Founder Friday: Zach Blank, Founder of Hurry
Issue #7
Founder Friday is a content series from SuperAngel.Fund highlighting companies in our portfolio and the inspiring founders behind them.
In our seventh edition, we are featuring Zach Blank, Founder of Hurry, a last-mile commerce and logistics platform enabling retailers to provide same-day “store to door” delivery in an hour or less.
Whatever a store might be selling, Hurry makes sure it can be delivered to its customers…and fast! Hurry’s mission is to get anything delivered to anyone anywhere, in under an hour. They do this by treating local brick and mortar stores as warehouses and shipping from their existing inventory direct-to-consumers, using their own fleet of gig delivery drivers. Through innovations in their optimization and routing algorithms, Hurry is fast and highly efficient - leading them to deliver quickly, cost effectively, and enabling brick and mortar stores to actually compete with Amazon.
After launching in the Fall of 2021, the company secured funding from strategic angels and Valor Siren Ventures (VSV), an industry leading fund focused on retail technology, backed by Starbucks as the anchor LP.
Zach has sat in the big chair before, previously founding two successfully exited ventures: Hungry (acq. 2017) and Straightaway (acq. 2020)…the latter of which was similarly focused on retail logistics optimization and efficiency (he’s obsessed with this category in case you couldn’t tell). We spoke a bit more with Zach about what it takes to be an effective entrepreneur and we’re lucky we got a hold of him, since he’s a man on the move.
Describe your company in 5 words or less.
Zach: Same-day local delivery for retail.
What was your primary motivation for starting your business?
Zach: Massive opportunity to support brick and mortar retail.
What piece of advice would you give an entrepreneur starting a business today?
Zach: Just start. It doesn’t have to be pretty. The absolutely first thing, no matter what, is to find 10 potential customers and talk to them. See if what you want to build is actually a thing that somebody else will pay for. This will start a feedback flywheel that will build momentum and pay dividends.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Zach: Free time? I’ve got two kids under 5. Not a lot of free time! I love watching movies and taking the family on outdoor adventures like hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and rafting.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited recently and why?
Zach: Not much travel in the last 2 years...thanks Covid. I spent a week on /WSB (Wall Street Bets) at the height of GME (GameStop). That was interesting!
What is your favorite app or tool in your work life and in your personal life?
Zach: Exercise. Does that count? I hate going to the gym but the second I finish a hard early morning workout, my day is set up for success. I am more centered, calm, happy, and clear headed. Also, Wordle is life.
What do you believe is the most important skill or attribute of a successful founder?
Zach: Narcissism. Being a founder means believing in something that doesn’t exist and having the confidence and audacity to think that you are the person to create it. People all around you, in every part of your life, will think you’re crazy and in spite of that you need to believe in yourself, your abilities, your experience, and your vision. If you don’t believe in yourself, certainly nobody else will.
SuperAngel.Fund is an early stage fund that invests in Consumer, PropTech & Future of Work. The fund is led by Ben Zises who was the first investor and founding advisor to quip, Caraway & Arber. You can learn more and apply at SuperAngel.Fund.
