Apis Point Energy Secures $4.2 Million Series A to Revolutionize Fuel Price Risk Management for Distributors and End-Users
Apis Point Energy, a forward-thinking provider of advanced price risk management solutions tailored to fuel dealers and commercial energy users, has announced the successful closure of a $4.2 million Series A funding round. The round was oversubscribed, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company’s mission and market potential. The funding was led by Merrin Investors, LLC, an investment firm founded by FinTech innovator Seth Merrin, best known as the founder of Liquidnet, a global institutional trading network. Additional participation came from respected figures in the energy and finance sectors, including Neal Shear, the former Global Head of Commodities at Morgan Stanley and former CEO of Cheniere Energy, and Joseph Kekst, founding partner of Boxcar Partners.
Addressing Fuel Price Volatility in a Time of Uncertainty
In today’s world, economic instability, inflationary pressures, and global energy supply concerns have made it more difficult than ever for fuel distributors to predict their operating costs and set prices that appeal to their customers. These conditions have caused heightened volatility in fuel prices, creating challenges for both businesses and households alike. For fuel distributors—many of whom operate on tight margins—this instability can result in sudden losses, reduced competitiveness, and diminished customer loyalty.
Apis Point Energy has positioned itself at the forefront of solving this critical industry challenge. Its proprietary platform is designed to empower fuel distributors with tools that enable them to manage price volatility more effectively, allowing for long-term, predictable, and competitive pricing strategies. For the first time, fuel distributors are able to lock in advantageous fuel prices through accessible hedging mechanisms and deliver stability and transparency to their customer base.
In practical terms, this means distributors can now protect their bottom line and pass along stable prices to customers—many of whom rely on heating oil and other fuels for basic needs. For low- and middle-income households, fuel costs can account for 5% to 10% of total income, meaning price fluctuations have a significant impact on household budgets. With Apis Point’s risk management tools, distributors can offer customers the peace of mind of price certainty—fostering loyalty, reducing churn, and enabling longer-term customer relationships.
Strengthening Business Fundamentals and Market Position
Apis Point’s platform doesn’t merely address pricing challenges. It also delivers a full suite of strategic advantages that enable fuel distributors to operate more effectively and profitably. According to CEO and founder Coleman Shear, the company’s mission is to equip its clients with the ability to deliver value on two fronts: financial stability and customer trust.
“We aim to empower our customers to deliver clear value, both financially and competitively, to their end consumers,” said Shear. “Through our platform, fuel businesses can offer something truly rare in today’s energy market—price stability—and they can do so without compromising profitability.”
This dual impact—mitigating price risk while creating business value—is central to Apis Point’s appeal. For many small to mid-sized distributors who have long lacked access to sophisticated tools used by major oil corporations, Apis Point bridges a crucial capability gap. Its system enables margin security and operational resilience, especially in turbulent market conditions.
Additionally, the platform allows for:
- Enhanced Margin Protection: By enabling fixed-price offerings, distributors can maintain healthy margins even when market prices fluctuate.
- Customer Retention and Growth: With predictable pricing, customers are less likely to switch providers, boosting distributor revenues and long-term customer engagement.
- Operational Efficiency: A streamlined approach to pricing and hedging reduces back-office complexity and frees up resources for business development.
A Platform Built on Intelligence and Simplicity
Apis Point Energy’s system integrates real-time analytics and proprietary forecasting models to deliver data-driven decision-making tools to its users. These capabilities provide insights into optimal pricing strategies, market trends, and risk exposures. This intelligence not only improves pricing strategies but also provides a foundation for strategic planning and customer relationship management.
Key features of the platform include:
- Price Stability Tools: Allowing fuel distributors to lock in long-term pricing and reduce exposure to price swings.
- Strategic Forecasting: Advanced analytics to support better decision-making and financial planning.
- Customer Insight and Retention Metrics: Enabling fuel dealers to measure the impact of pricing on customer behavior and loyalty.
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed for ease of adoption across fuel businesses of varying sizes and technological sophistication.
With this robust toolset, Apis Point is leveling the playing field for regional and independent fuel providers, allowing them to compete effectively with national brands that typically have more financial and technical resources.
Investor Confidence Reflects Growing Demand for Solutions
The strength and reputation of Apis Point’s investors reflect a deep belief in the company’s potential to transform how energy is priced and sold across North America and beyond. Seth Merrin, Managing Partner at Merrin Investors, noted the significant strategic value Apis Point provides to its customers.
“Apis Point has created a unique and scalable offering that delivers a powerful competitive advantage to fuel distributors,” said Merrin. “By helping their customers manage energy bills more predictably, they’re addressing a fundamental issue that’s been historically overlooked. Fuel distributors have long lacked access to the kind of sophisticated price risk management tools available to large oil companies. Coleman and his team are solving that gap in a truly innovative and scalable way. We’re excited to support their continued growth.”
Former Cheniere CEO Neal Shear echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how Apis Point’s approach marks a fundamental shift in how mid-tier energy businesses can engage in risk management. The tools traditionally available to large-scale commodity traders are now being brought to smaller businesses in a more accessible and relevant form.
Scaling for Impact
With the $4.2 million Series A funding now secured, Apis Point is planning to accelerate product development, broaden platform features, and significantly expand its customer outreach across the U.S. and potentially into new international markets. The capital will also be used to grow the company’s technical and client services teams, ensuring that users continue to receive best-in-class support as adoption scales.
“We’re thrilled to have such experienced and visionary investors backing our mission,” said Coleman Shear. “This round of funding is more than just capital—it’s validation of the urgent need for price stability tools in the energy sector. As we look ahead, we’re focused on rapidly expanding our platform’s reach and capabilities, allowing even more fuel distributors to navigate this period of volatility with confidence and clarity.”
