Proxi

High-Level Overview

Proxi is a Seattle-based geospatial software company that builds a free, no-code platform for creating custom, interactive maps, event passports, and community guides.[1][2][4] It serves influencers, local experts, businesses, event coordinators, media outlets, and consumers by enabling them to visualize recommendations for spots like restaurants, parks, coffee shops, and holiday lights, replacing text lists with embeddable, shareable maps that drive discovery and visits.[2][3][5] The tool solves the problem of static, list-based recommendations by offering visual, trusted, crowdsourced mapping with analytics, fostering community connections and providing actionable insights for users and brands.[2][3] Proxi has shown early growth momentum, raising $1.2 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round in 2022 led by Graham & Walker, with participation from Techstars, Madrona Pioneer Fund, and others; it launched publicly in mid-2021 after viral Halloween and Christmas maps, and continues expanding features like AI map building and CRM integrations.[1][2][3]

Origin Story

Proxi was co-founded in October 2020 by Melinda Haughey, a former geospatial engineer at a U.S. intelligence agency, and Chelsey Roney, her college friend and a serial entrepreneur with prior exits.[2][3] The idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when Haughey created "Map Your Idea," a crowdsourced trick-or-treating map for safe candy shoots in her neighborhood, which went viral as parents sought contactless options.[2][3] Watching families use it on Halloween highlighted its community-building potential, leading to a Christmas lights map that also exploded in popularity.[2] Pivoting from seasonal tools, the duo rebranded to Proxi, joined Techstars, and launched a broader platform in mid-2021 for everyday recommendations, quickly gaining traction with influencers, Seattle's King 5 news, and production companies like Traveling While Black.[2][3]

Core Differentiators

• No-code ease and embeddability: Users build interactive maps in minutes without technical skills, embedding them into social media, websites, apps, or CRMs for seamless sharing and visualization of data like area guides or event passports.[1][3][4][5]
• Visual discovery over lists: Maps show surrounding context (e.g., nearby spots), increasing visit likelihood compared to text addresses, with trusted reviews and crowdsourced info from locals.[2][3]
• Analytics and monetization: Provides metrics for influencers partnering with brands, plus referral credits and AI integrations for advanced use cases.[2][4]
• Community and viral roots: Built on proven traction from holiday maps, now powering influencers, events, and businesses with a focus on fun, themed, personal navigation.[1][2][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Proxi rides the wave of location-based social discovery and geospatial tech resurgence, amplified by post-pandemic demand for hyper-local, visual recommendations amid influencer marketing's rise and AR/VR mapping trends.[2][3] Timing aligns with remote work and urban exploration rebounds, where consumers favor authentic, map-driven guides over algorithmic feeds from giants like Google Maps.[2] Market forces like no-code tools' explosion and data visualization needs favor Proxi, especially as businesses seek embeddable analytics without heavy engineering.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by empowering creators to own their location data, challenging listicles, and enabling niche communities (e.g., foodies, events) to build immersive experiences that boost physical visits and local economies.[2][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Proxi is poised to scale as a go-to for interactive mapping in creator economies and local marketing, with plans for key hires, denser growth in Seattle and Austin, consumer app exploration, and deeper integrations like AI builders.[3][4] Trends like geospatial AI, Web3 location data, and immersive mobile guides will shape its path, potentially expanding to enterprise activations or global virality. Its influence may evolve from viral novelty to essential infrastructure for community-driven discovery, much like its Halloween map sparked a movement—connecting people through personalized worlds on a map.