August Baumann awarded at Innovation Challenge

UW-River Falls student August Baumann was awarded second place in the university’s ninth annual Innovation Challenge for his used auto parts business, A.F. Baumann Auto Parts. Baumann is a sophomore majoring in Finance and Economics, and his business model is a testament to his knowledge and strategic thinking. 

Baumann operates on the belief that car parts hold more value than the vehicle itself. He acquires old and scrapped cars for a few hundred dollars each and extracts the parts that are in high demand. Once these parts are sold, he collaborates with customers to ensure delivery, and offers flexible options such as pick-up, shipping, and even personal delivery. 

Baumann came up with the idea after he purchased his first car, for only $200. The brake lines on the vehicle blew out after a few months, and, determined to make some money back, Baumann advertised the car online as ‘for parts,’ and soon began receiving offers. He sold $800 worth of parts from the vehicle within a few months, and A.F. Baumann Auto Parts was born.

Baumann works on his business throughout the academic year and searches for car listings while at school. Once he returns home, he buys the vehicles and works on them. 

Baumann didn’t come from a family of mechanics or car experts. He gained his mechanical knowledge at a car repair shop performing oil changes and later, in the summer of 2021, working as a full-service mechanic. “I’ll do anything: engine swaps, transmission replacements, water pumps, suspension, alignments, all that stuff,” Baumann said.

After a recommendation from a friend, Baumann decided to pursue UWRF’s Innovation Challenge. The event, held on Feb. 28, 2024, challenged UWRF students to pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of Wisconsin business leaders, who then further questioned them on their concept. This year, Baumann won second place and $1,000.

Baumann said that he hopes to carry the momentum into his future business ventures. He will continue to run A.F. Baumann Auto Parts after he graduates, and plans to pursue other business ideas as well. “I’d like to buy my own little piece of land and start actually doing a junkyard,” he added.