PodPlay, the first tech platform to integrate hardware-enabled features like replays, scoreboards, and door access with core venue management software for fast-growing racket sports like pickleball, padel, and ping pong, has publicly launched its offering to racket sports venues.
Game-Changing Functionality
More than 30 venues have already signed up to use the platform, including CityPickle, the indoor-pickleball facility with locations in New York City.
PodPlay is a new technology company that aims to deliver game-changing functionality supporting tech-forward operators in the ever-growing racket sports space.
“Our long-term vision is to become the platform for autonomous experiences. Our experience and knowledge bring a lot to the table, the court, or the playing field for a wide variety of sports and activities.”
Easy-To-Use Application
The PodPlay tech stack runs the experience seamlessly from start to finish, including reservations, door access, video replays, digital scoreboards, event programming, remote security, coaching, membership, and payment integration.
This functionality is all contained in an easy-to-use application for venue operators and their customers. At the same time, a data and analytics layer helps customers improve and optimize key operating metrics. The integrated system is designed to drive increased revenue and reduce costs for venue operators.
“A Best-In-Class Reservation System”
Max Kogler, Co-Founder and CEO of PodPlay says, “We are thrilled to launch the PodPlay platform with one of the top pickleball venue operators in North America.”
Erica Desai, Co-Founder of CityPickle, states, “PodPlay is a best-in-class reservation system that brilliantly combines a highly intuitive customer interface with advanced tech features that allow businesses to grow and thrive.”
PodPlay has been fine-tuned over the last four years by the team that originally launched PingPod, the successful table tennis start-up that exploded on the scene in New York City in 2020.
Fifteen Locations
The three partners were Ernesto Ebuen, a preeminent coach/player formerly ranked #1 in the US; Max Kogler, former COO/CFO of Super Soccer Stars; and David Silberman, creator of the autonomous PingPod concept.
It now features 15 locations throughout NYC, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, Chicago, and the UK, with even more in the pipeline. PingPod has pioneered the autonomous experience operating model, with PodPlay’s tech stack powering its labor-light business model.
PodPlay was formed in 2023 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PingPod. The company started off by offering its full technology solution as a SaaS offering to like-minded venue operators.
Long-Term Vision
Ben Borton, Co-Founder of PodPlay, says, “The autonomous operating model that’s working so well for PingPod has broad applications beyond table tennis.
“Our long-term vision is to become the platform for autonomous experiences. Our experience and knowledge bring a lot to the table, the court, or the playing field for a wide variety of sports and activities.”
The crux of the concept is using the group’s proprietary software to make the activity accessible, modular, and autonomous, thereby enhancing the user experience.
The PodPlay business model is unique – offering the technology built to power a network of the world’s first tech-enabled autonomous (no onsite employees) 24/7 table tennis “pods” to other recreational activities like pool, pickleball, padel, and more.
About PodPlay
PodPlay Technologies is the operating system for modern, tech-forward recreational venues.
The team built the tech that powers PingPod and, in 2023, formed PodPlay to offer the full autonomous tech stack as a white-label SaaS solution to like-minded racket sports venues.
PodPlay integrates reservations, event management, coaching, membership, analytics, and payments software with hardware-enabled features like scoreboards, customer-initiated replays, door access, and 24/7 remote security monitoring.
About CityPickle
CityPickle opened its first, permanent pickleball club in Long Island City in September 2023, combining indoor courts with a full bar and restaurant, making it the ideal destination to connect and spend quality time with friends.
CityPickle recently partnered with Wollman Rink in New York City’s Central Park to operate the largest pickleball installation in the Northeast, with 14 courts and 196 hours of play a day.
The brand recently debuted an activation at Philadelphia’s City Hall to officially mark the brand’s expansion to Philadelphia with a permanent location on the horizon.
CityPickle also opened a seven-court activation at Brooklyn’s Industry City.
It launched in 2022 in New York City with facilities in Hudson Yards and TWA Hotel at JFK Airport.
