Orbify.eu pitches warped Inception-style 3D maps for navigation

Norwegian startup Orbify.eu, founded by Karsten Huitfeldt, is developing an innovative 3D map navigation system that bends rendered map scenes into a warped, dream-like perspective reminiscent of Christopher Nolan's movie Inception. The company's geospatial software folds a 3D map model onto a curved surface, combining a near-field street-level perspective that transitions into an overhead view at a distance.

Huitfeldt, previously an architect and project manager at Snøhetta, co-founded Orbify to improve navigational interfaces. The startup, distinct from another Oslo-based company named Orbify.ai, has secured initial funding from Innovation Norway and Norges forskningsråd. Orbify is currently developing an image processing system, protected by a pending EU patent (PCT/EP2026/058725), which covers the specific bending algorithm, shader, and camera setup used in the effect.

The core technology is functional and can be demonstrated publicly, but its effectiveness in improving navigation is still being evaluated. Orbify aims to offer its software as an SDK layer that integrates with existing 3D mapping and navigation systems, rather than creating a new mapping ecosystem. The company's ultimate goal is to provide users with a seamless, unified, and continuous design language that enhances their understanding and navigation of their surroundings.