This Lithuanian Startup Just Raised $1.3 Million to Fix Car Rentals with AI

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-29

The car rental industry has a dirty little secret. While you can book a hotel room in seconds, renting a car still feels like you're applying for a mortgage. But a Lithuanian startup called Sigvi just raised $1.3 million to change all that. Sigvi is an AI-powered revenue agent for the car rental space. Think of it as a smart middleman that connects independent car owners and small fleet operators with travelers who just want a hassle-free ride. The company recently closed a pre-seed round led by Superhero Capital, a VC firm out of Helsinki. Angel investors, including Vladas Lašas from the Lithuanian Business Angel Network, also chipped in. ### The Problem with Traditional Car Rentals Let's be real: the current car rental experience is stuck in the past. You stand in line at the airport counter, wait for someone to find your reservation, and then get hit with upsells for insurance and a full tank of gas you don't need. It's slow, it's expensive, and it's frustrating. Vytis Šliažas, Sigvi's CEO and co-founder, put it perfectly: "Europe is traveling more than ever, but the car rental experience hasn't evolved at the same pace. Travelers expect to book a car as easily as they book accommodation." The result? Thousands of quality vehicles sit idle in lots because independent operators don't have the tech to reach customers. Sigvi is building the AI layer to fix that. ### How Sigvi Works Founded in 2023 by Šliažas, Ignas Gibas, and Mindaugas Banaitis, Sigvi aggregates vehicles from independent fleet operators and private owners. Then its AI engine takes over the entire operation. Here's what the platform handles: - Dynamic pricing that adjusts based on demand - Online bookings with keyless 24/7 vehicle access - Automated vehicle inspections - Predictive maintenance scheduling - Customer support Basically, you book a car through Sigvi, unlock it with your phone, and drive off. No counter, no queue, no nonsense. ### Pricing and Sustainability Sigvi claims its cars are priced about 30% below what you'd pay at traditional international rental brands. That's a big deal for travelers on a budget. But here's where it gets interesting. The company doesn't just rent out any old junker. It partners with the Kemi network of car service centers to make sure every vehicle is in top shape. They actually replace parts more often than manufacturers recommend. They swap tires every season, putting summer tires on in warm weather and winter tires when it gets cold. And from a sustainability angle, Sigvi is doing something smart. Instead of buying new fleets, it uses existing second-cycle vehicles. That means fewer new cars on the road and less waste. It's a model that maximizes the use of cars already in existence. ### Early Traction and Future Plans Sigvi launched operations in Poland in June 2024 and already manages more than 200 vehicles. That's solid traction for a startup that's barely a year old. Gytenis Galkis, Partner at Superhero Capital, summed up the opportunity: "Sigvi has found a structural inefficiency in a massive market and built an elegant solution around it. We see a clear path for Sigvi to become the digital infrastructure layer for independent car rental across Europe." With this fresh funding, the company plans to double down on its AI automation platform and grow its managed network to 2,000 vehicles within two years. ### Why This Matters for US Readers You might be thinking, "This is a European startup. Why should I care?" But here's the thing: the same inefficiencies exist in the US market. Independent car rental operators here face the same challenges. If Sigvi cracks the code in Europe, don't be surprised if they eventually set their sights on the States. For now, they're focused on Europe. But the playbook? It's universal.