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YC-backed Garage has secured $13.5 million in funding to revolutionize the way firefighters and local governments acquire essential equipment.
Infinity Ventures led the series A round with participation from Benchstrength, Wayfinder Ventures, and FJ Labs.
Garage will use the new capital injection to hire more staff and expand the marketplace.
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How Does Garage Work
Martin Hunt and Alaz Sengul founded Garage in 2023. The startup automates processes like equipment appraisal, freight quotes, and payments for items such as firetrucks. Here’s how the platform works: sellers use Garage’s AI tool to appraise their equipment. Then it lists the product, offering either an auction or “buy now” format. Buyers message the seller, requesting instant quotes for items such as warranty and freight. After an agreement is met, Garage handles the back end and uses AI to help coordinate delivery.
“With transactions of this size, often greater than $100,000, security is a major concern, especially with scammers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace,” Hunt added.
By creating a centralized marketplace, the startup enables local governments and emergency services can quickly find and purchase high-quality gear tailored to their needs. The impact of Garage’s platform is profound, as faster access to equipment could mean the difference between life and death in emergencies.
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The Next Steps for Garage
Hunt (who is the CEO) and Sengul (CTO) met their lead investors after participating in Y Combinator’s Winter ’24 cohort. They raised a $4.5 million seed round led by Initialized Capital and were subsequently introduced to Infinity Ventures.
Other investors who participated in the round include Benchstrength, Wayfinder Ventures, and FJ Labs. This new funding means the company has raised $18 million to date. Iniatialized Capital Partner Kim-Mai Cutler: “Martin’s authenticity, paired with Alaz’s product instincts and technical execution, is a combination we’re genuinely excited to back for the next ten years. This is a deep, mission-oriented company. It’s not uncommon for Martin to share stories with us during office hours of how he’s used his firefighting training to help a stranger drowning.”
The fresh capital will be used to expand the team, scale operations, onboard more suppliers, and further develop its platform to meet growing demand. Hunt claims Garage is currently used in all 50 states, naming cities like Burlington, Vermont, and South Charleston, West Virginia, as clients.
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“We hope that improving access to affordable, mission-critical equipment improves public safety in the areas that need it most, while allowing funds to go further and stay in the hands of those serving our local communities,” Hunt said.
Looking ahead, Garage intends to expand its offerings beyond firefighters to other public safety sectors, potentially revolutionizing how entire communities prepare for emergencies.
