Parking Panda was an online parking service that allowed drivers to find and reserve parking in advance. In addition to providing drivers with mobile and web applications to find parking, they also helped parking garage owners manage their inventory. Parking Panda was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.[1]

Parking Panda
Company typePrivate
IndustryOnline Parking
FoundedBaltimore, Maryland, 2011
FounderNick Miller, Adam Zilberbaum
FateAcquired
Area served
United States, Canada
ProductsOnline and Mobile Parking Applications
ParentSpotHero
Websiteparkingpanda.com

In April 2017, SpotHero acquired Parking Panda. The acquisition expanded SpotHero into Canada, and brought the number of parking locations the combined company can reserve to over 5,000.[2][3] Parking Panda maintained a separate reservation system and app for some time after that but the service was eventually sunsetted in favor of SpotHero.[4]

History edit

Nick Miller and Adam Zilberbaum founded Parking Panda at the first Maryland Startup Weekend in 2011.[5]

After taking first place at Maryland Startup Weekend, Miller and Zilberbaum were accepted into the inaugural ER Accelerator Summer 2011 program in New York City.[6] During the program, they built out their first online and mobile platform that allows drivers to reserve daily parking. They later added monthly and event parking at private garages, lots and valets.

Services edit

Coupled with their online reservation platform, Parking Panda also provided a free iOS and Android mobile application, and a Windows desktop application.

Parking Panda also provided a platform for owners to manage their parking operations.[7]

Partnerships edit

In addition to partnering with garage owners, Parking Panda partnered with companies, events, and venues. Notable partnerships included Amtrak,[8] MLB.com,[9] professional sports teams,[10] the Target Center,[11] and the Verizon Center.[12]

Media coverage edit

Parking Panda has been featured by major publications including the New York Times,[13] Wall Street Journal,[14] Mashable,[15] Slate,[16] and Tech Crunch.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ "Parking Panda returns to Baltimore". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Amina Elahi, "SpotHero buys Baltimore-based competitor Parking Panda," Chicago Tribune, April 13, 2017.
  3. ^ Kristen Hall-Geisler, "SpotHero acquires Parking Panda," TechCrunch, April 13, 2017.
  4. ^ "Parking Panda is Now SpotHero". SpotHero. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  5. ^ Sentementes, Gus. "Hello, world!". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  6. ^ Myers, Courtney Boyd (31 May 2011). "NYC's ER Accelerator announces its first class of startups for summer incubation". The Next Web. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Parking company pairs with app". The Washington Post. 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2019-05-22.
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-24. Retrieved 2015-02-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Gamedays made easier with Parking Panda, MLBAM". MLB.com. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Parking Panda Partners with Pro Teams Nationwide". SportTechie. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Target Center :: Target Center Partners with Online Parking Industry Leader Parking Panda". Archived from the original on 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
  12. ^ Center, Verizon (24 July 2013). "E-Parking Pass leader Parking Panda partners with Verizon Center". www.parking-net.com. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  13. ^ Carrns, Ann (17 September 2012). "An App to Help You Find Parking On the Spot". Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  14. ^ Needleman, Sarah E. (2 May 2012). "New Turf for Sharing Services: the Driveway". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 May 2019 – via www.wsj.com.
  15. ^ Indvik, Lauren (21 April 2012). "Parking Panda Helps You Find, Rent & Rent Out Parking Spaces". Mashable. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  16. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (26 December 2012). "Can This Startup Turn Your Unused Parking Space Into Cash?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Parking Panda's Parking Spot Rentals Service Launches In San Francisco And On iPhone". Retrieved 22 May 2019.

External links edit