1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Episode 137: Fuel, Data, and Real Margins – Building a Modern Bunkering Business with Daniel Rose of Shipergy Guest: Daniel Rose, Co-Founder, Shipergy Episode Overview: What does it take to build a modern trading business in one of shipping’s oldest markets? In Episode 137, Daniel Rose shares how he co-founded Shipergy and scaled it from zero to over $200M in revenue, all while building data-driven tools that challenge how fuel is bought and valued. From early-stage chaos to AI-enabled operations, this is a grounded look at where technology really works and where it doesn’t. Key Moments &amp;nbsp; 00:10 – The origin of Shipergy From entrepreneur-in-residence to building a new kind of bunkering company 01:50 – Why tech comes second to revenue early on Starting with fuel trading, not software 04:35 – Solving real problems vs chasing hype Why most “cool tech” never lands in maritime 07:40 – Scaling to $200M+ revenue What actually drove early growth (and what didn’t) 11:00 – Building trust from zero Credit, counterparties, and flying around the world to close deals 15:40 – The mistake: growth for growth’s sake Why slowing down might have made more money 18:20 – The hidden inefficiency in bunkering Why energy content and not price per ton should matter 21:30 – Data, transparency, and margin tension Why transparency is both necessary and dangerous 25:10 – Why adoption fails (and how to fix it) If it’s not tied to KPIs, no one cares 28:30 – Proof over pitch Using external validation and real data to win trust 30:40 – AI in shipping: what actually changes Efficiency gains, not full automation 32:40 – The shift from SaaS to data consumption Why clients increasingly want APIs, not platforms 34:50 – AI inside the company 4x productivity—but with real risks 38:00 – Leadership and decision-making Lessons from The Courage to Be Disliked 🤝 Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Danelec. Their latest collaboration with Thetius, The Great Integration, explores the hidden “fragmentation tax” across shipping; where teams lose time reconciling data across disconnected systems instead of making decisions. Recommended listening for owners, charterers, and commercial teams looking to better connect data, workflows, and operational insight. For more information, reach out to our friends at Digital Ship. Tune in Now: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. Watch the episode on YouTube. Music by: Peg and The Rejected – King of SKA Art Work By: GA Design Produced by: Chris Aversano Support Our Podcast: If you've found value in this episode, please rate us 5-stars and follow. Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates. Your support truly makes a difference! The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In The Digital Age http://sites.libsyn.com/404561/site <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/41403420/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/202251380