Skidattl is a B2B SaaS platform enabling businesses to place virtual signs in the real world using Augmented Reality. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Skidattl founder and CEO Randy Marsden to learn more about the company.
Randy Marsden’s Background
What is Randy Marsden’s background? Marsden said:
“My path into tech actually started in a pretty personal way. Back in college, a close friend of mine was paralyzed in a gymnastics accident. That experience really opened my eyes to the challenges people with disabilities face, and it inspired me to start my first company, Madentec, which focused on assistive technology. From there, I got hooked on the idea of making technology more accessible and intuitive for everyone. I went on to co-found Swype, which you might know as the swipe keyboard for smartphones—Microsoft ended up acquiring that. Later, I co-founded Dryft, which Apple acquired, and I spent some time at Apple leading the Exposure Notifications project during the pandemic and working on the iOS keyboard. After a stint at Nike’s Technology Innovation Office, I realized I wanted to build something that would help people connect with the world around them, not just their screens. That’s what led me to Skidattl.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Marsden shared:
“The idea for Skidattl really came from watching how glued to our screens we’ve all become. Even when we’re out at events or exploring new places, we’re still staring down at our phones. I wanted to flip that script and use technology to get people looking up and engaging with the real world again. The pandemic, and my work on Exposure Notifications, made me realize how powerful our devices can be for public good. So, I started thinking: what if we could use AR to make the physical world more interactive and informative, without pulling people out of the moment? That’s how the concept of AR beacons was born—digital signposts that enhance your experience of a place, whether you’re at a festival, on a golf course, or just walking through your city.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Marsden reflected:
“Honestly, there have been a lot of great moments, but one that stands out is seeing Skidattl in action at Turtle Bay Golf Course in Hawaii. Watching golfers use our AR overlays to get real-time course info, distances, and tips—right there on the green—was just incredible. It was this “aha” moment where I saw our vision come to life, not as a gimmick, but as something genuinely useful. Another highlight was at the Cruïlla Music Festival in Barcelona, where our beacons helped thousands of attendees navigate the grounds and discover new experiences. Seeing people’s faces light up when they realized what AR could do for them—that’s what keeps me going.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Marsden explained:
“At its heart, Skidattl is all about making AR accessible and useful for businesses and their customers. Our main product is a platform that lets anyone create AR “beacons”—think of them as virtual signposts you can place anywhere in the real world. We’ve built a no-code tool so you don’t need to be a developer to use it. You can create and customize beacons as easily as posting on social media. We also offer real-time analytics so businesses can see how people are interacting with their beacons. And we’ve integrated App Clip technology, so users can access AR experiences instantly by scanning a QR code—no app download required. Plus, our SDK works across iOS, Android, and web, so it’s super flexible.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Marsden and the team face in building the company? Marsden acknowledged:
” “”One of the biggest hurdles has been convincing businesses that AR isn’t just a flashy gimmick—it can actually drive real results. Early on, a lot of folks saw AR as something for games or marketing stunts, not as a practical tool. We tackled that by running pilot programs and gathering hard data. For example, at Turtle Bay, we showed that our beacons could lower scores by showing green locations and distances from anywhere on the course. At Cruïlla, our analytics showed people who engaged with Skidattl did it repeatedly – over 20 times each. Once we had those numbers, the conversations changed. Suddenly, people saw the value.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Marsden noted:
“We’ve come a long way. Initially, we were pretty focused on a business-to-consumer (B2C) app model, but were quickly flooded with inquiries and ideas from dozens of businesses who wanted to use it. We turned our focus to a B2B SaaS model to enable those businesses to unlock customer engagement using Skidattl. The ideas have been non-stop and inspiring: everything from finding where famous people are buried in a cemetery to treasure hunts for middle schoolers at a zoo!”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Marsden cited:
“A few big ones come to mind. Securing our $1 million pre-seed round led by SUM Ventures was a huge vote of confidence. Our commercial launch in March 2025 was another big step—we went live with partners like SXSW, Legacy Real Estate, and Turtle Bay Golf. Being named a finalist for the Hawaii Entrepreneur Awards was a nice recognition, too. But honestly, the most meaningful milestones are the success stories from our customers—seeing real impact on the ground.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Marsden about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One that stands out is the Turtle Bay Foundation Annual Charity Golf Tournament. We saw over 50% engagement from golfers and included Beacons over the monk seal nesting grounds, over a hundred year-old banyan tree that was an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean, and near the nesting grounds of an endangered species of birds. The addition of these Beacons and the information they provided really helped connect attendees to the land and nature they were a part of that day.”
Funding/Revenue
When asking Marsden about the company’s funding/revenue details, he revealed:
“We raised $1 million in seed funding, which has really helped us accelerate R&D and build out our sales team. Our business model is subscription-based, starting at $5,000 a year, and we’re already seeing strong traction with enterprise clients in real estate, events, and smart cities. We’re not sharing exact revenue numbers yet, but the early signs are very promising.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Marsden cited:
“We’re going after a pretty massive market. Verified Market Research shows the Proximity Marketing industry growing from $70B to over $400 billion in the next four years. Spatial Computing in the physical world is emerging as the next big thing, and when AR Glasses become ubiquitous, we will see TAM numbers in the trillions.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Marsden affirmed:
“I think what really sets us apart is our focus on utility and ease of use. A lot of AR platforms are built for games or entertainment, but we’re all about solving real-world problems. Our no-code tools make it easy for anyone to create AR experiences, not just developers. We’re also privacy-first—users don’t have to give up their data to use our platform. And our geospatial tech is top-notch, so the experiences are accurate and reliable.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Marsden pointed out:
“Our big vision is to make AR as common and useful as social media, but with a focus on connecting people to the real world, not distracting them from it. In the near term, we’re working on deeper integration with AR glasses and expanding into new verticals like delivery and retail. Long-term, we want to create a digital layer that enhances every physical space, making cities, events, and businesses more interactive and engaging.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Marsden concluded:
“Just one. One thing I’m really passionate about is the potential for AR to improve mental health. There’s a lot of research showing that spending time in the real world, engaging with your surroundings, is good for you. Skidattl isn’t just about cool tech—it’s about helping people feel more connected, more present, and more engaged with their communities. We’re also exploring partnerships with AR hardware makers to stay ahead of the curve as the ecosystem evolves. It’s an exciting time, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.”
