Design Indaba 2017

Chris Sheldrick worked in the music business for 10 years, managing production for events around the globe where he was constantly frustrated with bands and suppliers not finding site entrances. He tried distributing addresses and GPS co-ordinates for years but both failed him on numerous occasions – he was certain there was a better way and what3words was born. what3words is a global address system of 57 trillion 3 metre by 3 metre squares, each having been given a unique 3 word address.

Alongside its successful consumer app and website, what3words' technology is integrated in over 100 partner apps and services around the world, available in over 10 languages and scaling rapidly. what3words has won the Grand Prix for Innovation at Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, a D&AD Black Pencil, UK’s most innovative company by PwC and 2 Webby Awards. In 2016 Sheldrick was awarded as the EY British Accelerating Entrepreneur.