How long does it take to find parking in a metro city? According to an IBM study, up to 19 minutes.
That pain point became the launchpad for ParkMate, a smart parking solutions company founded by Dhananjaya Bharadwaj. In under three years, ParkMate has scaled across 12+ Indian cities — quietly transforming how urban India handles one of its biggest everyday inefficiencies.
But the real kicker? It wasn’t just tech that drove traction. It was a human connection.
In his candid chat at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, Dhananjaya recalls how strategic networking helped unlock early growth: “From our fundraise to our first big clients — almost everything came through real conversations at events like these.”
For ParkMate, events weren’t just for exposure. They were fuel. Talking to fellow founders led to warm intros. Conversations with industry leaders unlocked collaborations. A chance booth visit became a gateway client.
Now, as the startup readies for more city launches and partnerships, Dhananjaya’s advice to other founders is simple:
“Don’t underestimate showing up.”
Because sometimes, the best growth hack isn’t in your deck — it’s in your DMs after the panel ends.🚗 You drive, they park. But more importantly? They connect.
