Delivery platform Parcelnet has successfully attracted a matching angel fund investment from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups following an earlier funding round from Startup-X Angels.
Matching angel fund investments are given out by the government after reviewing the feasibility of the initial investment and then matching it with double the funding.
The startup specializes in last mile delivery service — i.e. getting goods from a transportation hub to the final destination. Parcelnet focuses on rural villages and areas within South Korea which are predominantly made up of the elderly. The company’s delivery staff — which are made up of young and elderly — make deliveries right to the door of everyone in their area.
Parcelnet was founded in 2012 and launched its service in Busan and Seoul the following year. Now, over 500 apartment complexes are using the delivery platform to make life easier for fellow residents. The startup also won the top award at the 2013 Social Venture Contest for creating a large amount of jobs for the elderly and vulnerable.
All the software and hardware needed to set up a local team is provided by Parcelnet, connecting customers, delivery staff and freight companies together. One great feature named ‘CallWeb’ is an automated answering service which lets customers call up to access services without having to install an app. This is a big plus for a demographic that is less likely to use a smartphone.
Deliveries are just the start for Parcelnet, with other local services also on the cards such as house-calls for laundry, car cleaning and farming products. The first of these expansions to the platform will begin in one of its leading villages from September.
