Berlin / April 29, 2020. Gapless, the platform for things you love, has successfully completed an extensive seed financing round. The Berlin-based blockchain start-up built around the founding trio CEO Jan Karnath, CFO Malte Häusler and CTO Andreas Joegbes raised a total of 5.5 million euros from investors.
The lead investor is the FinLab EOS VC Fund, a joint venture between FinLab AG and EOSIO blockchain developer Block.one, two global experts in blockchain technology. In addition to the fund, Porsche AG and the insurance entrepreneur Kersten Jodexnis – who is represented by his family office LA ROCA Capital – are also involved in the financing.
The all-in-one app for your vehicle – and more
Gapless is the all-in-one app for your vehicle. It enables users to build a comprehensive vehicle history, and to access third-party vehicle services through the app. “With the FinLab EOS VC Fund, in partnership with Block.One venture arm EOS VC, we have found our partner of choice for the further development of our young company,” says Gapless CEO Jan Karnath about the successful seed financing. “We are now taking the next step together to become the ‘platform for things you love’.” Together with Malte Häusler and Andreas Joebges, Karnath founded the platform in 2018 to safeguard the value and emotional significance of historic vehicles in a digital future.
Expansion of the blockchain architecture
Block.one is the developer of the leading blockchain protocol EOSIO. Released in June 2018, EOSIO has been widely recognized as the first performant blockchain platform for businesses. It is currently one of the most active blockchain software platforms in the world. Gapless intends to invest this newly raised capital in the product, the expansion of its blockchain architecture and in user growth.
“We are pleased to welcome Gapless as a new investment in our portfolio,” says Stefan Schütze, Managing Director of the FinLab EOS VC Fund. “Gapless shows how blockchain technology can change services from the ground up – and always thinks from the user’s perspective.” FinLab AG manages the FinLab EOS VC Fund and is one of the largest fintech and blockchain investors in Europe.
Porsche: A partner since the beginning
Since the founding of Gapless, the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer has been on the side of the Berlin-based blockchain start-up, which today has 20 employees. Gapless has been listed in the Zuffenhausen ecosystem since September 2018 and was part of the Porsche innovation agenda at the Slush Conference in Helsinki and the IAA in Frankfurt am Main. Furthermore, it took part in the current round of the global accelerator program STARTUP AUTOBAHN, powered by Plug and Play.
More than 50,000 vehicles are already listed on the platform
Gapless already manages more than 50,000 vehicles on its platform. Most of the owners of these so-called digital garages come from the USA, Great Britain and Germany. By the end of the year, the blockchain specialists expect to see up to 100,000 vehicles on the Gapless platform.
About Gapless
Gapless is the world’s first blockchain platform for vehicle owners. With the Gapless App, users can manage their vehicles online and create comprehensive vehicle histories that are completely digitized, while also being totally secure. All documents, photos and further pieces of information belonging to the car can be accessed, managed or shared online at any time in the form of digital exposés that are populated by verified historical entries. This includes, but is not limited to, information about previous vehicle recalls, equipment specifications, or expenses.
About Block.one and EOS VC
Block.one’s EOS VC program offers developers and entrepreneurs the funding they need to create community-driven businesses leveraging EOSIO. The program provides support through venture capital partnership funds that primarily aim to achieve sustained utilisation of the EOSIO ecosystem by investing in a concentrated and diversified portfolio of blockchain-focused companies building on the EOSIO software. The EOS VC initiative is dedicated to fostering a global network of individuals from a number of disciplines through engagement events. As part of the mission and vision, EOS VC engages with the blockchain developer community on a regular basis. For further information, please visit Block.one and vc.eos.io
About FinLab AG
The listed FinLab AG (WKN 121806 / ISIN DE0001218063 / ticker symbol: A7A) is one of Europe’s first and largest investors in financial services technologies (“fintech”) and blockchain. FinLab focuses on providing venture capital to start-ups and strives to actively support its investments in the long-term. In doing so, FinLab uses its network and know-how to support its participants in their respective development phases. In addition, FinLab acts as an asset manager, overseeing assets in the three-digit million range.
About Porsche
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, with headquarters in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, is one of the most profitable car makers in the world. In 2019, Porsche delivered 280,800 vehicles of the 911, 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, Cayenne, Macan, Panamera and Taycan models to customers worldwide, ten percent more than the year before. The sports car manufacturer’s operating profit before special items amounted to 4.4 billion euros, up three percent. Porsche operates plants in Stuttgart and Leipzig as well as a development centre in Weissach. The sports car maker employs 35,429 people. Porsche is committed to innovation, many of the technologies have their origins in motorsport. Porsche are aware of every aspect of corporate responsibility: economic, environmental and social.
| Press contact for Gapless Jael Martin Marketing Manager jael.martin@gapless-app.com +49 151 17543934 |
