MapsPeople is a company passionate about leveraging the endless possibilities of dynamic mapping to customers and believes that indoor navigation and positioning are the frontiers in the mapping world. Pulse 2.0 interviewed MapsPeople’s CEO Morten Brøgger to learn more.
Morten Brøgger’s Background
Brøgger’s professional history spans decades and continents. Brøgger said:
“I started in software system integration and was lucky to be a management trainee working in every company function while still rooted in the sales organization. I moved on to the national incumbent telco of Denmark, where I primarily worked on the B2B side.”
“Next, I moved on to a company that cleared international roaming calls. I stayed for about eight years and did everything. I started as Chief Operating Officer, then Chief Commercial Officer running sales, and I spent the last few years as the Chief Executive Officer, which culminated in selling the company to our largest competitor.”
“I ran sales for Sonos for about a year post-sale, but I missed being a CEO, so I joined a UK-based company called Huddle, working out of their San Francisco office. A few years later, I pivoted from consumer to enterprise as the CEO of Wire, a secure collaboration platform. That role led me to my current position as CEO of MapsPeople, where I have been since November 2022. Once again, I lead global teams and split my time between Europe and Silicon Valley.”
Formation Of MapsPeople
How did the idea for MapsPeople come together? Brøgger shared:
“MapsPeople’s roots in mapping originated in the 1800s, but the idea for indoor online mapping arose in 1997. In 2009, we partnered with Google Maps and pivoted to become a SaaS company. Our focus was on making the world more accessible through MapsIndoors, our dynamic mapping platform that debuted a few years later in 2013. As we continue our journey to becoming a global leader in the indoor mapping space, we will further enhance the value of our maps to meet the needs of organizations across all industries.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges did Brøgger face in building the company, and has the current macroeconomic climate affected the company? Brøgger acknowledged:
“There will always be challenges related to economic conditions and the response to those outside factors. MapsPeople is focused on customer growth and retention. By the end of the year, we plan to lead the indoor mapping space in the United States and become a global leader in the corporate vertical for indoor mapping for smart buildings.”
Core Products
What are MapsPeople’s core products and features? Brøgger explained:
“Our core product is MapsIndoors, a dynamic indoor mapping platform that integrates seamlessly with existing applications, includes sophisticated wayfinding features and provides visualizations of up-to-date information. Live data integration facilitates real-time updates, and the platform can scale as needed. Recently, MapsPeople unveiled 3D indoor maps with smooth vector graphics that allow users to seamlessly zoom and tilt through the map. The striking 3D design improves user experience and engagement.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of MapsPeople’s most significant milestones? Brøgger highlighted:
“Several significant milestones in our history stand out, such as becoming a publicly listed company in Denmark in 2013. We’ve also secured standout partnerships with Google Maps and MapBox to further enhance our offerings. Our acquisition of Point Inside also presents an opportunity for significant growth and improved products. We are excited about our future in the indoor mapping space.”
Customer Success Stories
Upon asking Brøgger about company success stories, he commented:
“Students at the National University of Ireland Galway were struggling to navigate the expansive campus and the university wanted a solution that put students in control. Our product improved the student experience at the university, an institution with over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff members.”
“By leveraging a partnership with Modo, an app-building program, and MapsPeople, the university launched an app that offered students, staff and visitors seamless navigation options like turn-by-turn directions. MapsPeople’s technology allows the university to easily and instantly update the map for immediate user availability. Gone are the days of lost people wandering through campus. The combined technologies of Modo and MapsPeople are visually appealing and easy to use — and empower people to navigate independently.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is MapsPeople pursuing? Brøgger assessed:
“The market for smart buildings is expected to reach over $121 billion by 2026, and MapsPeople is pursuing being a leader in the space by actively expanding our portfolio of products and services facilitating the creation and maintenance of dynamic maps for indoor spaces.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates MapsPeople from its competition? Brøgger affirmed:
“Three major factors elevate MapsPeople above the competition:
1.) Our 3D mapping capabilities. These maps provide visually stunning design and frictionless navigation throughout the space. A 3D map improves user experience and engagement with the technology.
2.) Our partners and integrations. MapsPeople focuses on how these partnerships work with customers and how our product integrates with other tech to deliver a more streamlined client experience. Some of our standout partnerships include integrations with Google Maps and Mapbox.
3.) Our public company offering. Anyone can buy our stock on NASDAQ, giving more meaning to shareholders and proving our track record of work experience.
These competitive differentiators add unique value to our product and make us the go-to solution for indoor mapping solutions.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of MapsPeople’s future company goals? Brøgger concluded:
“As part of our commitment to providing value to our partners, we constantly seek ways to enhance our core product family, MapsIndoors. Because strategic partnerships leverage indoor maps’ potential to improve the user experience, we work closely with our partners to identify opportunities where our indoor mapping can deliver exceptional results. Our growth stems from our commitment to continuous improvement and approach to finding new applications, such as:
1.) Fostering employee engagement and facilitating desk and meeting bookings in smart offices.
2.) Asset tracking and efficient wayfinding in smart hospitals.
3.) Wayfinding solutions and vendor location at large sports or conference venues.
4.) Seamless navigation for students and staff at large universities.
MapsPeople is dedicated to facilitating the smart building revolution on a global scale. In addition to our solid European presence, we have made substantial investments to strengthen our presence in the United States and expand our reach in the Asia Pacific region.”
“We continue to introduce new offerings streamlining map creation and maintenance processes and addressing the growing demand for 3D indoor maps. We are excited to offer our customers a wider range of products, thanks to our acquisition of Point Inside, and we look forward to forging new partnerships. We are confident that these acquisitions will contribute significantly to our success, and we anticipate substantial growth in the future.”
