Introducing the Logistics Industry Opportunity Challenge:

Epicenter, Alchemist and the Memphis Supply Chain Industry Invite Your Startup to Tackle Real-World Logistics Challenges.

If you're excited about building a scalable company addressing these challenges, we encourage you to submit your pitch for one of the four challenge areas below.

Today’s business world is moving faster than ever. In an environment where the world’s largest enterprises constantly seek solutions to maintain a competitive edge, it makes sense to work with innovative startup founders who take risks to solve industry-specific business challenges. The supply chain and logistics industry is no exception, and as the nation’s logistics hub, Memphis is the ideal place to explore the challenges and potential solutions in this market.

Epicenter, Alchemist Accelerator, and the Memphis supply chain industry have partnered to invite entrepreneurs and innovative startups to participate in the Logistics Industry Opportunity Challenge.

Whether you already have a startup built around solving one of the listed challenges or are excited to build a scalable company to address them, we encourage you to submit your pitch for a potential solution to one of the four challenge areas described below.

In addition to being introduced to industry leaders in logistics, founders will participate in facilitated conversations with prospective customers who face these challenges and are ready to try out solutions. Winning pitches will get the chance to implement their product in a real-life setting as a pilot project with the sponsoring corporations.

The Logistics Industry
Opportunity Challenge

Challenge Area 1:
Traceability and Visibility
Across the Supply Chain

Problem Statements:

  • How can we track pallets and cargo in real-time for high-value shipments without using drivers' devices, to prevent theft and reduce claims while saving costs and adding value for clients?

  • How can we automate ocean container tracking for global operations, eliminate manual data entry, and integrate with systems like CargoWise, so that logistics managers can work more efficiently, reduce errors, and give real-time updates to customers?

  • How can we use API pricing to optimize LTL rates and plan routes based on service and price without losing connection or increasing data costs, to attract new business and optimize current customer rates within three days of getting quotes?

Challenge Area 2:
Automating Customer Interaction

Problem Statements:

  • How can we ensure customers have seamless, real-time access to information 24/7 to improve customer satisfaction?

  • How can we enable customers to place requests and obtain information anytime, ensuring the process is efficient and user-friendly to enhance the customer experience?

  • How can we provide timely and responsive customer support outside regular office hours while maintaining high-quality service standards?

  • How can we minimize manual effort and paperwork to streamline operations and boost efficiency?

  • How can we develop an accurate and comprehensive catalog database for a large number of parts that eliminates human error and integrates with a master data management system, improving self-service for stores, online customers, and small to midsize fleets?

    Additionally, how can we efficiently obtain physical dimensions and other data from vendors to build this database, reducing our reliance on manually scraping data from third-party websites?

Challenge Area 3:
Realtime, Actionable Insights Into Changing Business Conditions

Problem Statements:

  • How can we use AI and large language models to predict and clarify changes in customs regulations, providing clear, actionable insights to logistics teams to stay proactive and ensure compliance?

  • How can we access and distribute the latest information on tariffs and policies in a timely and accurate manner to reduce risks and keep teams well-informed for effective decision-making?

  • How can we merge multiple data points and links across systems to offer a unified and comprehensive view, supporting informed decision-making and efficient operations?

Challenge Area 4:
Logistics Data Analysis and Prediction

Problem Statements:

  • How can we better predict and manage LTL versus direct fleet costs to enhance capacity, improve data accuracy, and forecast costs a quarter ahead, helping us manage capacity, plan future expenditures, and tighten budget control?

  • How can we better predict accessorial costs and delivery rules for customers with irregular freight receivers by using existing and external data without increasing data storage costs, to integrate this into our TMS and optimize carrier recommendations, ultimately saving money for customers?

  • How can we incentivize shippers to share advanced shipment information for same-day shipments by demonstrating clear benefits, ensuring real-time accuracy, so we can pre-book at lower costs and improve service? Additionally, how can we predict shipment needs to plan ahead and reduce information asymmetry?

  • How can we authenticate carriers and conduct thorough vetting to ensure due diligence is performed effectively, maintaining high standards of reliability and safety in our operations?

Apply Today!

Whether you have a solution to one of the listed problems that is ready for customers, a working prototype or MVP, under development, or just an idea, we highly encourage you to apply for the challenge. Application for the Logistics Industry Opportunity Challenge open on March 3, 2025 and close on April 14, 2025.

Epicenter’s Industry Opportunity Challenge is presented
in partnership with Alchemist Accelerator and Memphis World Trade Club