A New App Takes The Headache Out Of NYC Parking

Source: HoldThatSpace

Chuck Graham is a man on a mission. He’s a New York City–based tech founder tackling a particularly sticky local problem: finding parking. His latest venture, Holdthatspace, is beginning to generate buzz and has the potential to be a true game-changer for the city.

Graham says the idea came from lived experience. “Growing up in Harlem, I learned how to hustle and flip a penny into a dollar,” he explains. “Living in New York, I also saw how frustrating parking is. That grind inspired me to create Holdthatspace, an app that lets people earn money by either sharing knowledge of available public spaces or renting out private ones. Unlike other parking apps, ours empowers everyday people to turn their knowledge or property into income.”

Here’s how it works: The public function enables “Spotters” to sell knowledge of a street space they’ve just seen open up. “Seekers” pay for the information, though there’s no guarantee the space will remain available. Holdthatspace is the only platform that allows anyone to earn money simply by sharing public parking knowledge. The private function lets Spotters rent out actual private spaces, such as driveways, hotel or motel lots, schools, churches, gas stations, or shopping plazas. Seekers pay for the guaranteed right to park in that space during the agreed time.

“We built Holdthatspace as a mobile-first platform with iOS at the core,” Graham says. “It uses GPS mapping, secure payments, and built-in chat and photo features so users can communicate and verify spaces in real time. Our technology is designed to prevent misuse, making it the most reliable app for monetizing parking knowledge and private spaces today.”

According to Graham, the response has been strong on both sides. “Property owners of hotels, motels, schools, churches, gas stations, and shopping plazas are excited to turn unused space into income. Seekers are eager to use this tool like yesterday.” He notes that while many parking apps exist, none allow everyday people to earn simply by sharing the location of a vacant public parking space—something that can feel like striking gold compared to endlessly circling the block.

With the foundation in place, Graham’s team is now focused on scaling across New York’s busiest neighborhoods above 96th Street in Manhattan, as well as the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. But his vision goes further. “We’ve already had people from other countries reach out asking if Holdthatspace is available in their markets. That tells us this is a universal problem, and our unique approach—letting anyone monetize their knowledge or private space—can scale nationwide and eventually internationally.”

The journey, however, hasn’t been without challenges. Graham identifies two major hurdles: building trust and perfecting the user experience. “Both Spotters and Seekers need to feel confident the system works. We’ve tackled that by building in chat and photo features for transparency, creating a fair payment model, and stress-testing the platform. By designing the app to be resilient from day one, Holdthatspace maintains its unique position as the only platform that lets people earn from parking knowledge or private spaces.”

To ensure success, Graham draws on lessons from his past ventures, including running his own record label. “Running a record label taught me how to spot talent and manage brand vision,” he says. “And my Series 7 and 66 background as a stockbroker and financial advisor sharpened my discipline, risk management, and ability to structure deals. So Holdthatspace is a mix of all that: street hustle, creative vision, and financial strategy working together to create a one-of-a-kind platform in the parking market.”

He also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap. “Start with a problem you live with every day. Be resilient, because New York will test you. But if you’ve got hustle and your idea solves a real pain point, you’ll win,” he advises. “And always think about how you can create value in ways no one else is doing—just like Holdthatspace did by letting anyone monetize parking knowledge.”

Graham’s philosophy is simple: hustle with purpose and discipline. Harlem taught him how to flip a penny into a dollar, while his finance career taught him patience, structure, and risk management. He believes true success comes from combining street smarts with strategy—moving fast, but always with a plan, and always finding new ways to add value.

“Holdthatspace isn’t just an app,” Graham says. “It’s a solution that turns unused space and local knowledge into opportunity for everyday New Yorkers. Our model—earning from knowledge or private spaces—sets us apart from any other parking app. I’m excited to welcome partners and investors who want to be part of this vision and help scale it nationwide. We’re building a smarter, more connected city, giving property owners new income streams and drivers real options.”