E-commerce startup Stord acquires Shipwire to build an AI-powered alternative to Amazon’s fulfillment network

The Atlanta-based startup said Monday it has acquired Shipwire, an AI fulfillment platform owned by CEVA Logistics, adding another piece to its growing effort to build a serious alternative to Amazon’s fulfillment machine. The deal closed Jan. 1 for an undisclosed price and brings 12 new facilities and roughly 60 employees into Stord’s network.

The move comes as e-commerce logistics faces consolidation pressures, with smaller merchants often feeling the pressure first. Stord is betting that scale, software, and steady dealmaking can give brands another option.

For Stord CEO Sean Henry, the appeal came down to assets that were already battle-tested. “This is a great network, great customers, great team to pull onto our technology and our combined scale,” Henry told CNBC. “And with that scale, it spins our flywheel up.”

Founded in 2006, Shipwire built its business by making professional-grade warehousing, global shipping, and fulfillment accessible to smaller e-commerce brands that were scaling faster than their operations could handle. Over time, the company expanded into full-service fulfillment and shipping, gaining traction with brands that ship larger and heavier products. Its customer base spans apparel, consumer electronics, consumer goods, food and beverage, and health and beauty sectors, where logistics errors quickly translate into lost revenue and customer churn.

That momentum led to Ingram Micro’s acquisition of Shipwire in 2011. More than a decade later, Shipwire became part of CEVA Logistics following CEVA’s 2022 purchase of Ingram Micro’s Commerce and Lifecycle Services division, placing the platform inside one of the largest logistics footprints in the industry.

“Joining forces with Stord is a decisive move that accelerates our logistics technology and intelligent supply chain vision,” said Marcelo Wesseler, CEO of Shipwire. “Our customers, technology, and proprietary AI applications fit perfectly with Stord’s existing customer base and impressive suite of software offerings. I look forward to a bright future for both the Shipwire teams and customers under Stord’s stewardship.”

With Shipwire Deal, Stord Doubles Down on AI and Global Expansion in E-Commerce Logistics

The acquisition brings more than additional warehouse capacity. Shipwire adds internal execution, planning, and routing tools that Stord plans to roll out across its broader platform. Stord customers will gain improved access to CEVA’s global infrastructure, which spans more than 120 million square feet of contract logistics warehouse space across 170 countries. Shipwire customers, in turn, are expected to see faster AI software development across order management systems, warehouse systems, delivery estimates, and related tools, paired with Stord’s parcel pricing and consumer-facing delivery experience.

This marks Stord’s seventh acquisition as the company works to challenge the fulfillment economics long dominated by Amazon. In May, Stord acquired Ware2Go, a third-party logistics provider and UPS subsidiary. Earlier deals included Pitney Bowes’ e-commerce fulfillment business and logistics platform ProPack. Alongside acquisitions, Stord has invested heavily in physical infrastructure, including a major expansion in Kentucky, and continues development of its Penny Black technology platform.

The strategy has attracted major backers. Last year, Stord raised $200 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, with investors including Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Salesforce Ventures, and Strike Capital.

Henry founded Stord in 2015 after leaving the Georgia Institute of Technology to join the Thiel Fellowship, which pays young founders to step away from college and build companies. Past fellows include Dylan Field, Chris Olah, and Vitalik Buterin.

Henry said more acquisitions are likely in the months ahead, with Australia and Asia on Stord’s expansion radar. The thesis is consistent: assemble global capacity, integrate proven software, and give brands a fulfillment option that does not require handing their customer relationships to Amazon.

Whether Stord can keep stitching together acquisitions while making the system feel unified will determine how far that bet goes—but with Shipwire now folded in, the company has added both history and scale to its push.

Shipwire Warehouse (Credit: Shipwire)