BacklotCars parks another $25 million in Series B round led by NY-based investor
April 15, 2019 | Startland News Staff
KC-fueled BacklotCars will further its mission to disrupt the wholesale automotive space, thanks to the close of a $25 million Series B funding round, the company announced Monday.
Led by New York-based growth equity firm, Stripes, the round brings BacklotCars — which seeks to ease pain points for automotive wholesalers — to $38 million in funding total since it was founded in 2014.
“We’re excited to have Stripes partnering with us on this next round of funding, as well as the continued support from existing investors,” said Justin Davis, CEO of BacklotCars. “Stripes’ experience with guiding high-growth, tech-driven marketplaces will be helpful as we double down on our mission of making wholesale easy.”
Backlot Cars’ latest round saw continued support from KCRise Fund, the company said, in addition to another seven existing investors that included: Origin Ventures, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Royal Street Ventures, and Chaifetz Group.
“We are thrilled to be joining the BacklotCars team,” said Saagar Kulkarni, Principal at Stripes. “The BacklotCars marketplace, combined with its transportation and financing products, is a complete solution for dealers. We believe their tremendous growth is proving that car dealers want a digital marketplace for buying and selling inventory. We look forward to partnering with Justin and the team as they continue to expand their footprint and create value for dealers nationwide.”
Rapidly raising, the Crossroads-based company closed on an $8 million Series A round in December 2018.
Click here to read about the previous funding round.
“We have a talented team of problem solvers here that gets things done,” Nathan Sterner, growth and marketing manager, said of the company’s growth mindset at the time.
With it latest cash infusion, BacklotCars will continue its expansion, promising to enhance current products, expand inventory, and create additional resources focused on dealer success, Davis said.
“We’re focused on building one platform for all dealers to transact efficiently, not just a new version of the same old auction,” he said.
Featured Business

2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
LaunchCode wins MIT Innovation challenge, $150K award
LaunchCode, a nonprofit that bolsters the tech workforces in St. Louis and Kansas City by offering free but rigorous coding courses, was recently recognized for its innovative approach to reinventing the future of work. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that LaunchCode is a grand prize winner of its 2017 Inclusive Innovation Challenge, awarding the…
Pipeline receives up to $2M from Kauffman Foundation grant
Pipeline Entrepreneurs announced Tuesday that the fellowship program is deepening its relationship with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and receiving a challenge grant of more than $2 million over the next four years. The grant amount is dependent upon private fundraising with the foundation matching dollar-for-dollar, a release said. Launched in 2006, Pipeline offers an…
KC entrepreneurial educator: ‘Zip code shouldn’t determine success’
Entrepreneurship education should begin as early as kindergarten, said Rachel Foster. “The younger my students are, the more creative they are, and the less the world has had time to tell them that it’s ‘not possible’ or ‘you can’t do that,’” said Foster, entrepreneurship teacher at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy. “If we are able…
Events Preview: Smart City Tech summit, Intentional Collisions
There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you. Are you hosting a relevant community event? Add it to the KCSourceLink Calendar for increased exposure. Email info@kcsourcelink.com for assistance. Smart City…


