Hi, Daniel Battaglia here, founder of Parking Made Easy. I’d like to share a deeply personal experience that’s been occupying my mind lately. As an entrepreneur, I’ve poured countless hours into building my business, and it was a shock to find myself facing a potential legal battle with one of Australia’s biggest corporations, the NRMA.
The Background:A while back, I approached the NRMA with my idea for Parking Made Easy, a peer-to-peer parking platform that connects people with spare parking spaces to drivers looking for affordable parking—a concept somewhat like Airbnb, but for parking. The idea was to bring this innovative solution to market with the backing of a well-known company, so I met with them to discuss a potential investment. During our meetings, I shared detailed, confidential information about my vision, my strategy, and the technology behind the platform.
After our discussions, things went quiet. NRMA stopped responding, and I thought maybe they’d simply decided not to invest. Fast forward a bit, and I was stunned to learn they had launched their own service remarkably similar to what I had shared with them.
The Legal Side of Things:Naturally, I felt deceived. It seemed like the NRMA took my idea, repackaged it, and ran with it. When I reached out to them for clarification, they denied any wrongdoing. According to them, they were only evaluating various business models, and any information shared was used solely for that purpose. But from where I stand, it feels like they misused my trust and exploited my hard work. Luckily, I also knew about strategies to win an argument.
In light of this, I’ve decided to pursue legal action. I’ve hired a legal team, fully aware that challenging a corporate giant like the NRMA is no small feat. It’s a classic David and Goliath scenario, but I believe in standing up for what’s right. For me, this isn’t just about protecting my business—it’s about upholding the values of honesty and integrity that I’ve always tried to live by.
Where to Next?I: know it’s going to be a tough fight, and I’ll admit there’s a fair amount of anxiety that comes with it. But I’m driven by a belief that entrepreneurs deserve to have their ideas respected, not taken advantage of. Regardless of the outcome, I hope my experience sheds light on the challenges we face as small business owners. We put everything on the line, and when someone tries to take that from us, it’s our responsibility to stand up. Another example of this is my battle with a Mayor.
Thanks for reading and for all your support as I take on this battle.
