Charlotte, NC
www.wheelprice.com
WheelPrice is a leading online marketplace transforming the way people buy and sell automotive wheels. They connect enthusiasts, professionals, and suppliers to create a seamless and transparent wheel transaction experience. WheelPrice goes beyond just an online marketplace by fostering a vibrant community of automotive enthusiasts who share their expertise, experiences, and recommendations. Wheelprice is a 2023 MICRO and 2024 SEED Grant Recipient.
Submitted By Kyle Mayers
Published March 2025
My passion for automobiles began at a very young age. I remember being five when my grandmother gifted me a briefcase full of Hot Wheels cars, and I was immediately hooked. As I got older, I started appreciating the feel of driving cars and their unique designs. Few experiences engage the senses like cars do— an engine’s exhaust note, the smell of old interior, the G forces when taking a turn, and the range of experiences they provide.
I was fortunate to share this passion with my closest friends and now Cofounders, Wally Namane and Kirk Vanderheijden. Wally and I met at the University of Connecticut, both driving identical red E30s. Our friendship extended beyond cars—we are first-generation Americans, the first in our families to attend college, and even shared the same major. I met Kirk in a parking lot after class, and we struck up a conversation about our cars. Our friendship was cemented when I spontaneously invited him to a car meet 45 minutes away.
After college, we focused on our careers, climbing the corporate ladder and sharpening our skills in technology, and business operations. In 2019, we combined our expertise with our passion for cars and launched WheelPrice, the leading online marketplace transforming how people buy and sell automotive wheels.
So much of WheelPrice’s success can be attributed to the foundation we’ve built in North Carolina. Organizations like BLKTech CLT introduced me to the world of entrepreneurship and opened the doors to many resources. Similarly, NC IDEA’s support was monumental—though we faced early rejections for SEED in Fall 2022 and MICRO in Spring 2023, we used the feedback as fuel, and by Fall 2023, we won MICRO, and in Spring 2024, we won SEED. Organizations like Innovate Charlotte, Launch CLT, and TechStars also played a key role in our success.
As I reflect on our entrepreneurial journey, several key moments stand out as defining. Our recent partnership with BBS Wheels, the world-renowned wheel manufacturer, for our first auction is without a doubt a standout moment. Having Craig Donnelly, President of BBS, co-signing the event and witnessing hundreds of enthusiasts actively bidding on a set of wheels was unforgettable. I’m grateful to have experienced that with our team, and I know there will be plenty more exciting moments in 2025.
Early on, we focused on building credibility. That then evolved into a fast growing community. I’m proud that WheelPrice has become the go-to platform for buying and selling wheels, with a passionate audience of 150K followers across all our platforms. We’re now going to harness the immense amount of social capital that’s been built on a foundation of credibility and community, and shift focus towards commerce. Our vision includes integrating AI to help with smarter purchasing decisions, using AR for wheel visualization, and eventually expanding beyond wheels to other automotive parts.
For fellow entrepreneurs, know that you don’t have to leave North Carolina to make it. While some say you need to be in Silicon Valley or New York, our state has plenty of opportunities to leverage. Success comes down to what you put in—and we’re proof of that.
Follow Wheelprice: Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, TikTok
Charlotte, NC
www.wheelprice.com
WheelPrice is a leading online marketplace transforming the way people buy and sell automotive wheels. They connect enthusiasts, professionals, and suppliers to create a seamless and transparent wheel transaction experience. WheelPrice goes beyond just an online marketplace by fostering a vibrant community of automotive enthusiasts who share their expertise, experiences, and recommendations. Wheelprice is a 2023 MICRO and 2024 SEED Grant Recipient.
Submitted By Kyle Mayers
Published March 2025
My passion for automobiles began at a very young age. I remember being five when my grandmother gifted me a briefcase full of Hot Wheels cars, and I was immediately hooked. As I got older, I started appreciating the feel of driving cars and their unique designs. Few experiences engage the senses like cars do— an engine’s exhaust note, the smell of old interior, the G forces when taking a turn, and the range of experiences they provide.
I was fortunate to share this passion with my closest friends and now Cofounders, Wally Namane and Kirk Vanderheijden. Wally and I met at the University of Connecticut, both driving identical red E30s. Our friendship extended beyond cars—we are first-generation Americans, the first in our families to attend college, and even shared the same major. I met Kirk in a parking lot after class, and we struck up a conversation about our cars. Our friendship was cemented when I spontaneously invited him to a car meet 45 minutes away.
After college, we focused on our careers, climbing the corporate ladder and sharpening our skills in technology, and business operations. In 2019, we combined our expertise with our passion for cars and launched WheelPrice, the leading online marketplace transforming how people buy and sell automotive wheels.
So much of WheelPrice’s success can be attributed to the foundation we’ve built in North Carolina. Organizations like BLKTech CLT introduced me to the world of entrepreneurship and opened the doors to many resources. Similarly, NC IDEA’s support was monumental—though we faced early rejections for SEED in Fall 2022 and MICRO in Spring 2023, we used the feedback as fuel, and by Fall 2023, we won MICRO, and in Spring 2024, we won SEED. Organizations like Innovate Charlotte, Launch CLT, and TechStars also played a key role in our success.
As I reflect on our entrepreneurial journey, several key moments stand out as defining. Our recent partnership with BBS Wheels, the world-renowned wheel manufacturer, for our first auction is without a doubt a standout moment. Having Craig Donnelly, President of BBS, co-signing the event and witnessing hundreds of enthusiasts actively bidding on a set of wheels was unforgettable. I’m grateful to have experienced that with our team, and I know there will be plenty more exciting moments in 2025.
Early on, we focused on building credibility. That then evolved into a fast growing community. I’m proud that WheelPrice has become the go-to platform for buying and selling wheels, with a passionate audience of 150K followers across all our platforms. We’re now going to harness the immense amount of social capital that’s been built on a foundation of credibility and community, and shift focus towards commerce. Our vision includes integrating AI to help with smarter purchasing decisions, using AR for wheel visualization, and eventually expanding beyond wheels to other automotive parts.
For fellow entrepreneurs, know that you don’t have to leave North Carolina to make it. While some say you need to be in Silicon Valley or New York, our state has plenty of opportunities to leverage. Success comes down to what you put in—and we’re proof of that.
Follow Wheelprice: Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, TikTok
