Richmond entrepreneur Miles Martin ran track and field in college, so he knows how effective a relay team can be in successfully achieving a speedy time goal.
That same concept is a metaphor for the business model and name of his new company Relai, which he co-founded with Chief Operating Officer TJ Tann Jr., and Chief Marketing Officer Dylan Spann.
Relai promises delivery within one hour of any non-food or beverage retail product from local businesses connected to the platform. That goal is accomplished using an organized system of exchange zones and “sprinters” who work together as a relay team would, Martin explained.
The idea for the startup originated when the trio realized they could deliver online purchases faster than the time people typically wait when making an online purchase. It’s based on market research the Relai team conducted before and during its beta launch.
“We found out, for the majority of brick-and-mortar retailers here in the U.S., most of their customer base lives within seven miles of that storefront,” Martin said. “Does it make sense to wait a week, two days, 24 hours [for the product to go across town through traditional delivery methods]?”
Comparing the Relai delivery to how a track relay team can move faster than a solo speedy runner, Martin said, “We have exchange zones where products are going to be exchanged between sprinters.”
Keeping all deliveries within a seven-mile radius, starting at the store where the product was ordered to the customer’s home, makes the hour window possible, Martin said.
For example, he said, if a sprinter walks the first two miles to a designated exchange zone, another sprinter can finish the distance cycling, all within an hour’s time. Breaking the distance into manageable “relays” ensures consistent fulfilment times
The startup is also focused on reducing the carbon footprint through more eco-friendly means of transportation, Martin said.
“We promote bikes, scooters, walking and running,” he said. “We, as a human population, have to save our planet, and in Relai, we’re trying to do our part.”
Martin said he moved to Richmond from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, because he saw the city as startup-friendly and a good fit for what Relai is trying to achieve. The goal is to eventually expand to communities nationwide and even worldwide, he said.
“We see Relai becoming a true community resource,” he said. “Our whole process is to create and circulate value within communities.”
The platform is expected to officially launch by the first half of 2022, and Martin said he hopes to have about 100 local retail partners at that time. They are currently fundraising and actively testing Relai’s concept with customers and about 50 area retailers.
Looking forward to 2022, Martin said, there will be user-specific apps, depending on what part of the platform a person is using — customer, retailer or sprinter.
“What you want and what you typically buy online is already right near you,” he said. “We want to tap into that proximity. Our whole process is trying to create and circulate value within communities, so let’s originate value within these communities and help it grow.”