Professional Role and Company Overview
Will Clausen is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cartogram, Inc., a Seattle-based software and venue technology company specializing in indoor and outdoor wayfinding solutions primarily for the healthcare industry. Cartogram’s platform enables hospitals to provide patients, staff, and visitors with accurate, real-time navigation from any location to any destination within healthcare facilities, including across indoor and outdoor environments. The company utilizes live interactive maps that integrate with existing healthcare systems, extending beyond conventional mapping solutions offered by large providers such as Google Maps by delivering a more granular and custom mapping technology.
Professional Background
- Education: University of Kansas
- Location: Based in Bellevue/Renton, Washington metropolitan area.
- Clausen graduated circa 2009 (University of Kansas, as indicated by alumni references) and has since founded Cartogram.
Company and Funding Highlights
- Founded in 2013, Cartogram has focused on indoor location technology with a healthcare vertical emphasis.
- The company raised an initial round of approximately $326,000 in angel funding in August 2015, including investment from notable figures such as the Cyanogen founder.
- By 2018, Cartogram had accumulated total funding of $1.8 million, indicating growth and continued investor interest.
- Cartogram’s business model is SaaS-based, providing navigation software as a service tailored to healthcare venues, with offerings that include map content creation, deployment of hardware for real-time positioning, and integration into hospital IT infrastructure.
Key Technologies and Intellectual Property
- Clausen has been instrumental in developing patented technology related to mapping and navigation systems. His patented innovations include “systems and methods for mapping and navigation” that emphasize enhanced granularity and user customization in indoor mapping environments.
- Patents issued to Cartogram under Clausen’s name include:
- US Patent No. 10,451,423, issued October 22, 2019, covering mobile mapping and navigation technologies.
- Cartogram also employs novel delivery mechanisms such as an SMS Chatbot service to provide accessible wayfinding options.
- Clausen’s technical leadership is a core strategic asset, driving proprietary advancements that differentiate Cartogram’s platform from larger generic mapping providers.
Market Position and Competitive Differentiation
- Cartogram positions itself as providing “Google Maps on steroids” for indoor environments, offering maps that are interactive, searchable, and closely integrated with venue-specific data.
- The company emphasizes its healthcare specialization, enabling efficient patient and staff navigation within complex hospital campuses, which often present challenges for visitors unfamiliar with sprawling multi-building layouts.
- Clausen notes that Cartogram’s technology provides a customizable experience tailored to the client’s facility needs, including multi-building and multi-floor navigation, a feature less mature in broad market solutions.
Relevant Experience and Skills
- Clausen combines strong technical expertise with entrepreneurial leadership, managing both product innovation and business growth.
- He has successfully led Cartogram through multiple funding rounds and has driven the development of critical intellectual property assets protecting the company’s technological edge.
- His leadership is supported by deep domain knowledge in geospatial technology and digital cartography, aligned with practical application in healthcare wayfinding.
Public and Industry Visibility
- Clausen and Cartogram have been covered in technology and business publications including GeekWire and the Puget Sound Business Journal, underscoring recognition in the regional tech startup ecosystem.
- Cartogram maintains an online presence with examples of its technology applied in real venues such as PRO Sports Club (Bellevue), hospital campuses, and other commercial sites requiring indoor navigation aids.
In summary, Will Clausen is a technically proficient entrepreneur leading Cartogram, Inc., a pioneering company in the healthcare indoor wayfinding market. His role embraces both technological development and strategic business growth, supported by patented innovations and sustained investor funding. The company’s specialized and granular mapping capabilities, combined with a SaaS delivery model, position Cartogram as a focused and innovative player within the healthcare navigation technology segment.
