Shotput
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
Some sections are still being researched2 / 4
Sections to complete：02 · 05
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Shotput was an Oakland, California logistics startup founded by James Steinberg and Praful Mathur. Pitched as "AWS for fulfillment," it offered an end-to-end product-delivery and fulfillment suite: companies sent code or inventory to Shotput, which connected them with a network of warehouse and fulfillment providers, negotiated freight and parcel rates at volume, and handled warehousing, quality control, and shipping. The company later pivoted toward grocery supply chains, developing RFID-enabled micro-warehouses (cooled "smart shelf" containers) to deliver perishable groceries on demand.
02 / FAILURE REASONS
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03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Company founded
James Steinberg and Praful Mathur found Shotput in Oakland, California, offering on-demand warehousing and fulfillment for small and midsize product companies.
- YC Demo Day launch
Shotput launches publicly at Y Combinator's Summer 2015 Demo Day as an "AWS for fulfillment," connecting companies with warehouse and fulfillment providers without owning any warehouses.
- Grocery supply-chain pivot
Shotput pivots toward grocery supply chains, announcing portable RFID-enabled micro-warehouses in high-demand areas to deliver perishable groceries, with partnerships including meal-delivery platforms.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN / AFTERMATH
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.