Every company has a founding moment. For Moovalot, it was a Zoom call in August 2023.
Howard Porter, Vice President at Brixmor Property Group — one of America's largest open-air retail REITs with over 350 shopping centers nationwide — reached out to Moovalot Co-Founder R. Michael Villarreal. What followed was a conversation that validated the entire Moovalot concept before a single trailer had entered the field.
The Problem We Saw
Home improvement stores, appliance retailers, and furniture showrooms lose sales every day to the same friction point: a customer falls in love with a product but has no way to haul it home. They leave without buying — or they go to a competitor that offers truck rentals.
The Moovalot concept was simple: what if a trailer was already in the parking lot? No rental counter. No reservation. Just scan the app, unlock the trailer, and go.
Why Brixmor Believed in It
Brixmor's interest was immediate. Their portfolio of open-air shopping centers — anchored by national grocers, home improvement chains, and furniture retailers — represented exactly the customer base that would benefit most from same-day trailer access. The retail partnership model worked for both sides: Moovalot gets high-traffic placement, retailers get a customer convenience amenity at no cost.
From Meeting to Company
By October 2023, Moovalot, LLC was formally incorporated. Attorneys at Dwyer Murphy Calvert LLP in Austin prepared the operating agreements, capital structure, and SEC Rule 506(b) documentation. The seed round launched in early 2024. Fleet insurance was arranged through Marsh McLennan. IoT hardware was sourced from Digi International via DigiKey.
Three years later, Moovalot operates 26 active sites across the Houston metro with 217 paid rentals, a 4.9-star Google rating, and a US patent pending on the trailer locking technology that makes it all possible.
Our early adoption and traction strongly indicate we are tapping into a much-needed trailer rental solution. — R. Michael Villarreal, Co-Founder & President
