[UK] They are still playing their cards close to their chest, but stealth-mode Shutl, the UK-based startup, is today sneaking out the news that it’s secured a £0.5m investment from a group of Angels led by Angel investor Simon Murdoch and Big Bang Ventures in Belgium.
Murdoch is well known and respected in the UK tech scene after setting up online bookstore Bookpages in ‘96 and selling it to Amazon in ‘98. The other investors include the likes of Bebo co-founder Paul Birch, Robert Dighero (formerly of QXL) and Mark Zaleski (former DailyMotion CEO).
Murdoch joins the board as non-executive chairman and Chris Öhlund as a non-executive director. Öhlund is Chairman of the Supervisory Board at ricardo.de.
Shutl is the new project from serial entrepreneur Tom Allason, who is founder and CEO. Allason founded eCourier.co.uk via £8m from Angels and a VC, in 2003, leaving it in 2008 with £7.5m in turnover and 250 staff.
Shutl says it “promises to re-define e-commerce” which is a pretty broad statement. We understand it might well be back in the courier/distribution space Allason knows so well.
The startup is due to “officially launch later this year” though the counter on its site puts its launch date in 73 days – or December 31. Which is pretty late this year.
I reckon it’s got something to do with same day delivery of products purchased online.
If it is something to do with same-day delivery then their timing couldn’t be better what with the postal strikes that are forecast! Brave to go up against the big players though…
Any kind of delivery would be nice! Out of curiosity, who are the big players?
I was thinking the likes of DHL, Royal Mail, Parcel Force…
I saw these guys present a few months ago and believe they have a really great concept. At the time I told them I would be one of their first habitual customers. I can see how it could be a game-changer for e-commerce, if they can pull it off.
They’re done really well to raise that kind of money in the current climate! Must be a compelling proposition to get such an exciting group of investors on board. Look forward to finding out more!
Nice logo too.
I wasn’t aware that they were big in same-day?
One to watch!
Impressive investor line-up. Clearly doing something right.
Hmm. Interesting stuff this. “Redefining e-commerce” is one hell of a bold statement given the current market players (Amazon, Play, Tesco Direct etc.)! I wonder what they’re up to? Postal replacement? Funky new ecommerce platform? Last mile solution? Who knows? Roll on 31st December I say – I wanna see what this lot are up to…
V.impressive management team! They haven’t said much, but must be launching something huge from launch – £0.5m investment sounds like 2010 cash flow, so reckon these guys have the plan and big deals in the pipeline to be profitable very early on.
If it is same day delivery as Paul said, then awesome, bring it on – I absolutely *hate* waiting to receive stuff I’ve bought!
Love the branding. Very nice. Will watch the progress closely.
It’s similar to max delivery in the states. Develvering groceries for a permium price and fixed fee. I’m really not sure the market is ready for it over here tho. Plus, everyone speaks of him as if he’s down great things with e courier but if you looks the figures e courier never really did that well. All that’s ever mentioned is the turnover but as everyones knows turnover is vanity….