My Big Idea: courier delivery platform Porta

‍Hi Edward! What’s your elevator pitch?

Porta is a smart delivery platform making it up to 60% cheaper and 80% greener to move anything, anywhere. We connect customers with professional, vetted couriers already travelling along their route – which means faster, more affordable, and sustainable deliveries with no hidden fees. Whether you’re a small business, marketplace seller or just need something moved, Porta turns underused vehicle capacity into savings for customers and extra income for drivers.

Why does the market need it?

Traditional courier models are inefficient; thousands of vans drive empty or half-full every day which leads to customers facing high prices, inconsistent quality and hidden charges. At the same time, drivers lose out on potential earnings. Porta solves that by matching deliveries to couriers already on route, so it’s a win-win: cheaper prices for customers, more revenue for drivers and significantly lower emissions. It’s about bringing transparency, flexibility and sustainability to an industry that hasn’t changed in decades.

Where is the business today?

We’ve successfully scaled from concept to revenue, and we have thousands of vetted couriers nationwide onboard, a number that’s growing fast. We’re on track to handle 500 daily bookings, with same-day and next-day delivery options, across the UK. Our user-base is mainly made up of online marketplace users, homeowners and small businesses who need a dependable service without premium costs. Growth has been entirely organic so far, driven by word of mouth and repeat users, which is the real proof that the model works.

What made you think there was money in this?

The idea came from personal frustration. I found a second-hand bike online but the delivery cost was higher than the bike itself. It just didn’t make sense; thousands of vans were already on the road, but I couldn’t easily use that spare capacity. That sparked the idea for Porta. I researched logistics inefficiencies and realised the scale of waste in cost, time and emissions. The economics are ultimately pretty simple: make existing journeys more efficient and everyone benefits.

What’s your biggest strength?

Our biggest strength is the simplicity and sustainability of our model. By rethinking delivery around shared journeys, we’ve built a platform that’s both affordable and environmentally positive. Add to that a transparent user experience, vetted professional drivers and direct customer-to-driver communication – with no faceless call centres – and you’ve got a service people can trust. Our team combines tech innovation with real-world logistics experience, which has helped us move quickly and build credibility.

What is the secret to making the business work?

The main challenge in logistics is trust; customers want to know their items will arrive safely and on time. Our solution is all about transparency and control, so instant quotes, real-time updates and direct contact with the driver. We manage the process end-to-end, which is the best way to ensure consistency and quality. For any business, the secret is listening to users – every update to Porta is driven by customer feedback, which keeps us focused on solving real problems and not just building features for the sake of it.

How do you market the company?

We focus on authentic, word-of-mouth growth. Online marketplace users and small businesses are our core audience, so we invest in digital channels, community engagement and strong social proof through our ratings and review system. The product itself is our best marketing; when people experience a cheaper, greener, and smoother delivery, they tell others. We also partner with marketplaces and local businesses to reach users where the need is greatest.

What funding do you have? Is it enough?

Porta raised a small seed round from angel investors in Q1 this year, and early traction has proved the strength of our model. From the beginning, the most important thing for us to make this happen has been developing a platform that will last; one that delivers on user needs now, but is easily scalable and can evolve seamlessly to do so in the long term.

Tell us about the business model.

Our business model is simple; customers pay a transparent, upfront delivery fee with no hidden charges or surge pricing, while couriers earn fairly for each delivery, and Porta takes a platform fee for connecting both sides and managing the process. Because we optimise existing journeys, we reduce operational costs and carbon emissions simultaneously. It’s a model where efficiency directly translates to savings and sustainability.

What were you doing before?

Before Porta, I worked in management consulting and earned an MBA from INSEAD business school. While doing the MBA, I was fascinated by the INSEAD unicorn BlaBlaCar, which is a two-sided marketplace for carpooling that’s hugely popular in Europe. I did my research and took the time to gain a deep understanding of how it works, what it offers and why it’s important. I thought: “can we apply that model to transporting things rather than people?” And that’s a part of how Porta came about.

Gaining that deep technical knowledge and understanding is crucial for further strengthening our offering moving forward. My business associate and Porta’s Co-Founder, Michael Boulter, is a hugely experienced technology leader, and brings a lot of know-how in data analytics and software engineering. He’s built and led teams across enterprise and start-up businesses for over 14 years – and that expertise, his knowledge, and just having that pragmatic, customer-focused mindset is critical to driving our growth plan.

What is the future vision?

Our vision is to make Porta the go-to platform for moving anything, anywhere, from a local furniture delivery to national logistics for SMEs. We’re focused on expanding coverage, enhancing automation and integrating with online marketplaces. Long-term, we aim to eliminate waste from delivery logistics entirely, so every van trip is as full and efficient as possible. We believe the greenest van is the one already on the road, and that’s the future we’re building.

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