Scott Painter
Encyclopedia
Scott Painter is a U.S. investor and entrepreneur who has started over 35 companies, raising almost 1.25 billion dollars from investors in the process.
After high school, Painter joined the U.S. Army and studied to become a Spanish interrogator for the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1989, he attended West Point U.S. Military Academy, where he studied political science, became class president and played on the school’s varsity rugby team.
In 1991, Painter won a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley where he studied economics.
Painter has since founded several successful companies:
TrueCar.com, an automotive website based in Santa Monica, CA, with a nearly 4,700-strong dealer network, provides market-pricing data based on actual transactions within the last 30 days to in-market car shoppers. TrueCar, Inc. secured $35.5 million in new financing in 2010.
Zag.com, a TrueCar, Inc. company, powers online and mobile car buying programs for more than 40 prominent membership-based organizations, including USAA, AAA Clubs, American Express and Upromise. Zag leverages the TrueCar, Inc. dealer network to provide competitive, upfront price quotes and a no-haggle car buying experience. Over 200,000 new and used cars have been sold by Zag Certified Dealers since the launch of the first program in 2006. Zag is also based in Santa Monica, CA.
CarsDirect.com, founded in 1998, was the first online car site to offer upfront pricing to consumers via a direct-selling model, transitioning away from the lead-generation model (i.e., selling customer information to dealerships rather than taking an active role in the sale of the car) that many other sites used at that time.
Other Companies Founded by Scott Painter
PriceLock.com coordinated fuel-price protection sales promotions for both Chrysler and Hyundai.
Shares Post -- SharesPost connects buyers, sellers and brokers of shares in leading venture-backed private companies and gives them the information, tools and assistance they need to close their transactions.
U.S. Digital Gaming (USDG). – USDG provides state-by-state solutions for legalized online gambling and marketing.
Early life
Born on September 30, 1968, Scott Painter grew up in the Sacramento area of California. As part of a military family, he moved around often as a child. Painter started his first company, Scott’s Auto Detailing Service, at age 14.After high school, Painter joined the U.S. Army and studied to become a Spanish interrogator for the 82nd Airborne Division. In 1989, he attended West Point U.S. Military Academy, where he studied political science, became class president and played on the school’s varsity rugby team.
In 1991, Painter won a scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley where he studied economics.
Career
Scott left Berkeley after two years of study in order to pursue his entrepreneurial interests. A class project at the school motivated Painter to raise $250,000 in capital and start INFOAccess, the first of his companies to provide car buying information to customers online.Painter has since founded several successful companies:
TrueCar.com, an automotive website based in Santa Monica, CA, with a nearly 4,700-strong dealer network, provides market-pricing data based on actual transactions within the last 30 days to in-market car shoppers. TrueCar, Inc. secured $35.5 million in new financing in 2010.
Zag.com, a TrueCar, Inc. company, powers online and mobile car buying programs for more than 40 prominent membership-based organizations, including USAA, AAA Clubs, American Express and Upromise. Zag leverages the TrueCar, Inc. dealer network to provide competitive, upfront price quotes and a no-haggle car buying experience. Over 200,000 new and used cars have been sold by Zag Certified Dealers since the launch of the first program in 2006. Zag is also based in Santa Monica, CA.
CarsDirect.com, founded in 1998, was the first online car site to offer upfront pricing to consumers via a direct-selling model, transitioning away from the lead-generation model (i.e., selling customer information to dealerships rather than taking an active role in the sale of the car) that many other sites used at that time.
Other Companies Founded by Scott Painter
PriceLock.com coordinated fuel-price protection sales promotions for both Chrysler and Hyundai.
Shares Post -- SharesPost connects buyers, sellers and brokers of shares in leading venture-backed private companies and gives them the information, tools and assistance they need to close their transactions.
U.S. Digital Gaming (USDG). – USDG provides state-by-state solutions for legalized online gambling and marketing.
Honors
- Named the 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Technology Council of Southern California
- Named to the 2009-2010 Worth Elite List of Top Automobile Innovators
- Featured in numerous media outlets, including CNN.com, FOX News, TechCrunch, The Economic Times, National Public Radio, Bloomberg, and Business Week.
Philanthropy
Painter's philanthropic contributions locally, nationally and internationally include:- Arnold’s All-Stars. Painter was a chairman of this charity founded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- Thanks A Bunch. Painter sat on the board of this charity dedicated to benefitting underfunded public schools.
- Clicks That Count. Raised money for the organization, benefitting non-profit organizations and charities.
- Cedar Sinai Hospital. Sits on the Board of Governors of this prominent Beverly Hills hospital.
Education
- West Point U.S. Military Academy (1989–1991). *Studied political science and systems engineering, was class president, played varsity rugby.
- University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(1991–1993). Studied economics. Played varsity rugby. - Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Defense Language InstituteDefense Language InstituteThe Defense Language Institute is a United States Department of Defense educational and research institution, which provides linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other Federal Agencies and numerous and varied other customers...
(1988). Studied Spanish.