GRIT - Ed.05 - Magazine - Page 11
OH CANADA
TRANSPORTATION
first autonomous trucking company focused on middle mile automation. These
are typically routes operating between distribution centers and nearby rail terminals
and shipping ports. NuPort’s vision is to
bring safer, more efficient, and sustainable
transportation throughout the world.
I was inspired to start NuPort specifically
because I was able to find a particular niche
in the trucking industry (autonomous driving for the middle mile) that has a bounded
yet seemingly unbounded potential to be
explored and tapped. There was a sense of
urgency that I could see upon identification of that niche, and there was no way
I was going to hold myself back. I called
up my co-founder and we decided to work
on building the next generation of autonomous trucks in Canada.
Incorporating sustainability into our business model is a critical piece of our mission. Firstly, we feel overall as a company
it is our responsibility and duty to develop clean transportation solutions having a
positive impact on the environment. Secondly, we want to work towards a future
where there is optimal usage of available
limited resources. Finally, we want to drive
a trend around usage of environmentally
friendly technologies.
E
ver since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to
break and create things. I like to say I’m an entrepreneur by nature and an engineer by choice. I
enjoy working on breaking and building things in a positive, meaningful manner that is valuable for the world.
I’ve always been interested in working at the intersection of hardware and software from the beginning of
my early engineering days. Starting my company was
inevitable given my natural flair for entrepreneurship,
what I’ve seen around me, and my upbringing.
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My parents were industrialists. I would say my business and engineering mindset was inspired by my dad
and my business acumen was shaped by my mom. My
interests have been further fuelled by the universities I
graduated from, the conferences, exhibitions I have attended, the people I have been fortunate to work and
collaborate with, and my mentors who have supported
me throughout.
I built NuPort Robotics in March 2019 along with my
co-founder Bao Xin Chen. NuPort Robotics is Canada’s
the life of the corporation easier. It has to be a win-win
situation where the steps you take align with your company’s overall goals while having a positive, direct impact on your client. Ensuring that you understand and
respect the timelines and the busy schedules of large
corporations is also key to having a strong relationship.
In the next 2-3 years, we hope to be the leading company for autonomous trucking in Canada and have a
strong presence in the US. We are proud and honored
to have Canadian Tire as a partner of NuPort. At the
same time, we feel all the more responsible to deliver,
and our team is working as hard as they can to do so.
HOW WILL AUTONOMOUS
TRUCKING IMAPCT CANADIANS?
A safer transportation system
with significantly fewer accidents
Reduced fuel consumption, efficient usage of current resources,
and a move towards cleaner transportation systems
Optimal supply chains and extensive reduction in the bottom line
for merchants
FORGING AHEAD
Recently, we were proud to announce a partnership
with Canadian Tire. We will be working on a new automated heavy-duty trucking initiative that will enable
safer, sustainable and more efficient transportation of
goods. There was a clear alignment in terms of our
offerings, Canadian Tire’s needs, complemented by a
common goal of sustainability and safe transportation
solutions. The way to manage a relationship between a
small startup and a large corporation is no secret: make
Bringing top talent into the country
and making Canada the leading
country for autonomous driving
WANT IN? NuPort is hiring and raising
a funding round. GET INVOLVED
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