Barqo
Barqo is a peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace, founded in 2014 and based in Amsterdam, that connects private boat owners with leisure travelers across Europe, offering 8,000+ vessels, integrated insurance, and multi-method payments via a web platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Barqo does
Barqo, operated by BQ Ventures B.V. and headquartered in Amsterdam, is a peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace founded in 2014 that connects private boat owners with leisure travelers across Europe. The platform lists 8,000+ vessels spanning sailing yachts, catamarans, motoryachts, and gulets in destinations including Croatia (1,683 boats), Greece (2,280 boats), Italy (1,140 boats), Spain (Ibiza, Mallorca), Portugal, and the Netherlands (Friesland, Amsterdam), with a 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 30,682 reviews. The product surface comprises a self-service web marketplace for search, comparison, and booking; an owner-side platform for listing and managing vessels; integrated insurance through Centraal Beheer and Nationale Nederlanden; multi-method payment processing via Stripe, iDEAL, Bancontact, Klarna, and SOFORT; iDIN identity verification; a public API at api.barqo.co; 24/7 support; and an expert advice service.
Barqo operates a commission-based marketplace model, charging a transaction fee on rentals that range from approximately €236 per week for budget sailing yachts to €57,000 per week for ultra-luxury gulets and megayachts. Its primary customer segments are dual: leisure boaters and holiday makers seeking rental experiences, and private boat owners seeking rental income. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via barqo.co, supported by organic SEO, content marketing, social media, and Trustpilot-driven earned media. The company is privately held by BQ Ventures B.V., has 11-50 employees, and has raised approximately $1.05M across three disclosed rounds between 2015 and 2017, with no subsequent disclosed external funding.
Barqo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Barqo
- Legal name
- BQ Ventures B.V.
- Website
- https://barqo.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Barqo is a peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace, founded in 2014 and based in Amsterdam, that connects private boat owners with leisure travelers across Europe, offering 8,000+ vessels, integrated insurance, and multi-method payments via a web platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Barqo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Boat Rental Marketplace
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cabin Charters & Shared Yacht Trips (THAEADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Catamaran & Sailing Cat Cruise Operators (THAEADAD)
Keywords
Where Barqo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Barqo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission: Platform charges commission on boat rentals, facilitating transactions between boat owners and renters with secure payment processing and dispute resolution
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Budget boats (day sailers, small sailing yachts) from €236-500/week |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range sailing yachts and catamarans from €1,400-6,000/week |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium catamarans and motorsailers from €7,000-15,000/week |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ultra-luxury gulets and mega yachts from €15,000-57,000/week |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Barqo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Barqo operates an online peer-to-peer marketplace that connects private boat owners and professional charter companies with travelers seeking boat rentals across Europe. The platform enables search, comparison, booking, and payment for sailing yachts, catamarans, motoryachts, gulets, and other vessels, with integrated identity verification, insurance coverage, and 24/7 support, earning revenue through commissions on completed rentals.
Product overview
Barqo is a boat rental marketplace platform that connects boat owners with renters across Europe, offering access to over 8,000 boats including sailing yachts, catamarans, motoryachts, gulets, and other watercraft. The platform provides a unified experience combining the core marketplace for discovering and booking boats, an owner platform for listing and managing vessels, integrated payment processing via Stripe and other payment methods, insurance coverage through Centraal Beheer and Nationale Nederlanden, 24/7 customer support, and expert advice services. The ecosystem is anchored by the marketplace (which accounts for the majority of boat listings and bookings), supported by the owner platform for boat management, with ancillary services in insurance, payments, and support enhancing the overall rental experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boat Rental Marketplace Core P2P marketplace where individual renters can search, compare, and book sailing yachts, catamarans, motoryachts, gulets, and other watercraft across 8,000+ listings and multiple European destinations including Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain (Ibiza/Majorca), Portugal, and the Netherlands. Booking includes insurance, secure payment, and 24/7 support.
- Owner Platform Self-service platform for boat owners (private individuals and professional charter companies) to list vessels, manage bookings, communicate with renters, and receive payouts through secure disbursement.
- Expert Advice Service Personal travel-agent style assistance helping prospective renters identify the right boat for their requirements, offered without obligation through the advice page.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,682 verified reviews on Trustpilot demonstrating platform reliability and customer satisfaction
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Barqo
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Barqo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature3 records
Barqo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Centraal BeheercoreInsurance partner providing coverage for boat rentals booked through the Barqo platform, ensuring peace of mind for both owners and renters during the rental period
- Nationale NederlandencoreInsurance partner providing coverage for boat rentals booked through the Barqo platform, complementing Centraal Beheer for comprehensive protection
- StripecorePayment processor for handling secure credit card transactions and payment disbursements to boat owners through the platform
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Barqo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GetMyBoat: Global P2P boat rental marketplace (US-headquartered) covering jet skis, yachts, and sailboats worldwide including European destinations. Comparable marketplace model with broader global footprint.
- Sailogy: Italy-based sailing yacht charter platform with comparable Mediterranean focus on sailing holidays. Overlaps with Barqo's Italian and broader European sailing inventory.
- Click&Boat: European P2P boat rental marketplace owned by Bénéteau Group, offering similar yacht, catamaran, and motorboat rentals across Mediterranean and other European destinations. Directly comparable business model with stronger capital backing.
- SamBoat: France-based P2P boat rental platform operating across Europe with similar owner-renter marketplace model and inventory spanning sailing yachts, catamarans, and motorboats. Direct competitor in shared boating space.
- Boatsetter: US-focused P2P boat rental marketplace with peer-to-peer insurance model. Comparable marketplace structure though concentrated in North American waters rather than European.
- Nautal: Spanish boat charter marketplace offering P2P and professional charter rentals across Mediterranean destinations including Ibiza, Mallorca, and mainland Spain. Overlaps significantly with Barqo's Mediterranean footprint and product offering.
Broad incumbents
- The Moorings: Established yacht charter company (part of Travelopia) operating owned/managed fleet across Mediterranean, Caribbean, and other destinations. Overlaps with Barqo's higher-end charter bookings but as a vertically integrated incumbent.
- Sunsail: Global sailing charter company with owned fleet across Mediterranean and Caribbean. Comparable in delivering sailing holiday experiences but operates its own fleet rather than a marketplace model.
- Le Boat: Established European river and canal boat rental operator (Horizon group). Overlaps with Barqo's European inland-waterway inventory, particularly in Netherlands/Friesland destinations.
Emerging players
- Borrow A Boat: UK-based boat charter marketplace expanding across European destinations with a similar P2P and professional charter mix. Comparable in scope though somewhat earlier stage and more UK-centric.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Barqo social profiles
Digital presenceBarqo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Barqo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Barqo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Barqo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Barqo 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 Barqo
What does Barqo do?
Barqo operates an online peer-to-peer marketplace that connects private boat owners and professional charter companies with travelers seeking boat rentals across Europe. The platform enables search, comparison, booking, and payment for sailing yachts, catamarans, motoryachts, gulets, and other vessels, with integrated identity verification, insurance coverage, and 24/7 support, earning revenue through commissions on completed rentals.
Is Barqo a public or private company?
Barqo is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Barqo founded?
Barqo was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Barqo based?
Barqo is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Barqo make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission.
Who are Barqo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GetMyBoat, Sailogy, Click&Boat, SamBoat, Boatsetter and Nautal. Broad incumbents are The Moorings, Sunsail and Le Boat. Borrow A Boat is listed as an emerging player.
Does Barqo have an API?
Yes. Barqo operates an API at api.barqo.co for performance of related services, including facilitating bookings and payments via Stripe or payment via IBAN. The API handles payment processing, booking facilitation, and disbursements. Specific details about API type (REST/GraphQL), authentication, rate limits, or public documentation are not specified in the source material.
What industry is Barqo in?
Barqo's product category is Boat Rental Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAEADAH, Cabin Charters & Shared Yacht Trips, with a secondary code of THAEADAD, Catamaran & Sailing Cat Cruise Operators. Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 7510.