Loading organizations...
Loading organizations...
PingPod develops and operates fully automated, self-service table tennis facilities, accessible 24/7 through a digital booking system. These unmanned "pods" provide convenient, high-quality spaces equipped with professional tables for individuals and groups. The platform also offers private coaching, group classes, and event hosting, delivering a comprehensive solution for enthusiasts and casual players alike.
The company was founded in 2019 by David Silberman, who originated the concept, and Max Kogler, its CEO. Their core insight was the significant demand for flexible, autonomous, and high-quality table tennis venues. They aimed to democratize access to the sport by removing traditional operational barriers, leveraging technology to create an accessible recreational experience.
PingPod serves a broad demographic, from casual players to serious enthusiasts and families, including programs for children. Its vision is to significantly broaden participation in table tennis, fostering community and enabling widespread access. The company actively expands its automated model to urban centers, providing accessible athletic and social outlets.
PingPod has raised $13.6M across 3 funding rounds.
PingPod has raised $13.6M in total across 3 funding rounds.
PingPod is a technology-enabled company that operates fully automated, 24/7 table tennis venues called "pods," offering table reservations, lessons, classes, leagues, event hosting, and community features for players of all skill levels.[1][2][5] It serves recreational players, groups, and communities seeking accessible ping pong experiences, solving the problem of limited, staff-dependent access to table tennis by providing on-demand, app-controlled play in high-footfall urban spaces.[1][3][5] Founded in 2020, PingPod has expanded to over 15 locations across cities like New York, Brooklyn, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Bristol (UK), and the Philippines, raising $10M+ in Series A funding (with total funding around $13M) and generating approximately $7M in revenue while employing about 40 people.[1][2][3][4]
The company's growth momentum stems from opportunistic real estate deals during COVID-19, rapid scaling to multiple sites within 24 months, acquisition and revamp of Sharks Pool Club (boosting revenue 76% in under a year), and productizing its tech stack as PodPlay SaaS for other venues like pickleball courts.[3]
PingPod was conceived by David Silberman, who pitched the idea to Ernesto Ebuen (former U.S. table tennis player, now Chief Product Officer) and Max Kogler (former Goldman Sachs employee, now CEO), leading to the company's founding on July 31, 2019, with the first pod opening in 2020 on New York City's Lower East Side.[2][3] Silberman's vision capitalized on pandemic-era real estate vacancies, securing low-cost leases for 2,500 sq ft spaces in foot-traffic areas amid desperate landlords.[3]
Early traction exploded: from one NYC spot in 2020, it scaled to four locations in New York, Brooklyn, and Queens within 24 months, leveraging full automation to operate without on-site staff.[3] Key leaders include Silberman (CFO), Ilya Rivkin (CTO), and Ben Borton (Chief Strategy Officer).[2] In 2023, PingPod acquired Sharks Pool Club, integrating its app tech to drive quick revenue gains, and launched PodPlay as a SaaS offering.[3]
PingPod rides the wave of experiential leisure tech and eatertainment, blending automation, SaaS, and urban recreation amid post-COVID demand for contactless, on-demand activities in underutilized retail/office spaces.[3] Timing was ideal: COVID-19 flooded markets with cheap real estate, enabling rapid urban expansion while rivals like Punch Bowl Social or State of Play rely on staffed hospitality models.[1][3]
Market forces favoring PingPod include booming "live-work-play" neighborhoods (e.g., 27,000 sq ft of new retail leases since 2023), rising popularity of racket sports like pickleball/ping pong, and SaaS disruption in fragmented venue management.[1][3] It influences the ecosystem by exporting PodPlay tech, potentially standardizing automation for pool halls, tennis, and beyond, much like how Volley uses AI robotics for similar sports.[1][3]
PingPod's pivot from ping pong pods to PodPlay SaaS positions it for explosive growth, with $10M Series A (led by Sequoia Heritage) fueling expansion into new sports venues and international markets.[3][4] Upcoming trends like AI-enhanced sports training (e.g., Volley) and hybrid leisure spaces will amplify its tech edge, while real estate stabilization may challenge deal-making but reward its low-overhead model.[1][3]
Expect PodPlay to dominate SaaS for racket sports and beyond, evolving PingPod from niche operator to platform leader—echoing how a single NYC pod flipped into a $50M+ tech play amid perfect timing.[3]
PingPod has raised $13.6M in total across 3 funding rounds.
PingPod's investors include Sequoia Capital, Draper Gain Family Office, KittyHawk Ventures, 01 Advisors, Afore Capital, Alumni Ventures, Backend Capital, Basecamp Fund, Flucas Ventures, Gradient Ventures, Infinite Niches, Moxxie Ventures.
PingPod has raised $13.6M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in March 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2022 | $10.0M Series A | Sequoia Capital | Draper Gain Family Office, KittyHawk Ventures |
| Mar 1, 2021 | $3.0M Series A | KittyHawk Ventures | |
| Sep 1, 2019 | $600K Seed | 01 Advisors, Afore Capital, Alumni Ventures, Backend Capital, Basecamp Fund, Flucas Ventures, Gradient Ventures, Infinite Niches, KittyHawk Ventures, Moxxie Ventures, Prototype Capital, Scribble Ventures, Shrug Capital, SignalFire, Sound Ventures, SV Angel, Tusk Venture Partners, Weekend Fund, Alper Kiresepi, Anna Patterson, Howard Charney, Kevin Weil, Moshe Lifschitz, Peter Hunn, Rudra Peram, Tyler Willis, Yagiz Sozmen, Zach Segal |