Carsquare
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Internet |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Khurrum Shakir |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Reston, Virginia , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Khurrum Shakir (CEO) |
| Products | Online automotive meta search platform |
Carsquare USA functioned as an American online automotive meta search platform that compiled vehicle listings from various external websites.
Business
The platform allowed users across the United States to search for both new and used cars available for purchase or lease by applying filters including brand, model, condition, price range, color, engine specifications, and distance from specific ZIP codes. It collected listings from dealer affiliates nationwide, enabling users to perform direct comparisons between options. Data was sourced from partners such as eBay, Carfax, CarsDirect, MyCarMatch, LotLinx, Usedcars.com, and Swapalease.com.
History
Founded in 2010 by Khurrum Shakir after his departure from AOL, the company initially launched in 2012 under the name iGrabberAutos. Early on, it achieved recognition by participating in the 2013 Everywhereelse.co Startup Conference and was highlighted as one of "DC’s Hottest Tech Startups" by Tech Cocktail. Additionally, it was chosen among more than 500 startups to present at the MAVA Capital Connection 2013 Tech Buzz event.
In December 2013, iGrabberAutos secured victory in the Ballston LaunchPad Challenge, earning $15,000 in capital funding, Arlington-based office space, and legal assistance from Saul Ewing LLP. Subsequently, the company rebranded to Carsquare and moved its main office to Reston, Virginia.
By April 2014, CEO Khurrum Shakir announced the successful closure of a Series A investment round led by Robert G. Hisaoka. Carsquare continued to develop its platform and pursue additional funding throughout 2015.
The company also implemented strategic marketing initiatives by sponsoring the Unlimited Racing team during the 2014 Pirelli World Challenge Championship as the principal sponsor of the No. 51 TCB Honda Fit driven by Brian Price.
Operations for Carsquare USA concluded in 2017.
Partnerships
Carsquare established key industry collaborations with prominent organizations including Carfax, CarsDirect, eBay Motors, MyCarMatch, Usedcars.com, LotLinx, and Swapalease.com. These alliances strengthened its presence in the market while broadening its range of products and services.