The auction industry is changing fast — but the technology hasn’t kept up. For years, auctioneers have been expected to run modern businesses using outdated tools, rigid platforms, and systems that weren’t designed with their reality in mind.
RocketBid was built to change that. Because we weren’t outsiders looking in. We’re the auction kids.
A Legacy That Started in a Small Auction House
RocketBid’s story starts with Dustin Barker, a second-generation auctioneer who grew up in the business. Before he ever held a gavel, he was building websites, tinkering with technology, and figuring out how to make things more efficient.
Eventually, he joined his dad in the auction business — learning the craft the way it’s traditionally passed down: in the lanes, on the road, and behind the mic. He graduated from World Wide College of Auctioneering, spent years running auctions across Atlantic Canada, and experienced every major auction platform firsthand.
And like many auctioneers today, he kept thinking the same thing: “Why isn’t there something better?” Faster. Cleaner. More flexible. Built for how auctioneers actually work.
When Experience Meets Opportunity
In early 2025, the timing was right and RocketBid took shape.
Dustin teamed up with his sister, Karly, a designer and content creator who had been hearing the same stories, and watching the industry evolve. Together with a close friend who brought technical and customer-experience expertise, the foundation became clear:
Auction experience + design + engineering. Industry understanding + modern tech. Heart + horsepower. RocketBid wasn’t created to disrupt auctioneers, it was created to empower them.
Why RocketBid Exists
Auctioneers deserve a platform that works with them, not against them. A platform that moves at the speed of a live sale. A platform that looks professional and branded. A platform that’s flexible enough for every style of auction, from heavy equipment to collectibles to influencer-driven pop-ups. RocketBid was built so auctioneers can finally say: “This is our platform.”
What We’re Building Toward
Our mission is simple: Give auctioneers complete control. Control over the brand. Control over the bidder experience. Control over how auctions are run — live, online, simulcast, or influencer-style. And just as importantly:
Keep the conversation open with the industry.
That’s why we launched The Auctioneer Podcast, to talk openly with auctioneers, share real stories, and build tools that come from lived experience, not assumptions.
Looking Ahead
RocketBid is still young but the momentum is real.
Every week, more auctioneers reach out. Every demo uncovers another “I’ve always wanted the software to do this…” moment. Every feature we ship comes from listening, not guessing.
This isn’t just a product. It’s a long-term commitment to an industry that raised us. We’re here to build the platform auctioneers have always deserved and we’re just getting started.
Book a demo: https://rocketbid.io