EV charging payments platform Cariqa has raised €4m in seed funding to fix EV charging payments across Europe, in a round co-led by venture capital companies Contrarian Ventures and Anthemis Group.
Germany-based Cariqa is building what it says is Europe’s first full-stack EV charging payments platform – replacing today’s pricing chaos with one clear price, everywhere. Its infrastructure is designed to remove intermediaries, give charge point operators full control, and ensure drivers always know what they will pay.
Cariqa comments: "Our platform gives operators full control over pricing and payments - and end customers one fair, transparent price every time they charge.
"We’ve raised these funds to further develop our infrastructure-first platform and scale its reach across Europe and beyond."
Contrarian Ventures says that, by enabling direct transactions between CPOs and EV drivers, Cariqa removes unnecessary intermediaries, unlocking a simpler, more reliable, and scalable public charging experience.
It adds that charging a car currently means juggling apps, cards, and unclear tariffs - often resulting in 50+ prices at the same charging station, depending on how and where the session is initiated. Behind the scenes, CPOs are burdened by dozens of integrations, outdated billing tools, and a loss of pricing control to third-party intermediaries.
Contrarian Ventures says the EV charging space is reaching a new phase: infrastructure buildout is no longer the bottleneck - interoperability is. Just as payment rails unlocked scale in fintech, Cariqa provides the transaction layer to operate EV infrastructure profitably.
It adds that the European Union's Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is the catalyst driving market liberalization through direct payments. The 2024 regulation mandates: Transparent pricing across all charging interfaces; Non-discriminatory access and roaming; Direct payment options for drivers (no membership required).
Contrarian Ventures added that the €4m funding round will help Cariqa grow its team and integrate with major operators.
It adds: "In just a few months, Cariqa signed Ewe Go, Pfalzwerke, Mer, Qwello, Q1, Ladegrün, and many more. CPOs using Cariqa’s dynamic pricing engine saw a >300% increase in transaction volume (in kWh and revenue).
"This early traction, especially in Germany (one of Europe’s most advanced EV charging markets), underscores both product-market fit and scalable go-to-market."
