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 hidden problem. Thousands of well-maintained vehicles sit idle because independent operators lack the tech to reach travelers. Meanwhile, customers pay a premium to big rental brands for a clunky experience. Sigvi, a startup based in Vilnius, Lithuania, just raised $1.3 million in pre-seed funding to solve this. Their AI-powered platform connects travelers directly with independent fleet operators and private owners, making the whole process cheaper, greener, and fully digital. ### The Funding Round The round was led by Helsinki-based venture capital firm Superhero Capital. Vladas Lašas, Chairman of the Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN) and co-founder of the Carbon War Room, also participated alongside other angel investors. ### What Sigvi Actually Does Founded in 2023 by CEO Vytis Sliažas, COO Ignas Gibas, and CTO Mindaugas Banaitis, Sigvi acts as an AI revenue agent for the car rental industry. Think of it as the operating system for independent car rental. Here's what their AI engine handles: - Dynamic pricing that adjusts in real-time based on demand - Online bookings and keyless 24/7 vehicle access - Automated vehicle inspections and predictive maintenance scheduling - Customer support Sigvi aggregates vehicles from independent operators and private owners, then manages everything end-to-end. Travelers get a wide selection of professionally managed cars, typically priced around 30% below traditional international rental brands. And they can pick up their vehicle from locations with no counter and no queue. ### A Smarter Approach to Maintenance Sigvi works with the Kemi network of car service centers. Each vehicle is regularly inspected and maintained, starting from its initial preparation for rental. The company actually replaces car parts more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. They change tires every season - summer tires in warm months, winter tires in cold months. ### The Sustainability Angle Here's the clever part. Instead of buying new fleets, Sigvi uses existing second-cycle vehicles. This means they're maximizing the use of cars already on the road rather than adding new ones. It's a more sustainable model that reduces waste and manufacturing emissions. ### Early Traction and Plans Sigvi launched operations in Poland in June 2024 and currently manages more than 200 vehicles. The company plans to use this capital to further develop its AI automation platform and increase its managed network to 2,000 vehicles within two years. "Sigvi has found a structural inefficiency in a massive market and built an elegant solution around it," said Gytenis Galkis, Partner at Superhero Capital. "We see a clear path for Sigvi to become the digital infrastructure layer for independent car rental across Europe." ### Why This Matters for Travelers Vytis Sliažas, CEO and co-founder of Sigvi, put it well: "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. Meanwhile, thousands of quality vehicles owned by independent operators sit idle because they lack the technology to reach those customers. We're building the AI layer that connects both sides, unlocking cheaper, greener, and fully digital car rental." If Sigvi succeeds, renting a car in Europe could become as seamless as booking an Airbnb. And with 30% lower prices and better-maintained vehicles, travelers might finally have a real alternative to the big rental chains.