Building Spatial Intelligence for Emergency Response

In 2009, I co-founded TacPlans — a spatial intelligence startup focused on emergency response. The idea was simple: give first responders better situational awareness through real-time spatial data.

The Rugby World Cup

Our breakthrough came when we secured contracts with the New Zealand Government, Police, and Military for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The event brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to New Zealand, and security coordination across multiple venues and cities was a massive challenge.

We built spatial intelligence tools that gave command centers real-time visibility across all venues. We pioneered a 360-degree camera rig for immersive site surveys, managed the product research and strategic roadmap, and directed the full software development lifecycle.

The Startup Lesson

TacPlans taught me that solving real problems for serious customers — government, military, law enforcement — requires a different kind of product discipline. The stakes are higher, the requirements are stricter, and the feedback loops are longer. But when you get it right, the impact is profound.

This experience set the stage for everything that came next: moving to the US, scaling Intergen, and eventually co-founding Aware Group.