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Hauler Hero has successfully secured new funding to meet the growing demand for its innovative waste management software solution.
The New York-based startup has raised $16 million in a Series A funding round led by Frontier Growth, with contributions from K5 Global and Somersault Ventures, among others, as reported by TechCrunch. To date, Hauler Hero has garnered over $27 million in venture capital.
Hauler Hero offers a comprehensive software platform tailored for waste management companies, encompassing functionalities such as customer relationship management, invoicing, and route optimization. Following industry trends, the company is also set to introduce AI-driven agents to enhance its services.
Founded in 2020 by CEO Mark Hoadley and his brother-in-law Ben Sikma, Hauler Hero emerged in response to the outdated software landscape they observed while engaging in mergers and acquisitions within the industry. Their mission is to modernize waste management practices.
“The existing software was outdated and cumbersome,” Hoadley remarked in an interview with in 2024. “At times, we likened them to archaic systems – reminiscent of the Oregon Trail or outdated mobile phones from films like ‘Wall Street.’ They felt very outdated.”
The success metrics are promising; Hauler Hero reports facilitating 35 million trash pickups since its inception in 2020. The company has similarly doubled its workforce, revenue, and client base since revealing its seed round in late 2024, according to Hoadley.
Since its initial funding round, Hauler Hero has introduced new features to its platform, the most significant being a system that captures images from third-party cameras mounted on garbage trucks. These images are sent directly to a command center, allowing waste management companies to confirm pickups, validate billing, and monitor their fleets more effectively.
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June 23, 2026
While some sanitation workers and unions have expressed reservations about the technological enhancements, Hoadley noted that many unions prevent the footage from being used to penalize workers. In fact, this technology can help mitigate liability in the event of accidents or issues related to missed pickups.
“It’s like operating a factory without any visibility into its processes,” Hoadley explained. “Lack of transparency makes quality control challenging. Understanding what’s happening in the field is crucial for ensuring service quality.”
Introducing Three AI Agents
Hauler Hero is currently in the development phase for a trio of AI agents. One, dubbed Hero Vision, focuses on identifying service issues and uncovering revenue opportunities. Hero Chat is designed to handle customer inquiries, while Hero Route will optimize routes based on real-time data.
“Our system is rich in data related to pickups, work orders, and billing. By training these agents on our data model, you could simply instruct them to generate a chart or analysis,” Hoadley commented.
The recent funding will be allocated toward commercializing these agents and expanding the offerings tailored for municipal clients, a growing segment of Hauler Hero’s customer base.
“Working with municipalities wasn’t initially a part of our strategy, but interest emerged organically. We started to receive inquiries from public entities, leading to our first few sales,” Hoadley said.
He attributes part of this increased demand to the recent merger of Hauler Hero’s primary competitors, Routeware and Wastech, leaving municipalities with fewer vendor options.
Hoadley emphasized that the company is now dedicated to refining and scaling its offerings, with potential new features on the horizon.
“Our goal is to remain at the forefront of delivering value to our customers over the next decade, leveraging cutting-edge tools and technologies. There are numerous innovative and valuable solutions we can provide, and we’re genuinely excited about the future,” Hoadley stated.
This article has been updated to accurately represent the investors involved in the Series A funding round.
### Hustle Verdict
Our take is that Hauler Hero’s recent funding and technological advancements could redefine waste management norms, delivering increased efficiency and transparency. With municipalities facing limited options due to competitor consolidation, Hauler Hero is poised not just for growth, but to lead a necessary transformation in the industry. The bottom line is that as waste management becomes increasingly data-driven, innovative companies like Hauler Hero will play a vital role in shaping future practices.
