Smart Outdoor
Smart Outdoor Inc. installs smart trail signage and GPS-located QR mile markers on municipal trail systems at zero cost, funded by sponsorship advertising. It serves county parks departments and trail nonprofits with CAD 911 emergency integration and a Trail Eyes mobile safety app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersCarmel, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Smart Outdoor does
Smart Outdoor Inc., founded in 2018 and headquartered in Carmel, New York, is a US public-safety infrastructure company that designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains smart trail signage and GPS-located quarter-mile markers on municipal trail systems at zero cost to the operating entity. Its core technology combines weather-resistant physical signage, GPS-located mile markers uploaded to county emergency CAD 911 dispatch systems for rapid first-responder location, and a mobile-first QR platform that delivers trail maps, weather, local business directories, events, and emergency contacts. The company's flagship consumer product is the Trail Eyes mobile app (launched 2026), which provides real-time GPS trail mapping, exact position tracking, route safety ratings, and one-tap SOS support integrated with the same CAD 911 system.
The business model is sponsor-funded advertising: municipalities (e.g., Westchester County Parks, Bronx River Parkway Trail, San Ramon Trail) receive turnkey infrastructure at no cost, while local businesses and national brands purchase sponsorship placements across physical signage (mile markers, trailhead signs, bike fix stations, stretch stations, water stations), geo-targeted digital ads on the QR platform, full-trail branding packages, and tiered placements within the Trail Eyes app. Revenue is split with municipalities for trail maintenance. Sales are direct to county and municipal parks departments via presentations to legislators and multi-year contracts (typically 5 years), supplemented by an outbound partnership channel through American Trails and a sponsorship sales capability co-developed with Liquid Outdoor Media. Customers span municipal parks departments (primary), trail foundations and friends-of groups (primary), local business sponsors (secondary), and national brand sponsors (secondary). Key risks include customer concentration in a small number of county relationships, dependence on sponsor fill rates for revenue, and limited disclosed operating scale (11-50 employees, 54+ miles installed across three trail systems in two states).
Smart Outdoor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smart Outdoor
- Legal name
- Smart Outdoor Inc.
- Website
- https://smartoutdoorinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smart Outdoor Inc. installs smart trail signage and GPS-located QR mile markers on municipal trail systems at zero cost, funded by sponsorship advertising. It serves county parks departments and trail nonprofits with CAD 911 emergency integration and a Trail Eyes mobile safety app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smart Outdoor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Safety Signage
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (54132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure (Crosswalks, Refuge Islands, Ped Signals, Sidewalk Safety Treatments) (TLAJAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Indoor Mapping & Wayfinding Platforms (BPAMANAG)
Keywords
Where Smart Outdoor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carmel
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Smart Outdoor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trail Sign Sponsorship: Local and national sponsors are featured on physical trail signage (mile markers, trailhead signs, bike fix stations, water stations). Only one sponsor per sign for maximum visibility. Revenue is shared with municipalities for trail maintenance.
- Digital Platform Advertising: Geo-targeted digital sponsorship on the mobile QR code platform. Multiple ad sizes (320x50, 320x100, 320x250 px) available. Monthly scan analytics reporting provided to sponsors. Location-based targeting tied to specific QR code locations.
- Full Trail Sponsorship: Complete digital platform branding across all QR codes on a trail. Custom analytics dashboard, co-branded trail presence, priority access for new trail launches, and dedicated account management for national brands.
- App-Based Advertising (Trail Eyes): Strategic ad placements within the Trail Eyes mobile app including map pins, sponsored trails, overview screens, post-walk screens, and safety screen branding. Four partnership tiers from local businesses to national chains.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Zero cost to municipalities - all expenses covered through sponsorship model |
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital Sponsor - Geo-targeted QR code sponsorship for local businesses |
| Subscription | Annual | Trail Sign Sponsor - Exclusive physical placement on trail signage |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Trail Sponsor - Complete digital platform sponsorship for national brands |
| Subscription | Annual | TrailEyes Premium Partnership - Maximum exposure for national chains |
| Subscription | Annual | TrailEyes Delight Partnership - Targeted promotions on specific trails |
| Subscription | Annual | TrailSpot Elite Partnership - Deeper engagement on popular trails |
| Subscription | Annual | TrailSpot Pro Partnership - Local business visibility |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Smart Outdoor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smart Outdoor designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains GPS-located smart trail signage and QR-connected mile markers for municipal and county trail systems. The turnkey solution integrates physical safety infrastructure (GPS markers uploaded to county CAD 911 systems) with a digital trail platform accessible via QR codes, plus the Trail Eyes consumer mobile app. The entire infrastructure is delivered at zero cost to municipalities, funded through multi-tier sponsorship sales to local businesses and national brands.
Product overview
Smart Outdoor Inc. operates as a single unified smart trail infrastructure platform with a sponsor-funded business model. The core offering consists of physical smart trail signage, GPS mile markers, and a QR-connected digital platform that connects trail users to maps, weather, local businesses, and emergency services. The product portfolio includes three sponsorship tiers (Digital Sponsor, Trail Sign Sponsor, Full Trail Sponsor) and the Trail Eyes mobile app (a sub-brand). Trail Analytics provides real-time usage and ROI data for sponsors. The entire system is provided at zero cost to municipalities, funded entirely through sponsorship advertising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Smart Trail Signage High-quality, weather-resistant trailhead and access point signs featuring trail rules, maps, and local branding; designed for durability and sponsor integration. Sold to municipal and county parks departments as part of the turnkey trail enhancement solution.
- GPS Mile Markers Precisely placed quarter-mile markers that are GPS-located and uploaded to county emergency CAD 911 systems, enabling first responders to pinpoint trail users in need of rapid assistance. Deployed across municipal and county trail systems.
- QR Trail Platform Mobile-first digital platform accessed via QR codes on trail markers, providing trail users with trail maps, weather, nearby businesses, restrooms, events, and emergency contacts. Sold to municipalities as part of the smart trail solution and monetized through geo-targeted sponsorship placements.
- Trail Eyes Mobile App Free consumer mobile app providing outdoor enthusiasts with real-time GPS trail maps, exact position tracking, route safety ratings, hazard alerts, and one-tap SOS emergency support integrated with Smart Outdoor's CAD 911 system. Available on App Store and Google Play.
- Trail Signage Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program that funds the design, fabrication, installation, and long-term maintenance of Smart Outdoor's trail signage and GPS mile markers. Local businesses and national brands purchase exclusive single-sponsor placements on mile markers, trailhead signs, bike fix stations, stretch stations, and water stations; revenue is shared with municipalities for trail maintenance. Sold to local and national sponsors to underwrite the zero-cost municipal model.
- Digital Trail Sponsorship Program Geo-targeted digital sponsorship offering across the QR Trail Platform, with location-based targeting tied to specific QR code locations and multiple ad sizes. Includes monthly scan analytics reporting. National brand full-trail packages add custom analytics dashboards, co-branded trail presence, priority access for new trail launches, and dedicated account management. Sold to local businesses and national brands seeking digital advertising reach.
- TrailEyes App Sponsorship Program Strategic ad placements within the Trail Eyes mobile app including map pins, sponsored trails, overview screens, post-walk screens, and safety screen branding. Four partnership tiers range from local business visibility (TrailSpot Pro) to maximum-exposure national chain placements (TrailEyes Premium). Sold to local businesses and national brands seeking in-app engagement with outdoor audiences.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,300 QR code scans in first week after launch on North & South County Trailway
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Smart Outdoor
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Smart Outdoor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Smart Outdoor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.
- Seriös GroupstrategicPartnership between Smart Outdoor and Seriös Group aims to enhance digital advertising through a new data platform. Seriös Group deployed its Seriös ONE AI-powered framework to unify data sources, providing real-time insights and targeted campaign optimization. The collaboration seeks to improve campaign performance, audience understanding, and strategic decision-making.
- Liquid Outdoor MediacoreSmart Outdoor teamed-up with Liquid Outdoor Media, a national media and tech company, to provide a full solution for smart trail implementation and sponsorship. The partnership combines expertise in design, operations, installation, technology, and sponsorship sales to generate significant revenue for municipalities while enhancing trail systems.
- American TrailscoreAmerican Trails officially partnered with Smart Outdoor to bring the smart trail service to other trails around the country that are looking to update their trails with new signs and receive revenue for trail upkeep. American Trails is featured on the smart trail platform and promotes Smart Outdoor through their webinar series.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smart Outdoor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Smart Outdoor social profiles
Digital presenceSmart Outdoor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smart Outdoor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Smart Outdoor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Smart Outdoor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smart Outdoor 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 Smart Outdoor
What does Smart Outdoor do?
Smart Outdoor designs, fabricates, installs, and maintains GPS-located smart trail signage and QR-connected mile markers for municipal and county trail systems. The turnkey solution integrates physical safety infrastructure (GPS markers uploaded to county CAD 911 systems) with a digital trail platform accessible via QR codes, plus the Trail Eyes consumer mobile app. The entire infrastructure is delivered at zero cost to municipalities, funded through multi-tier sponsorship sales to local businesses and national brands.
Is Smart Outdoor a public or private company?
Smart Outdoor is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smart Outdoor founded?
Smart Outdoor was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smart Outdoor based?
Smart Outdoor is headquartered in Carmel, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smart Outdoor make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Trail Sign Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are digital Platform Advertising, full Trail Sponsorship and app-Based Advertising (Trail Eyes).
Does Smart Outdoor have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smart Outdoor.
What industry is Smart Outdoor in?
Smart Outdoor's product category is Public Safety Signage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJAGAE, Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure (Crosswalks, Refuge Islands, Ped Signals, Sidewalk Safety Treatments), with a secondary code of BPAMANAG, Indoor Mapping & Wayfinding Platforms. Its NAICS code is 54132.