While more companies weigh the pros and cons of coworking coming out of the pandemic, Atlanta-based Saltbox sees a growing need for flexible co-warehousing options.
“We have seen the pandemic accelerate the shift towards e-commerce in our own space, as many of our members have seen increased sales over the past year. Many were not expecting such a jump in sales and have worked resiliently to manage sourcing and other logistical challenges that came along with the pandemic’s effects on global supply chains,” Saltbox CEO and Co-founder Tyler Scriven told Hypepotamus.
Startups and small businesses working with physical goods use Saltbox not only as a flexible office space but also as a place for storing and fulfilling orders.
E-commerce growth no doubt helped Saltbox close its $10.6 million Series A round, led by Palo Alto-based Playground Global.
San Francisco-based XYZ Venture Capital and Los Angeles-based Wilshire Lane Partners also joined the round.
“Playground Global has a proven track record of investing in innovative early-stage technology companies, including a focus on the logistics space,” added Scriven. “Laurie Yoler and her team recognized the power that logistical enablement offers e-commerce merchants looking to scale, and really understood the value in the combination of purpose-built co-warehousing, flexible workspaces, and a range of integrated logistical solutions.”
Other e-commerce and supply chain-focused companies in Playground’s portfolio include Pandion and Fabric.
“The rise of e-commerce has allowed millions of small businesses to flourish, but fulfilling orders out of garages and self-storage units is inconvenient, uncomfortable, and not conducive to growing a team,” said Laurie Yoler, General Partner at Playground Global. “Saltbox provides a purpose-built alternative for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, with additional services to help small businesses scale.”
Those additional services include a product photography studio, convenient conference rooms, and office spaces.
From its Upper Westside Atlanta location, Saltbox has grown to a team of 25. Scriven told Hypepotamus that the startup is looking to hire an additional 40 employees by the end of the year.
The hiring spree comes as the team eyes expansion into Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver. Saltbox recently opened its second location, a 66,000 square foot facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
