Bumper

About Bumper

Bumper is a financial technology company that provides a digital payment platform for the automotive repair industry. Founded in 2013 by James Jackson and Jack Allman as Auto Service Finance, the company's primary offering is a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service that allows car owners to split the cost of repairs, servicing, parts, and accessories into interest-free monthly installments.

The initial idea came to co-founder James Jackson when he identified a significant loss of revenue for car manufacturers from uncompleted repair work. He developed a BNPL solution, and after receiving initial funding, partnered with Jack Allman, who had a background in automotive tech startups. Both founders had prior experience in tech startups, which provided them with valuable industry contacts and knowledge. The company is headquartered in Sheffield, England, with additional offices in London and Ankara.

Bumper's business model is centered on providing its payment platform to car dealerships and garages, which in turn offer it to their customers. This helps dealerships increase conversion rates and average order value. The platform includes a suite of digital payment options such as PayLater, Pay By Bank, Pay By Card, and the PayPad in-dealership terminal, all designed to integrate with the dealers' existing systems. The company has seen significant growth, with its Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) growing 100% year-over-year and customer numbers increasing by 80% in the last twelve months. Bumper is on track to surpass £1 billion in GMV in 2025.

The company has successfully raised significant capital, including a $48 million Series B round and a total of $110 million in funding across 12 rounds. Its investors include prominent names in the automotive and venture capital sectors like Autotech Ventures, Shell Ventures, Porsche Ventures, and Jaguar Land Rover's InMotion Ventures. Bumper has also pursued strategic acquisitions, purchasing business intelligence provider AutoBI in November 2024 and digital payments platform Cocoon Payments. The company operates in several European markets, including the UK, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland, and serves over 5,000 dealer partners.