In The News

¿Busca un taller? Existe un ‘app’ para eso

Univision 34 Los Angeles

¡Saludos mis amigos ‘techies’! Ayer en mi segmento “Tu Vida Tec” sacamos al aire una nota que trabajé sobre una aplicación que se llama “BodyShopBids”. Esta herramienta es genial porque básicamente hace el tedioso trabajo de búsqueda y comparación para quien esté en necesidad de un taller.

Websites help car owners get fair prices on fixes

ABC 7 San Francisco

If you go to three different auto body shops for a price quote to fix your car, you're likely to get three different prices, but there just might be an easier way. Getting your car fixed can be expensive and people often feel they are getting ripped off. Now, with some new websites you can take back the control in an instant.

A Start-Up Ecosystem Forms in Chicago

Wall Street Journal

Dan Salcedo left Chicago last year for Silicon Valley to take a three-month course in launching a technology business, but the entrepreneur plans to return to Chicago this spring as a member of a growing group of tech founders drawn to the city's brewing start-up scene.

How a Mobile App Dev Raised $1 million

NBC Chicago

There are few bigger buzzkills than dealing with bruised automobiles. When afflicted with a sideswipe or God forbid something more severe, most of us want to return our rides back to normal as quickly and cheaply as possible. Enter Body Shop Bids, a Chicago-based startup that sources competitive auto repair bids from nearly 300 local shops.

Lightbank-seeded startup BodyShopBids raises $1 million in funding

Crain's Chicago Business

BodyShopBids Inc., a startup that automates car-repair estimates using mobile phones, has raised another $1 million from Chicago funds New World Ventures and OCA Ventures. The company got $250,000 in seed capital last year from Lightbank, a $200-million investment fund created by Groupon Inc. founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky. Lightbank also participated in the latest round of funding.

Chicago startup BodyShopBids scoops up $1 million in VC funding

Chicago Tribune

BodyShopBids, a Chicago-based startup that connects consumers with local auto repair shops, has raised $1 million in funding led by local venture capital firm OCA Ventures. New World Ventures and Lightbank, both Chicago-based investment firms, also participated in the newest round of funding. The company's website and mobile applications allow a car owner to upload a photo of their damaged vehicle. Local body shops submit quotes for repairs and customers can book an appointment.

Lightbank, OCA Put $1M In Auto Repair Marketplace BodyShopBids

TechCrunch

BodyShopBids, a site that allows consumers to solicit custom auto repair estimates by uploading a photo, has raised $1 million in led by OCA Ventures with New World Ventures and Lightbank participating in the round. The platform connects consumers who need auto body repairs with body shops through a bidding system. Consumers upload a photo of their damaged vehicles and will receive around 4 custom quotes from nearby body shops within 24 hours.

Innovation in the American Spirit

Examiner.com

The history of the United States has been filled with the stories of countless thousands of persons who have demonstrated the personal and economic power which flows from imagination, hard work, strength of will, and a “can do” spirit. In fact, those are the characteristics of American entrepreneurship, which on a collective level has catapulted the U.S. to world leadership. I can’t guarantee that, 10-20 years from now, Brad Weisberg will be talked about in the same breath as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. But I will say that the creative business plan put together by Brad and his associates, and funded by the Chicago-based venture capital firm, “Lightbank” (created and funded by the co-founders of Groupon) is both impressive and ambitious!

New App Gives Free Auto Repair Estimates From Body Shops Near You

WGN

If you've ever found yourself in the situation of looking for a mechanic in a new place, you know how difficult it can be. A new website is looking to take the frustration out of that process, and better yet, the body shops will come to you. It's called Body Shop Bids. You simply take a photo of damage to your vehicle, upload to the site either on your desktop computer or right from your smartphone, and you will receive bids from body shops near you with free estimates.

BodyShopBids Processes $1.5 Million in Car Repair Estimates in First Five Months of Service

CNBC

BodyShopBids, an online and mobile platform that enables consumers to solicit custom car repair estimates by uploading a photo, today announced it has written $1.5 million in body repair estimates within its first five months of service. The Lightbank-funded company launched in June 2011 to simplify the daunting process of getting your car repaired. Since then, BodyShopBids has partnered with more than 160 body shops in Chicago and saved its customers an average of 60 percent on each car repaired.

Kim Komando - Cool Site of The Day

Kim Komando

Having your car repaired after an accident is one of the most stressful experiences around. You've already been rattled, and now you have to deal with insurance companies, body shops and maybe even lawyers. How can you know you're getting good advice or the best price? Until now, you either had to go on faith or spend days researching or shopping around.