Cariqa, an innovative startup reshaping the electric vehicle (EV) charging industry, has successfully raised €1 million in its pre-seed funding round. The round attracted 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 market inefficiencies by offering transparent pricing for EV drivers and better price control for charge point operators (CPOs). CPOs currently face low utilization rates, often forced to discount to intermediaries, leading to higher costs for drivers. Cariqa connects CPOs directly with drivers, improving utilization and offering affordable, transparent pricing.

CEO Issam Tidjani said, “Our mission is to contribute to the transition to sustainable mobility by creating a fairer and more efficient charging market. We aim to help charge point operators maximize their utilization rates and revenues while ensuring drivers pay a fair and transparent price.”

In September 2024, Cariqa launched its marketplace, partnering with CPOs across Europe. With access to over 420,000 charging stations in 30 countries and features like charge point discovery, EV routing, and detailed consumption tracking, Cariqa offers a seamless experience for drivers and boosts profitability for CPOs.