In the face of growing urban congestion and the never-ending challenge of finding a parking spot, a Portuguese startup is offering a fresh, user-powered solution. GoParkly, a new digital platform, aims to be the “Airbnb of parking” by enabling individuals to rent out their private parking spaces to other drivers. From garages to driveway spots, users can list available spaces and drivers can reserve them by the hour, day, or month through a simple and automated system.

Launched in Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris, GoParkly targets a familiar urban headache: the time and stress of searching for parking. The concept is straightforward but impactful. By allowing everyday people to monetize underused parking areas such as spaces in condominiums, private driveways, or unused garages, the platform not only creates a new source of passive income but also promises to alleviate urban traffic. According to GoParkly, up to 30% of city-center congestion comes from drivers circling in search of parking. Their goal is to cut that number significantly while reducing vehicle emissions.

The idea behind GoParkly was born from a moment of real-life frustration. One of the founders, stuck for hours during Rock in Rio Lisboa, realized the absurdity of circling for parking while so many spaces remained locked behind private gates. That experience sparked a business idea rooted in real need and from that, GoParkly took shape.

The platform allows hosts to list their spaces with ease, while drivers can search, book, and pay in advance. A key feature of GoParkly is “Felix,” an AI-powered chatbot that helps hosts set appropriate prices based on local demand and data. Like Airbnb, GoParkly charges a booking fee to the driver, providing its revenue stream without requiring upfront costs from space owners. While the legal framework, especially in apartment complexes, can vary, the platform advises hosts to secure permission from property management, a situation reminiscent of early challenges faced by short-term rental platforms.

At launch, GoParkly is accessible as a web-based app optimized for mobile use, with native iOS and Android apps planned for release by the end of 2025. The startup has already received recognition, earning second place at the Urban Shark Tank competition during the Portugal Smart Cities Summit, which led to an invitation to the prestigious Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona.

GoParkly is not just about convenience. It is about smarter, greener cities, where underused resources are reimagined to meet modern demands. By transforming everyday parking into a shared, revenue-generating asset, this Portuguese innovation is driving a quiet but meaningful urban revolution.

Author

Paulo Lopes is a multi-talent Portuguese citizen who made his Master of Economics in Switzerland and studied law at Lusófona in Lisbon - CEO of Casaiberia in Lisbon and Algarve.

Paulo Lopes