Relai is Reinventing Hyperlocal Delivery
When Miles Mufuka Martin talks about infrastructure, he’s not just referring to roads, rails, or even tech platforms. He’s talking about possibility—about the systems we build to move things, connect people, and unlock economic opportunity. And with Relai, he’s putting that philosophy into action, six square feet at a time.
Relai is a Pittsburgh-based infrastructure startup redefining how small goods move across short distances. Think lockers for neighborhoods, not warehouses for regions. With nearly 40 "exchange zones" now installed across seven cities, Relai is quietly powering a new way for communities, small businesses, and individuals to exchange items securely, asynchronously, and efficiently. But Relai didn’t start with venture capital, a fancy accelerator, or even a working prototype. It started with a question…
Why is it easier to ship a package across the globe than across the street?
That curiosity led Miles—then a college student with a background in politics and a stubborn aversion to traditional employment—down a rabbit hole of logistics, local commerce, and ultimately, entrepreneurship. After a string of manual delivery experiments and DIY pilot programs, he and co-founder TJ realized the key wasn’t in moving faster—it was in meeting people where they are. Literally.
From Drop Spots to Exchange Zones
The original model was low-tech: designate a drop spot, coordinate a handoff, repeat. But over and over, participants shared the same feedback—concerns around safety, scheduling, and trust. So Miles and TJ pivoted to hardware, building secure exchange zones that anyone could access with their phone. No investors. No technical background. Just two founders who decided to teach themselves to code and build the solution themselves.
They maxed out credit cards, slept on friends' couches, and got turned down by more than one hardware partner—until a last-ditch trip to a Philly startup conference led to the manufacturing relationship that would bring Relai to life.
A System for the People
Today, Relai’s use cases are as diverse as the communities they serve. Salon clients use exchange zones to drop off wigs for pre-appointment prep. Local nonprofits collect winter clothing without sacrificing office space. Peer-to-peer sellers avoid awkward meetups and porch thefts. The exchange zones are modular, battery-powered, and intentionally designed for neighborhood-scale commerce.
But what makes Relai different isn’t just the product—it’s the mindset. Miles and TJ aren’t chasing unicorn status; they’re building deliberate, sustainable infrastructure that anyone can plug into. Whether you're a small business looking to expand fulfillment options or a startup wanting to build on top of Relai's system, the tools are already there. You just have to want to use them.
Built in Pittsburgh. Built for Everywhere.
Though Relai has roots in Richmond and early traction in cities up and down the East Coast, Pittsburgh is home. It's where Miles boomeranged back for love, family, and—more recently—a house. It's also where he sees untapped potential for an innovation ecosystem that’s broader, more inclusive, and more supportive of founders like him.
“I’m not a serial entrepreneur,” Miles says. “This is it. This is the one. And I’m grateful I get to try.”
Relai’s story is one of persistence over polish, community over capital, and infrastructure built not just for speed—but for purpose.
Ready to build with them?
Learn how you can host your own exchange zone or build on top of their platform at relai.us.