Toma, a fast-growing artificial intelligence startup specializing in voice agents for the automotive retail sector, has secured $17 million in a Series A funding round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). The funding aims to accelerate the company’s mission to redefine customer interactions at car dealerships using voice-based automation.
Founded by Monik Pamecha, Toma builds enterprise-grade AI voice agents designed specifically for the complex workflows and operational needs of car dealerships. With this new capital, the company plans to expand its engineering and sales teams and broaden its footprint across dealerships in North America.
AI Voice Technology in Automotive Retail
Toma’s core product is a conversational AI platform built to handle high-volume, routine dealership interactions—ranging from service appointment reminders and repair status updates to trade-in inquiries and inventory checks. These voice agents are designed to mimic human-like conversations, reduce wait times, and improve the overall customer experience.
According to the company, these agents are capable of understanding dealership-specific terminology and integrating with legacy dealership management systems (DMS), CRMs, and inventory tools. Unlike generic voice bots, Toma’s solution focuses on vertical-specific customization, enabling it to perform complex voice tasks reliably in high-pressure customer service environments.
CEO Monik Pamecha stated that dealerships using Toma have seen “a significant lift in customer engagement and operational efficiency.” The voice agents operate 24/7, enabling businesses to engage with customers even outside traditional office hours.
Growing Adoption and Market Validation
Toma reports that its AI voice agents are now live in over 200 car dealerships across the United States and Canada. Early adopters include both independent dealers and franchise networks that represent leading auto brands. With call volumes often reaching thousands per week, the ability to automate outbound and inbound communications is proving valuable.
The company’s recent growth has attracted the attention of both industry players and investors. In a statement, a16z praised Toma for its focused execution in a highly specific but overlooked segment of enterprise automation. “This is a classic case of vertical AI—where solving a narrow but important industry problem unlocks meaningful business value,” said the firm.
The funding round also included participation from Abstract Ventures, Chapter One, and other strategic angel investors with backgrounds in conversational AI and SaaS.
Differentiation Through Vertical Specialization
Toma’s strategy aligns with a broader shift toward verticalized AI solutions. While many startups aim for horizontal use cases like general customer service or personal productivity, Toma has focused its resources on mastering the nuances of the auto retail industry.
This includes building voice models trained on dealership-specific data and fine-tuning agent responses for compliance, tone, and accuracy. The result is a product that delivers more contextual and personalized conversations—traits often missing in standard call center automation tools.
Toma's approach contrasts with that of larger tech companies offering generalized voice solutions. By focusing on depth rather than breadth, the company is carving out a distinct identity within the broader generative AI landscape.
Use Cases Beyond Sales
While the initial use case for Toma was outbound customer communication for sales and promotions, the company has since expanded into post-sale and service-related workflows. Dealerships now use Toma agents to:
- Remind customers about service appointments
- Notify customers when vehicles are ready for pickup
- Answer queries about loaner vehicle availability
- Confirm trade-in evaluations
The system’s analytics dashboard also provides dealerships with insights into customer behaviour, missed calls, and agent performance—allowing for continuous improvement.
Looking Ahead
With the Series A funding in place, Toma plans to expand its engineering team to improve product performance and scalability. The company is also exploring opportunities in adjacent verticals where high-volume voice interactions are common, such as real estate and healthcare.
As generative AI continues to move from labs into real-world business applications, companies like Toma represent a growing class of startups delivering measurable impact through specialized, sector-focused AI tools.
The next 12 to 18 months will be critical for Toma as it scales operations and competes with both legacy call automation providers and newer entrants in the enterprise voice AI space.
Image Credit: TOMA
