Vinli

About Vinli

Founded in 2014 by Mark Haidar and Scott Harper, Vinli operates as a mobility data intelligence provider for the automotive and transportation industry. The Dallas-based company originated as a spin-off from Dialexa, a technology design firm co-founded by Haidar. The initial concept for Vinli grew from Haidar's experience developing a connected car project for the U.S. Army while studying at the University of Detroit Mercy. After fleeing Lebanon in 2006, Haidar's background in computer engineering and his early entrepreneurial ventures, including building a web-based university management system in Lebanon, shaped his technological focus.

Vinli initially launched with a direct-to-consumer model, offering a hardware device that plugged into a vehicle's On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) port. This device provided in-car Wi-Fi and access to a catalog of applications for safety, entertainment, and vehicle diagnostics, aiming to be the "Apple TV or Chromecast for the car". The company officially launched at TechCrunch Disrupt in September 2014, where it was a finalist. Over its history, Vinli has secured a total of $21 million in funding across three rounds from investors including Samsung Venture Investment, E.ON, The Westly Group, and Cox Automotive.

Recognizing the need for deeper integration into the automotive value chain, the company pivoted from its consumer hardware focus. Vinli now concentrates on a business-to-business model, serving large fleet and insurance organizations. Revenue is generated through subscription-based access to its platform and custom mobility solutions. The core of its offering is the Era data intelligence platform, a machine learning engine that ingests and analyzes various data sources—including telematics, driver behavior, and vehicle status—to provide predictive insights. This platform, along with the Tenjin connected car platform, provides clients with tools for rapid application development and deployment. Vinli's technology enables partners like ALD Automotive and the energy company E.ON to develop customized, white-labeled services for their own customers, focusing on areas like electric vehicle fleet management and data connectivity.