Skip to main content

Soon you’ll be able to drive in and out of a paid parking garage without paying

Join us in Atlanta on April 10th and explore the landscape of security workforce. We will explore the vision, benefits, and use cases of AI for security teams. Request an invite here.


In Barney Pell’s world, coming in and out of a parking garage is a completely seamless experience. Paying is done effortlessly on a mobile device, the garage magically identifies cars and bills their owners’ cards, and you barely have to spend time thinking about parking.

This magical world is pretty much about to become reality. Pell’s company, QuickPay has just acquired Nautical Technologies for an undisclosed amount.

The combined companies will take the name “LocoMobi,” and while Pell will remain board chairman, Nautical’s chief executive Grant Furlane will assume the same position at LocoMobi.

QuickPay’s technology enables car owners to easily pay for parking through a mobile device. The company has been partnering with as many parking operators as possible to make the service worthwhile, and last time we checked in with QuickPay, it said that users were often finding out about the app through signs advertising it at garages.

Nautical Technologies, which was ANAi Global’s transit and tolling technology division, has built license plate recognition technology and incorporated it with payment stations and barrier gates.

“For parking owners and operators, this is of immense value as they have full knowledge of and receive payment from every single parker, rather than losing an estimated 30% of the parking revenue due to errors and fraud,” the company said in an official statement.

Nautical also claims that its “installations typically have twice the functionality at approximately half the price of competitive systems.”

“Four years ago, I made the decision that the cloud and intelligent LPR systems were the future of parking management, as well as transit, tolling, and other intelligent transportation needs,” said Furlane, who founded ANAi Global. “We are in a new world where all technologies will link and coexist to make a more efficient transportation plan. We intend to lead this change.”

QuickPay is not the only app in the parking space: ParkMe and Park Please help drivers find, reserve, and rent parking spots wherever they need them.

And ValetAnywhere, a sort of “reverse-Uber,” sends drivers a “valet” to meet them at their destination (via scooter!) and take care of parking and delivering their car for them.

Personally, I find that parking on the street is the most challenging. Many parking meters still only take coins, making it painful even if you do manage to find a coveted spot. QuickPay will help on that front, but LocoMobi’s garage-related features are really only solving a problem for a certain demographic of drivers: The ones who regularly park in paid garages.

QuickPay was founded in 2010 and is based in San Francisco, Calif. The company previously raised a total of $9 million from investors such as Andreesen Horowitz, Fontinalis Partners, and CKM Capital Partners.

Nautical Technologies is based in Toronto, Ont., and will not be relocating as the new company will maintain offices in both locations. The company was founded in 2010 and entirely self-funded by founder Grant Furlane with an undisclosed amount.

 

 

VB Daily - get the latest in your inbox

Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.

An error occured.