# Rick Tellez

> Rick Tellez is the Co-Founder of KlearNow.AI, an AI-powered platform digitizing customs clearance and trade compliance for importers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers. Drawing on 20+ years of logistics expertise at DHL, Tellez co-founded KlearNow in 2018 to automate the manual, error-prone paperwork that bottlenecks global trade. The company has raised $69 million in funding, serves over 1,000 organizations, and generates $26.8M in annual recurring revenue.

- **Role:** Co-Founder at KlearNow.AI
- **Organizations:** KlearNow.AI, DHL
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Colorado at Boulder
- **Known for:** Co-founded KlearNow.AI in 2018, growing it to $26.8M ARR and 250 employees, Raised $69M in total funding (Series A and Series B), Built a platform adopted by 1,000+ organizations across furniture, automotive, food & beverage, apparel, and chemicals sectors

## Career timeline

- **pre-2011** — Joined DHL; held roles including Special Project Manager, District Operations Manager, and Operations Manager
- **2011-2014** — Manager of International Sales at DHL
- **2014-2017** — National Account Manager at DHL
- **2018** — Co-founded KlearNow.AI (originally KlearNow Corp) with Sam Tyagi in San Jose, California
- **2020-01** — KlearNow raised $16M Series A led by GreatPoint Ventures
- **2021-12** — KlearNow raised $50M Series B led by Kayne Partners Fund
- **2023** — Featured in Scott Amyx interview discussing AI/ML engine plans for broader logistics market
- **2024** — Keynote speaker at PSC LIVE London 2024 on supply chain AI transformation

## Achievements

- Co-founded KlearNow.AI in 2018, growing it to $26.8M ARR and 250 employees
- Raised $69M in total funding (Series A and Series B)
- Built a platform adopted by 1,000+ organizations across furniture, automotive, food & beverage, apparel, and chemicals sectors
- Developed patented AI technology that reads unstructured trade documents in any format or language
- Keynote speaker at PSC LIVE London 2024
- Featured in multiple logistics and supply chain podcasts and publications

## Latest updates

- **2024** — Keynote speaker at PSC LIVE London 2024 exploring supply chain transformation through AI
- **2023-04** — Appeared in Scott Amyx interview discussing plans to package KlearNow's AI/ML engines separately for the broader logistics market
- **2021-12** — KlearNow.AI closed $50M Series B funding round led by Kayne Partners Fund

## Links

- Website: https://klearnow.ai
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-tellez-71623211

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rick-tellez
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-23