Carhelper.ch

Carhelper AG, which now operates as Stratos Technologies AG, was established in Switzerland to bring transparency to the automotive service and repair market. The company originated in January 2016 within the Swiss Start-Up Factory's accelerator program, where it evolved from an idea into a functional prototype. The formal founding of Carhelper AG occurred in June 2016 by co-founders Matthias Gerber (CEO) and Aleksandar Stevanovic (CTO). Gerber, a long-time car enthusiast, turned his hobby into a profession by training as a car mechanic before moving into digital marketing, including a role at AMAG. His idea for the company stemmed from observing widespread frustration with non-transparent and high service costs. Stevanovic brought technical expertise to the venture, with a background in web development and a degree in ICT from Belgrade.

The firm operates an online platform where car owners can compare and book vehicle services and repairs. Users enter their vehicle information and select the required service to receive real-time price quotes from various garages. They can then compare these garages based on price, location, and customer ratings before booking directly through the platform. The platform's revenue model involves garages registering and listing their services. In September 2020, the company was renamed Stratos Technologies AG to reflect a new strategic focus on business-to-business (B2B) clients, although the Carhelper brand and its consumer-facing platform were retained. The B2B offerings, such as the "Service Calculator" and "Garage Booster" tools, are designed to help digitalize and automate processes for garage chains, full-service leasing companies, and fleet management firms across Europe. These tools assist in calculating, verifying, and authorizing maintenance and repair costs.

Over its history, Carhelper secured funding from notable investors including Baloise, AMAG, and the Swiss Startup Group. A significant Series A funding round took place on July 24, 2018, which included strategic investments from Baloise and AMAG to expand the platform's capabilities. However, after nine years of operation, the company announced the discontinuation of the Carhelper service, citing a shift in company strategy.

Keywords: car service comparison, vehicle repair booking, automotive maintenance platform, garage price comparison, online car repair quotes, Stratos Technologies AG, Swiss auto tech, Matthias Gerber, Aleksandar Stevanovic, B2B automotive software, fleet maintenance solutions, garage management tools, digital service calculator, automotive process automation, AMAG, Baloise, Swiss Startup Group, car service marketplace, vehicle maintenance transparency, European auto service