NuBrakes

# NuBrakes: High-Level Overview

NuBrakes is a tech-enabled mobile auto repair marketplace that brings brake repair and general vehicle maintenance services directly to customers at their homes, offices, or apartments.[1][2] The company solves a fundamental friction point in automotive service: the time-consuming and often expensive experience of visiting traditional repair shops. NuBrakes serves individual vehicle owners and fleet operators across nine metropolitan markets, offering transparent pricing that typically undercuts dealership quotes by up to 40%.[1][7]

The business operates on a marketplace model, connecting certified mobile technicians with customers seeking convenient, affordable repairs.[4] Beyond brake services, NuBrakes has expanded into oil changes and general vehicle maintenance, positioning itself as a comprehensive mobile repair solution.[1] The company has demonstrated strong product-market fit, with an average customer rating of 4.94 out of 5 across over 14,000 brake repair customers.[7]

# Origin Story

NuBrakes was founded in May 2019 by Walker Drewett, who previously launched NuWash, an on-demand mobile car wash service, in 2016.[2][4] The founding team built NuWash from the ground up while attending the University of Texas, personally washing the first 4,000 cars themselves before expanding the service.[2] This hands-on experience in the mobile services space directly informed the creation of NuBrakes.

The company achieved rapid geographic expansion, launching in Austin in 2019 and quickly scaling to nine markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Nashville, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville by the time of its Series A funding round.[2][6] Early traction attracted top-tier venture capital: Canvas Ventures led the Series A, with founder and GP Mike Ghaffary recognizing Drewett's ability to build a high-growth marketplace business.[4] As of early 2023, NuBrakes had raised over $16 million and employed approximately 120 people, though the company subsequently made "significant adjustments" due to capital market changes and unsustainable burn rates.[6]

# Core Differentiators

• Marketplace model with certified technicians: Unlike traditional repair shops or gig-economy mechanics, NuBrakes maintains quality control through certified brake repair technicians while leveraging a distributed mobile workforce.[1][4]

• Convenience and time savings: Mobile technicians eliminate the need for customers to visit repair facilities, performing work at the customer's location while they work or go about their day.[2][7]

• Transparent, competitive pricing: The company emphasizes straightforward pricing with no hidden fees, typically beating dealership quotes by up to 40%.[7]

• Tech-enabled operations: NuBrakes uses modern technology infrastructure—including phone systems, messaging platforms, and integrations like Aircall—to streamline scheduling, customer communication, and operational efficiency.[5] The company plans to introduce a "predictive telematics platform" to further automate the repair process.[1]

• Customer experience focus: The company's mission centers on combining mobile convenience with certified technician expertise and exceptional customer service, reflected in its high customer satisfaction ratings.[2]

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

NuBrakes operates at the intersection of two powerful trends: the on-demand services economy and the fragmentation of traditional service industries. The company exemplifies how marketplace models and mobile-first operations are disrupting historically location-bound sectors like automotive repair.

The timing has been favorable for this model. Consumer expectations for convenience—shaped by ride-sharing, food delivery, and other on-demand platforms—have created demand for similar flexibility in automotive services.[3] Additionally, the skilled trades face a labor shortage, making marketplace models that efficiently allocate distributed technicians increasingly valuable. NuBrakes' expansion into fleet services and predictive maintenance platforms suggests the company is positioning itself to capture B2B opportunities beyond individual consumers, where operational efficiency gains are even more compelling.[1]

The company's influence extends beyond its direct market: it demonstrates that capital-intensive, traditionally fragmented industries can be consolidated and improved through technology and marketplace dynamics. This validates a broader thesis about where venture capital can drive meaningful change.

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

NuBrakes faces a critical inflection point. The company has proven product-market fit and strong unit economics (evidenced by customer satisfaction and pricing power), but it has also experienced the capital market headwinds that affected many growth-stage startups in 2022-2023.[6] The stated priority of achieving profitability suggests a shift from aggressive expansion toward sustainable growth.

The company's next evolution likely hinges on three factors: geographic consolidation in existing markets to deepen penetration and reduce customer acquisition costs; service expansion beyond brakes into comprehensive vehicle maintenance; and technology leverage through the predictive telematics platform to increase technician utilization and customer lifetime value. Fleet services represent a particularly high-margin opportunity, as commercial operators have strong incentives to minimize downtime and maintenance costs.

If NuBrakes can achieve profitability while maintaining its marketplace model and customer experience standards, it could become a template for how technology transforms fragmented service industries—proving that convenience, quality, and affordability need not be mutually exclusive.