Portuguese Startup GoParkly Launches 'Airbnb for Parking' Platform in Lisbon
A new Portuguese technology company, GoParkly, has launched a digital platform aimed at addressing urban parking challenges by allowing individuals to rent out their private parking spaces. The service, which the company describes as the “Airbnb of parking,” is now operational in Lisbon, as well as in Madrid and Paris. The platform connects owners of private parking spots, including garages and driveways, with drivers seeking parking, offering bookings by the hour, day, or month.
The core business concept is to monetize underutilized private real estate assets while simultaneously mitigating urban traffic congestion. According to GoParkly, a significant portion of traffic in city centers, estimated at up to 30%, is generated by drivers searching for available parking. By creating an accessible inventory of private spaces, the company aims to reduce this search time, thereby lowering vehicle emissions and improving traffic flow. The idea for the startup was born from a founder's personal experience with parking difficulties during a major event in Lisbon.
The platform is designed for ease of use for both hosts and drivers. Property owners can list their available spaces, and drivers can search, reserve, and pay for parking in advance. A key technological feature of the service is “Felix,” an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. This tool assists hosts in determining optimal pricing for their spaces by analyzing local demand and other relevant data. The company's revenue model is based on a booking fee charged to the driver, which means there are no initial costs for property owners to list their spaces.
Regarding the legal framework, particularly for spaces within condominium buildings, GoParkly advises hosts to obtain the necessary permissions from their property's administration. This approach mirrors the operational model of other platforms in the sharing economy. The service is currently available as a web-based application optimized for mobile devices. The company has announced plans to release native applications for both iOS and Android operating systems by the end of 2025.
GoParkly has already received industry recognition for its innovative solution. The startup was awarded second place in the Urban Shark Tank competition held during the Portugal Smart Cities Summit. This achievement resulted in an invitation to present at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, a prominent global event for urban innovation. The company's launch introduces a new player in the PropTech and smart city sectors, focused on transforming underused resources into solutions for modern urban challenges. Get expert guidance for international property buyers at realestate-lisbon.com.
