Libsyn Directory

Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur with Nick Antoine

Release Date: 06/09/2026

The Problem First Approach to Warehouse Automation with Vinh Tran

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “The Problem First Approach to Warehouse Automation”, and , Managing Director of MyBull Intelligent Machinery USA, discuss how prioritizing a facility's specific operational challenges over standard tech products leads to successful automation. About Vinh Tran is the Managing Director of MyBull Intelligent Machinery USA, where he spearheads the company’s North and South American strategy, commercialization, and customer deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics. As the company's first U.S. employee, he built the domestic...

Private Fleets Rescue Freight Brokers in 2026 with Russ Jones

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “Private Fleets Rescue Freight Brokers in 2026”, and , CEO & Co-founder of Private Fleet Net Zero, discuss how unlocking empty private backhauls provides brokers with discounted, high-quality capacity to combat fraud and skyrocketing liability. About Russ Jones co-founded Private Fleet Net Zero to help the 45% of trucks that are in Private Fleets with usually empty backhauls find loads from $50B+ of 3PL freight spend, leveraging his leadership of Cargo Chief, which enables 1,200+ 3PL buyers with $8B+ of spend to buy transportation capacity more profitably. Previously, Mr....

Ending the 60% Waste: The Radical Shift Trucking Needs Right Now with Erik Malin

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In "Ending the 60% Waste: The Radical Shift Trucking Needs Right Now," and , Founder and CEO of Tetro, discuss how treating trucking as a function of time, rather than miles, is the only way to eliminate the massive inefficiencies plaguing drivers and future autonomous fleets. Time is the real commodity. About Erik Malin is the founder and CEO of Tetro, a technology company rebuilding trucking for the autonomous era. He has spent his entire career in freight, where his conviction that the industry measures the wrong thing, miles instead of time, became the thesis behind Tetro....

The Broken Safety System Threatening Shippers and Brokers with Chris Burroughs

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In "The Broken Safety System Threatening Shippers and Brokers," and , President and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), discuss the fallout from a landmark Supreme Court ruling and rising freight fraud are reshaping the logistics liability landscape. About Chris Burroughs is the President and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), a position he assumed in November 2024. With over 14 years at TIA, he previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs, overseeing legislative and regulatory efforts before Congress and federal agencies....

The Dark Data Trap: Unlocking Logistics Documents with Tungsten Automation's Patrick Van Hull

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “The Dark Data Trap: Unlocking Logistics Documents with Tungsten Automation's Patrick Van Hull” and , Supply Chain Industry Consultant at Tungsten Automation, discuss how intelligent document processing eliminates manual data traps to drive logistics efficiency and cost savings. About Patrick Van Hull , widely recognized as the Supply Chain Storyteller, helps organizations transform complexity into clarity. A multi-time “Top 25 Global Thought Leader and Influencer on Supply Chain” and Supply Chain Pro-to-Know, he focuses on supply chain digitalization and capability...

Electrifying the Cold Chain Without Breaking the Grid with Sam Plunkett

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “Electrifying the Cold Chain Without Breaking the Grid” and , CEO of Nivalis Energy Systems, discuss how self-powered, electrified trailers can drastically cut fleet costs and emissions without overwhelming the power grid. About Sam Plunkett Sam Plunkett is CEO of Nivalis Energy Systems, where he is leading the transition away from diesel-powered refrigeration in commercial transport. Under his leadership, Nivalis is developing and deploying electrified refrigerated trailer solutions that help fleets reduce operating costs, lower emissions, and improve the efficiency of...

How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA’s Andrew Sibold

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “How to Predict the 2026 Intermodal Rebound with IANA’s Andrew Sibold” and , Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), discuss how IANA’s new predictive Intermodal Volume Index (IVI) helps logistics leaders navigate shifting market capacity and operational friction to successfully forecast the 2026 freight recovery. About Andrew Sibold is the Director of Economics and Freight Policy at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), where he leads market analysis, research, and economic forecasting...

REPOST: Is Your Freight Secure: The 3 Key Vulnerabilities in Freight Operations with Michael Hane

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “Is Your Freight Secure: The 3 Key Vulnerabilities in Freight Operations”, and , Director of Product Marketing for Transportation Management at Descartes Systems Group, discuss how to protect global supply chains from fragmented technology, carrier identity theft, and increasingly sophisticated cargo fraud. About Michael Hane is the Director of Product Marketing for Transportation Management at Descartes Systems Group. With more than 30 years of experience in transportation, logistics technology, and supply chain consulting, Mike helps organizations understand...

REPOST: Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage with Zach Schuhart

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “Fleet Profitability Unleashed: The Optimal Dynamics Advantage”, and , Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics, discuss how decades of academic research and advanced decision intelligence are being used to automate complex logistics and maximize carrier profitability. Zach Schuchart is the Senior Vice President, Head of Sales at Optimal Dynamics. He has over 20 years of experience in the North American and European transportation industries, including roles at UPS, CHAINalytics, and XPO, he brings deep expertise and leadership to the Optimal...

Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur with Nick Antoine

The Logistics of Logistics Podcast

In “Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur” and , Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, discuss how mid-market logistics companies can leverage emerging automation and strategic "moats" to successfully survive and compete against tech-heavy enterprise giants. About Nick Antoine is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, a private equity firm he co-founded in 2015 - at age 26 - to invest exclusively in supply chain and logistics businesses. A Princeton graduate, Nick began his career as an equity research analyst at...

More Episodes

In “Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur” Joe Lynch and Nicholas Antoine, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, discuss how mid-market logistics companies can leverage emerging automation and strategic "moats" to successfully survive and compete against tech-heavy enterprise giants.

About Nick Antoine

Nicholas Antoine is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, a private equity firm he co-founded in 2015 - at age 26 - to invest exclusively in supply chain and logistics businesses. A Princeton graduate, Nick began his career as an equity research analyst at Princeton Global Asset Management before joining Ariel Investments in Chicago, where he served as Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO of the $17 billion asset manager. At Red Arts, he leads fundraising, research, and investment thesis development, building one of the few Black-founded and -led PE firms in the country and one of the top-performing, ranked #7 on Bloomberg's 2025 Best-Performing U.S. Buyout Funds. Nick is a member of YPO and a board trustee of The Studio Museum in Harlem and WTTW (PBS Chicago).

About Red Arts Capital

Red Arts Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on partnering with North American supply chain and logistics businesses. Founded in 2015 by Nick Antoine and Chad Strader, Red Arts is a 100% Black-owned firm investing across the "supply chain economy" - freight, transportation, warehousing, contract packaging, and related middle-market companies with strong growth potential. In 2023, the firm closed its latest fund oversubscribed at $270M, above its $225M target, backed by institutional LPs including Prudential Financial, the University of Chicago's Office of Investments, and funds managed by Neuberger Berman. Red Arts pairs a sector-focused thesis with a belief that diversity drives performance - women represent roughly half the firm.

Key Takeaways: Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur

In “Is Organized Tech Destroying the Small Logistics Entrepreneur” Joe Lynch and Nicholas Antoine, Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Managing Partner of Red Arts Capital, discuss how mid-market logistics companies can leverage emerging automation and strategic "moats" to successfully survive and compete against tech-heavy enterprise giants.
Firm Profile & Focus: Founded in 2015, Red Arts Capital is a 100% Black-owned, Chicago-based private equity firm that focuses exclusively on North American supply chain, logistics, and middle-market infrastructure businesses.
Target Investment Profile: Unlike venture capital firms that hunt for speculative "hockey stick" growth, Red Arts invests $50M to $100M+ into established, profitable middle-market companies (typically family-owned with $100M to $500M in revenue) to provide liquidity and operational scaling.
Strong Institutional Backing: Validating their sector-focused thesis, the firm closed its 2023 fund oversubscribed at $270M (surpassing its $225M target) backed by premier LPs like Prudential Financial and the University of Chicago.
The Concept of "Organized Tech": Nick defines "organized technology" as a modern third form of power alongside organized people and organized capital. Large enterprise players use their scale and massive resources to deploy tech—and partner with startups for free trials—giving them a distinct, systemic advantage.
An Opportunity, Not a Death Sentence: Organized tech is not inherently destroying small logistics entrepreneurs; rather, the risk lies in a lack of adaptability. Because AI and automated tools are becoming rapidly commoditized and affordable, small business survival depends on an entrepreneurial willingness to experiment.
Building Defensive "Moats": To avoid competing strictly on commoditized pricing, successful logistics companies must build defensible moats. This includes high-touch customer service, strong cultural values that lower driver turnover, or geographic asset density (like uniquely zoned cross-dock terminals) that competitors cannot easily replicate.
Outsized Returns from Small Tech Investments: Technology adoption doesn't require a massive overhaul to significantly impact the bottom line. In one LTL case study, Red Arts introduced a simple automated software tool to capture missed, manual accessorial charges, plugging a major revenue leak and yielding massive profit returns.