App lets users rent out empty parking spaces

TuraQshare, described as the “Airbnb for parking spaces,” aims to reduce traffic congestion by helping drivers find parking

Spotted: Kazakhstan startup TuraQshare, with support from Nazarbayev University, has developed an app that allows users to register and rent out their empty parking spaces. The concept was created in July 2018 for the Astana Innovations Challenge, a startup competition aimed at incentivising young developers to solve urban technological problems in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan.

TuraQshare’s founders, Nazarbayev University students Askhat Sharipov and Anuar Baitulakov, came up with the idea to help manage traffic congestion. The aim of the app is to make it simple to promote parking spots across the city. In addition, TuraQshare provides a platform for people to earn money by renting their empty parking spots while they are away from home. 

“We thought, why not connect the two sides — clients, or the drivers, and partners — to yield a result that would be both beneficial and effective for a city,” Sharipov told Springwise. “Our solution not only reduces traffic but allows people to earn real cash, as well as reducing CO2 emissions.”

The user process is straightforward: clients register in the app, click on the interested area in the city and available parking lots appear that can be rented hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. The platform is mostly used by drivers looking for a parking space close to their workplace. The app is also in the process of launching in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Moscow.