Written by: Claartje Vogel – In collaboration with MT/Sprout
Using smart, nearly invisible technology, entrepreneurs Victor van Dinten and Lukas van Delft help people find their way in complex environments such as hospitals and train stations. In just three years, they have already made a significant impact through partnerships with Prorail and Amsterdam UMC.
Becoming world-famous isn’t exactly a priority for Victor van Dinten (43) and Lukas van Delft (54). In fact, their software is considered a success if users barely notice it exists. “The best compliment I ever received was from a blind user: ‘Your software helps me at exactly the right moment, just like my guide dog. I don’t have to think about it,’” says Van Dinten.
Their startup is called naext, which stands for “naturally extended.” Their mission: to help people find their way anywhere effortlessly and without stress. The focus is on complex environments such as hospitals, train stations, or large public buildings—places that are difficult to map and where traditional navigation often falls short. Especially for people who need extra support, such as those with visual impairments or autism, this makes the difference between getting lost and finding their way independently.
But to make an impact, you have to get your product out there. naext has been around for three years now and works with major organizations such as ProRail and Amsterdam UMC. More clients will be joining them soon. What are the secrets to their success?
A long-standing partnership
First of all, the two business partners work very well together. They share a common mission and have a clear division of responsibilities: Van Delft is the builder, while Van Dinten markets the product and seeks out investors.
They met over twenty years ago at Imtech ICT. They worked together there for ten years and later ran into each other again at HERE Technologies, a company known for digital maps and navigation technology. There, they focused on indoor navigation within buildings, particularly parking garages.
The idea behind the technology
“Parking garages, train stations, and hospitals pose a significant challenge for navigation system developers,” says Van Dinten. “These are places where GPS and Wi-Fi often don’t work and where the surroundings are constantly changing. As a result, people regularly get lost in these kinds of environments.”
Van Delft came up with the idea of using computer vision to help cars navigate through garages. Using what’s known as spatial computing, they combine elements of virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence (AI), and sensor technology. They create virtual 3D maps that help people find their way in the real world. “We got the system down pat, but the project stalled due to the COVID-19 crisis,” he says. “Garages were empty, and partners pulled out. In the meantime, we found inspiration for new applications with greater social impact.”
The team left HERE Technologies and founded naext. “The decision to become entrepreneurs was pretty straightforward—we’re both true entrepreneurs. Fortunately, HERE Technologies was flexible and supported our departure, since we had a different market focus in mind and were developing our own technology,” says Van Delft. “Within six months, we had a working demo. But then came the next challenge: how do you find investors and customers?”
Looking for initial investors
“Since our technology was designed for large buildings, you naturally end up dealing with large organizations,” Van Dinten explains. “Selling something as a startup to those kinds of organizations is difficult and takes a long time. You have to navigate through many layers of management. On top of that, they want to see proof and results, but that’s hard when you’re just starting out. Investors, for their part, are waiting for your first customer to sign on the dotted line.”
Van Delft explains that he eventually raised 200,000 euros to hire people to develop the technology. “Once the first client showed interest, larger funds came into the picture.” That first client was Amsterdam UMC, where there was a clear need for better and more dynamic wayfinding, as visitors and staff were having trouble finding their way around the large hospital. This was soon followed by a proof of concept with the second client: ProRail.
The team is working on integrating the system with existing apps such as Mijn Dossier (Amsterdam UMC) and, in the future, transportation apps like NS or OV9292, so that users won’t have to download a separate app. “Did you know that many older patients go to the hospital a day early to familiarize themselves with the surroundings and the route?” says Van Delft. “We discovered that people with autism or older adults, for example, often do this. With our technology, they can familiarize themselves with the route at home, which reduces stress and boosts their confidence when they set out.”
Focus on two markets
The entrepreneurs are initially targeting two markets: healthcare and public transportation. In hospitals, they aim to provide navigation solutions that assist both patients and staff. In public transportation, the focus is on accessibility, particularly for people with visual impairments.
“Our technology has a wide range of applications, but we’ve decided to focus on these two markets first,” says Van Dinten. “If we can demonstrate how it works in these sectors, it will be easier for us to expand into other markets later on. Think, for example, of trade shows or complex factory floors.”
Teamwork
The naext team now consists of six employees. They work from various locations: sometimes from home, sometimes in Eindhoven, and a few days a week they meet in Amsterdam.
“It’s an inspiring location where we feel right at home,” says Van Delft. “As a hybrid team, we work together on naext several days a week. That means the atmosphere and facilities have to be just right. We’ve been working here for a year now, and we’re really happy with it. Even as our team continues to grow, there’s plenty of room for that.”
Results, not marketing
In September 2024, they completed an investment round of 800,000 euros to further develop their technology and better serve their customers. They are currently working with two funds that continue to support them. “To get customers and investors excited, we need to show results,” says Van Dinten. “Together with our customers, we’re going to demonstrate that we can make Dutch public transportation and hospitals more accessible. We don’t have our own apps or marketing campaigns, but we’re growing by making a real impact.”
“Don’t think for your user”
The entrepreneurs are gradually discovering what is needed. They build on the same software but develop specific features for each environment. “We’ve learned that you shouldn’t try to understand a target audience that you aren’t part of yourself,” says Van Dinten.
For example, they had devised a technique to prevent blind people from bumping into things. “But a user test showed that they didn’t need that at all—they already have their cane and their guide dog for that,” he explains. “What did they need? To be able to spontaneously grab a cup of coffee at the Kiosk on their own. If our technology can assist them with that, we’re really helping them move forward.”
