LCL/FCL ocean and complex freight logistics.
FAQ
What does Forto do? +
Forto is a digital freight forwarding platform that consolidates ocean, air, and rail freight booking, management, and tracking into a single interface. It automates shipment quotations, documentation, customs clearance, and provides real-time visibility into shipments across 50+ countries. The platform serves 2,500+ customers and uses AI-powered analytics to generate proactive shipment alerts.
How much does Forto cost? +
Forto's pricing is not publicly available. The platform operates on a quote-based model where customers request shipments and receive real-time pricing. Enterprise customers should contact sales for custom pricing.
What are alternatives to Forto? +
Key alternatives include Flexport (broader logistics platform with operational services), sennder (road freight focus), Zencargo (UK-focused), and traditional incumbents like DHL Global Forwarding and Kuehne + Nagel (legacy networks and personal service).
Who uses Forto? +
Forto serves mid-market to enterprise manufacturers, e-commerce brands, and industrial companies with complex international supply chains. Named customers include Viessmann, Miele, Home24, and Edeka. The platform is used by 2,500+ companies across 50+ countries.
How does Forto compare to Flexport? +
Both are digital-first logistics platforms, but Flexport is larger and offers broader operational services (warehousing, customs brokerage) with white-glove support. Forto differentiates through faster booking automation, real-time quotations, and a focus on self-service digital experience. Forto was first to market with integrated Order Management Systems and dynamic pricing engines.
What makes Forto different from traditional freight forwarders? +
Unlike traditional forwarders (DHL, Kuehne + Nagel) that rely on manual coordination, Forto is digital-native with automated real-time quotations, integrated shipment tracking, and AI-powered predictive alerts. This eliminates the 100-hour manual booking cycle typical in legacy forwarding.
Tags
freight forwarding
logistics
supply chain
shipping
TMS
digital logistics
real-time tracking