Ex-Amazon Exec Dave Clark Secures $100M for AI-Powered Supply Chain Startup Auger
From Amazon to Flexport to Auger: Clark’s Supply Chain Journey
Dave Clark’s career has been a masterclass in supply chain innovation—and turbulence. After stepping down as CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer division in June 2022 (a role he held for over 20 years), Clark joined logistics company Flexport with a mandate to prepare the company for IPO. However, his tenure ended abruptly in September 2023 amid boardroom conflicts.
Now, Clark is back with a vengeance. His new venture, Auger, just secured a massive $100 million seed round led by VC firm Oak HC/FT. The startup aims to revolutionize supply chain management through AI-powered real-time insights.
The Problem Auger Aims to Solve
“Broken supply chains don’t just impact companies—they affect millions of people,” Clark told TechCrunch. He highlights critical pain points:
- Inventory delays that empty store shelves
- Costly miscommunications forcing overtime
- Rising consumer prices due to inefficiencies
- Growing environmental impact from wasteful practices
Current solutions often involve:
- Fragmented “Franken-software” systems
- Manual workarounds using Excel
- Lack of real-time visibility
How Auger Plans to Transform Supply Chains
While details remain under wraps, Clark revealed key features:
- AI-powered unified data platform: Aggregates supply chain information across systems
- Natural language interface: Users can “just ask” questions like “Show me next week’s inventory”
- Consumer-grade UX: Instant insights delivered through intuitive dashboards
“Auger will enable teams to move beyond manual tasks and focus on innovation,” Clark explained.
The Booming Supply Chain Tech Market
Auger enters a competitive but rapidly growing sector:
- Market size: Logistics software projected to hit $46.5B by 2025 (Markets and Markets)
- VC investment: $15.4B poured into supply chain startups this year (Forbes)
- Industry pain: 56% of retailers maintain weeks of “safety stock” due to visibility issues
Notable compe*****s include:
- Altana ($200M raised): AI-powered global supply chain mapping
- Everstream: Big data analytics for risk management
- Pando: AI-driven logistics optimization
Why Investors Are Betting on Clark
Oak HC/FT’s Matt Streisfeld calls Clark a “once-in-a-lifetime” founder with unique qualifications:
- Amazon legacy: Pioneered robotic automation saving millions
- Pandemic response: Scaled Amazon’s operations during unprecedented demand
- Industry credibility: Two decades of supply chain leadership
“We’re at an inflection point where cloud data enables real-time AI solutions,” Streisfeld noted.
What’s Next for Auger
The Bellevue-based startup is currently:
- Finalizing product development
- Building its founding team
- Preparing to share roadmap details in coming months
“This is just the beginning,” Clark said. “We’re assembling relentless problem-solvers to transform how businesses manage supply chains.”
With $100M in funding and Clark’s track record, Auger could become a major player in the race to fix global supply chains through AI innovation.
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