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§ Public · San Francisco, CA, USA
Peer-to-peer car sharing platform connecting car owners with renters for on-demand access via mobile app, featuring proprietary keyless technology.
Getaround has raised $2.5B across 11 funding rounds.
Key people at Getaround.
Getaround has raised $2.5B in total across 11 funding rounds.
Getaround is a San Francisco, California-based company that operates a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform connecting vehicle owners with renters for on-demand access via a mobile application. The platform utilizes proprietary keyless entry hardware to facilitate secure vehicle unlocking and tracking, generating revenue through commissions on completed rentals. Prior to going public via a SPAC merger in May 2022, the enterprise raised over $400 million in venture funding and achieved a valuation exceeding $1 billion. The company expanded its international footprint by acquiring the European car-sharing platform Drivy in 2019, and it received financial backing from prominent investors including SoftBank, Madrona Venture Group, and Ashton Kutcher. Facing liquidity challenges, the organization ceased its United States operations in February 2025 while maintaining its European business. Getaround was founded in 2009 by Sam Zaid, Elliot Kroo, and Jessica Scorpio.
Getaround has raised $2.5B across 11 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Other Equity in January 2024.
Key people at Getaround.
Getaround has raised $2.5B in total across 11 funding rounds.
Getaround's investors include Jason Mudrick, Matias De, Andreessen Horowitz, BMW i Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Triangle Peak Partners, Zetta Venture Partners, Henry McGovern, Julia Steyn, Mary Chan, Steve Girsky, Pennant Investors.
Getaround is a peer-to-peer carsharing platform that connects car owners with renters, enabling owners to monetize idle vehicles while providing renters with convenient, on-demand access to cars via a mobile app.[1][2][5] It solves urban mobility challenges by optimizing underutilized cars—idle 95% of the time—reducing the need for personal ownership, lowering costs, and promoting sustainability through fewer vehicles on roads.[2][4] The service targets renters needing short-term cars for work or life and owners seeking passive income, with revenue from transaction fees, premium insurance, roadside assistance, and tech features like keyless entry.[2] Growth included U.S. expansion to 850+ cities and Europe, a 2022 SPAC merger valuing it at $1.2 billion, but U.S. operations ceased in February 2025 due to liquidity issues, shifting focus to Europe where it remains the largest car-sharing service.[1][3][5]
Getaround was founded in 2009 in San Francisco by Sam Zaid, Jessica Scorpio, and Elliot Kroo, who identified the inefficiency of cars sitting idle 95% of the time—wasting 30 billion hours daily—and built a peer-to-peer marketplace to unlock that value.[1][4][6] The idea emerged from the sharing economy boom, launching publicly on May 24, 2011, at TechCrunch Disrupt New York, where it won the startup competition, gaining early visibility.[1] Pivotal moments included a 2012 Federal Highway Administration grant for Portland expansion, 2016 acquisition of City CarShare's assets, 2018 $300 million SoftBank funding, and 2019 $300 million Drivy acquisition for European entry.[1] A 2022 SPAC merger listed it as GETR on the NYSE at $1.2 billion valuation, but liquidity challenges led to U.S. shutdown on February 11, 2025, preserving European operations.[1]
Getaround rides the sharing economy and urban mobility trends, capitalizing on gig economy growth, sustainability demands, and post-pandemic shifts away from car ownership amid high urban costs.[2][4] Timing aligned with smartphone ubiquity for app-based access and regulatory evolution—co-founder Jessica Scorpio helped pass car-sharing insurance laws—creating a moat against traditional rentals.[1][4] Market forces like rising insurance complexities and idle asset inefficiencies favored its lightweight, asset-light model over fleet-heavy competitors, influencing ecosystems through partnerships (e.g., City CarShare, Drivy) and viral host referral programs that scaled supply.[1][4] It pioneered peer-to-peer carsharing, proving collaborative consumption's viability and inspiring platforms in mobility, though U.S. exit highlights capital intensity in scaling against ridesharing giants.[1]
Post-U.S. exit, Getaround's European focus positions it to consolidate as the continent's top car-sharing player, leveraging denser urban markets and green regulations for growth.[1][5] Trends like electrification, AI-optimized matching, and integrated micromobility will shape its path, potentially expanding premium services or B2B fleets. Influence may evolve toward a pure-play Euro marketplace, acquiring regional players or partnering with OEMs for connected cars—echoing its original mission to make sharing superior to owning, now refined by hard-won scalability lessons.[3][4]
