Cariqa
Cariqa builds direct payments infrastructure for EV charging in Europe, connecting charge point operators to mobility platforms, OEMs, navigation apps, and fleets via a single API and bypassing reseller markups across a 900,000+ charge point network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cariqa does
Cariqa (legal entity KZY Marketplace Solutions GmbH) is a Berlin-based payments infrastructure company for the European EV charging market. The company builds technology that connects charge point operators (CPOs) directly to driver-facing platforms — mobility apps, navigation tools, OEM systems, and fleet software — bypassing the eMSP/reseller layer that historically sits between operators and drivers. Its core proposition is that resellers mark up kWh prices and erode commercial control for CPOs, brand trust for platforms, and price transparency for drivers; Cariqa's infrastructure removes that intermediary so operators set their own prices, receive automated payouts, and access demand directly, while platforms can embed charging and earn affiliate-style revenue share.
The product portfolio comprises four components. Cariqa Console is the CPO-side tariff management and real-time revenue dashboard. Cariqa Go is a QR-based ad-hoc charging solution for walk-up drivers, configurable for energy-, time-, session-, or blocking-fee pricing, with payments settled directly to operators. Cariqa Drive is a consumer app with route planning, station finding, and payment, used by over 260,000 EV drivers in Europe. Cariqa Connect, launched in June 2026 and described as the world's first direct payment API for EV charging, lets demand partners integrate charging via API with revenue share on every operator-partner transaction. The platform aggregates 900,000+ charge points across Europe via integrations with CPOs including Pfalzwerke, EWE Go, Qwello, TEAG Mobil, SachsenEnergie, enercity, Mer, CITYWATT, and others; payments are processed through Stripe.
Cariqa monetizes through transaction-based revenue: a per-session Cariqa service fee (disclosed upfront to drivers) and revenue share paid to demand partners from each operator-partner transaction. Integration via Cariqa Connect is free for demand partners. The company targets two primary segments — CPOs seeking commercial control and platforms seeking embedded charging revenue — with secondary exposure to EV drivers, retailers, utilities, and OEMs. Founded in 2024 by ex-GoCardless and Virtuo employees and led by four co-founders (Issam Tidjani, CEO; Stefano Bonetta, CTO; Tamara Ciullo, CCO; Mario La Pergola, COO/CFO), Cariqa has raised approximately €5 million across a September 2024 pre-seed and a July 2025 seed round co-led by Contrarian Ventures and Anthemis Group, with participation from Techstars, Golden Egg Check, Plug and Play, Hatcher+, Earth, and Vento. Initial deployment focuses on Germany and Austria with stated plans for broader European expansion.
Cariqa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cariqa
- Legal name
- KZY Marketplace Solutions GmbH
- Website
- https://cariqa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cariqa builds direct payments infrastructure for EV charging in Europe, connecting charge point operators to mobility platforms, OEMs, navigation apps, and fleets via a single API and bypassing reseller markups across a 900,000+ charge point network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cariqa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- EV Charging Payment Infrastructure
- SIC
- Electric & Other Services Combined (4931), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EV Charging Network Management & Software Services (CPMS, Monitoring, Billing) (TLAKAMAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- EV Charging Settlement, Billing & Roaming (Payments, Tariffs, Clearing) (EUAFAMAI), EV Charging Payment & Reimbursement Programs (Public/Depot Charging) (TLABAMAK)
Keywords
Where Cariqa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cariqa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transaction Revenue Share: Cariqa earns revenue through an affiliate-style revenue share structure. For sessions completed through demand-side platforms (apps, OEMs, mapping providers), the operator receives payment directly while demand partners earn a revenue share on every operator partner transaction. Cariqa handles payments, billing, VAT, compliance, and CPO management underneath.
- Platform Service Fees: Cariqa may charge a fixed service fee for every successful charging session (Cariqa fee), always clearly displayed before drivers start charging. This is separate from the per-kWh charging cost that goes to the operator.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Operator pricing (kWh-based) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Cariqa Connect - Free integration with revenue share |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Cariqa Service Fee per session |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cariqa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cariqa provides direct payment infrastructure for public EV charging, connecting charge point operators (CPOs) directly with mobility platforms, OEMs, navigation apps, fleets, and driver-facing apps without a reseller/eMSP intermediary. Its portfolio includes Cariqa Console for centralized tariff management, Cariqa Connect as an embeddable charging and payments API, Cariqa Go for QR-based ad-hoc charging, and Cariqa Drive as a consumer driver app, all running over a network of more than 900,000 European charge points.
Product overview
Cariqa is a direct payments infrastructure platform for EV charging that connects charge point operators (CPOs) directly with the apps, maps, and platforms drivers already use. The platform operates on a direct payment model that removes resellers from EV charging transactions, enabling operators to set their own prices and receive payments directly while platforms can embed charging and earn revenue share. The product portfolio consists of four integrated products: Cariqa Console (tariff management and revenue analytics for CPOs), Cariqa Connect (API enabling platforms and OEMs to embed EV charging), Cariqa Go (QR-based ad-hoc charging solution), and Cariqa Drive (consumer driver app with routing and payment capabilities). Together, these products provide end-to-end coverage from operator pricing control through to driver payment experience, with the network covering 900,000+ charge points across Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cariqa Console: Centralized tariff management platform for charge point operators to publish prices everywhere and see revenue in real time.
- Cariqa Connect
- Cariqa Go
- Cariqa Drive
Products and services
- Cariqa Console Centralized tariff management and revenue analytics platform for charge point operators, allowing them to centralize tariffs, publish pricing across channels, and see revenue in real time while regaining commercial control over pricing without reseller markups.
- Cariqa Connect Direct payment API for EV charging that enables mobility platforms, OEMs, fleets, and navigation apps to embed public EV charging through a direct connection to charge point operators, with affiliate-style revenue share and no per-user or platform fees.
- Cariqa Go QR-based ad-hoc EV charging solution that enables charge point operators and retailers to offer branded walk-up charging with zero setup, with drivers scanning and paying directly and operators receiving direct settlement and configurable pricing models.
- Cariqa Drive Consumer-facing EV driver app providing live station data, intelligent route planning, seamless in-app charging payments, and full price transparency, used by more than 260,000 EV drivers across Europe.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.6x charging revenue increase and 2.45x energy sold for enercity using Cariqa Go vs legacy QR solution (normalised for 27% network expansion)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cariqa
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cariqa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Cariqa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PfalzwerkecoreCharge point operator partner integrated into Cariqa's direct payment network. Pfalzwerke maintains full flexibility in how they operate and price their network while reaching a wider base of EV drivers through Cariqa's platform.
- EWE GocoreCharge point operator partner providing access to their charging network through Cariqa's direct payment infrastructure.
- QwellocoreCharge point operator partner integrated into Cariqa's network of 900,000+ European charge points.
- A Better Routeplanner (ABRP)coreLeading EV route planning platform that integrated Cariqa Connect to enable drivers to start and pay for charging within their route planning experience, with transparent pricing connected directly to CPOs.
- TEAG MobilcoreCharge point operator that integrated over 1,000 public charging points onto the Cariqa platform, enabling unified transparent pricing and seamless driver access across their network.
- SachsenEnergiecoreCharge point operator that integrated over 700 charging points in Saxony onto the Cariqa platform, expanding transparent EV charging across the Saxony region.
- Eco-MovementcoreMobility data provider that integrated Cariqa Connect to enable payments directly within their charging station data, allowing customers to go from displaying chargers to enabling charging more quickly without additional integrations.
- ChargepricecoreEV charging price comparison platform that integrated Cariqa to enable their community to start charging directly within Chargeprice apps without needing to offer charging services themselves.
- MercoreCharge point operator partner providing charging infrastructure integrated with Cariqa's direct payment network.
- enercitycoreEnergy utility partner that implemented Cariqa Go for ad-hoc charging, achieving 2.6x charging revenue and 2.45x energy sold compared to their legacy QR solution.
- CITYWATTminorCharge point operator partner offering transparent and reliable prices directly to drivers through Cariqa's platform.
- Emobility EastminorCharge point operator partner integrated into Cariqa's network.
- EulektrominorCharge point operator partner where Cariqa enables dynamic and fair tariff management.
- Q1 Energie AGminorEnergy company partner using Cariqa's payment platform.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cariqa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hubject: Hubject is the leading European eMSP and EV charging roaming platform connecting CPOs and demand partners. It is the incumbent that Cariqa explicitly aims to displace by bypassing the reseller layer with direct payment infrastructure.
- Gireve: Gireve is a French eMSP/roaming platform for EV charging interoperability, operating a B2B exchange between CPOs and mobility service providers. Like Hubject, it occupies the reseller layer that Cariqa is structurally bypassing.
- Plugsurfing: Plugsurfing is a European EV charging payment service and roaming platform (acquired by Fortum). It offers drivers cross-network charging access via a single account and provides B2B charging services to fleets, directly overlapping with Cariqa Connect and Cariqa Drive.
- Chargemap: Chargemap is a leading European EV charging platform combining a mapping/community app with a charging payment service. It is similar in concept to combining Cariqa Drive and a payment solution, making it a direct peer in the EV charging consumer and B2B space.
Broad incumbents
- NewMotion (Shell Recharge): NewMotion, now part of Shell, is one of Europe's largest EV charging networks with an integrated roaming/payment platform. It is a broader incumbent offering CPO operations, B2B services, and a consumer app — overlapping with Cariqa's CPO and demand-side solutions.
- EnBW mobility+: EnBW operates one of Germany's largest public EV charging networks and offers its own mobility platform with payment, routing, and roaming services. As a major German utility-backed CPO with a payment platform, it is a relevant incumbent peer.
- ChargePoint: ChargePoint is a large North American EV charging network and software platform with growing European presence. While primarily US-focused, its charging network management software and driver app overlap with Cariqa Console and Cariqa Drive.
Emerging players
- Virta: Virta is a European EV charging SaaS and CPO platform offering both hardware-software solutions for operators and a B2B service. It competes in EV charging software and services, partially overlapping with Cariqa's CPO tooling.
- Chargetrip: Chargetrip provides EV routing, charging station data, and trip planning APIs. It is an integration partner of Cariqa today but operates in adjacent infrastructure for EV charging intelligence, making it a comparable emerging player.
- Eco-Movement: Eco-Movement is a Dutch provider of EV charging station data and APIs. It is a demand-side partner of Cariqa but operates in the same charging data/infrastructure category, making it a comparable emerging peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cariqa social profiles
Digital presenceCariqa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cariqa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cariqa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cariqa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cariqa
What does Cariqa do?
Cariqa provides direct payment infrastructure for public EV charging, connecting charge point operators (CPOs) directly with mobility platforms, OEMs, navigation apps, fleets, and driver-facing apps without a reseller/eMSP intermediary. Its portfolio includes Cariqa Console for centralized tariff management, Cariqa Connect as an embeddable charging and payments API, Cariqa Go for QR-based ad-hoc charging, and Cariqa Drive as a consumer driver app, all running over a network of more than 900,000 European charge points.
Is Cariqa a public or private company?
Cariqa is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cariqa founded?
Cariqa was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cariqa based?
Cariqa is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Cariqa make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Transaction Revenue Share is the primary driver. The others are platform Service Fees.
Who are Cariqa's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hubject, Gireve, Plugsurfing and Chargemap. Broad incumbents are NewMotion (Shell Recharge), EnBW mobility+ and ChargePoint. Emerging players are Virta, Chargetrip and Eco-Movement.
Does Cariqa have an API?
Yes. Cariqa Connect API is a direct payment solution for EV charging that enables mobility platforms, OEMs, fleets, and navigation apps to integrate public EV charging infrastructure into their services across Europe. The API allows platforms to embed charging sessions and pass tariffs directly to drivers, bypassing reseller layers. Demand partners can earn revenue share on every operator partner transaction completed through their product, with Cariqa handling payments, billing, VAT, compliance, and CPO management. Initial deployment targets Germany and Austria, with access to over 900,000 European charge points through CPO integrations including Pfalzwerke, EWE Go, and Qwello. Integration is free for demand partners. Developer documentation is at docs.cariqa.com.
What industry is Cariqa in?
Cariqa's product category is EV Charging Payment Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAMAG, EV Charging Network Management & Software Services (CPMS, Monitoring, Billing), with a secondary code of EUAFAMAI, EV Charging Settlement, Billing & Roaming (Payments, Tariffs, Clearing). Its SIC code is 4931.