ShipMonk
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Third-party logistics |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Jan Bednář |
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Key people | Kevin Sides (CEO)[1] |
| Services |
|
Number of employees | 2,000+[2] (2025) |
| Website | www |
ShipMonk is an American third-party logistics company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It stores, packs and ships goods for online retailers and provides software for managing orders and inventory.[3] Founded by Czech entrepreneur Jan Bednář in 2014, the business developed from a service that forwarded packages from the United States to the Czech Republic.[4]
The company expanded beyond the United States through acquisitions in Mexico and North America, and later opened a fulfillment center in the Czech Republic.[5][6]
History
[edit]Origins and growth
[edit]While studying at Florida Atlantic University, Bednář began forwarding products purchased in the United States to customers in the Czech Republic. He developed this business under the name BedaBox and subsequently began providing order fulfillment to other businesses. In January 2016, BedaBox Fulfillment was renamed ShipMonk; the original package-forwarding operation was later sold.[7] Kevin Sides and Václav Jareš joined Bednář as co-founders of the fulfillment business.[3][8]
ShipMonk initially financed its growth without outside investment. Its revenue rose from $3.9 million in 2016 to $10.6 million in 2017 and $28.4 million in 2018.[9] In October 2018, it raised $10 million in a Series A financing round backed by SJF Ventures, Grotech Ventures and Supply Chain Ventures.[10]
Investment and international expansion
[edit]In December 2020, Summit Partners led a $290 million investment in ShipMonk. The company said it planned to expand its warehouse network and invest in automation.[3] Periphas Capital made a further $65 million investment in January 2021.[11] The financing transactions included purchases of existing shares as well as capital for expansion.[12]
In 2021, ShipMonk acquired El Mar Mexico, also known as 321 Fulfillment of Mexico. Its facility in Tecate became ShipMonk's first warehouse outside the United States.[5] In November of that year, it acquired Ruby Has Fulfillment, a deal announced in January 2022. The acquisition added warehouses in the United States, Canada and the UK, as well as more than 700 employees.[13][14]
In April 2023, ShipMonk opened a fulfillment center near the German border in Cheb, Czech Republic, to serve customers shipping goods within Europe. It also had a software development team in Prague.[6] ShipMonk's annual revenue exceeded $350 million in 2023.[15]
Leadership
[edit]Bednář stepped down as chief executive in 2023 and was succeeded by Josh McCarter, while remaining an executive adviser.[16][17] McCarter left ShipMonk in 2024.[18] Co-founder Kevin Sides subsequently became chief executive.[1][2]
Operations
[edit]ShipMonk provides outsourced logistics for online retailers, including warehousing, order processing, packing, shipping and returns. Its software connects to online stores and marketplaces so merchants can manage orders and inventory across sales channels.[3]
The company operates fulfillment centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the Czech Republic.[19] ShipMonk appeared on the Inc. 5000 list in each year from 2018 through 2025.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "ShipMonk Named to Inbound Logistics' 2026 Top 100 3PLs". ShipMonk. 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "ShipMonk is a 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree". Inc. 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Shieber, Jonathan (2 December 2020). "Florida-based logistics provider ShipMonk raises $290 million on the back of rising eCommerce demand". TechCrunch. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Jan Bednář se svým startupem dobývá Ameriku. Firmu stavím na prodej, říká". Forbes Česko (in Czech). 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 Mahoney, Noi (21 October 2021). "ShipMonk establishes international footprint with Mexico expansion". FreightWaves. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 Brejčák, Peter (19 April 2023). "Návrat domů. Jan Bednář se startupem ShipMonk otevřel v Česku první sklad v kontinentální Evropě". CzechCrunch (in Czech). Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Zakladatel startupu ShipMonk, Jan Bednář: zařazení do žebříčku Forbes 30 pod 30 vděčím svému týmu". CzechCrunch (in Czech). 22 November 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "ShipMonk Product Development". Cocuma. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Catching up with ShipMonk: New facility, rapid hiring, more growth on way". Refresh Miami. 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Bedřich, Václav (30 October 2018). "Český startup ShipMonk získal ve svém prvním investičním kole přes 220 milionů korun". CzechCrunch (in Czech). Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Bednář může bouchnout šampaňské. Jeho ShipMonk získal další velkou investici". Forbes Česko (in Czech). 29 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Bedřich, Václav (2021). "Jan Bednář prodává za více než miliardu korun další část ShipMonku. Letos chystá zásadní expanzi". CzechCrunch (in Czech). Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Portero, Ashley (24 January 2022). "ShipMonk doubles global footprint, adds 700 employees after acquisition". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "ShipMonk Acquires Ruby Has Fulfillment". ShipMonk. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Jan Bednář – 100 nejbohatších Čechů 2023". Forbes Česko (in Czech). 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Brejčák, Peter (16 June 2023). "Jan Bednář končí jako šéf ShipMonku. Logistický startup vybudoval od nuly k miliardám". CzechCrunch (in Czech). Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "ShipMonk Careers". ShipMonk. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "EverCommerce Announces Josh McCarter as the Leader of Its EverPro Vertical" (Press release). EverCommerce. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "ShipMonk Fulfillment Centers". ShipMonk. Retrieved 24 September 2026.