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Chipolo
Techstars '19Trvoblje, SI · Founded 2013 · 43 employees on LinkedIn · 1 known investors
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Chipolo makes Bluetooth trackers that help users locate lost items through Apple Find My or Google Find Hub. The company produces hardware with recycled materials from its European headquarters.
Also known as Chipolo d.o.o. · CHIPOLO, d.o.o. · Geatronik
Founders & leadership
Chipolo was founded in 2013 by Primož Zelenšek.
Investors · 1
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · funding news · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
Company profile
researched Sep 2026Chipolo (legal entity Chipolo d.o.o., based at Gabrsko 12, Trbovlje, Slovenia) designs and manufactures Bluetooth tracking tags used to locate keys, wallets, bags and phones. Its current lineup consists of three universally compatible trackers launched in 2025: POP (replaceable CR2032 battery, roughly 120 dB, Bluetooth range up to 90 m, IP55, six colors), LOOP (USB-C rechargeable, roughly 125 dB, range up to 120 m, IP67) and CARD (Qi wireless rechargeable, roughly 110 dB, range up to 120 m, IP67, charcoal). Each tracker pairs with one finding network at a time — Apple Find My on iPhones (iOS 14.5 or later) or Google's Find Hub on Android (Android 9 or later with Google Play Services) — because the two networks are not simultaneously compatible. A free Chipolo companion app for iOS and Android adds features such as Call Your Phone (double-press the tracker to ring a silenced phone), ringtone customization, a remote camera shutter, widget ringing and Out of Range Alerts.
Earlier and legacy products remain supported, including Chipolo ONE and CARD (pre-2025) that work through the Chipolo app, Chipolo ONE Spot and CARD Spot for Apple Find My, and Chipolo ONE Point and CARD Point for Google's network. Chipolo ONE specifications include 120 dB sound, 60 m Bluetooth range, IPX5 splash resistance, up to two years of battery life on a replaceable CR2032 cell, and voice control via Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The company also supplies tracker hardware to partner brands, with Ekster-branded Tracker Card and Key Tracker products covered in Chipolo's support documentation.
Chipolo states that its products are made at its European headquarters and contain around 50% recycled materials. It sells through its own online store with regionalized storefronts, a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year warranty, and runs collaborations with other brands, including a Mercedes-Benz Edition LOOP and a trackable Miniwallet co-created with Secrid.
Founding story
Seven engineer friends in Trbovlje, Slovenia had a Saturday ritual of pizza, beers and brainstorming project ideas, repeatedly delayed by one friend who could not leave home without misplacing his keys or phone. While intending to work on a board game app in 2013, they instead sketched out a small device combining hardware and software that could tell the owner where their keys and phone were, which became Chipolo.
Business model
Chipolo designs, manufactures and sells consumer Bluetooth tracking hardware, monetized through one-time device sales via its own regional online stores, bundles (for example CARD & POP and CARD & LOOP sets) and branded collaborations. The companion app and its features are provided free of charge, with no subscription indicated. The company also supplies tracker hardware to partner brands such as Ekster, which sell Chipolo-supported trackers under their own names.
One-time hardware purchases of trackers, bundles and limited or co-branded editions sold through Chipolo's own stores; the companion app and its features are free. Revenue for 2024 is reported as over EUR/USD 3 million in the Slovenian startup register listing.
Traction
The Chipolo Android app has more than 1 million downloads and a 4.5 rating from about 23,600 reviews on Google Play. The company states it helps millions of users find their things more than a decade after founding. Its 2013 Kickstarter campaign raised roughly $297,000 against a $15,000 goal, hit in 17 hours. The Slovenian startup register reports 2024 revenue of over 3 million and recognition as a Slovenian Startup of the Year finalist in 2014 and 2016.
Latest developments
In 2025 Chipolo launched POP, LOOP and CARD, its first lineup of trackers compatible with both the Apple Find My and Google Find Hub networks (one network at a time per device). The Chipolo Android app added support for the new POP, LOOP and CARD models along with an improved onboarding flow. The earlier Chipolo ONE page directs buyers to POP as the latest version, and several catalogue items, including collaboration editions, were listed out of stock.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Listed as a scaleup in the Slovenian startup community register, Chipolo is positioned as an early entrant in Bluetooth item tracking, having launched on Kickstarter in 2013 and joined the Apple Find My and Google Find My Device/Find Hub networks among the first third-party trackers. It differentiates from competitors whose products are made in China by manufacturing in Slovenia. The company says it remains independent and has not taken investor funding.
Chipolo emphasizes independent ownership without outside investors, in-house European manufacturing in Trbovlje rather than production in China, vibrant color options intended to make items easier to spot, roughly 50% recycled material content, and free companion-app features (Call Your Phone, Out of Range Alerts, ringtone changes, selfie shutter) layered on top of the Apple and Google finding networks.
Technology
Bluetooth low-power tracking tags with loud audible ringers (approximately 110-125 dB depending on model), Bluetooth ranges of 60-120 m, replaceable CR2032 or rechargeable USB-C/Qi power, and IP55 or IP67 ingress protection. Devices connect to crowd-sourced finding networks — Apple Find My or Google Find Hub — for locating items out of Bluetooth range, and to a proprietary companion app that uses location data for last-known-location display, Out of Range Alerts (patented in 2019) and a community search feature that scans for nearby Chipolo tags. Products are stated to incorporate around 50% recycled materials.
Go-to-market
Direct-to-consumer sales through its own localized web store, supported by newsletter discounts and seasonal promotions, complemented by app-store distribution of the free companion app and co-branded products with partners including Mercedes-Benz and Secrid. Hardware partnerships extend distribution through third-party brands such as Ekster.
Consumers who misplace everyday items such as keys, wallets, bags, luggage and phones, across both iPhone and Android ecosystems; the company is categorized as B2C. Gifting is a stated use case, and partner brands integrating trackers into wallets and accessories form a secondary channel.
Geography
Headquartered and manufacturing in Trbovlje, Slovenia (Gabrsko 12, 1420 Trbovlje), with products made at the company's European headquarters. Sales are international through country-specific online storefronts, and customer support operates Monday to Friday on CET hours with live chat.
History
The idea originated in 2012 among a group of friends and was followed in 2013 by a Kickstarter campaign that made Chipolo one of the earliest Bluetooth trackers; the campaign's $15,000 goal was met in 17 hours and ultimately raised about $297,000. The company was formerly known as Geatronik and was a finalist for the Slovenian Startup of the Year award in 2014 and 2016. Product milestones include Chipolo CARD in 2017, billed as the thinnest tracker on the market at the time; a patent on Out of Range Alerts in 2019; a first limited edition tracker made from recycled ocean plastic in 2020; ONE Spot in 2021 as one of the first trackers to join Apple Find My; ONE Point in 2023 as one of the first trackers on Google's Find My Device network (now Find Hub); and the POP, LOOP and CARD lineup of universally compatible trackers in 2025.
Risks & controversies
Each tracker can operate on only one finding network at a time due to Apple and Google policies and network incompatibility, requiring a reset to switch, which creates dependence on two large platform ecosystems. Multiple catalogue items, including bundles and collaboration editions, were shown out of stock. User reviews on Google Play cite connectivity failures, trackers that cannot be rung within range, the need for factory resets, limited app functionality and short range. The app collects and may share location and personal data.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 2
Companies working in the same space as Chipolo.
Timeline · 11
launches, deals, and filingsChipolo offers a LOOP tracker in a Mercedes-Benz Edition as part of its brand collaborations.
Chipolo co-created a trackable Miniwallet with Secrid.
Chipolo launched POP, LOOP and CARD, its first lineup of trackers that work with either Apple Find My or Google's Find Hub.
ONE Point became one of the first trackers to join Google's Find My Device network, later renamed Find Hub.
ONE Spot became one of the first third-party trackers to join the Apple Find My network, weeks before the first AirTag launch.
Chipolo launched its first limited edition tracker produced from recycled ocean plastic.
Chipolo patented its Out of Range Alerts, an early-notification feature designed to minimize false alerts.
Chipolo launched CARD, described by the company as the thinnest tracker on the market at the time.
Chipolo was again a finalist for the Slovenian Startup of the Year award.
Chipolo, then named Geatronik, was a finalist for the Slovenian Startup of the Year award.
Chipolo launched a Kickstarter campaign as one of the first Bluetooth trackers; its $15,000 goal was reached in 17 hours and the campaign ultimately raised about $297,000.
$297K source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Chipolochipolo.net · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Chipolo do?
- Slovenian maker of Bluetooth item trackers that work with Apple Find My or Google's Find Hub networks.
- Who founded Chipolo?
- Chipolo was founded by Primož Zelenšek in 2013.
- Who are Chipolo's investors?
- Chipolo's investors include Techstars.
- Where is Chipolo headquartered?
- Chipolo is headquartered in Trvoblje, SI.