[Foto: Richard Souza / Expressa]
Among the startups featured at Web Summit Rio 2026, Epost presented a solution designed to simplify one of e-commerce’s most persistent pain points: parcel shipping and returns.
The Brazilian startup developed a network of self-service smart lockers that allow users to ship or return products in under a minute—without lines or face-to-face customer service. The pilot operation launched in Curitiba, where roughly 30 units have already been installed in high-traffic locations, including shopping malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations.
Founded by entrepreneurs Andrei Amaral, CEO, and Lucas Leal, COO and co-founder, Epost is part of Secret Group, a business ecosystem combining e-commerce, technology, retail, and logistics ventures. The solution’s initial development received an investment of approximately R$ 2.5 million ($450,000 USD).
How the Platform Works
The platform operates on a streamlined model: users scan a digital QR code, deposit the parcel into an automated compartment, and finalize the transaction with no human interaction. Volumes are subsequently collected and routed to the fulfillment hubs of partner carriers.
According to Lucas Leal, the concept stemmed from consumer friction points during online purchase returns.
“Buying online today takes seconds, and Epost was born out of the frustration shared by millions of Brazilians when shipping or returning packages,” Leal noted in an interview at Web Summit Rio.
According to the executive, the strategy focuses on integrating the service into consumers’ daily routines by utilizing existing everyday retail locations.
“We are located in Curitiba’s largest malls, gas station chains, pharmacies, and supermarkets. The goal is to deliver convenience, autonomy, flexibility, and time back to consumers,” he explained.
Agnostic Infrastructure and Reverse Logistics
The solution aligns with a growing global trend in logistics built on PUDO (Pick-Up and Drop-Off) networks—shared drop-off points that consolidate parcel volumes and optimize middle- and last-mile delivery routes.
A key competitive differentiator highlighted by the company is its carrier-neutral operating model. According to the startup, the platform can concurrently serve multiple carriers, marketplaces, and logistics operators, or be deployed as a white-label solution for dedicated enterprise clients.
“We operate under two business models,” CEO Andrei Amaral explained during the event. “We have an agnostic model serving multiple carriers, as well as a white-label model tailored to specific logistics providers.”
Beyond standard parcel shipping, the company is placing a heavy strategic bet on reverse logistics—the return process for e-commerce purchases. By providing automated, easily accessible drop-off points—many operating 24/7—Epost aims to eliminate the need for consumers to visit traditional post offices or service centers.
Web Summit Rio Showcase
Epost’s participation in Web Summit Rio 2026 offered the startup a platform to present its technology to investors, corporate partners, and innovation leaders. Held at Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro, the event convened thousands of global attendees, cementing its position as one of Latin America’s premier technology and entrepreneurship conferences.
