Chimpy

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.

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

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

• Powerbank rental service
• Mobile phone charging
• Solar charging stations
• Circular economy rentals
• Convenience retail charging

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Festival Unlimited Pass: Prepaid festival pass allowing unlimited powerbank rentals throughout festival duration for one upfront fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Michail Sgouropoulos (Design Contest Winner)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Winner 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.
• migrolinominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Selected migrolino convenience stores in Switzerland now offer Chimpy rental and return. Partnership expands Swiss retail network footprint.
• Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Ski ResortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 202315 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.
• SelectacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 September 2023Over 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&BooksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2022Hamburg-based retail chain featuring Chimpy in shop windows with oversized window displays. Partnership with regenholz Werkhub for sustainable display design using recyclable materials.
• TibitsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2022All Tibits restaurants in Switzerland feature Chimpy vending machines for powerbank rental. Partnership announced April 2022, targeting vegetarian/vegan restaurant customers.
• ValoracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 201510-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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership 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 WerkhubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/heychimpy
• Facebookfacebook.com/hellochimpy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chimpy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chimpy