Problem: Parking is inefficient, causing time waste, congestion, and lost revenue.
Solution: ProkoPark automates parking guidance, payments, and enforcement with AI.
The Journey
Co-founders
Before ProkoPark became the all-in-one smart parking system it is today, we started with a simpler version: V2. Our primary goal with V2 was to test the basic concept of using sensors to guide drivers to available spaces. At the time, the system was relatively straightforward, relying on red and green light indications to show whether a spot was free or occupied.
Design Challenge
Before ProkoPark, finding parking for drivers, especially in busy urban areas, felt like a daily battle for millions. It wasn’t just about wasted time—it was about frustration, missed meetings, and wasted fuel circling blocks or garages.
Parking operators, too, faced challenges. Outdated systems couldn’t give them the real-time insights they needed to optimize their operations or provide a smooth experience for drivers.
Basic functionality:
However, early tests and feedback revealed a need for more precision and advanced features.
The lights are helpful, but sometimes they switch too slowly when a car leaves. I need real-time updates, especially when I’m in a hurry.
- UCSD student
The green light shows me where the space is, but I don’t always know how to get there. A bit more guidance, maybe through an app, would make this much more useful.
.png){kind=avatar}
These insights made it clear that while V2 was functional, it lacked the real-time accuracy and broader integration that drivers needed. We took this feedback seriously and began working on significant upgrades for the next version.
Time for V3
The V2 system gave us a strong foundation, but we knew that in order to scale and provide a truly seamless parking experience, we needed more than just a red and green light.
After rounds of testing and user feedback, we went back to the drawing board to create V3—an upgraded version of our system that not only improved accuracy but also integrated payment automation and mobile guidance.
We took into account user concerns around real-time updates and guidance:
Add Some More Spice
Mobile app for drivers
Before departing, users can check the mobile app for real-time parking availability, which is facilitated by our sensors.
Upon parking, our sensors detect the vehicle and associates account on file.
Upon leaving, the system automatically charges the driver based on the length of the session.
Admin portal for drivers
We created a parking management system that uses AI-Powered license plate recognition to track every parking sessions and capture violations in real time.
Our admin portal enables real-time monitoring and management of each parking spot, offering detailed analytics.
It wasn’t just a meeting of minds, but a merging of skillsets that made ProkoPark possible. Thomas, with his years at Google, brought software engineering expertise. Ben had hardware experience from Amazon, and Yuichi's background in sensor technologies made our ideas feasible. As for me, I envisioned how all these pieces could fit into the larger picture to create a product that customers would love
Current Status
Timeline
We strive to build close relationships with our first clients—just as Airbnb emphasized the importance of engaging early adopters, we believe in learning, iterating, and growing together to create exceptional experiences
Contact me at amandaye@prokopark.us for potential collaborations!
Relevant Information:
ProkoPark Garage Solution Pricing
ProkoPark Pitch Deck
