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§ Private Profile · Palo Alto, CA, USA
Roadster is a technology company.
Roadster develops a comprehensive digital retailing platform for automotive dealerships. This solution streamlines the online and in-store car buying process, offering omnichannel capabilities that allow consumers to configure vehicle deals and complete transactions. It provides dealerships with robust tools to manage sales workflows digitally, enhancing efficiency and modernizing customer experience.
Founded in 2013 by Andy Moss, Roadster originated from the insight that the traditional automotive purchasing model needed digital transformation. Moss recognized increasing consumer demand for a transparent, convenient car-buying journey, akin to other e-commerce experiences. The company’s foundational vision aimed to bridge the gap between initial online engagement and final in-dealership transactions.
Roadster primarily serves automotive dealerships seeking to modernize sales operations and meet consumer expectations. The platform equips these dealerships with an integrated solution for selling new and used vehicles online or via a blended approach. Its vision is to foster a truly frictionless, e-commerce-like experience for automotive retail, simplifying vehicle acquisition for all parties.
Roadster has raised $27.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Roadster has raised $27.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Roadster has raised $27.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Roadster's investors include Costanoa Ventures, Jackson Square Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Counterview Capital, Accel, Craig Shapiro, Cota Capital, Emergence Capital, Factor Capital, FPV Fund, Great Oaks Venture Capital, IVP.
Roadster has raised $27.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $15.0M Series B in June 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2018 | $15M Series B | — | Costanoa Ventures, Jackson Square Ventures, Scale Venture Partners | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2017 | $7M Series A | — | Costanoa Ventures, Jackson Square Ventures, Scale Venture Partners | Announced |
| May 1, 2016 | $3M Series A | — | Counterview Capital | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2015 | $2M Seed | — | Accel, Craig Shapiro, Cota Capital, Emergence Capital, Factor Capital, FPV Fund, Great Oaks Venture Capital, IVP, JAY, Kain Capital, Long Journey Ventures, Matrix, Obvious Ventures, PS Investments, Seven Seven SIX, ThirdLove, True Ventures, UpHonest Capital, Y Combinator, Alan Braverman, Amos Elliston, Bart Myers, CEO, Joshua Schachter, Peter Moran, Ryan Jacoby, Scott Banister, Scott Belsky, Tikhon Bernstam, Vikas Sabnani, Adam Goldenberg, Brian Sugar, DON Hutchison, Mark Goldstein, NIR Liberboim, Raad Mobrem | Announced |
Roadster is a technology company founded in 2013 that builds an omnichannel commerce platform for automotive dealerships, enabling hassle-free car buying in-store, online, or on the go.[1] Its Express Storefront handles inventory merchandising, financing, leasing, incentives, trade-ins, service plans, and accessories, delivering near penny-perfect deals to boost customer satisfaction (CSI scores) and cut sales costs.[1] Roadster serves modern dealerships, solving fragmented car-buying experiences by creating seamless digital transactions amid rising consumer demand for online automotive retail.[1][2] The company, based in Palo Alto with offices in Burbank, San Francisco, and elsewhere, has grown to around 200 employees and powers efficient deal-making, with integrations for CRMs and lending systems.[1][4]
Roadster emerged in late 2013 in Palo Alto, California, amid the shift toward digital automotive retail, founded by a team targeting dealerships' need for unified online and in-person sales tools.[1] Early traction came from its proprietary platform addressing pain points like disjointed financing and trade-ins, positioning it as a leader in consumer-driven commerce for dealerships.[1][5] The company expanded offices to Burbank, San Francisco, and beyond, scaling to 203 employees while navigating growth challenges in the competitive automotive software space.[1][3]
Roadster rides the digital retailing wave in automotive, where consumers expect Amazon-like car buying amid e-commerce growth and post-pandemic shifts to online transactions.[1][2] Timing aligns with dealerships modernizing for omnichannel experiences, fueled by market forces like rising digital adoption (e.g., 2x engagement KPIs) and CRM integrations.[2] It influences the ecosystem by enabling "penny perfect" deals and efficiency gains, helping dealers compete with direct-to-consumer models from Tesla and others, while reducing sales costs in a high-inventory, low-trust industry.[1]
Roadster is poised to dominate as omnichannel automotive retail matures, with AI-driven personalization and expanded multibrand marketplaces driving next-phase growth.[2] Trends like EV transitions and embedded finance will shape its path, potentially through acquisitions like CDK's integrations, amplifying dealer group influence.[2] Its evolution from 2013 startup to 200-employee platform underscores resilience—watch for global expansion and deeper ecosystem partnerships to redefine hassle-free car buying.[1]