Glīd Technologies, a leader in autonomous road-to-rail solutions, has closed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, raising $3.1 million, led by Outlander VC. Founded in 2022 by Kevin A. Damoa, a former logistics leader at SpaceX and the U.S. military, Glīd is dedicated to improving freight logistics through innovation.
As the global freight market continues to grow at a rapid pace, efficient infrastructure is crucial. The first mile—transporting containers from ports to rail yards—is often the most congested and costly part of the supply chain.
Glīd’s dual-mode vehicles, called Glīders, operate on both road and rail, allowing for direct transport of standard containers onto the rail network without the need for terminals or additional handling.
At New Mobility Futures in Detroit, Glīd introduced Rāden, the first unmanned hybrid-electric road-to-rail vehicle, and the EZRA-1SIX AI logistics platform, which enhances multimodal logistics with real-time dispatch capabilities.
How the funding will be used: This funding will support the launch of GliderM, Glīd’s manned hybrid-electric vehicle, in California and Washington by Q3 2025, streamlining container transport and reducing costs. The company also aims to expand its engineering team and strengthen partnerships with ports and rail operators.
KEY QUOTES:
“We’re building the logistics infrastructure of tomorrow—autonomous, resilient, and secure for both commercial and contested environments. Whether it’s accelerating throughput at congested ports, operating across austere terrain, or strengthening supply chains for critical industries, Glīd delivers where legacy systems fail. This is not just automation. It’s sovereignty. It’s security. And it’s what American innovation is built for.”
Kevin A. Damoa, Founder and CEO of Glīd
“The first mile of our supply chain hasn’t evolved since the advent of rail, and it’s now the biggest bottleneck for moving goods. Glīd offers the most timely and innovative solution we’ve seen to fix it, from commercial freight to critical defense logistics. With decades of experience in rail and logistics, this team is uniquely positioned to lead the transformation.”
Jordan Kretchmer, Senior Partner at Outlander VC and Glīd board member
