Asset Manager

Updated:

TradePending

TradePending delivers real-time vehicle valuation and trade-in tools to car dealers, founded by Brice Englert in 2014 and acquired by Kinetic Ventures in...

TradePending

TradePending offers software solutions for car dealerships, including website tools and sales and service process management. Its products include trade-in valuations, payment calculators, digital brochures, loyalty programs, and video communication tools. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Carrboro, North Carolina.

General information

Firm type

Asset Manager

Year founded

2014

AUM

Undisclosed

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Chapel Hill

Corporate office

Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Principals

Brice Englert

CEO & Founder

Tom Costin

CTO

Sector focus

Enterprise SoftwareAutomotive

Frequently asked questions

Who runs product and engineering at TradePending?

Brice Englert serves as CEO and founded the company in 2014. Tom Costin holds the CTO role, leading the engineering team that builds the valuation engine and dealer-facing dashboard, according to public professional profiles and conference speaker listings.

How does TradePending calculate its vehicle valuations?

TradePending's algorithm ingests millions of daily vehicle listings, historical transaction records, and depreciation data to produce market-aware pricing. The model weights comparable active listings more heavily than stale book values, which is why its trade-in offers often differ from Kelley Blue Book or NADA guides — they reflect current wholesale bid dynamics rather than lagged retail averages.

Is TradePending still independent after the Kinetic Ventures deal?

Kinetic Ventures acquired TradePending in November 2021, per a company blog post at the time. The firm operates as a portfolio company within Kinetic's group of automotive SaaS assets, but it has retained its brand, leadership team, and Chapel Hill headquarters. It is not a subsidiary of another dealer-facing platform.

What types of dealerships use TradePending?

The platform covers both franchise new-car dealerships and independent used-car lots. Public case studies name Hendrick Automotive Group and Penske Automotive among its users. The technology is most common among mid-to-large dealer groups that embed online trade-in tools to capture leads before competitors.

Does TradePending participate in any form of vehicle inventory financing or asset ownership?

No. TradePending is a pure software company providing data and valuation tools. It does not hold vehicle inventory, extend floor-plan financing, operate reconditioning centers, or take title to cars. Its revenue is subscription and transaction-based SaaS.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

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