GPS has become an indispensable backbone of the global economy, guiding billions of devices daily. Yet from the start, it has suffered a critical weakness: it performs remarkably well outdoors but fails completely indoors, as building materials block satellite signals. This limitation has long created a blind spot for logistics, industrial operations, and emergency services.
French startup WHEERE is tackling this challenge head-on with a satellite-based indoor positioning system. The company has just raised €8.5 million in a funding round to bring its orbital indoor localization technology to deployment. WHEERE’s solution uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites purpose-built to deliver precise location data even inside warehouses, factories, and other structures where traditional GPS is unavailable.
The funding will accelerate the launch of WHEERE’s first satellites and support the commercial rollout of its service. By moving the reference points from terrestrial beacons to space, the system avoids costly on-site infrastructure while promising centimetre-level accuracy. The technology targets a broad range of applications, from automated guided vehicles in manufacturing to asset tracking in supply chains and enhanced 911 caller location. With this capital, WHEERE aims to close a fundamental gap in global navigation infrastructure.