Berlin-based logistics startup NexDash has raised €5 million in seed funding to launch what it calls Europe’s first neo-carrier for fully electric freight. The round is led by Extantia Capital with participation from Clean Energy Ventures, underscoring growing investor appetite for decarbonizing heavy road transport. The funding arrives just three months after the company’s founding, signaling confidence in its model of electrified, digitally orchestrated trucking.
Decarbonizing Europe’s road freight
Heavy-duty trucks account for a disproportionate share of transport emissions, contributing roughly 35 percent of transport-related CO₂ output across Europe. At the same time, more than 90 percent of logistics operators still run small, aging diesel fleets, often with limited capital and low levels of digitalization. This fragmented landscape makes it difficult to invest in new vehicles, charging infrastructure, and data-driven operations at the scale required for a rapid transition.
A neo-carrier built around electrification
NexDash positions itself as a neo-carrier, drawing a parallel with the neobank wave that transformed financial services over the last decade. Instead of simply supplying software, the company plans to acquire mid-sized logistics operators and overhaul their fleets through structured financing and electrification. By combining ownership, operations, and technology, NexDash seeks to create a unified, zero-emission freight network that can grow across European markets.
NexOS as the digital backbone
At the core of the model is NexOS, an AI-based operating system that coordinates fleets, energy, and financing in real time. The platform is designed to optimize routing, vehicle utilization, and charging schedules while managing the economic performance of each asset. NexDash expects this orchestration layer to support not only electric trucking today but also more autonomous logistics capabilities over time.
Trucking-as-a-Service for SME operators
Rather than expecting small and mid-sized carriers to shoulder the risk of electrification alone, NexDash offers a Trucking-as-a-Service approach. Under this model, operators gain access to electric trucks, charging solutions, and fleet management tools through scalable financing structures. The goal is to make zero-emission freight economically attractive for SME operators that would otherwise struggle with high upfront vehicle costs and operational complexity.
Financing growth and infrastructure
Proceeds from the seed round will be used to finance acquisitions, early electric truck deployments, and associated charging infrastructure in key European corridors. NexDash also plans to invest further in developing NexOS, enhancing its capabilities for energy management, predictive maintenance, and data analytics. Together, these investments are intended to accelerate the pace at which diesel mileage is replaced by electrified, digitally managed alternatives.
Experienced leadership and early momentum
NexDash was founded by Michael Cassau, who previously built tech-rental company Grover into a large-scale asset management and subscription business. His experience in structuring financing, managing hardware at scale, and building digital-first operations is central to NexDash’s strategy. With a team focused on logistics, energy, and software, the company is positioning itself to move quickly in a market where regulatory and customer pressure for greener freight is intensifying.
NexDash’s seed round marks an early vote of confidence in a model that blends electrification, consolidation, and AI-driven orchestration for road freight. By acquiring operators, financing electric trucks, and running them on a unified digital platform, the company aims to reduce emissions while improving economics for logistics partners. If successful, its neo-carrier vision could help define how Europe’s trucking industry transitions from diesel to an electric, data-driven, and increasingly autonomous future.