Awesome Maps
Awesome Maps is a Berlin-based e-commerce company that designs and sells 19 hand-illustrated, hobby-themed world maps and related lifestyle products (towels, posters, canvases, wood prints, bottles) directly to adventure-travel consumers and gift buyers worldwide via its Shopify storefront and wholesale partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersDüsseldorf, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Awesome Maps does
Awesome Maps GmbH is a Berlin-based, founder-owned e-commerce company that designs and sells illustrated, hobby-themed world maps and related lifestyle products directly to consumers worldwide. Its catalog comprises 19 specialized maps covering activities such as surfing, diving, hiking, climbing, golf, fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and football, each hand-illustrated using traditional pen-and-paper techniques with hundreds of hours of original artwork per map. Products are offered across multiple formats—microfiber towels (OEKO-TEX 100 certified), FSC-certified matte posters, stretched canvas, framed prints, and birch wood prints—plus an Adventure Bottle launched in 2024. Pricing ranges from approximately $54.90 for posters to $199.90 for wood prints, with seasonal promotional mechanics (Buy 1 Get 2nd 50% Off, Buy 2 Get 1 Free) supporting a transactional gifting positioning.
The company operates on a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront with global shipping from warehouses in Germany, the United States, and Australia, supplemented by a wholesale distribution layer via Faire (Americas and Europe), Ankorstore (Europe), direct wholesale ordering, and regional sales representatives covering Spain and Singapore. Go-to-market is product-led with content marketing through an adventure-focused blog, active organic social presence (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter), a Klaviyo-powered email newsletter, a 15% commission affiliate program, and a Gift Finder quiz for mid-funnel conversion. Customer base spans 53,000-100,000+ cumulative map lovers globally with 7,098 reviews and notable media features in Condé Nast Traveler and Lonely Planet. Founded in 2010 by Simon Schütz, the company is bootstrapped with $40,000 in disclosed funding from Start-Up Chile in 2012, and operates as a lean remote team of 1-10 employees.
Awesome Maps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Awesome Maps
- Legal name
- Awesome Maps GmbH
- Website
- https://awesome-maps.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Awesome Maps is a Berlin-based e-commerce company that designs and sells 19 hand-illustrated, hobby-themed world maps and related lifestyle products (towels, posters, canvases, wood prints, bottles) directly to adventure-travel consumers and gift buyers worldwide via its Shopify storefront and wholesale partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Awesome Maps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Illustrated Maps & Adventure Lifestyle Wall Art
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420)
- SIC
- Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor Navigation, Safety & Survival Gear Retail (CRAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Awesome Maps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Düsseldorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Awesome Maps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Primary revenue stream through own Shopify-powered online store selling directly to consumers worldwide. One-time product purchases with occasional upsells and bundles.
- Wholesale/B2B: Wholesale orders through Faire, Ankorstore, and direct orders to specialty gift shops, travel retailers, and interior decor stores globally.
- Affiliate Program: Commission-based affiliate program offering at least 15% commission to affiliates who promote products via referral links or discount codes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Towel format - $54.90 to $69.90 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Poster format - $54.90 to $59.90 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Stretched Canvas - $159.90 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Framed Poster - $179.90 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wood print - $199.90 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Awesome Maps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Awesome Maps designs, hand-illustrates, produces, and sells 19 themed world maps (and related products such as microfiber towels, Adventure Bottles, and wood prints) targeted at specific hobbies and travel activities including surfing, diving, hiking, climbing, golf, football, fishing, kitesurfing, mountain biking, road trips, running, and winter sports. The maps are hand-drawn in pen and paper and sold across multiple formats (microfiber towel, poster, stretched canvas, framed poster, wood print) to consumers worldwide and to specialty retailers through wholesale channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bucketlist Map Illustrated world map for tracking bucket-list travel destinations and adventures, sold across towel, poster, canvas, framed poster, and wood print formats for individual travel enthusiasts and as a gifting product.
- Dive Map Hand-illustrated world map of 500+ dive spots with detailed icons drawn by hand in pen and paper, sold across towel, poster, canvas, framed, and wood print formats for scuba divers.
- Surftrip Map Hand-illustrated world map of 1,000+ surf spots, the company's original product, sold in towel, poster, canvas, framed, and wood print formats for surfers.
- Football Map (Soccer) Illustrated world map themed around football/soccer stadiums and locations, sold across the standard product formats for football fans and as a gift.
- Climbing Map Hand-illustrated world map themed around bouldering and rock climbing locations, sold in multiple physical formats for climbers.
- Fishing Map Illustrated world map themed around fishing destinations and hotspots, sold in the standard range of formats for anglers.
- Golf Map Hand-illustrated world map of golf courses used by golfers as a bucket list, sold across towel, poster, canvas, framed, and wood print formats.
- Hiking Map Illustrated world map of hiking trails for outdoor hikers, sold in the standard range of physical formats.
- Kitesurf Map Illustrated world map themed around kitesurfing spots, sold in multiple physical formats for kitesurfers.
- Little Explorers Map Illustrated kids' world map for young explorers, sold across the standard product formats for families and as a children's gift.
- Mountain Bike Map Illustrated world map themed around mountain biking trails, sold in the standard range of physical formats for mountain bikers.
- Road Trip Map Illustrated world map themed around road trips and vanlife destinations, sold in multiple physical formats for road-trippers and vanlife enthusiasts.
- Running Map Illustrated world map themed around marathon running routes and races, sold in the standard range of physical formats for runners.
- Snowtrip Map Illustrated world map themed around winter sports and snow destinations, sold in multiple physical formats for skiers, snowboarders, and snowtrip travelers.
- Microfiber Map Towels (Quick-Dry Beach Towels) 155x90cm (61"x35") OEKO-TEX 100 certified microfiber towels printed with the company's illustrated maps, designed for use as a quick-dry beach, gym, or travel towel and as decorative wall art when not in use.
- Adventure Bottle Map-themed reusable Adventure Bottle sold under the Adventure Bottles collection, complementing the company's towel and map product range for travelers and adventurers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 53,000+ happy customers worldwide
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Awesome Maps
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Awesome Maps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Awesome Maps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Poster House GroupcoreWholesale partner for interior decor retail. CEO Eduardo Guerra reports strong partnership with dedicated Berlin-based team and exceptional product quality.
- ShinnparkcoreSingapore distributor bringing ideal gifts to customers in Asia. Business Development Director Jennchye Tan notes products perfectly suit their mission of enriching customers' daily lives.
- Laia Lanáquera DonetminorSpain sales representative covering 25+ shops across the country. 2 years with company, reports clear processes and great income source.
- FairecoreWholesale marketplace platform for US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Offers free returns and net 60 payment terms.
- AnkorstorecoreEuropean wholesale marketplace platform with net 60 terms and free shipping. New registrations receive €300 voucher.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Awesome Maps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Desenio: Direct peer in the online poster and art print retail space with global shipping. Comparable in product format (posters, frames), DTC-first model, and similar gifting and home decor buyer demographics.
- Rifle Paper Co. Direct peer as an illustrated lifestyle brand selling prints, stationery, and home decor globally. Comparable illustrated/hand-drawn aesthetic, premium positioning, and gifting focus.
- Maps International: Direct peer selling world maps, wall maps, and printed map products globally through e-commerce. Highly comparable product category (decorative/educational wall maps) targeting similar consumers and gift buyers.
- Bold & Noble: Direct peer producing illustrated art prints and posters, often with map and nature themes. Same e-commerce/DTC motion, similar price points, and overlapping audience of design-conscious gift buyers.
- Hemisphere Maps: Direct peer selling illustrated and stylized world maps as wall art. Comparable in product offering (themed world maps) and target audience (decor-focused consumers, gift buyers, travelers).
- Juniper Print Shop: Direct peer in the illustrated print and poster retail space. Comparable e-commerce motion, product formats (posters, framed prints), and gift-oriented buyer base.
- The Future Mapping Company: Direct peer producing stylized, designer-driven world maps for decor and gift use. Closely comparable in product type (designer/illustrated world maps) and target audience.
Broad incumbents
- Society6: Broader incumbent art and print marketplace selling posters, wall art, and home decor globally. Overlaps on product category (wall art prints) and buyer demographics, but operates a marketplace model rather than a single-brand approach.
- Field Notes Brand: Broader incumbent in the illustrated, design-forward lifestyle/stationery category with strong brand affinity. Comparable in aesthetic positioning and gifting use cases, though focused on notebooks rather than wall art.
Emerging players
- NorthWorking: Emerging peer producing stylized, illustrated wall maps and prints with a similar niche/outdoor aesthetic. Comparable product offering targeting decor and gift buyers, but smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses6 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Awesome Maps social profiles
Digital presenceAwesome Maps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Awesome Maps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Awesome Maps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Awesome Maps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Awesome Maps
What does Awesome Maps do?
Awesome Maps designs, hand-illustrates, produces, and sells 19 themed world maps (and related products such as microfiber towels, Adventure Bottles, and wood prints) targeted at specific hobbies and travel activities including surfing, diving, hiking, climbing, golf, football, fishing, kitesurfing, mountain biking, road trips, running, and winter sports. The maps are hand-drawn in pen and paper and sold across multiple formats (microfiber towel, poster, stretched canvas, framed poster, wood print) to consumers worldwide and to specialty retailers through wholesale channels.
Is Awesome Maps a public or private company?
Awesome Maps is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Awesome Maps founded?
Awesome Maps was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Awesome Maps based?
Awesome Maps is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Awesome Maps make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are wholesale/B2B and affiliate Program.
Who are Awesome Maps's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Desenio, Rifle Paper Co., Maps International, Bold & Noble, Hemisphere Maps, Juniper Print Shop and The Future Mapping Company. Broad incumbents are Society6 and Field Notes Brand. NorthWorking is listed as an emerging player.
Does Awesome Maps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Awesome Maps.
What industry is Awesome Maps in?
Awesome Maps's product category is Illustrated Maps & Adventure Lifestyle Wall Art. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAAAE, Outdoor Navigation, Safety & Survival Gear Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAAAI, Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail. Its NAICS code is 459420 and its SIC code is 3960.