According to Aircon, over 87% of air freight quotes never convert, lost to outdated systems and manual processes. For small and midsize freight forwarders who handle much of the global air cargo volume, that inefficiency is a barrier to survival.
This is the problem the Texas-based freight tech startup is solving with purpose-built AI. With $8 million in seed funding from investors including Blumberg Capital, Las Olas VC, and Underscore VC, the company is emerging as a central player in a long-overdue modernization of the $270 billion global airfreight industry.
An Industry in Need of Reinvention
The air cargo sector has been slow to digitize, especially compared to other parts of the logistics chain. Freight forwarders often rely on spreadsheets, email chains, and phone calls to quote and track shipments. This reliance on manual workflows limits capacity and reduces competitiveness, particularly for smaller firms without the tech muscle of global giants.
Aircon’s founders, Chris Condon, Irl Wakefield, and Dennis Oleksyuk, bring a rare combination of logistics industry experience and data science acumen. Condon, a freight forwarding veteran, founded Aircon in 2021 after experiencing firsthand the structural disadvantages facing smaller forwarders. “We’re building the solution I wish I had when I was in their shoes, one that not only makes processes more efficient, but fundamentally changes the game,” he said.
The result is Captain Cargo, Aircon’s flagship AI agent platform designed to automate core freight forwarding tasks like quoting, booking, and exception management. It uses large language models to interpret quote requests from email and instantly deliver pricing, optimized carrier selection, and real-time problem resolution. One customer, F2F International, reported a 2.5x increase in revenue and a 40% improvement in win rates within 90 days of adoption.
“Captain Cargo has completely streamlined how we handle air freight,” said Jeremy Lovelady of F2F International. “I’ve been able to shift my focus to other areas of the business, like growth and strategy.”
Building a Digital Freight Operating System
Aircon’s ambitions extend beyond simple automation. Its platform is designed as a shared digital infrastructure layer for the entire air freight ecosystem. This includes three specialized AI agents: Laura (Quoting), Rocky (Booking), and Rosie (Exception Management), each handling a distinct aspect of the shipping lifecycle.
The company’s strategy is to improve operational efficiency for freight forwarders while making the entire system more collaborative. Unlike legacy platforms that silo data and consolidate power, Aircon’s model encourages transparency and optimal shipment allocation across the market, even if it means a competitor wins a shipment. “When everyone competes where they’re strongest, the whole ecosystem gets better,” the company explains in its investor materials.
To that end, Aircon also operates a managed services layer (the “Constellation”) which aggregates rates, capacity, and routing options from across its network. Forwarders can use it to expand beyond their own carrier relationships and make smarter, data-informed decisions.
This technical architecture allows Aircon to tackle multiple constraints in air freight simultaneously: price volatility, capacity underutilization, low quoting accuracy, and reactive problem management. For example, Rosie, the Exception Management Agent, proactively identifies disruptions in shipments and suggests alternatives in real time.
Redefining Competition in Freight
Aircon’s leadership is clear that the company’s purpose isn’t to automate people out of the supply chain, but to equip them with better tools. The AI agents are positioned as extensions of existing teams, amplifying what forwarders already do well: build relationships, offer strategic guidance, and respond quickly to customer needs.
As the freight sector adapts to shifting global trade patterns, climate constraints, and evolving customer expectations, platforms like Aircon are increasingly essential. They offer the infrastructure for a new (AI) era in logistics.
“Trust is earned by solving real problems, not just shouting louder,” Condon said.
