Picture this: You’re at a career fair, farmers market, or community event with hundreds of booths. Endless rows of vendors, multiple pathways, and only a couple of hours. How do you know where to start? Where is that one booth you’ve been looking forward to visiting? That is where FairMapr comes in.
FairMapr is a digital mapping tool designed to help event organizers provide accurate, real-time information for vendors and attendees at any event, any size. Ryan Thompson, the company Founder and CEO, came up with the idea after witnessing the many challenges and complicated process in planning at Michigan Tech’s annual Career Fair. Each fall, MTU hosts hundreds of companies across various spaces within the Student Development Complex (SDC). Coordinating an event of this size and magnitude creates significant logistical challenges for the event organizers. At the same time, it also creates a large, overwhelming environment for both organizers and attendees to navigate.
“We heard from students that they were overwhelmed by the number of employers at the Career Fair and it was a struggle trying to figure out where they were located across 3 separate spaces. That is when I knew it was time to come up with a better solution than a printed piece of paper.”
FairMapr was born out of necessity for a more efficient and accessible way to navigate these types of events. Rather than using printed maps, which can’t be changed once printed and quickly become outdated, the platform provides a digital layout of the event with specific vendor locations. The tool can be updated in real-time, so if a vendor is a no-show or relocates their booth, instant updates can be made to reflect those adjustments. Attendees can easily access the map on any mobile device, no app required. Since its debut in the 2025 fall recruiting season, students were able to use FairMapr to maximize their time talking to companies, rather than searching for them.
This tool can do more than just provide assistance in career fair settings. Since using FairMapr at the MTU Career Fair, Thompson has expanded into other offerings. This platform has plans to be used at farmers markets, festivals, community events, and more.
“I realized early on that career fairs were not the only use case for FairMapr. Working through the SmartStart program helped me to realize there are many more events that could use a tool like this. The 2026 MakerFest hosted at Houghton High School was a great example of a local STEM focused event that we were able to partner with for a custom interactive map.”
Beyond improving the overall event experience, the platform aligns well with the younger, “tech-savvy” generations who are used to navigating through digital tools rather than paper maps. In addition, FairMapr reduces the need for printed materials, which allows for a more environmentally friendly alternative. “My main goal was to create a tool that not only helped event organizers, but also elevated the attendee experience. We are working on expanding into multiple universities to continue supporting students in their career journey along with partnering with regional festivals to continue improving their guest experience.”
So, next time you find yourself feeling lost at an event, think about all that FairMapr could do for you. Whether you’re navigating a career fair, exploring an unfamiliar venue, or checking out this season’s farmers market. You can spend less time searching, and more time enjoying the event.
###
To learn more about FairMapr, visit their website here.