The MapScaping Podcast - GIS, Geospatial, Remote Sensing, earth observation and digital geography Hivemapper
Dec 5, 2024
Ariel Seidman, founder of HiveMapper, discusses the exciting evolution of his company from drone-based mapping to a powerful street-level data collection platform. He shares insights on the challenges of scaling mapping efforts and the innovative role of blockchain in attracting users. Ariel reveals that HiveMapper has mapped 28% of the global road network already. He highlights the unique combination of proprietary hardware and edge computing that sets them apart from giants like Google Maps. Entrepreneurship's persistent spirit is also explored, offering valuable lessons for budding innovators.
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Pivot From Drones To Street-Level
- Ariel recounts building early drone systems but hitting limits like short battery life and patchy regulation.
- He pivoted from drones to street-level mapping and iterated through approaches until hardware won.
Why Custom Hardware Was Necessary
- Off-the-shelf phones and dashcams proved too friction-filled or closed for large-scale passive mapping.
- Building custom hardware unlocked passive operation, better positioning, and full control of compute and comms.
Hardware Plus Token Bootstrapped Growth
- HiveMapper combined hardware and crypto incentives to bootstrap a global mapping network.
- That approach helped them map roughly 28% of the global road network within two years.