Tech startup magpie is set to rid the world of the anxiety and cost of losing things with its new, unlimited-range GPS mobile tracking service, offered as a service for as little as $5 month, to anyone contributing to its Kickstarter campaign.
The magpie service, which includes an app and a free GPS device that is one of the smallest and smartest on the market, will be offered as a monthly, low-cost subscription service, making the business of tracking things more affordable and accessible to anyone who is anywhere in the world where there is a cellular network.
In addition to curbing the mounting anxiety and costs linked to losing our valuable possessions, magpie provides peace of mind by keeping tabs on our beloved children and pets.
The device’s sleek, waterproof design, unlimited range, and rechargeable, long-lasting battery, combined with the intuitive functionality of its companion app, makes the magpie service the most attractive and affordable tracking option available - and more importantly, moves the stress of ‘losing things’ to a problem of the past.
“We believe magpie will not only revolutionize the location tracking industry, but also how we find and watch over the people and things we care about most,” says co-founder Raul Oaida, who worked with award-winning Japanese designer Keiji Takeuchi to create a device that is both beautiful and practical.
Raul continues: “Other bluetooth devices are limited to their short-range tracking capabilities. With magpie, its unlimited range means it’s there whenever you need it, connecting you to the people and pets you love and the everyday items you need. That’s the genius of this service.”
Magpie’s founders, hardware engineer Raul Oaida, social entrepreneur Derek Handley and creative technologist Calum Handley, have always been ones to think outside of the box.
Raul is known for building the first car made out of 500,000-plus Lego bricks, complete with a carbon-free, air-powered engine, followed shortly thereafter by a jet-powered bicycle. He started this project at age 18, driving off in the Lego car by the time he was 20.
Derek co-founded the global not-for-profit “The B Team” with Richard Branson, and before that created a number of future-focused global companies, including mobile advertising production house, The Hyperfactory (sold in 2010 to NYSE-listed Meredith Corporation). During this time, with brother Calum, he helped Fortune 500 brands navigate the mobile world six years before the iPhone was launched.
Calum was with Meredith until late last year and more recently has joined the emerging start-up scene in South East Asia, where he is mentoring and advising digital start-ups on brand-building & technology.
With magpie, Raul, Derek and Calum have the opportunity to combine their expertise in technology, media, and startups to revolutionize the industry for a great cause. The three co-founders, who are based between New York, Thailand and New Zealand, hope to create a global community who share a common interest in not only owning this device, but also in investing in creating a product that can bring value worldwide, to so many.
“Peace of mind shouldn’t be a luxury, which is why magpie will be accessible and affordable for all of those who get involved,” says Bangkok-based Calum. “We can all relate to the horrible feeling we get when we think we’ve lost something. Magpie replaces those unnecessary stresses in your life with an an innate sense of calm.
“And on the more serious side,” says Derek, father of a four-year-old son, “parents with small children can rest easier when using magpie. As a parent, I am acutely aware of the dangers surrounding small children who may wander off or go missing.”
Handley’s more recent ventures are centered around building companies that combine financial and social outcomes. He and his fellow magpie founders hope the device will touch the lives of people around the globe.
How magpie works:
