Those who are in the industry understand that parking is a deceptively complex business. The importance of innovation in any industry cannot be understated. Especially in an industry – like parking– that can seem rote and stale to the average user, new ideas, solutions, products, and companies help bring a crucially revitalizing lifeblood.
Competitors will receive benefits including a reduced rate for a PIE booth located in the trade show floor’s special “Pitch Competition” area, an invite-only reception with other competitors, judges, and sponsors, and pre-show marketing in Parking Today properties.
When we started NuPark in 2013, our co-founders had over 40 years of collective parking experience, but no real experience running a business. We only survived through a combination of grit, a talented team, a bit of luck, and other entrepreneurs and business owners who could provide advice, coaching, and guidance. Without a group of experienced mentors, NuPark could not have grown into what it was.
As someone who has run the gauntlet, I know all too well how difficult parking innovation is. Creating impactful solutions requires a nuanced understanding of the field, a willingness to meet customers where they’re at, and a team of people to help guide this larger vision. This level of understanding can only come from hands-on experience– from someone who has started from the ground and fought their way through.
Because we know how pivotal innovation is, we are launching the first annual Parking Innovation Pitch Competition to be held at the 2024 PIE conference. This competition will feature fresh, diverse, cutting-edge companies and their founders focusing on the parking and larger mobility markets in the hopes of providing exposure, mentoring, and other assistance. We aim to develop, build, and foster a wide array of connections and future partnership opportunities for all companies involved.
When you think of a pitch competition, it’s easy to picture a Shark Tank-style format where everyone is viciously competing for an investment from a panel of judges. However, our event is a little different. Instead, our competitors will have 10 minutes to pitch their company and answer questions coming from a panel of judges. The judges will confer and decide on the top three companies moving on to the next round of competition. At this point, the competitors will compete in a final round for a slate of final prizes.
While the judges will not be making any offers or negotiating any terms as part of the competitions, they are experienced parking entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who have a deep familiarity with the industry. They will be able to ask insightful questions, provide useful feedback, and select winners based on the winners’ future ability for success in the parking sphere. In addition to serving as judges, a few have elected to provide additional mentoring to competitors, both before and after the competition.
All competitors will receive benefits for competing. These benefits include a reduced rate for a PIE booth located in the trade show floor’s special “Pitch Competition” area, an invite-only reception with other competitors, judges, and sponsors, and pre-show marketing in Parking Today properties. Additionally, there will be various opportunities for networking both during and after the event with the pitch competition competitors, mentors, judges, and sponsors.
Prizes for our finalists include cash, free or reduced-cost ad space in Parking Today, ongoing mentoring from the judges, and discounts for PIE 2025. Additionally, the winner will receive a Parking Today cover with a feature article, a presentation slot at PIE, a free booth at PIE 2025, and an invitation to be a judge and mentor for the pitch competition in 2025.
Please fill out our interest form at accelerateparking.com or email me at kevin@slsinsights.com. We are specifically looking for companies who are in the parking and greater mobility market. Additional details about company eligibility criteria, judging criteria, and sponsorship opportunities are available on our website.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Kevin Uhlenhaker Parking Innovations Pitch Competition He can be reached at kevin@slsinsights.com
