Popworld
Popworld (尋獵科技有限公司) is a Taiwan-headquartered AR/LBS platform offering no-code reality puzzle games and GPS/Beacon-triggered smart audio guides for consumer players, enterprises, government tourism boards, museums, and educational institutions across multiple Asian markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersTaipei, Taiwan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Popworld does
Popworld (尋獵科技有限公司, Xunlie Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Taiwan-headquartered, privately held company that operates what it describes as the largest Chinese-language reality puzzle game and smart audio-guide platform in Taiwan. Founded in 2015 (originally as 蹦世界數位創意, rebranded to Popworld in 2023), the company combines augmented reality (AR), GPS-based location services, Bluetooth Beacon indoor positioning, QR-code scanning, an interactive event-trigger and branching-narrative storytelling engine, and real-time multiplayer interaction into a mobile and web platform serving both consumer players and institutional clients. The platform supports six languages (Traditional/Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Bahasa Melayu, with French also present), holds ten granted invention patents (five Taiwan, three US, two China) covering core AR/LBS mechanics, and is certified to ISO/IEC 27001 and the Mobile Application Security Alliance MAS Label.
The company monetizes through four revenue streams. Consumer-facing revenue comes from one-time purchases of individual reality games and smart guides (priced per game, with tiered 2-6 person packages for physical box sets), optional Pop Points virtual currency that can offset up to 50% of game pricing or purchase avatar items, and tier-bonus promotions. Institutional revenue comes from a commercial-use license (applied for via form, unlocking extended content limits and advanced features) and quote-based custom development for corporate team-building events, Family Day activities, museum and cultural-heritage deployments, and government tourism-promotion projects. Non-commercial personal and educational use of the creation backend remains free, producing a freemium flywheel. The platform hosts 6,536+ games and 3,328+ smart guides from 3,000+ creators and has surpassed 100K Google Play downloads; the company's 2026 cadence added PopChoo (a standalone real-time multiplayer Q&A platform), an AI Assistant for creator text/image generation, avatar wardrobe management, and collaborative editing for up to four co-authors.
Customer segments split across Individual Consumers & Tourist Players (primary), Corporate Clients (primary), Educational Institutions (primary), Government & Public Sector for regional tourism and culture, Cultural & Heritage Institutions, and Content Creators / Indie Developers. Distribution is hybrid: product-led self-serve on web, iOS, and Android app stores for consumers; direct enterprise sales via inquiry forms for custom projects. The company pursues go-to-market through an annual GPA 金蹦獎 (Golden Popworld Award) competition (now in its 8th edition with NT$85,000 in prize money), six-language blog content marketing, and active social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube). The company is founder-led (黃勝宏 / Huang Sheng-Hong credited in game credits), headquartered in Taipei's Songshan District, and has disclosed no institutional funding rounds in the available source material.
Popworld firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Popworld
- Legal name
- 尋獵科技有限公司
- Website
- https://popworld.cc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Popworld (尋獵科技有限公司) is a Taiwan-headquartered AR/LBS platform offering no-code reality puzzle games and GPS/Beacon-triggered smart audio guides for consumer players, enterprises, government tourism boards, museums, and educational institutions across multiple Asian markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Popworld industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Augmented Reality Reality Gaming and Smart Guide Platform
- NAICS
- Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds (BPAMAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mobile/Digital Experiential (AR/VR, Interactive Installations) (MPAAAGAI), Digital Game Distribution Platforms & Storefronts (PC/Mobile/Console) (MPAFABAB)
Keywords
Where Popworld is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Taipei
- HQ country
- Taiwan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Popworld business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game & Guide Content Sales: Individual users purchase access to reality games and smart guides on a one-time purchase basis. Games are sold per person (e.g., 2-person, 4-person packages for physical box sets; digital access codes for app/web games). Select games are free; most premium titles are paid.
- Commercial Licensing & Custom Development: Enterprise clients (corporations, government agencies, cultural institutions) pay for commercial licensing and custom-designed reality game experiences for Team Building, Family Day events, branded promotions, and cultural/tourism guides. Pricing is quote-based, tailored to project scope.
- Platform Fee for Commercial Use: Non-commercial use of the platform is free. Commercial use of the platform requires applying for a commercial license via a dedicated form, unlocking extended content limits and advanced features.
- Virtual Currency (Pop Points): Platform-wide virtual currency system. Users purchase Pop Points (with bonus tiers up to 50% extra) that can be redeemed to offset up to 50% of game purchase prices or for avatar costume items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Platform Access (Non-commercial) |
| Subscription | Others | Commercial License |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Game/Guide Purchases |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Development (Enterprise) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Pop Points (Virtual Currency) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Popworld product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Popworld operates a mobile and web platform that aggregates AR-based reality puzzle games and smart audio/video-guided tours. Users navigate real-world locations via GPS and Bluetooth Beacon to play games, collect stamps, and consume AR-enriched content, while a no-code creation backend lets anyone publish games and guides. The company also delivers custom enterprise reality-game experiences for corporate Team Building, government tourism, and cultural-heritage institutions, plus the PopChoo real-time Q&A platform.
Product overview
Popworld is a mobile-first open platform combining AR (augmented reality), LBS (location-based services), and GPS technologies to deliver two core offerings: reality puzzle games (實境解謎遊戲) and smart audio-guided tours (智慧導覽). The platform functions as both a marketplace — where creators publish games and guides for players to purchase or access for free — and a self-service creation tool allowing anyone to build new content without coding. Core platform components include the Popworld mobile app (available on iOS and Android), the creator backend (supporting both APP and web-based editing modes), Pop Points (a virtual currency for in-platform purchases), and the Pop Choo real-time Q&A product. Recent AI-powered additions include an AI Assistant for creator text/image generation and a collaborative editing feature supporting up to 4 simultaneous editors. The GPA (Golden Popworld Award) annual competition, enterprise Team Building services, and cultural accessibility offerings round out the broader product ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PopChoo: Multi-player real-time Q&A interaction platform launched June 2026, enabling interactive quiz activities for events, classrooms, and team competitions.
Products and services
- Popworld Platform (reality games and smart guides) Mobile and web AR/LBS platform — described as Taiwan's largest reality puzzle game and smart guide platform — where players use smartphones to navigate real-world locations, solve puzzles, collect stamps, and access auto-triggered audio, text, image, and AR content at points of interest; creators use a no-code backend to design and publish games and guides without programming.
- PopChoo (multi-player real-time Q&A platform) Standalone real-time multi-player Q&A platform accessible at popchoo.com; supports synchronized answer rounds, cross-device flows (computer host, mobile players), and intuitive editing tools for use in events, classrooms, and team competitions.
- Corporate Team Building and Family Day Service Custom reality-game design services for enterprises that integrate company culture, training content, and ESG themes into Team Building, Family Day, and branded marketing activities; offers customizable puzzles, flexible indoor/outdoor location setups, multiple game modes (competitive scoring, cooperative, individual), and project-based scoping via dedicated inquiry form.
- Smart Guide Service (location-aware guided tours) Enterprise smart-guide service for museums, parks, cultural-heritage institutions, and tourism boards using GPS and Bluetooth Beacon auto-trigger to present audio, text, images, and AR content when visitors approach exhibits or attractions; includes cloud-based content management and big-data analytics.
- Cultural Accessibility Services Accessibility-focused service tier offering audio narration with directional guidance for visually impaired users, sign language videos for deaf users, and web-based access for mobility-limited users — eliminating the need to borrow dedicated equipment by using the visitor's own device.
Quantifiable outcome
- Platform hosts 6,536 reality games and 3,328 smart guides from 3,000+ creators
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Popworld
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Popworld technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
Popworld partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 彰化縣政府 (Changhua County Government)coreChanghua County Government is a content creation partner on Popworld, having published 7 works including the '彰化玩三鐵-糧倉之守' smart guide series. This partnership promotes local tourism through gamified exploration, showcasing how government agencies use the platform to reach visitors.
- 陽明山國家公園 (Yangmingshan National Park)coreYangmingshan National Park created '尋印者-神秘古跡探險', a reality game guide combining trail hiking with AR puzzles. This partnership demonstrates the platform's use case for national park tourism and environmental education.
- 和平島公園 (Heping Island Park)minorCase study partner on Popworld's business page. Uses Popworld's smart guide with Beacon/GPS auto-trigger audio descriptions and AR content to enhance visitor experience at the geological park.
- 聯想國際行銷 (Lenovo International Marketing)minorCase study partner on Popworld's business page. Popworld provided interactive marketing/game solutions, though specific project details are not detailed on the site.
- 新北市立黃金博物館 (New Taipei City Gold Museum)minorCase study partner on Popworld's business page. Popworld created a reality game experience for the museum to enhance cultural heritage visitor engagement.
- 清大特教系黃國晏教授 (Prof. Huang Kuo-yen, Tsinghua University Dept. of Special Education)minorCase study on Popworld's accessibility features (cultural access program). Popworld's audio description and sign language features were applied in an educational context for students with disabilities.
- 謎網工作室 (Puzzle Net Studio)minorIndependent creator studio that has published 3 works on the Popworld platform, including the horror game '一個人的捉迷藏 微恐都市傳說' (221 reviews, 80,745 plays). Represents the platform's creator ecosystem.
- FUNable StudiominorIndependent creator studio that has published multilingual Malacca guides (Korean, Japanese, Malay, English) on the Popworld platform, serving international audiences.
- Third-party Payment ProcessorscoreThird-party payment processing services handle financial transactions on the platform. The privacy policy notes that actual credit card data is processed by third-party payment services and is not stored by Popworld.
- Google MapscoreGoogle Maps is available as a mapping option in the creation platform, allowing creators to build guides and games with familiar Google Maps navigation. Custom maps are also supported.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Popworld competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Niantic: Developer of Pokémon GO, Ingress, and Pikmin Bloom, the global benchmark for AR + GPS location-based mobile games. Directly comparable to Popworld on AR/LBS gameplay mechanics and mobile app distribution, but at vastly larger global scale and with major IP backing.
Direct peers
- Actionbound: No-code platform for creating interactive scavenger hunts, QR-based missions, and team-building games using smartphones. Closely comparable to Popworld's creator backend, location-trigger mechanics, and target use cases (team building, education, tourism).
- Questo: City exploration game and self-guided tour app with creator economy for outdoor puzzle experiences at tourist attractions. Directly comparable to Popworld's reality games + smart guides model and creator monetization flow.
- Geocaching: Long-standing location-based GPS game with global community finding hidden caches outdoors. Comparable to Popworld on location-triggered gameplay mechanics, though lacking Popworld's AR layer and no-code creator backend.
- Munzee: Location-based game platform where players scan QR codes at real-world locations, supporting both physical and virtual munzees. Comparable on location/QR gameplay mechanics and on the marketplace model for creator-submitted content.
- GooseChase: Mobile scavenger hunt and team-building platform for corporate events, schools, and tourism. Comparable to Popworld's enterprise Team Building offering, event-based mission design, and multi-player gameplay model.
- Surprize: Location-based AR gaming and scavenger hunt platform emphasizing branded experiences and city exploration. Comparable to Popworld on AR + LBS mechanics and B2B marketing/team-building positioning.
Emerging players
- Kahoot!: Game-based learning and real-time quiz platform widely used in classrooms, corporate training, and events. Closely comparable to PopChoo's multi-player Q&A use cases and to Popworld's education/corporate-training segment, though not AR/LBS-based.
- Storied: Heritage and cultural-tourism app offering self-guided, location-aware stories and AR-enhanced tours at museums and historic sites. Comparable to Popworld's Smart Guide service and to its museum/cultural-heritage government customers.
Others
- Kontakt.io: Bluetooth Beacon hardware and indoor-positioning infrastructure provider used in museums, airports, and venues. Comparable as an enabling technology layer for Popworld's Beacon-based indoor smart guides, though Kontakt.io is a supplier rather than a content competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Popworld social profiles
Digital presencePopworld compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Popworld financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Popworld leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Popworld funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Popworld 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 Popworld
What does Popworld do?
Popworld operates a mobile and web platform that aggregates AR-based reality puzzle games and smart audio/video-guided tours. Users navigate real-world locations via GPS and Bluetooth Beacon to play games, collect stamps, and consume AR-enriched content, while a no-code creation backend lets anyone publish games and guides. The company also delivers custom enterprise reality-game experiences for corporate Team Building, government tourism, and cultural-heritage institutions, plus the PopChoo real-time Q&A platform.
Is Popworld a public or private company?
Popworld is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Popworld founded?
Popworld was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Popworld based?
Popworld is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, in the Asia region.
How does Popworld make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Game & Guide Content Sales are the primary driver. The others are commercial Licensing & Custom Development, platform Fee for Commercial Use and virtual Currency (Pop Points).
Who are Popworld's main competitors?
Niantic is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Actionbound, Questo, Geocaching, Munzee, GooseChase and Surprize. Emerging players are Kahoot! and Storied. Kontakt.io is listed as an others.
Does Popworld have an API?
No public API is recorded for Popworld.
What industry is Popworld in?
Popworld's product category is Augmented Reality Reality Gaming and Smart Guide Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAKAF, Metaverse & Social Virtual Worlds, with a secondary code of MPAAAGAI, Mobile/Digital Experiential (AR/VR, Interactive Installations). Its NAICS code is 7131 and its SIC code is 7900.