HAPPYCAR is a Hamburg-based online metasearch and booking platform for rental cars, enabling users to compare real-time prices, insurance packages, kilometer fees and one-way fees from more than 250 international and local car rental providers. Founded in 2011 and launched commercially for the German-speaking market in 2014, the company expanded into the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Switzerland and the United States, positioning itself as one of Europe's largest rental car comparison platforms. In June 2023, HAPPYCAR was acquired by Dutch online car rental price comparison platform EasyTerra for an undisclosed amount.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2011
Employees
11–50
Total Funding
$4.5M
2 rounds
Total raised $4.5M across 2 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 06-25-2026
Latest Round
Type
Series A
Date
October 6, 2016
Amount
~$2.92M
Valuation
—
Lead Investors
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2016 | Series A | ~$2.92M | — | NWZ Digital, Creathor Venture |
| October 16, 2015 | Seed | ~$1.58M | — | Global Founders Capital |
Robert Schütze
Managing Director / Co-Founder
Christian Weniger
Co-Founder
Christian Siegele
Co-Founder
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
EasyTerra
Dutch online car rental price comparison platform; acquired HAPPYCAR in June 2023.
Rentalcars.com
Booking Holdings-owned global online car rental booking and comparison platform.
CHECK24 Mietwagen
Car rental vertical of leading German consumer price comparison portal CHECK24.
billiger-mietwagen.de
German online car rental price comparison and booking portal operated by Silver Tours.
Kayak Cars
Booking Holdings-owned travel metasearch with a major rental car comparison vertical.
Skyscanner Car Hire
Trip.com Group-owned travel metasearch with global rental car price comparison.
No. Happycar is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in Happycar shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that Happycar will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.
Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy Happycar shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.
Buyers interested in buying Happycar shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.
Happycar's latest disclosed funding round was a Series A round in October 6, 2016. The round raised approximately ~$2.92M, with NWZ Digital and Creathor Venture listed as disclosed lead or major investors. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete.
Happycar has raised approximately $4.5M in disclosed funding across 2 rounds. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track Happycar's funding history alongside private-market activity where available.
Happycar's disclosed investors include Creathor Venture GmbH, HR Ventures, Capnamic Ventures and truventuro.com. Investor lists are based on public reporting, company announcements, and collected funding-round data, and may be incomplete. Participation in a prior funding round does not mean those investors are currently buying or selling shares. On SetterVC, eligible users can review Happycar's funding history, valuation history, and private-market activity alongside other venture-backed companies.
Happycar's most-cited competitors include EasyTerra, Rentalcars.com, CHECK24 Mietwagen, billiger-mietwagen.de, Kayak Cars and Skyscanner Car Hire. Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.
Secondary-market demand for Happycar shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.
Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.
Yes, current and former Happycar employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.
A Happycar secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify Happycar through a share transfer notice or similar process. If Happycar or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.
In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.
Buying Happycar shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.
Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.
SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Before buying Happycar shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.
SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
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