This app aims to make sure you won’t get lost in airports or malls again

There’s no doubt about the potential in the Internet of Things (IoT) industry. Research firm IDC believes it can reach US$1.7 trillion by 2020. Investors are similarly optimistic; in a recent talk, Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son predicted the average person would have 1,000 internet-connected devices by 2040. Simply put, everyday devices such as cars, refrigerators, and air conditioners will soon have the ability to communicate with users, helping us manage our lives far more efficiently.

One such startup hoping to cash in on the frenzy is Istanbul-based Pointr. Their product is an indoor navigation solution concentrating on aviation, retail, and exhibitions. How it works is similar to Google Maps, but better, it claims.

“If you have ever missed your flight, lost a friend in a festival, or got stuck inside a department store, you will understand how awesome our product is,” says Axel Katalan, chief marketing officer of Pointr. “While Google Maps only directs you to a particular building, Pointr will help you navigate inside it.”

Pointr was initially conceptualized by CEO Ismail Ege Akpinar in 2013 during his work with clients such as Tesco and Ford on software projects. A year later the startup turned down an acqui-hire offer of US$1.7 million, and shifted its focus from R&D to building a commercially viable solution.

Axel says the product has endless use cases, but for now they’re targeting only B2B customers. Their solutions for airports, for example, revolve around helping passengers navigate complex buildings to find destination gates and luggage, assist with duty-free shopping by showing the location of desired products, and allowing airlines to offer personalized experiences by greeting passengers by name.

“People are used to taking their phones out and being able to solve problems with it, and naturally, the next level in personal navigation is that of large indoor venues where you have to find something easy and quickly,” adds Axel.

Pointr’s software development kit allows clients (say, an airport) to make their own programs specific to their location. Pointr also has a whitelabel app that clients can use, with features ranging from positioning and navigating to retail functions. User queries are managed within the app, which works on iOS and Android for now.

Interestingly, Pointr doesn’t depend on WiFi to ensure connectivity and a smooth experience. It uses Bluetooth beacons instead, which Axel claims is far more accurate for precise navigation, accuracy, and analytics. The cost of installation and maintenance is almost the same as WiFi, so it doesn’t translate into a higher fee for the end user.

Pointr is funded by a ‘private investor’ who helped the startup close its seed round. It has also been accelerated by Microsoft Ventures, and was recently accepted into the TechFounders program in Munich. There are no plans to raise further cash for now, as money from client projects means the venture is able to sustain itself. There are, however, aggressive ambitions to roll out into markets in Asia, particularly the Middle East.