Voiijer’s new app provides a social community for nature lovers and explorers | TechCrunch

Social media often disconnects people from the real world, leaving people indoors and scrolling feeds on their phones. A new social app Voiijer wants to do the opposite by connecting nature enthusiasts with the wonders of the world, where they can create communities, share adventures, document their discoveries. themselves and collaborate with others on expeditions.

Somewhat reminiscent of a cross between nature-filled Instagram and a timeline-based social app like Twitter/X, Voiijer allows users to browse its homepage to discover content shared by others. documented their journey into the natural world.

As you scroll through someone’s feed, you may come across stuff like photos, videos, audio, text notes, and even 3D scans for augmented reality (AR). Each observation can also contain additional data, including recognition.

Image credits: traveler

For example, today, some popular feeds on the app’s homepage include itineraries like “Can technology help discover dinosaurs?”, which include photos and videos from a chemical location. jelly; “Why is Iceland one of the best Mars analogues?”, which includes a written explanation and multimedia documentation of the Icelandic expedition; and “Can we find green vipers in Komodo?” where users explore Komodo National Park in Indonesia in search of blue snakes.

Launching this summer as a public beta, Voiijer is being launched by CEO Michael Barth, a member of the field research professional association, The Explorers Club, and a member of the association of local geographers. UK-based manager, Royal Geographical Society, dreams. The idea came to him during an expedition in the Gobi Desert, where his team was able to make groundbreaking discoveries thanks to substantial funding and advanced technology, but had difficulty sharing. their findings to a wider audience.

Barth suddenly realized that smartphones could be a useful tool for growing communities where users could more effectively engage in storytelling and share their data. To bring the app to life, the startup raised nearly $1 million in angel funding from friends and family.

In addition to Barth, Voiijer’s co-founders include CPO Michelle Excel, whose background includes cross-platform interactive projects related to augmented reality, virtual reality, AI and spatial technology; and CMO Greg McConnell, formerly of WPP & J. Walter Thompson, where he developed brand strategy and forged successful partnerships across luxury, heritage, technology and style categories global life.

Like other social apps, Voiijer allows you to browse content created by others or share your own. The search feature allows you to search for specific topics, observations, projects, and other people on the app that share your interests.

You can also invite other users to collaborate with you on projects (nicknamed Voiijs), plan expeditions with the team, and upload your data, content and files as you record. Review your trip and do your fieldwork both in real time and when the expedition is over. The company believes this storytelling ability helps others learn more about your discoveries in more profound ways than a post or a short video.

“Our technology mix is ​​unique,” ​​McConnell told TechCrunch. “Exploratory fieldwork is inherently multimedia, and stories from expeditions need to be told in new ways. We’ve integrated the power of Explorer’s toolkit into one app: GPS, camera, notebook, microphone, and sampling bag—powerful tools for collecting data that create experiential stories ,” he continued.

“In addition to photos and videos, Voiijer also supports recording, writing short and long notes, and scans coming to life with Apple’s AR Quick Look. No other app supports this range of media with its collaboration features and storytelling prism,” added McConnell.

Image credits: traveler

The New York and Hong Kong-based startup plans to make money through a combination of advertising and a subscription model for additional services. However, this app is currently ad-free as it is only a public beta.

The trial version has been tested by about 100 users, including Kenton Cool, a seasoned climber with 17 summits of Everest. On September 30, the iOS app will be “official” launching and open to more users sooner, with the goal of scaling to 10,000 people within three months.

“We are delighted to invite everyone to join the Voiijer community during this important time,” Excel said. “Their feedback will be critical in refining our platform and ensuring we deliver an experience that truly resonates with audiences,” she notes.

Voiijer (pronounced “Voyager”) is currently free to download on the App Store. Even if you’re not a discoverer yourself, you can still browse the app’s content to learn more about the world and the fieldwork being done by app users.