Plug and Play, the Silicon-Valley primarily based enterprise capital agency and company innovation platform has introduced a partnership with the Savannah Financial Growth Authority (SEDA) to determine a First-Mile Logistics innovation hub in Savannah.
Based on SEDA, the partnership goals to construct an ecosystem the place firms, startups, and universities can collaborate on fixing the largest challenges of the maritime, trucking, rail, and air cargo industries.
“The enterprise of logistics is a crucial element to Savannah’s financial system and features a world class infrastructure system with the Port of Savannah, unparalleled interstates, the Savannah/Hilton Head Worldwide Airport and our intensive Class 1 and Quick Line Railroad networks,” mentioned SEDA President and CEO Journey Tollison.
“By partnering with Plug and Play and integrating extra of the expertise facet of logistics, we’ve got a singular alternative to place our area because the long-term chief within the logistics world. This can be a large alternative for startups and companies to get in on the bottom flooring of one thing that might considerably form the area.”
Savannah gives the right mixture of best-in-class assets to speed up the expansion of First-Mile Logistics startups, mentioned Plug and Play Founder and CEO Saeed Amidi.
“The numerous investments already made in infrastructure and manufacturing in Savannah implies that logistics startups will be capable of pilot their applied sciences in real-world environments and obtain their potential sooner than they’d in Silicon Valley,” Amidi mentioned.
Part One of many partnership will encompass digital occasions centered across the main themes of First-Mile Logistics, with a bodily Plug and Play workplace to launch in Savannah throughout Part Two.
The workplace will likely be supported by the Logistics Innovation Management Council, a consortium of native firms and universities dedicated to positioning Savannah as a worldwide chief within the logistics trade. Management Council members embody the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) and Georgia Southern College.
One other key goal of the partnership will likely be to attach entrepreneurs and expertise in Coastal Georgia to Plug and Play’s international community of greater than 400 firms and 10,000 startups.
“Any startup which experiences the nice neighborhood right here in Savannah will strongly take into account staying right here and organising an workplace,” mentioned Plug and Play Vice President Farzin Shadpour.
“All neighborhood organizations together with the schools are dedicated to doing their greatest in making the startups really feel welcome and needed right here. This tradition of southern hospitality will likely be our secret sauce to success.”
Katie Nussbaum is the enterprise reporter for the Savannah Morning Information. Contact her at knussbaum@savannahnow.com. Twitter: KmartSMN
