Investors deal BacklotCars $8M; KC-based startup hitting the gas on disruption
December 11, 2018 | Austin Barnes
Disrupting the used car space has driven a Series A funding round to $8 million for Kansas City-based startup BacklotCars, the company announced Tuesday.
“This investment comes at a great time. We are growing rapidly in our existing markets and expanding our national footprint. We expect to continue to add new features – to accompany our transportation network and financing programs – to help dealerships operate more efficiently,” said Justin Davis, founder and CEO of BacklotCars.
Origin Ventures led the funding round, according to a release.
Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, KCRise Fund, Royal Street Ventures, Chaifetz Group, and other undisclosed investors participated.
“We are very excited to welcome new capital partners to BacklotCars,” Davis added.
Click here to read more about the impacts of hometown versus outside capital.
“We are thrilled to invest in a dynamic and disruptive marketplace like BacklotCars,” said
Origin co-founder, Steve Miller. “The wholesale car market has long been ripe for disruption, and we believe Justin and the BacklotCars team will continue to empower dealers to move their inventory more effectively.”
In business for just two years, BacklotCars innovates the wholesale auto industry by enabling dealers, financing, and rental companies to make purchases online without attending auto auctions.
The company operates in more than 18 states with a transaction volume of more than $100 million, BacklotCars said.
“We have a talented team of problem solvers here that gets things done,” said Nathan Sterner, growth and marketing manager. “[We’re] looking forward to putting this money to work to realize our vision even faster and give dealers a better way to buy and sell cars.”
As part of the round, the company announced it also received a credit facility expansion of $10 million.
Featured Business

2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Missouri’s best breweries are in Kansas City (and they have the medals to prove it)
Two Kansas City brewers barreled through the competition earlier this week, earning the first-ever, statewide “Brewery of the Year” honors for local favorites Boulevard and BKS Artisan Ales. It’s a feat fermented through years of dedication by the teams behind the labels, both brewers said. “From the day we opened, we have kept balance with…
World Cup readiness event opens City Hall to entrepreneurs hoping to get on the roster
Kansas City wants to score as many points as possible when the FIFA World Cup arrives in 2026, said Janá Wagner, emphasizing that a special event planned Tuesday during GEWKC aims to get businesses into the game now — playbook in hand. “Our goal is to help as many entrepreneurs as possible get properly licensed,…
10 top event picks for GEWKC; build your own schedule from 60+ sessions
With dozens of events on the calendar for GEWKC, Union Station will be bustling with activity, said Callie England, noting organizers intentionally curated a week where attendees can’t go wrong — no matter how they fill out their itinerary. “While the schedule can feel full, it’s truly the best of the best,” said England, director of…
How AI changes the the founder code: ‘This is all moving faster than anyone expected’
New tech opportunities — like artificial intelligence — hold the potential to equalize the Kansas City region among more established startup hubs, investment leaders said Thursday, but to fully take advantage, entrepreneurs who want strong, lasting companies must have a fire inside them. Not to mention grit. “Several really incredible entrepreneurs said, ‘I think the one…
