Last-mile startup GoFor raises C$9.8 million as builders shift to e-commerce

GoFor plans to use the new capital to launch a dispatch platform, GoFor Dispatch, to help retailers or fleet operators manage their fleets. Additionally, the funding will accelerate the expansion of its retail partner network in North America.

Volumes surge during pandemic

GoFor has seen delivery volumes surge fivefold during the pandemic, Rollo said. As the company expands its footprint, it hopes to capture more consumer-level business.

“We’ve been serving big construction companies and big homebuilders. Now we’re stretching to the consumer side. It’s DIY time for a lot of people,” Rollo said.

GoFor currently operates in about 60 cities in the U.S. and Canada, offering on-demand deliveries of construction materials in two to three hours. While COVID-19 halted a lot of construction activity, the move toward e-commerce and direct deliveries of building materials has ultimately been a more powerful force. 

In the near term, GoFor plans to expand into 12 to 15 new markets. Rollo said cities on the East Coast and in Florida, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, are attractive options.

GoFor operates with an asset-light model, partnering with owner-operators and fleets for the deliveries, primarily with courier-type vehicles. Fleet capacity changes based on demand.

CEMEX announced an undisclosed investment in GoFor in September.

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