&Charge

&Charge GmbH, established in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2019, operates a platform focused on the electric mobility sector. The company was founded by Eugen Letkemann and Simon Vogt, who bring extensive experience from the automotive industry, particularly from Porsche AG. Letkemann's background is in business engineering and smart mobility, while Vogt's expertise lies in automotive management and e-mobility product and service development, including roles at BMW Group and Porsche Consulting. The founders identified a need to address challenges within the EV charging ecosystem for multiple stakeholders.

The company's business model centers on a multifaceted platform that serves electric vehicle (EV) drivers, Charge Point Operators (CPO), car manufacturers (OEMs), and eMobility Providers (EMP). For EV drivers, &Charge provides a mobile application that functions as a loyalty and rewards program. Users can collect "&Charge kilometers" by providing feedback on charging stations, performing detailed visual inspections, and shopping at over 1,500 affiliated online stores. These kilometers can then be redeemed for free charging sessions. The app incorporates gamification elements, such as stars and achievement badges, to encourage user engagement.

For its B2B clients, &Charge offers value-added services delivered via APIs or a partner dashboard. CPOs benefit from crowdsourced, real-time data on the status and reliability of their charging infrastructure, which helps to increase uptime and reduce operational costs. This service, described as proactive monitoring, gives operators insights into external factors that their internal management systems cannot track, such as blocked parking spots or damaged equipment. For OEMs and EMPs, the platform enhances the quality and accuracy of Point of Interest (POI) data, which is crucial for in-car navigation and routing systems to find functional charging stations. The company generates revenue through these B2B services and has established partnerships with major industry players like Ionity, Shell, and E.ON.

Since its launch, &Charge has expanded its services across several European markets. The company has secured funding from investors including Porsche Ventures, Helen Ventures, and InnoEnergy, completing a seed round in November 2021 and a later-stage VC round in January 2024. It is planning to raise a Series A round in early 2025 to support team growth, market expansion, and further product development.

Keywords: EV charging, e-mobility, charge point operators, customer engagement, loyalty program, rewards platform, data validation, proactive monitoring, crowdsourcing, automotive technology, clean mobility, EV infrastructure, smart mobility, user feedback, POI data, gamification, value-added services, electric vehicles, charging network reliability, Frankfurt