Alex Rawitz: Can Data Ownership Drive the Future of Smart Cars?
- Martin Piskoric
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
Reclaiming Value in the Age of Smart Mobility
The world around us is becoming more connected by the second—from the smartphones in our pockets to the vehicles we drive. Yet, while our devices collect massive amounts of data, the people generating that data—us—have little access or control over it. Alex Rawitz, co-founder of DIMO, is on a mission to flip that paradigm.
A decade-long veteran in the technology space, Rawitz has worked across telecom, finance, and IoT sectors. Today, he’s building something big—an open-source platform that returns data ownership to users and enables a thriving ecosystem of applications around connected devices.
“We’re talking about bringing billions, maybe even trillions of dollars’ worth of value back to people who drive their cars every day,” Rawitz says. “And we’re doing that by returning them control over their data.”
Why the Car is the Ultimate IoT Device
Most of us think of IoT as smart thermostats or wearables. But Rawitz challenges us to see our cars differently.
“If you think of cars as an IoT category, it’s actually five times bigger than all other devices combined,” he explains. From navigation and engine diagnostics to payment systems and environmental sensors, modern vehicles are rolling data hubs.
However, the innovation potential of connected cars is being stifled by a lack of interoperability. Rawitz recalls an early challenge faced by his co-founders—getting an autonomous vehicle to talk to a smart parking garage.
It wasn’t just about syncing two technologies. It was about accounting for every vehicle, every sensor type, and every future upgrade. “All of a sudden, across the world, you have this huge interoperability problem,” says Rawitz. “And we believe it can only be solved by rethinking the foundational technology—how data is stored, accessed, and shared.”
Open Source, Real Ecosystem
To address this, DIMO went all-in on open source. They split their structure into a U.S. corporation and a nonprofit, the latter owning much of the intellectual property.
It’s a bold move. But it enables something powerful: a growing developer community that can expand the ecosystem faster than any single company could.
Rawitz compares it to Linux and Red Hat—tech that’s free to use, but commercially supported. DIMO provides the infrastructure, but invites developers, car owners, and companies to build what they need on top.
“We’ve attracted a ton of hackers and community members from all over the world,” he says. “They show up and say, ‘This is really cool, I know how to read data from this specific kind of car,’ and they contribute. That’s the magic.”
From a Single App to a Whole Marketplace
For drivers, DIMO begins with a simple experience: download the DIMO mobile app, connect your car, and access a secure data vault.
From there, users can opt into other services:
Battery warranties
EV carbon credit rewards
Personalized insurance discounts
What used to be a walled garden is now a data ecosystem. The driver controls who sees what—and when.
“Think about how your phone works,” Rawitz says. “It wouldn’t be very useful if it only came with a notepad and alarm clock. The magic is in the apps. We believe the same thing is true for every connected device.”
Who’s Using DIMO Right Now?
Currently, most of DIMO’s commercial partners are in the automotive industry—insurance companies, warranty providers, used-car marketplaces. These companies benefit from first-party data shared directly by users, avoiding the privacy gray zones of traditional telematics.
But DIMO is also helping large entities like automakers and dealership groups who feel they’re losing the innovation race. They use DIMO’s developer tools to:
Launch branded digital experiences
Access new revenue streams via the app marketplace
Build faster without reinventing the tech stack
“We make it really easy for those lacking a digital footprint to create one,” Rawitz notes.
Powering the Next Wave of Innovation
While DIMO serves enterprises, its heart is with entrepreneurs.
“My first job was at a nonprofit startup accelerator,” Rawitz shares. “And I aim to help entrepreneurs every chance I get. Most of our partners at DIMO are startups. We win when they win.”
That belief fuels the open nature of the platform. By providing tools, infrastructure, and visibility, DIMO hopes to spark new products—possibly even new business models—built on user-controlled car data.
What’s Next?
For those curious to explore, there are two entry points:
DIMO isn’t just building apps. It’s building a new internet for devices—one where people, not corporations, control the value of their digital lives.
Key Takeaways
Data ownership is at the core of DIMO’s mission, enabling users to control and benefit from their connected device data
Cars represent the largest and most untapped IoT category, making them the perfect proving ground
An open-source model fosters collaboration, innovation, and global contribution
Developers and enterprises alike can build on the DIMO platform to offer better, faster, more ethical services
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