Estonian last-mile technology startup ParcelSea, based in Tallinn, has raised €935,000 (US$1.13m) to build its smart mailbox network in Estonia and foreign markets. The company says it has been on a fast development trajectory while e-commerce and contactless pickup are booming. It plans to use the funding to expand production and continue building new features and services, such as a freezer department for food, parcel delivery and return, and various smart home solutions.
The funding round was led by Superangel and in addition to venture capital funds (Superangel and United Angels), the primary investors include successful Estonian startup founders such as Taavi Madiberk (Skeleton Technologies), Kristjan Vilosius (Katana MRP), Taavi Tamkivi (Salv), Triin Hertmann and Alvar Lumberg (Grünfin) and many others.
ParcelSea’s offering is a personal locker for parcel deliveries that accepts packages in a secure and contact-free way. It’s made of three sections and fits various package sizes, letters and up to five grocery bags. The company notes that it is an integration-free and open solution approach, which means that all couriers and grocery stores can leave their packages as no special app is required to use the box.
It is currently focused on installations in private, terraced and semi-detached houses. “We want to offer a smart home mailbox that is always at home and ready to accept all packages, food and friend-to-friend goods without human contact,” said CEO and co-founder Andres Sampka.
“Today, there are more packages delivered home than letters or newspapers. Ordinary mailboxes are often sitting empty,” added CTO and co-founder Indrek Jürgenson.
Business development manager Tanel Raun added that pre-orders have already exceeded expectations. “Most orders are from larger cities and their suburbs. We will be starting to install several hundred personal mailboxes in a couple of weeks. By the end of the year, our goal is to have at least 1,000 boxes functioning across Estonia.”
The co-founders of ParcelSea said that their current focus is on the development, improvement and installation of personal smart mailboxes: “We are working on several versions of the product to answer the needs of both private and business customers with different needs. Step by step, we are planning to offer additional services to both companies and private customers – things like sending parcels and returning goods to a shop. We are also developing other smart home solutions to make users’ lives more comfortable.”