Philly Special with Chris Agnew

04/07/25 • 44 min

What happens when you combine Philadelphia grit, Chicago hustle, and cutting-edge AI technology? You get Chris Agnew's journey to founding Freight IQ.
Growing up in a blue-collar Philadelphia neighborhood where "everything was a competition" and working in his mother's restaurant (where he nearly got fired) Chris developed resilience and people skills. After 8 years at Coyote Logistics he spent the next six at Molo. This long-term approach to understanding the business gave him unique insights into complete market cycles and the operational challenges facing brokerages during both bull and bear markets.
The entrepreneurial spark ignited when Chris recognized how advanced AI and machine learning technology could transform these operational bottlenecks. Freight IQ was born from his vision to create software solutions that enable logistics companies to operate more efficiently while preserving what matters most - the human relationships at the heart of the industry.
What makes Chris's approach distinctive is his unwavering belief that despite technological advancement, logistics remains fundamentally a "people game." His philosophy combines domain expertise with innovative technology to address not just surface-level challenges but the complex exception management scenarios that often derail operations.
Ready to see how combining old-school values with cutting-edge technology is reshaping the logistics landscape? Listen now and discover why sometimes the most revolutionary ideas come from those willing to do the unglamorous work of fully understanding an industry before trying to transform it.

Brought to you by Rapido and Bitfreighter.

Brought to you by Rapido and Bitfreighter.

Previous Episode

Get in the Boat with Blake Collins

In an industry often dominated by venture-backed startups and high-risk entrepreneurship, Blake Collins - Founder of Armada - offers an alternative perspective on building a business the thoughtful way. As the co-founder and managing director of Armada, a specialized recruiting firm focused on supply chain talent, Blake shares his journey from CH Robinson executive to entrepreneur without sacrificing financial stability or family priorities.
Rather than following the conventional "quit your job and risk everything" startup approach, Blake and his co-founder John created a strategic partnership with longtime friends who had already built a successful staffing business. This alliance allowed them to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions while maintaining financial security—especially important as both founders were building homes and starting families.
The conversation explores how personal experiences shaped Blake's business philosophy, from overcoming health challenges to learning leadership lessons on the golf course. "How do you handle adversity?" Blake asks, drawing parallels between golf and business management. "Are you throwing your club when you hit it out of bounds, or can you maintain your composure and focus on the next shot?"
Demonstrating remarkable self-awareness about leadership development and drawing a thoughtful distinction between leadership ("building the boats") and management ("driving the boats"), his approach to surrounding himself with challenging, positive influences is a clear contributor to his early success as an entrepreneur.
Ready to rethink how you approach entrepreneurship? Listen to Blake's story and discover how building strategic partnerships might be your path to business ownership without unnecessary risk.

Brought to you by Rapido and Bitfreighter.

Next Episode

The Frontlines with Hisham Khaki

On this episode of The Bootstrapper's Guide to Logistics, Khaki shares his journey from corporate operations to founding ShiftSwap, a labor sharing and planning tool for warehouse operations.
Khaki shares how his approach is built on a commitment to simplicity. "To actually create something simple is extremely complex," he explains.
With ambitious goals to impact one million hourly workers' lives, Hisham goes deep on what it means to be a bootstrapper – finding elegant (and sometimes scrappy) solutions to overlooked problems.

Whether you manage warehouse operations or dream of building a purpose-driven business, this conversation offers invaluable insights on creating dignity through workplace flexibility.

Brought to you by Rapido and Bitfreighter.