Mark Hoadley, a former sales professional at ServiceTitan, joined forces with his brother-in-law Ben Sikma to revolutionize waste-management software. What began as a shared observation of outdated tools in the industry has grown into Hauler Hero, a cloud-based platform addressing inefficiencies in waste management. The company, founded in 2020, has raised $10 million in seed funding to expand its offerings further.
The idea for Hauler Hero sparked when Sikma, working in mergers and acquisitions within the waste-management sector, noticed the antiquated nature of existing software. Describing the state of the industry, Hoadley recalled that much of the software seemed stuck in the past, comparing some platforms to 1980s-era technology.
Hauler Hero’s software simplifies operations for residential and commercial waste-management companies, handling everything from route planning to billing through a customer portal. By leveraging AI, it automates tasks such as invoicing and route optimization, reducing inefficiencies and cutting costs. Unlike companies that build a minimal viable product (MVP) to start, Hauler Hero opted for a multi-product approach, aiming to offer a comprehensive solution from the outset.
Hoadley explained, “We wanted to ensure we built this the right way from the beginning. It’s more challenging, but now we have a highly efficient machine that our customers love.”
The platform launched publicly in early 2024 after a beta phase, quickly gaining traction with over 120 customers across 40 states and growing its revenue by 200% within the past year. The newly raised funds, led by I2BF Ventures with contributions from K5 Global, Somersault Ventures, and others, will help Hauler Hero expand its engineering and sales teams and enhance its offerings for larger enterprises.
Future developments include integrated tools for transfer stations and advanced communication features like two-way text messaging. These improvements aim to position Hauler Hero as a competitive player in a crowded industry dominated by legacy providers such as WasteWorks and cieTrade, as well as emerging startups like WasteHero and CurbWaste.
The U.S. waste-management market, valued at over $140 billion in 2023, includes both industry giants like Waste Management and thousands of smaller companies. Hauler Hero aims to capture a significant portion of this fragmented market by providing user-friendly, modernized solutions.
Reflecting on the company’s mission, Hoadley said, “It’s extremely rewarding to help hardworking people streamline their processes, generate reports effortlessly, and grow their businesses faster.”
Featured image courtesy of YouTube
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