Hepster is a technology company.
Hepster has raised $21.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Hepster has raised $21.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Hepster is a German insurtech startup founded in 2016 that provides tailored, embedded insurance solutions via a seamless API, targeting sectors like mobility (e.g., bicycles), electronics, pets, sports equipment, travel, and furniture.[1][2][4] It serves businesses in retail, e-commerce, and the sharing economy by enabling them to integrate customizable, digital insurance products into their customer journeys, solving traditional insurance pain points such as paperwork, inflexibility, and poor user experience while boosting customer loyalty and recurring revenue.[1][3] With over $32M raised (including a €10M Series B in 2023), 3,000+ distribution partners, 250,000+ customers, and operations in Germany, Austria, and France, Hepster demonstrates strong growth momentum as a Series B company headquartered in Rostock.[2][7]
Hepster was founded in 2016 in Rostock, Germany, amid the rising insurtech wave, aiming to disrupt outdated insurance models with digital, API-driven solutions.[2][4] Specific founders are not detailed in available sources, but the company quickly gained traction by partnering with businesses for embedded insurance, addressing needs in e-commerce and sharing economies.[1][4] Key milestones include raising $32.2M total funding, with a notable €10M Series B in July 2023 to drive profitability, and a partnership with HDI Embedded to expand pet insurance and enter more European markets.[2][7] Early support from IT firms like Stefanini helped scale its web and microservice applications during growth phases, including pandemic adaptations.[5]
Hepster rides the embedded insurance trend within insurtech, where digital APIs allow non-insurance companies to bundle coverage into products like e-commerce checkouts or rentals, capitalizing on the shift from traditional brokers to tech-enabled models.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with Europe's insurtech boom—Germany's startup ecosystem favors such innovators—fueled by market forces like rising e-commerce, sharing economy growth (e.g., bike rentals), and demand for flexible, on-demand coverage post-pandemic.[2][5][7] By enabling 3,000+ partners to generate revenue through insurance upsells, Hepster influences the ecosystem, pushing competitors like Embea and fostering partnerships (e.g., HDI) that standardize digital insurance across retail and mobility sectors.[2]
Hepster is poised for European dominance in embedded insurtech, leveraging its €10M Series B momentum toward profitability and expansions via partnerships like HDI Embedded into new markets and products.[2][7] Trends like AI-driven underwriting, further API commoditization, and regulatory tailwinds for digital insurance will accelerate growth, potentially doubling its 250k+ customer base amid rising e-commerce penetration. Its influence may evolve from niche provider to ecosystem enabler, empowering more startups to monetize via insurance—reinforcing its role as a seamless, loyalty-boosting API layer in fragmented markets.[1][2]
Hepster has raised $21.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Hepster's investors include Element Ventures, EQT Ventures.
Hepster has raised $21.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $11.0M Venture Round in July 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2023 | $11.0M Venture Round | Element Ventures, EQT Ventures | |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $10.0M Series A | Element Ventures, EQT Ventures |