Andrew Leto of Emerge

March 31, 2020February 17, 2021 thetechtribune

An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Andrew Leto, the founder of Emerge, which was honored in our:

Tell us the origin story of Emerge – what problem were you trying to solve and why?

As CEO and founder at my last company (Globaltranz), which is a large broker of transportation in the United States, I noticed that companies that ship freight mostly use spreadsheets and email to procure their carriers (i.e. trucking companies, air lines, ocean freight vessels, etc). Emerge is a free digital freight marketplace that enables companies to procure their rates for transportation on a platform vs emails and spreadsheets. Our product is free as it makes money by bringing new capacity providers to the mix utilizing a network effect. For example, a company will bring in the 12-15 trucking companies they work with and now those trucking companies can gain access to more opportunities through the Emerge marketplace.

What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?

The biggest hurdle is explaining our platform for the first time. It is a new concept that many have never seen before.

What does the future hold for Emerge?

We want to become the main resource for companies to find carriers for their freight for all modes of transportation. Right now, we are concentrated on full truckload. However, the same person that procures truckload carriers at a company usually is the same, or sitting right next to, the person procuring their ocean containers providers.

What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Scottsdale?

We can do a better job. The problem is the lack of venture capital in our market.

What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Never stop learning and concentrate all your efforts on solving one problem at a time with your startup. Also, just do it – there is more risk in not doing it. Don’t be afraid to fail: If your company is successful, you probably tried 20-30 ways to make it work – you only need to find the one that works to seem magical.