[Feature] The Lorry: From Logistics Disruptor to SME Growth Catalyst

The Corporate Snapshot

In the bustling heart of Southeast Asia's e-commerce boom, one Malaysian startup has been quietly moving the goods—and the goalposts. The Lorry, a name now synonymous with on-demand logistics, began as a simple solution to a complex problem: connecting shippers with truckers. Today, it stands as a formidable tech-enabled logistics platform, having mastered its own growth trajectory to become a key enabler for the region's digital economy.

• 🏢 Entity: The Lorry Sdn Bhd
• 🎯 Area of Expertise: Tech-Enabled Logistics & Freight Platform
• 📍 Market Status: Market Leader & Regional Challenger

The Scoop: What's New?

The industry is abuzz with The Lorry's latest strategic leap. The company has successfully secured a US$29 million (approximately RM136 million) Series C funding round. This isn't just another capital infusion for scaling operations. In a bold pivot, the startup announced that a significant portion of this war chest will be directed towards a new venture: backing and scaling smaller brands and SMEs across its network. Having honed its own operations to profitability in key markets, The Lorry is now leveraging its infrastructure, data, and capital to fuel the next wave of regional commerce.

Executive Insights: The Conversation

In an exclusive conversation, Co-Founder and CEO Goh Chee Hau framed the move not as a diversification, but as a natural evolution. "Our journey taught us that logistics is the bloodstream of commerce," he reflected, leaning forward. "For years, we solved the 'move' for thousands of businesses. Now, we see a deeper pain point: promising brands with great products often stumble on scaling—inventory financing, market access, operational complexity."

He emphasized that this is a strategic unlock. The Lorry's platform already has visibility into transaction flows, seller performance, and supply chain bottlenecks. This data-driven insight allows them to de-risk the investment process. "We're not just passive investors," Goh stated. "We become active growth partners. We can provide the warehouse space, the delivery fleet, the working capital, and the cross-border know-how—all integrated. We've lived this scaling challenge ourselves, and now we're productizing that experience."

When probed on the competitive landscape, he was clear: "Large e-commerce platforms offer funding, but often with the goal of locking sellers into their ecosystem. We aim to be agnostic. We want to empower brands to sell anywhere—on Shopee, on TikTok, on their own websites—and we provide the backbone to make that omnichannel dream operationally feasible."

Professional Highlights & Track Record

• Profitability Milestone: Achieved operational profitability in its core markets of Malaysia and Singapore, a rare feat for venture-backed logistics startups in the region.
• Regional Footprint Successfully expanded beyond Malaysia into Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, handling over 2 million deliveries to date.
• Strategic Pivots: Evolved from a B2C moving service to a dominant B2B and e-commerce logistics platform, demonstrating agile adaptation to market demands.
• Investor Confidence: Secured backing from major regional VCs like SPARX Group, Kakaku.com, and Gobi Partners, validating its business model and growth strategy.

The Verdict

The Lorry's move is a masterclass in platform thinking. By transitioning from a service provider to an ecosystem financier and builder, it is creating a powerful moat. This strategy leverages its core assets—physical infrastructure and data—to tap into the high-margin venture investing space while deepening loyalty within its merchant base. The execution risk is high, as it moves into a new domain of credit assessment and portfolio management. However, its unique, integrated position gives it a fighting chance to become the indispensable growth partner for ASEAN's rising SME stars.

• 📈 Market Impact: 9/10
• 💡 Innovation Level: 8/10
• 🚀 Growth Potential: 9/10

"The Lorry is no longer just in the business of moving boxes; it's now in the business of moving markets."