Alexandre Chartier and Benjamin Gaignault met at the same private high school in Rueil-Malmaison. They registered Ornikar on 7 January 2014 to put the theory test and cheaper driving lessons online.
The start was rough. In April 2014 driving-school unions sued for unfair competition, and the claim was rejected in June 2014. In December 2015 a court ordered lessons halted until prefectoral approval, which came in March 2016.
Funding followed: €1.5 million from Partech Ventures and Elaia Partners in November 2014, €10 million in March 2018 and €35 million in July 2019. Early angels included Xavier Niel, Marc Simoncini and Jacques-Antoine Granjon.
By 2020 Ornikar had trained 420,000 learners and launched young-driver insurance in September. In April 2021 a €100 million round brought in KKR, and insurance opened to all drivers.