2017 Under the Radar: ZOHR changing tires, traditional mindset on roadside aid
August 29, 2017 | Bobby Burch
Editor’s note: Startland News picked 10 early-stage firms to spotlight for its annual Under the Radar startups list. The following is one of 2017’s companies. To view the full list, click here.
Nearly anyone with a car can relate to the chore of replacing bald tires or the frustration of a flat.
Not only will you likely have to shell out a few Benjamins, but also find the time to wait for a busy mechanic whose hours are often only during the workday.
It’s this conundrum that Kansas City-based ZOHR aims to soothe with its on-site tire replacement services.
Half tech firm, half automotive servicing shop, ZOHR allows one to schedule a variety of tire services from a phone or computer to be completed at your home, office or stranded on the roadside. Working around your schedule, ZOHR mechanics swoop in like superheroes — but instead of the Batmobile, it’s a teched out van that can mount, balance, plug and rotate your tires.
Now in business for about two years, the company has grown to five staffers and has serviced more than 5,000 tires in the Kansas City area, ZOHR co-founder Komal Choong said. The firm is growing at a rate of about 15 percent month over month, he added. The company — which for now services only the Kansas City metro — also was a part of YCombinator’s Fellowship program, connecting it to mentors and many resources to grow.
Paired with steady growth, ZOHR has ambitious national expansion plans. ZOHR aims to be a household name for automotive services across the country within 10 years, Choong said. The firm is now looking to expand its services to eventually include on-site oil changes and car washes and subscription-based tire rotations.
Fun fact: About 18 months ago, Startland News shared the 1 Million Cups stage with ZOHR. Check out both of the presentations here.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Events Preview: Athena League, Customer Experience Showcase
There are a boatload of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter or curious Kansas Citian, we’d recommend these upcoming events for you. WEEKLY EVENT PREVIEW Let’s Talk About Press, Baby When: August 18 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Where: Sprint Accelerator Let’s talk about press,…
Scavenger hunts and happy hours: 5 featured Techweek events
With Techweek Kansas City quickly approaching and expecting more attendees than ever, it’s time to start pulling out calendars to decide events to hit up. Startland picked a few events off the list that stand to wet the whistle of any techie or entrepreneur. The full schedule is here, which Techweek is expected to expand…
Silicon Valley vet Jason Anderson makes a game out of data collection
As a 4-year-old, Jason Anderson was captivated by the Atari classic Pong. He gawked at the game for hours after his dad brought one home in 1978. Four years later, he was so inspired by Pong that he decided to create his own game — a text adventure on the family’s Timex Sinclair 1000. Anderson…
Compute Midwest named top national tech conference
Consistently attracting futurists and tech leaders from around the U.S., Compute Midwest recently was named a national tech conference that shouldn’t be overlooked. Inc. Magazine included the annual, Kansas City-based conference on its “Top Tech Conferences You Can’t Miss This Fall” list, noting the event’s traditionally strong lineup of speakers. Presented by the Disruption institute,…