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This list includes companies that made a significant contribution to the region’s economy.
Emerge, the leading platform for freight procurement, has been named the second-fastest-growing private company in the Southwest region by Inc. Created as part of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at independent small businesses.
"We are pleased to be ranked so highly in this prestigious list," said Andrew Leto, Founder and CEO. "Emerge was created to fill a major gap in the transportation industry, and the demand for our innovative value proposition and services continues to grow exponentially.”
According to Inc., the companies on this list show a remarkable rate of growth across all industries in the Southwest region. Between 2018 and 2020, these 141 private companies had a growth rate of 154 percent, and in 2020 alone, they added 10,563 jobs and nearly $10.9 billion to the Southwest region’s economy.
“This year’s Inc. 5000 Regional winners represent one of the most exceptional and exciting lists of America’s off-the-charts growth companies. They’re disruptors and job creators, and all delivered impact on the economy. Remember their names and follow their lead. These are the companies you’ll be hearing about for years to come,” said Scott Omenlianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc.
Complete results of the Inc.5000 Regionals Southwest include company profiles and an interactive database that are sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at inc.com/southwest.
Emerge was also named one of America’s Best Startup Employers recently. Leto noted, “The ability to achieve dramatic growth while maintaining a positive culture for employees speaks volumes about the caliber of leaders that Emerge is attracting.”
The Emerge Freight Procurement Platform continues to experience rapid growth, with interest from the country's most-preeminent shippers and carriers. New leaders join the organization from the supply chain's most recognized brands and Emerge plans to significantly scale its internal team in 2022. "We are attracting top freight leaders and talent," said Leto. "From operations to the executive suite, we are bringing in freight's heaviest hitters to create something truly revolutionary for our industry."
Emerge empowers meaningful logistics relationships by transforming the $800 billion freight industry, through its award-winning Freight Procurement Platform. The Emerge platform helps streamline the disjointed and cloudy procurement landscape, bringing shippers and carriers together in one space to create and build mutually beneficial relationships.
With freight procurement and optimization becoming a common boardroom conversation, companies are increasingly looking for creative ways to find new efficiency in their supply chain. The Emerge platform is the premier choice for carriers and shippers within the procurement ecosystem, which inherently creates a powerful "network effect" — opening new opportunities for all participants as the network grows and becomes more robust. With every carrier and shipper added, the Emerge marketplace becomes even more powerful — creating better, innovative opportunities and win-win scenarios for all.
Built for freight professionals, Emerge is the only platform designed and led by freight experts with decades of direct, hands-on procurement experience. The Emerge executive team and board members include some of transportation's most prominent names, having previous experience leading companies like UPS Freight, GlobalTranz, Coyote Logistics, Transplace, J.B. Hunt, and FreightWaves. This expertise allows Emerge to offer solutions that enhance contract and spot procurement, enabling shippers and carriers to make more empowered, strategic decisions.
Founded by industry veteran Andrew Leto, Emerge has seen tremendous success since opening its doors in 2017. In addition to securing over $150 million in investor funding, the Emerge platform has enabled shippers to procure over $6 billion in freight by leveraging the Dynamic RFP and Spot platform. In September of 2021, Emerge announced its latest Series B funding round of $130 million, led by investment partners 9Yards Capital, Tiger Global Management, and The Spruce House Partnership, with additional participation from existing backers New Road Capital Partners and Greycroft.
"This funding will allow us to scale our business efficiently — from creating new opportunities for our current employees to filling needs from the outside where necessary," Jack Holmes, Emerge Executive Chairman and former President & CEO of UPS Freight, said. "We have been fortunate to have great partners including financial, shipper partners, and carrier partners. Andrew [Leto's] vision has continued to evolve, and we're confident that our platform will be regarded by our partners as the most influential in transportation."
