BindiMaps

Navigating outdoors using technology is widespread with the use of GPS and smartphones. However, as soon as you move indoors, technology and smartphone-based wayfinding and navigation disappears, and visual signage, paper maps and static kiosks are the replacements. Many of us find this signage difficult to follow, and these solutions are particularly problematic if you are blind or vision impaired. BindiMaps solves this problem - it is a smartphone app that allows anyone, regardless of their level of sight, to navigate anywhere - both indoors and outdoors. BindiMaps allows everyone and anyone to access those buildings where education is provided, work can be done and fun can be had - buildings that are currently impossible to navigate independently if you are blind or vision impaired. With BindiMaps, education, work and play outcomes for everyone, especially those who are blind, will be significantly improved.

BindiMaps will help create more equitable classrooms by helping anyone independently access the built environment in which the classrooms sit. This is particularly important for learners who are vision impaired. The World Health Organisation estimates that there are around 2.2 billion people in the world with vision impairment. The same report states that school-age children with vision impairment experience lower levels of educational achievement. Part of this is due to access to those education spaces. Work by Vision Australia outlines the level of underemployment of people with vision impairment, and that this underemployment is mitigated when those with vision impairment have a tertiary degree. 

Education is very important - particularly for people with a disability. BindiMaps helps everyone independently navigate a place of education, thus removing a significant barrier for those who want to access education, but who cannot access visual signage.

BindiMaps is a smartphone app that anyone can use, regardless of their level of sight. Our solution relies on infrastructure placed in the built environment, from which our algorithms can place a phone in space to an accuracy of 50cm to 150cm. We have routing algorithms that find the most efficient routes within the space, as well as a content management system that keeps all of the internal maps relevant and up-to-date in the app. We also have a number of safety features in the app, such as the ability to share your location with security or others.

BindiMaps is an app that works for anyone, but we began the company to help those with low or no vision. We are an Australian based company, and we have partnerships with Guide Dogs, Vision Australia, and Royal Society for the Blind - the three main advocacy groups here in Australia. These partnerships are so that our solution meets the needs of the population that we are serving. 

From working with the advocacy groups and their clients, we know that many people do not access education simply because they cannot make their way independently through the space, and they do not want to rely on strangers to help them.

With BindiMaps, we have proven time and again that we can navigate anyone, even if they are completely blind, through a completely unfamiliar space to their destination. We know that we are changing lives, and we are excited to share our solution more broadly.

At BindiMaps, we want to create equitable classrooms for everyone, regardless of their level of sight. BindiMaps allows those with low or no vision to independently access physical environments, thus decreasing their stress and increasing their engagement as learners. Through our safety features, BindiMaps also helps to ensure physical safety, as anyone can share their location with security in a time of crisis. By reducing stress, BindiMaps also supports the mental health of those with a disability.

BindiMaps is a commercial business operating in Australia. We have many different customers across multiple verticals from education to hospitals, office spaces and shopping centres.

Our solution is new as we have the accuracy indoors, as well as the routing algorithms that make the app work. Our solution is also unique in that it has been built to cater to anyone, regardless of their level of vision.

The broader aspects of BindiMaps is that one app can be used to navigate anywhere - no longer the need to rely on static visual signage indoors, as well as creating greater equity for those with a disability.

We have over 5000 users over 57 properties where BindiMaps is installed. Both users and properties are growing at 50% every month.

We measure users, active users, SEO engagements, customer acquisition, and floor space mapped

We have 11 full time staff and one part-time, all based in Australia 

Anna Wright our CEO has a vision impairment, so has lived experience with the product. Our other two cofounders are experts in their own areas - Mladen Jovanovic in sales and Tony Burrett in product and development. The balance of our staff are four developers, all leaders in their fields, and three who work in sales and customer support, including one staff member who is completely blind.

The BindiMaps team is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We are split 50/50 on a male/female basis and have a female CEO. We employ people with a disability, we are all from different cultural and religious backgrounds, and between the team of 11, we have 7 different languages spoken at home.

We are passionate about providing education to all, especially to those with a disability 

We are looking at overseas expansion and finding the right partners

Any prize money will be put back into the solution of providing equitable access to all students, regardless of their level of sight

BindiMaps at its core is committed to the access and inclusion of all people, regardless of their ability to see. We believe that it is particularly important for people to access education