Chimpy
Chimpy AG operates a circular, solar-charged powerbank rental service across 4,000+ points in five European countries, serving Gen Z consumers and convenience-retail partners through per-rental fees, a monthly subscription, and a festival unlimited pass.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chimpy does
Chimpy AG operates a circular, solar-charged powerbank rental service headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany (Chimpy Deutschland GmbH, Hamburg) and Italy (Chimpy Italia Srl, Milan). Founded in 2013 originally as a solar AA-battery venture, the company pivoted in 2015 to powerbank rental via a pilot with convenience retailer Valora, and today runs more than 4,000 rental points across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Luxembourg. Hardware consists of green Chimpy Powerbanks charged with 100% solar electricity at the Zurich Altstetten production facility and a Hamburg refurbishment hub; the latest generation delivers 1.5x faster charging, 30% more capacity, and USB-C connectivity, and individual units have logged 30+ rental cycles.
Customers rent a powerbank directly at convenience-store checkouts, at self-service QR/Card-tap stations, or through 900+ Selecta vending machines, paying €3–5 plus a €15 refundable deposit and a 2-week late-return fee deducted from the deposit. Revenue is generated through per-transaction rental fees (transaction_fee), the Chimpy Premium Abo monthly subscription, festival Unlimited Passes, and enterprise partnerships with retailers such as Valora, Selecta, SBB, migrolino, Tibits, and Press&Books that gain up to 3.2% incremental foot traffic. Distribution is anchored on B2B convenience-retail and event partnerships, with end-consumer marketing focused on Gen Z (17–24 year-olds) via social, billboards, festival activations, and a pan-European design contest; the company reports profitability, annual revenue above €10 million, 100,000 monthly customers, and more than 10 million cumulative rentals since founding.
Chimpy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chimpy
- Legal name
- Chimpy AG
- Website
- https://heychimpy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chimpy AG operates a circular, solar-charged powerbank rental service across 4,000+ points in five European countries, serving Gen Z consumers and convenience-retail partners through per-rental fees, a monthly subscription, and a festival unlimited pass.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chimpy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Charging Rental Services
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money (FSAMAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Travel Money Cards & Multi-Currency Prepaid (FSAMANAI)
Keywords
Where Chimpy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Chimpy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Powerbank Rental Fees: Customers pay 3-5 CHF/€ depending on country for powerbank rental, plus 15 CHF/€ returnable deposit. Late returns incur 2 CHF/€ weekly penalty deducted from deposit.
- Chimpy Premium Subscription: Monthly subscription service with unlimited powerbank usage during subscription period. Rental fee can vary higher or lower than standard rates depending on promotions.
- Festival Unlimited Pass: Prepaid festival pass allowing unlimited powerbank rentals throughout festival duration for one upfront fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Rental - Switzerland |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Rental - Germany/Austria/Italy/Luxembourg |
| Subscription | Monthly | Chimpy Premium Abo |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Late Return Fees |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Unlimited Chimpy Pass (Festivals) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Chimpy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chimpy operates a circular, solar-charged powerbank rental service: customers rent a portable green powerbank at any of 4,000+ convenience-store, vending-machine, station, festival, or transit locations across five European countries, charge their phone on the go, and return the unit within seven days for a full deposit refund. Revenue is generated through per-rental fees, deposits, late-return penalties, the Chimpy Premium monthly subscription, and festival Unlimited Passes.
Product overview
Chimpy offers a circular powerbank rental service with its core green Chimpy Powerbank product available across 4,000+ locations in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Luxembourg). The service operates through multiple channels: direct rental at convenience stores, self-service Chimpy Stations, and vending machines. Additional offerings include the Chimpy Premium Abo subscription for unlimited usage and the Chimpy Unlimited Pass for festival-goers. The ecosystem is designed for convenience retail partnerships, creating recurring customer visits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chimpy Powerbank Green, solar-charged portable powerbank rented by individual consumers at convenience stores, vending machines, self-service stations, festivals, and transit locations across Europe; returnable within 7 days at any of 4,000+ locations for a full deposit refund.
- Chimpy Premium Abo
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.2% more foot traffic in some stores
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Chimpy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Chimpy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Chimpy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Michail Sgouropoulos (Design Contest Winner)minorWinner of Chimpy's European design contest for in-store placement concepts. Over 100 submissions from product and industrial designers across Europe. Winner selected for practical, clean, eye-catching design fitting modern retail.
- migrolinominorSelected migrolino convenience stores in Switzerland now offer Chimpy rental and return. Partnership expands Swiss retail network footprint.
- Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Ski Resortminor15 Chimpy Powerbank Stations installed throughout Austrian ski resort. Unique deployment using skidoos and skis due to terrain challenges. Stations available at key locations throughout ski area.
- SelectacoreOver 900 Selecta vending machines across Switzerland offer Chimpy powerbanks. Partnership launched in September 2023, replacing Corona mask offerings at Selecta machines. 24/7 availability through vending channel.
- Press&BooksminorHamburg-based retail chain featuring Chimpy in shop windows with oversized window displays. Partnership with regenholz Werkhub for sustainable display design using recyclable materials.
- TibitsminorAll Tibits restaurants in Switzerland feature Chimpy vending machines for powerbank rental. Partnership announced April 2022, targeting vegetarian/vegan restaurant customers.
- Valoracore10-year partnership since 2015 pilot program at Valora convenience stores. Valora was the first major retail partner to trial Chimpy powerbank rental service. The partnership has generated up to 3.2% additional foot traffic in some stores. Joint nomination for NACS Sustainability Award in 2025.
- SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)corePartnership with Swiss Federal Railways to provide powerbank rental at SBB stations and facilities. Multi-year relationship building led to deployment at rail network locations.
- regenholz WerkhubminorSustainable design partner for Hamburg window displays. regenholz creates innovative products and small series as sustainably as possible under local making concept.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chimpy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ChargeSpot: ChargeSpot operates one of the world's largest shared powerbank rental networks across Asia, Europe, and beyond using the same kiosk-based rental model as Chimpy. It is the closest direct head-to-head competitor in the portable charging rental category.
Broad incumbents
- Anker Innovations: Anker is a global leader in consumer charging products including powerbanks, wall chargers, and cables (publicly listed as Anker Innovations). A broad incumbent competing in the broader mobile charging category but selling hardware rather than renting it.
- Belkin: Belkin is a major consumer electronics and mobile accessories company (owned by Foxconn) with a broad portfolio including powerbanks, wireless chargers, and cables. Competes in mobile charging through hardware sales rather than rental.
- Energizer Holdings: Energizer is a globally recognized battery and powerbank brand with a growing line of consumer charging products. Competes in the same portable phone charging end-use category but via retail hardware sales rather than shared rental.
- RAVPower: RAVPower (Sunvalley Group) is a consumer charging brand offering powerbanks, wireless chargers, and USB hubs. Competes in the same charging category but via retail hardware sales rather than rental subscriptions.
- Aukey Technology: Aukey is a global consumer electronics brand offering powerbanks, chargers, and USB hubs primarily through e-commerce. Competes broadly in mobile charging hardware rather than shared powerbank rental services.
- Native Union: Native Union is a premium mobile accessories brand offering chargers, cables, and power products for design-conscious consumers. Overlaps with Chimpy's premium Gen Z lifestyle positioning but sells hardware directly rather than operating a shared rental network.
Emerging players
- Powermat Technologies: Powermat provides wireless charging infrastructure for public venues (cafés, airports, retailers). An adjacent emerging player that overlaps with Chimpy's on-the-go charging use case but delivers stationary wireless power rather than portable rental.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chimpy social profiles
Digital presenceChimpy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chimpy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Chimpy subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Chimpy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chimpy 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 Chimpy
What does Chimpy do?
Chimpy operates a circular, solar-charged powerbank rental service: customers rent a portable green powerbank at any of 4,000+ convenience-store, vending-machine, station, festival, or transit locations across five European countries, charge their phone on the go, and return the unit within seven days for a full deposit refund. Revenue is generated through per-rental fees, deposits, late-return penalties, the Chimpy Premium monthly subscription, and festival Unlimited Passes.
Is Chimpy a public or private company?
Chimpy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chimpy founded?
Chimpy was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chimpy based?
Chimpy is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Chimpy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Powerbank Rental Fees are the primary driver. The others are chimpy Premium Subscription and festival Unlimited Pass.
Who are Chimpy's main competitors?
ChargeSpot is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Anker Innovations, Belkin, Energizer Holdings, RAVPower, Aukey Technology and Native Union. Powermat Technologies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Chimpy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chimpy.
What industry is Chimpy in?
Chimpy's product category is Mobile Charging Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAEAD, Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money, with a secondary code of FSAMANAI, Travel Money Cards & Multi-Currency Prepaid. Its SIC code is 7510.