ELLSON CHEN
COO/CO-FOUNDER
BIDBUS
WHY: Co-founded company whose AI-backed system lets owners list their automobiles for auction online without setting foot in a used car lot.
IN THE NEWS: Raised $3.3M in seed funding, led by Mucker Capital of Venice Beach
NOTABLE: Founded in 2022, Costa Mesa-based Bidbus provides dealers, now numbering well over 1K, with a previously hard-to-get fresh supply of high-quality used cars sourced directly from consumers. As of July, he estimates that sellers had earned a collective $3M more from selling via Bidbus instead of through other channels.
QUOTABLE: “We’re committed to bringing real transparency to the used car market. Every offer in our auction is one our dealers will honor—no haggling, no games.”
