Vanguard Logistics Services sued former Uber executive Fraser Robinson for allegedly stealing trade secrets and launching a logistics start-up named Beacon, which raised money from two tech titans, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and former Google Chairman Eric Schmidt
Vanguard is a California-based logistics and shipping company with intimate ties in Uber Freight, a spinoff brand launched by Uber. Robinson led Uber’s business in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East from 2014-2018.
According to the lawsuit, Robinson allegedly sought and built a relationship with Vanguard using Uber Freight. He then used that relationship to steal Vanguard’s proprietary information and then establish his own business, Beacon.
In late 2017, Robinson stepped down from Uber along with a handful of other executives following a data breach and claims of a toxic culture. However, it is unknown if Robinson is directly tied to these complaints.
Robinson’s company Beacon is a digital freight forwarding platform that successfully raised $15 million in capital from Bezos and Schmidt’s venture capital firm 8VC as well as from former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
