How does an online car retailer survive a trade war?

“I think for any entrepreneur that’s navigated the last five years, I don’t know if there was a worse time to be building a company.”

Clutch found a new gear for its business after a post-pandemic lull … just in time for tariffs to hit. Dan Park (CEO) and Stephen Seibel (COO) join to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online car retail, how the end of cheap capital pumped their brakes, and how Clutch regained traction after a savvy market expansion. What has this journey taught them about how to prepare for whatever tariffs will do to the auto industry? Let’s dig in.

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Related links:

• Clutch gears up for expansion with $100-million CAD Series B round
• Clutch cuts staff to extend runway, citing market conditions
• Clutch cut approximately 65 percent of its staff as online auto marketplaces gear down
• Clutch recovers valuation and eyes growth with $50-million Series D round