Padl

Padl, Inc. operates within the recreational and leisure facilities market, offering a self-service paddle sport rental system. Founded in 2017 by Andres Avello, Felipe Jauregui, and Khalil Khouri, the company is headquartered in Key Biscayne, Florida. The founders, childhood friends who grew up together on Key Biscayne, drew upon their shared passion for water activities like fishing and diving to create the company. The inspiration for the business model came from observing the success of scooter-sharing services like Lime, leading to the idea of applying a similar app-based, on-demand rental concept to paddleboarding.

The company's core offering is a network of automated, solar-powered rental stations located at various waterfronts such as beaches, lakes, and parks. Users access paddleboards and kayaks through a mobile application, which allows them to unlock equipment from a docking station and begin their rental. This model addresses the common challenges of paddleboard ownership, such as high purchase cost, storage, and transportation. The business primarily generates revenue through hourly rentals and subscription-based memberships. An hourly rental costs around $15-$25, while a monthly membership offers unlimited two-hour sessions for a recurring fee. The company serves both individual recreational users and forms B2B partnerships with municipalities and private entities like resorts, sharing revenue with the property owners where stations are installed.

The technology consists of a patented dual-locking system that secures the board and paddle, which is controlled via the user's smartphone. The boards are equipped with GPS for tracking rides and enhancing safety. Some boards also feature sensors that collect water quality data, providing valuable environmental information to municipalities. The company has secured a US utility patent for its technology. Since its inception with a prototype built in a backyard in Key Biscayne, Padl has expanded its operations across numerous locations in Florida and has plans for further expansion. The founding team's expertise is a significant asset: Andres Avello (CEO) has a background in finance, Felipe Jauregui (COO) has experience in operations at an aerospace startup, and Khalil Khouri (CPO) is a robotics engineer who developed the proprietary technology.

Keywords: paddleboard rental, kayak sharing, self-service rentals, water sports, mobile app rental, outdoor recreation, leisure facilities, sharing economy, equipment rental, waterfront amenities, GPS tracking, solar-powered stations, subscription model, recreation technology, on-demand paddleboarding, Florida startups, Key Biscayne, smart boards, outdoor activities, tourism tech