Benjamin Gaignault graduated from KEDGE Business School in 2011. He and Alexandre Chartier, who met at school in Rueil-Malmaison, registered Ornikar in Paris on 7 January 2014 as an online driving school.
Trouble came at once. In April 2014 driving-school unions sued for unfair competition, and the claims were rejected in June. In November 2014 Ornikar raised €1.5 million from Partech Ventures and Elaia Partners. In December 2015 a court halted lessons until approval, which came from the prefecture in March 2016.
Money followed: €10 million in 2018, €35 million in 2019 and €100 million in April 2021 with KKR. By 2020 Ornikar said 420,000 learners had trained with it, and in September 2020 it launched young-driver insurance. It opened insurance to all drivers in 2021.
In 2025 the company's statutes were extended to financial brokerage. Gaignault is president of Ornikar.