Cariqa raises €1 Million in Pre-Seed Funding to launch EV charging marketplace

The Berlin-based startup addresses market inefficiencies, enabling operators to dynamically adjust prices and increase profitability while benefiting EV drivers.

Cariqa, a startup set to transform the electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape, announced the close of its € 1 Million pre-seed funding round. The round included participation from a range of investors from US, Europe and Asia such as Anthemis (Female Innovator Lab), Vento Ventures, Hatcher+, Techstars, Golden Egg Check and Plug and Play.  The funding will be used to  develop the world's first consumer-facing EV charging marketplace and initiate Cariqa's rollout across Europe.

Cariqa addresses EV charging market inefficiencies by eliminating unclear pricing for EV drivers and enhancing price control for charge point operators (CPOs). Currently, CPOs face low utilization rates of as low as 3%, making it difficult to justify high installation and maintenance costs. To attract users, CPOs often sell energy at discounts to intermediaries known as e-mobility service providers (EMSPs), sacrificing margins and limiting their ability to adjust prices dynamically. This results in higher costs for EV drivers. By directly connecting CPOs with drivers, Cariqa offers affordable, transparent pricing and empowers CPOs to improve utilization and control their prices.

Cariqa has launched the new marketplace in September 2024 and already partnered with CPOs across Europe. With access to over 420,000 charging stations across 30 European countries, coupled with valuable features such as optimal charge point discovery, EV routing and the possibility to connect the EV for  more detailed consumption models and alerts, Cariqa ensures a seamless charging experience for EV drivers and a route to improved profitability for CPOs.