Slate Auto has raised over $700 million to date, including a quiet $100 million+ Series A round in 2023. Jeff Bezos was a key investor, but he wasn’t alone—up to 16 investors took part, according to an SEC filing.
LA-based venture firm Slauson & Co., founded in 2020 by Ajay Relan and Austin Clements, backed Slate in the Series A. The firm focuses on funding underrepresented voices in tech but sees potential in Slate’s mission: affordable, domestically made, customizable electric vehicles.
Slauson & Co. partner Ajay Relan told TechCrunch they were drawn to Slate despite EV market risks and political headwinds. 
“We believe in the startup’s mission of providing more affordable, reliable, and customizable vehicles that are domestically manufactured.”
Relan and Clements met Slate through Jeff Wilkie, former Amazon consumer division CEO and co-founder of Re:Build Manufacturing, an incubator Slate spun out of. The team was small but packed with automotive veterans, including CEO Chris Barman (ex-Chrysler), chairman Rodney Copes, and CFO Ryan Green, who bring decades of industry experience.
Clements praised Barman for her focus and vision.
“She has great vision. She has a great reputation within the company she’s worked for before,” he said.
“She’s no frills, not about the hype. She’s really about delivering.”
The truck isn’t set for launch until late 2026, but Slate already hit 100,000 refundable reservations in two weeks—a strong sign of demand.
Big names like Dodgers owner Mark Walter and VC General Catalyst also back Slate. Slauson & Co. continued investing through Series B and is part of the ongoing Series C round. The exact amounts invested remain undisclosed.
Clements summed up their bet on Slate’s future:
“We have to have some deep conviction that this is something that could drive very real returns in the fund.”
“You know, we’re not just a purely philanthropic organization.”
