A digital ZIP code placard rolled out in one of the slums where naPorta operatesNaPortaWith millions of Brazilians living in hard-to-reach areas, consumers in these vibrant communities are often locked out of the digital world, particularly in areas such as e-commerce.Some 17 million people in Brazil live in favelasinformal settlements in peripheral areas around large citiesaccording to the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Of these, over 36 million struggle with delivery issues, according to data from the Data Favela Institute. This is due to factors ranging from complex geography to crime in harder-to-reach territories.To tackle the issue, Katrine Scomparin founded naPortawhich in Portuguese means "at the doorstep"alongside Sanderson Paje, Leonardo Medeiros, and Rodrigo Yanez. Set up during the COVID-19 pandemic, the startup has transformed from a local initiative in Rio de Janeiro's Cidade de Deus slum into a rapidly expanding operation that introduced a novel approach to logistics in Brazil's most complex territories.With a combination of local couriers who know the ins and outs of the regions they operate in and technology, naPorta has helped shift a common reality for favela dwellers. Thats because people living in these territories frequently rely on friends and family with formal addresses to buy online."[This disconnect between online companies and people living in complex areas means that] companies are losing market opportunities, and millions of people are left without access to essential goods," said Scomparin in an interview with Forbes."The lack of adequate infrastructure and efficient logistics solutions creates an economic and social gap that needs to be addressed," she added. Since its inception, with investors such as WOW, LGA, Funses, Gvea Angels, and GV Angels on board, naPorta saw a 429% increase in revenue in 2024 compared to the prior year. The expectation is for a revenue boost of over 100% in 2025.The Role of Technology in Logistics for Hard-to-Access LocationsThe timing of naPorta's launch during the pandemic proved advantageous, as it forced the company to adapt to a challenging and rapidly evolving digital market from day one. At the same time, the company noticed that the growth curve in e-commerce showed no signs of slowingespecially in largely untapped markets such as favelas, which generate over 119 billion reais ($20 billion) in economic activity every year, according to data from Instituto Locomotiva.As e-commerce continues to evolve, along with consumer expectations for delivery, naPorta's approach to solving last-mile delivery challenges in Brazil's most complex territories positions it well for continued growth, said Scomparin, who leads the firm's marketing efforts.naPorta's co-founders: Leonardo Medeiros, Rodrigo Yanez, Katrine Scomparin and Sanderson PajeNaPorta"We are seeing how local marketplaces are being forced to reinvent themselves in response to the growing influence of Chinese players like Shopee, Shein, and Temu, while ultra-fast, rapid, and next-day deliveries have become standard expectations," she pointed out.naPorta is currently present in over a thousand locations in the peripheries of Rio de Janeiro and So Paulo. Technology, Scomparin said, has been key to the startup's expansion. In addition to its proprietary systems for handling logistics, the firm uses Digital ZIP Codes, underpinned by Google's Plus Codes technology. The open-source system provides street addresses for people or places that dont have one. Rather than addresses with street names and numbers, a Plus Code is based on latitude and longitude and is displayed as a combination of numbers and letters.Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in naPortas strategy. "We recognize AIs potential to optimize various aspects of logistics operations, from route efficiency to customer data accuracy, route failure reduction, and overall process improvement," Scomparin said, adding that the company is making inroads in that space and that AI will be an integral part of the startup's technological evolution.Recently shortlisted for the final of the World Summit Awards (WSA), which recognizes digital innovation with social impact, naPorta's founders believe this recognition not only validates the startup's mission but also opens doors for potential partnerships and exchanges of best practices with logistics and technology providers globallyparticularly in markets like India, where similar challenges exist."We plan to leverage the international visibility we are getting to highlight the importance of Digital ZIP Code solutions and their integration with efficient logistics operations," Scomparin noted, adding that the firm wants to expand its operations to other complex markets around the world."But first, we need to deliver our solution exceptionally well in our own country," she concluded.