Geo and GIS: How Startups can Bridge the Gap
jmilner@esriuk.com
@JamesLMilner
loxodrome.io
James Milner
Geographic
Information
Systems
Alongside this ~30% of the world will be able to produce & consume geospatial data
Depending on who you trust, at least 50% of global pop. will be using software every day by 2020
“Developers may be the constituency in human history that has the greatest reach that humanity has ever seen”
APIs have simplified app creation
i.e. Uber
- Google Maps (Mapping)
- PayPal/Braintree (Payments)
- Twilio (SMS)
They have abstracted very hard problems that would be tricky to solve alone
Geo has never been more relevant or lucrative
$4.5 million
Life Sciences - $4.3 M
Automotive - $4.3 M
Fintech - $4.2 M
Cleantech - $3.9 M
Sports - $3.9 M
Fashion - $3.9 M
Geo Startup Average Valuation on AngelList
With so much reach, is there a way we can make GIS more common place?
GIS is (generally) tackling big niche problems
- Utilities networks
- Complex 3D visualisations
- Big imagery data
- Streamlining field workers
- Real time logistics
How can we bridge the gap with the 'everyday'?
Making worlds collide
Consumer Geo
- Maps
- A to B routing
- Consumer Orientied
- UX focused
- Usually cheap / free
GIS
- Analysis
- Editing
- Decision making
- Biz/academic oriented
- Traditionally poor UX
- Potentially pricey
For GIS to be mainstream it needs to be pervasive
GIS is complex, but it needn't have to be complex to use
How?
GIS needs to be:
- Be simpler to understand
- Be easier to use (better UX)
- Have wider coverage
- Be quick to adapt
- Integrate into an 'social' & 'app' culture
Startups are great at these things
Putting together the Esri Startup Program
3 years of Free Software
Access to Online Training
Tech Support
Exhibiting Opportunities
Thanks
jmilner@esriuk.com
@JamesLMilner