Blinker

Blinker, Inc. operates as a fintech platform within the automotive sector, offering a mobile application designed to streamline the process of buying, selling, and financing used vehicles. The company was founded in 2013 by Rod Buscher and Bryan Boches and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Buscher, who also serves as the CEO, brings extensive experience from the auto industry, having previously founded the John Elway Dealerships and Summit Automotive Partners. This background provided the foundational insight into the complexities and anxieties associated with private-party car sales, which Blinker aims to simplify.

The company's primary offering is a mobile app that serves as a peer-to-peer e-commerce platform for used cars. A core feature is its patented image-recognition technology, which allows users to snap a photo of a vehicle's license plate to instantly retrieve details such as year, make, model, estimated value, and mileage. For sellers, the platform facilitates the creation of a listing, which can also be posted to other major marketplaces. For buyers, the app provides access to a marketplace of private listings, complete with free CARFAX reports. The platform is designed to handle the entire transaction digitally, from making an offer and securing payment to transferring the title and paying off existing loans on a vehicle.

Blinker's business model centers on providing financing solutions directly through its app. Users can get pre-qualified for a loan by taking a picture of their driver's license, a process that doesn't impact their credit score. This integration of financing is a key revenue driver for the company, effectively removing the need for buyers to go through traditional banks or dealerships for loans. The app is free for buyers and sellers to use. In 2020, Blinker announced a collaboration with Autotrader to integrate its transactional and financing technology into Autotrader's marketplace, aiming to enhance the private seller experience. The company has secured significant funding, including a $10 million Series A round in 2019 led by Thornapple River Capital, and investments from Flagship Credit Acceptance.

Keywords: automotive fintech, peer-to-peer car sales, used vehicle marketplace, mobile car financing, digital auto loans, vehicle image recognition, online car transaction, auto refinancing, P2P lending, car e-commerce, digital retailing, private car sales, auto loan origination, vehicle valuation, CARFAX reports, Black Book pricing, digital title transfer, Rod Buscher, automotive technology, peer-to-peer marketplace