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Must-see innovative startups and tech at NADA 2025

Welcome back to the latest episode of The Future of Automotive on CBT News, where we put recent automotive and mobility news into the context of the broader themes impacting the industry. 

I’m Steve Greenfield from Automotive Ventures, and I’m glad that you could join us this week.

First up this week, I’m super excited that my new book, The Future of Mobility, has finally gone to print and is available on Amazon.com.

If you want to get my perspective on how transportation is likely to evolve over the next 10 years, you can pick up a copy now.

On to today’s show.

We’re a week away from my favorite event of the year. In late January close to 40,000 industry folks will descend on New Orleans for this year’s NADA show. 

I’ve always found the most exciting part of the show is to walk around the perimeter of the exhibit hall, looking for those companies in the really small booths who may be very early in their lifecycle. This is typically where you see the really innovative entrepreneurs and ideas.

So, in the spirit of honoring the industry’s startups, entrepreneurs and innovators, I took the time to look over the exhibit floor map and pick out a handful of interesting companies to check out this year. On this week’s segment, I will share these companies with you.

I hope that you have a chance to drop by some of these booths to check out these exciting startups.

First up, exhibiting in booth 2107, is CloudX.

CloudX is an accounts payable automation software as a service company that designs, operates, and supports adaptable digital transformation solutions for automotive dealerships. 

CloudX solutions generate process visibility, automate document processing, and reduce the cost of processing documents through automation. 

Their DMS integrations include CDK, Tekion, Dealertrack, Dealerbuilt, and PBS Systems.

If this sounds interesting, please check out CloudX in booth 2107, and you can also check out their website at www.cloudxDPO.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 7457, is MyDealerKPI.

MyDealerKPI empowers dealerships with cutting-edge analytics and a state-of-the-art data backup and recovery security system, ensuring that your business stays ahead while your data stays safe. 

MyDealerKPI transforms complex data into actionable insights with just one click. Thei platform offers a comprehensive overview of key dealership metrics, including Sales, F&I, Service, Parts, Schedules, and Financial Statements, empowering you to: Gain deeper insights into your dealership’s performance; Identify growth opportunities; and Make data-driven decisions effortlessly. With MyDealerKPI, analytics becomes your strategic ally, delivering the information you need to succeed in an increasingly competitive landscape.

If this sounds interesting, please check out MyDealerKPI in booth 7457, and you can also check out their website at www.MyDealerKPI.com.

Next up, exhibiting in booth 6301, is VizAuto.

To make smarter decisions, your data needs to be easy to access, use, and understand. That’s just not possible with disparate systems, manual reporting or canned DMS reporting solutions. 

VizAuto leverages the power of the Qlik Sense platform to help customers implement comprehensive, fully customizable analytics by aggregating data from every source – implementing solutions that pull data from not only your DMS but third-party sources such as marketing, CRM, HR systems and more. 

As a two-time partner of the year for Qlik, supporting more than 1,200 rooftops across North America, they analyze your business needs, apply industry insights and best practices to guide you to the right solution and customize it to your needs.

If this sounds interesting, please check out VizAuto in booth 6301, and you can also check out their website at www.Viz-Auto.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 7653, is Acupixel.

Designed to read and validate data from the visual part of a document, the Acupixel service utilizes advanced OCR and 2D barcode matching, making it perfect for automating customer onboarding. 

They provide global support for all countries and 14,000 Types of document support like Drivers License, ID Cards, Passports, Residence Permits, VISA & More. 

They allow users to capture images using the front or back device camera fo a tablet or phone. 

For the Desktop: Users can use a Web Camera or install an ID/Passport USB Document Scanner.

They also provide AcuFace Biometric Facial Matching – You can scan a driver’s license or passport and compare the live face image of the individual with the portrait image on their ID document. 

Finally they offer Image Forensic -advanced Identity Verification (IDV) + ID Document Liveness Detection – which verifies the authenticity of ID documents. This helps with Anti-spoofing, document integrity, texture analysis, and pattern recognition.

If this sounds interesting, please check out Acupixel in booth 7653, and you can also check out their website at www.AcuPixel.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8016, is AutoEngage.ai.

AutoEngage’s A.I. Service Assistant “proactively” engages service customers in 2-way conversations throughout their ownership lifecycle using the most advanced Natural Language Processing in the market and books the appointment directly on the scheduler with no human interaction to increase retention, drive revenue, reduce cost and maximize customer lifetime value.

If this sounds interesting, please check out AutoEngage.ai in booth 8016, and you can also check out their website at www.AutoEngage.ai

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8945, is Blink AI.

BLiNK AI is transforming the automotive service industry with innovative AI solutions designed to enhance the service department guest experience and streamline operations. 

Their mission is to create frictionless customer interactions, fostering a more pleasant, reliable, and scalable environment that better meets the expectations of the modern consumer. 

They do this by automating communications and delivering services that improve satisfaction, retention, and profitability for dealers, dealer groups, and OEMs. 

Their solutions allow you to offer your customers an unparalleled dealer service department experience.

If this sounds interesting, please check out Blink AI in booth 8945, and you can also check out their website at www.BlinkAI.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 4723, is BotDoc.

Botdoc provides a secure way for automotive dealerships to transport confidential information with end-to-end encryption through two versions of its product: Botdoc Lite and Botdoc Connect. 

These solutions provide automotive dealerships with an easy, secure and efficient way to exchange information to ensure compliance and create operational productivity.

If this sounds interesting, please check out BotDoc in booth 4723, and you can also check out their website at www.BotDoc.io 

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8121, is LeadVantage.

LeadVantage equips automotive dealerships with AI-driven solutions that redefine customer experience and sales performance in today’s omnichannel landscape. 

Their LeadVantage Analyze platform provides dealerships with sophisticated data that illuminate customer behavior, track performance metrics, and reveal improvement opportunities, all designed to give dealerships a competitive edge. 

Analyze includes an AI-powered Mystery Shopping tool, offering a detailed look at engagement across channels and identifying actionable steps for growth. 

With insights tailored to customer expectations and market trends, LeadVantage helps dealerships streamline operations, boost sales effectiveness, and drive measurable success.

If this sounds interesting, please check out LeadVantage in booth 8121, and you can also check out their website at www.LeadVantage.ai

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8421, is Net Check In.

Net Check In allows your customers to wait for their automotive service at home, in a park or at a restaurant – instead of a service station or lobby. The world’s largest automotive companies are transforming how their customers wait using Net Check In.

If this sounds interesting, please check out Net Check In in booth 8421, and you can also check out their website at www.NetCheckIn.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8431, is Privacy4Cars.

Privacy4Cars is the world’s leading authority on vehicle privacy & data security. 

Privacy4Cars is the first and only technology company focused on identifying and resolving data privacy issues across the automotive ecosystem in the US, UK, EU, and other global automotive markets. 

Its mission, Driving Privacy, means offering a suite of services to expand protections for individuals and companies alike, by focusing on privacy, safety, security, and compliance.

If this sounds interesting, please check out Privacy4Cars in booth 8431, and you can also check out their website at www.Privacy4Cars.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 8313, is Profit Keeper Pro.

ProfitKeeperPro concentrates on identifying compromises from Service Repair Orders and Parts Invoices, allowing the Manager – in minutes – to drill down and view the detail to identify any issues and take corrective action. 

In addition, The Manager can view Labor Sales, Gross Profit and Margin, as well as Parts Sales, Gross Profit and Margin – by Advisor or Total for the Department – for Customer Pay, Internal and Warranty. 

All information can be viewed for the overall Department, as well as by individual Service Advisor.

If this sounds interesting, please check out Profit Keeper Pro in booth 8313, and you can also check out their website at www.ProfitKeeperPro.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 7557, is RockED.

RockED is the leading technology provider for the automotive industry to onboard new hires faster, develop more A-Players, and retain their best talent. 

Their mission is to deliver the gold standard of certifications in automotive retail, whether it’s in service, sales, or F&I. 85% of RockED learners are more motivated, perform better, and feel more connected with their stores because we do four things right: RockED facilitates daily progress just like your fitness app. 

They make it easy for you to get better right from your phone. They are effective because their TikTok-style videos get to the point. 

They coach skills with hacks from the best in the industry. 

RockED ensures that every member of your team is equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel in their roles, driving both personal growth and business success.

If this sounds interesting, please check out RockED in booth 7557, and you can also check out their website at www.RockED.us

Next up, exhibiting in booth 6721, is RunBuggy.

RunBuggy is a technology platform that connects car shippers and haulers. 

RunBuggy allows shippers to seamlessly connect with their existing management systems to integrate car transportation services, reducing cost and improving time to deliver. 

For transporters, RunBuggy offers an alternative to expensive load boards and custom software solutions to better find and manage transportation loads.

If this sounds interesting, please check out RunBuggy in booth 6721, and you can also check out their website at www.RunBuggy.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 5801, is SalesLogs.

Imagine a cloud-based platform that eliminates the headache of multiple spreadsheets, giving you live visibility into your daily sales log. 

At SalesLogs, they’re revolutionizing how automotive dealerships drive performance. 

Built by industry experts for dealerships that demand results, their platform replaces outdated spreadsheets with an advanced, lightning-fast Synchronized DataGrid. 

Designed for seamless collaboration, their DataGrid adapts to your dealership’s needs without impacting other users—making clunky legacy systems a thing of the past. 

From KPI Dashboards that provide instant, multi-level insights to Leaderboards that spark healthy competition, SalesLogs equips your team with tools to excel. 

Effortless Cross-Department Communication keeps everyone informed, while their Targets Manager makes goal-setting simple and effective. 

Accountability becomes second nature with their History Tracker, offering time-stamped activity logs for complete transparency. 

And with Multi-Level Permissions, your dealership’s data is as secure as it is accessible, ensuring the right people have access to only what they need. 

Dealerships using SalesLogs see their operations become faster and more efficient, empowering managers to focus on growth while delivering exceptional customer experiences. 

Say goodbye to outdated processes and discover why SalesLogs is the trusted partner for innovative dealerships. SalesLogs makes your data work harder so your team doesn’t have to.

If this sounds interesting, please check out SalesLogs in booth 5801, and you can also check out their website at www.SalesLogs.com

Next up, exhibiting in booth 6025, is SelectFi.

SelectFi’s Lender Selector is a software platform built for auto retailers to solve efficiency and compliance issues related to customer financing. 

Predictive Lending generates financing estimates for each lender a dealership uses… all very quickly, accurately, and with no impact on customer credit. 

SelectFi shows you the best lenders to use for each deal, and which lenders offer the most opportunity to finance back end products. 

The platform also help dealerships comply with FTC and state regulations for lending, simplifying complex documentation and processes.

If this sounds interesting, please check out SelectFi in booth 6025, and you can also check out their website at www.SelectFI.com

Finally, last but definitely not least, exhibiting in booth 6113, is SKAI Vision.

SKAI Vision shows how real AI can assist automotive customers and employees by eliminating time-consuming data input. 

Visit their booth at NADA and see how one device can turn your entire camera network into a team of assistants. 

Their built-for-automotive application integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with dealership cameras, delivering immediate alerts for process improvement. 

This revolutionary new technology will automate your approach to vehicle exchange and cycle time management. 

With SKAI Vision, transparency will change your customers’ perception of your commitment to the value of their time.

If this sounds interesting, please check out SKAI Vision in booth 6113, and you can also check out their website at www.SKAIvision.com

There you have it. A quick recap of the startups to check out at NADA next week in New Orleans. 

Hopefully some of these have piqued your interest and you get a chance to check some of them out.

See you on the floor in New Orleans!


So that’s it for this week’s Future of Automotive segment.

If you’re an AutoTech entrepreneur working on a solution that helps car dealerships, we want to hear from you. We are actively investing out of our DealerFund.

Don’t forget to check out my first book, “The Future of Automotive Retail,” and my brand new book, “The Future of Mobility”, both of which are now available on Amazon.com.

Thanks (as always) for your ongoing support and for tuning into CBT News for this week’s Future of Automotive segment. We’ll see you next week!

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Steve Greenfield
Steve Greenfield
Steve is the Founder and CEO of Automotive Ventures, an automotive technology advisory firm that helps entrepreneurs raise money and maximize the value of their companies. They also assist PE firms to conduct due diligence on automotive technology acquisitions, advise technology CEOs on strategy, and help represent sellers at the time of sale.

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