TechCrunch Startup News Toma’s AI voice agents have taken off at car dealerships – and attracted funding from a16z
Jun 6, 2025
Monik Pamecha and Anthony Krivonos never expected their AI voice startup to thrive in car dealerships. Initially focused on banking and healthcare, they pivoted after dealerships showed interest. This shift to automotive highlighted the power of customer insights in building innovative tech. As they sweat it out in the Bible Belt, their engagement with dealers has catalyzed their product's development and attracted funding from a16z, setting them on a path towards impressive growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Founders' Immersive Dealership Tour
- Founders Monik Pamecha and Anthony Krivonos toured a dozen car dealerships to understand their needs deeply.
- This hands-on approach led them to win customers and build personal relationships with dealers.
Call Handling Challenges in Dealerships
- Only 45% of calls to car dealerships were answered, revealing an overlooked operational bottleneck.
- Dealers struggle to handle fluctuating call volumes which impacts customer experience.
Custom AI Training for Dealerships
- Toma AI agents handle scheduling, parts orders, and sales questions using dealership-specific training.
- Custom training on calls helps the agents adapt to unique dealership details and promotions.