This edition of Local Radar highlights three startups betting that AI can reinvent some of the most entrenched categories in software and local commerce. From Auger rethinking and democratizing supply chain management, to Fika Jobs reshaping the way employees are hired, to Self Inspection streamlining vehicle inspections, the common thread is software designed for an AI-native world rather than retrofitted for one.
1. Self Inspection
We kick off this installment of Local Radar with an update from a repeat offender. As we examined in our auto-tech edition of Local Radar, San Diego-based Self Inspection is disrupting and streamlining the dreaded yet ubiquitous process of vehicle inspections. At that time, the company had raised $3 million. Now just nine months later, it has raised another $10 million… and it has done so with some heavy-hitter investors. Namely, Sheryl Sandberg participates in this latest round, bringing some clout to Self Inspection and no doubt opening some doors. So what does the company do exactly? The $30 billion vehicle inspection market is ripe for disruption, given its antiquated and legacy practices. And the work is all rote… meaning it’s fertile ground for AI integrations. With that backdrop, Self-Inspection utilizes the combination of a smartphone camera, a car’s OBD2 port, and AI models that are trained on large datasets of damaged vehicles (think: Carfax for the AI age). Intended users include auto lenders, dealerships, and rental companies, with the thought that these entities can deploy the technology at scale. That volume also means that the value proposition is strong, as they can realize worthwhile savings and operational efficiencies. For example, Stellantis’ financial services arm uses the platform for corporate-owned vehicles and lease-end inspections. In the aggregate, Self Inspection has completed 1 million vehicle inspections to date. New funding will throw fuel on all the above.
2. Auger
As supply chains continue to be a pain point for businesses of all sizes, managing them becomes a critical function. Businesses need to do so deliberately and with ample rigor, given rising costs for a range of materials, food items, or whatever a given SMB’s supply entails. Belleview, WA-based Auger wants to be the pain pill for these headaches. Founded by former Amazon execs – a company known for its logistics and supply-chain excellence – the company brings big-company supply-chain sophistication down market to SMBs. And it just raised $50 million in Series B funding, led by Eclipse, to do so. Its software is built on the premise that pure tech, and even AI, aren’t enough to understand supply-chain sophistication. It instead bases its approach on ontologies and detailed maps of how supply chains work. It’s designed to sit on top of existing systems, such as ERP, transportation management, and warehousing tools. There, it unifies data into a single operating layer where AI agents can then make optimal decisions and execute. For example, one of its customers is Fanatics, where about 85 percent of supply chain decisions managed by Auger are happening autonomously. The company currently employs 130 people, and its total raised to date is $150 million.
3. Fika Jobs
On the list of operational functions that AI will disrupt, things that involve human intuition and emotional intelligence are often omitted. And one of those functions is hiring new employees. In fact, some HR pros and hiring managers have been slammed for using AI to sift through large volumes of applications – a practice generally thought to be an AI overreach. But Fika Jobs thinks that hiring is actually a perfect place for AI to integrate, automate, and disrupt. And it’s up for the challenge. The company has developed a video-based hiring platform that combines AI-administered interviews with short-form video profiles. Specifically, the way that plays out is that applicants are asked to connect their LinkedIn profiles. Fika’s AI engine then reviews the candidate’s background and uses it to generate personalized interview questions. They then participate in 10-minute video interviews with a Gemini-based AI agent. The footage from that interview is then spun into a short video asset that more resembles a TikTok video than a traditional resume. This creates a standard format that can be compared to other candidates. Moreover, Fika believes that this medium better reveals a given job candidate’s personality and communication skills. All the above recently attracted a $4 million pre-seed round, which the company will use to continue developing its platform, grow its team, and bring the product to market in 2026.
