Polarsteps

Last week was the fourth edition of our annual Lab Days 🧪🎉 What are Lab Days, we hear you ask? Only two of the most fun-filled, free-spirited days of the year at Polarsteps HQ 🎉✨ It’s when we hit pause on job titles, daily to-dos, and the usual rhythms of work to (brace yourself for some corporate jargon) think truly outside the box 💭📦 No limits. No roadmap. Just wild ideas and even wilder dreams 🚀 Anyone can pitch a project. Any project can be pitched. From bold product updates to daring marketing experiments, or something a little more down-to-earth like revamping a corner of the office — we simply sign up for whichever project makes our heart sing 💡💖 (maybe even more than one!). We then team up with our equally eager colleagues, and see what magic we can make happen 🪄 At the end of each day, we gather round and demo what we’ve been working on — celebrating the chaos, creativity, and occasional caffeine-fuelled breakthroughs 🤯 And when the two days are up? We vote for our favourite ideas — the ones we’d most love to see come to life 🗳️🌟 What did we work on? Well… we’re keeping that under wraps for now 😏 Some of the best ideas end up on our product roadmap — and eventually in your hands 📱💫 Oh, and every Lab Days has a theme. This year’s? The gloriously chaotic Barbenheimer — hosted by a very pink Nicky and a brilliantly in-character Rüya 🎀💣💅 Want to be there next year? You know what to do — check out our vacancies! https://lnkd.in/dZjFvzgW

We’ve been a little quiet on here lately — not because nothing’s been happening, but because everything has 🚀 It’s been go-go-go at HQ, leaving little time to pause, reflect, and share. But that’s about to change. Get ready for a bumper update… and it’s a good one. 🎂 We turned 10! As you probably know by now, Polarsteps officially hit the big 1-0 last month 🎉 But what you didn’t see? The behind-the-scenes birthday bash at HQ — complete with a surprise tribute video for our founders, an interview panel where they spilled stories from the early days (hosted by Sascha Vloet channeling her inner Oprah 👏), and yes… an unreasonable amount of cake 🍰 🎡 The Teleporter has been working overtime Naturally, no Polarsteps party would be complete without a spin of the Teleporter — and let’s just say, it's been busy lately. In the last two months alone, we’ve had 10 spins (!), with team members securing flights and train tickets to dream destinations like Tanzania, Australia, Japan, and beyond ✈️ 📸 Polarsteps in lights Meanwhile, across the pond, our CEO Clare was in New York with HRH Prince Constantijn Van Oranje-Nassau and Techleap 🇺🇸 — and had a proud moment seeing the Polarsteps name and logo up in lights on the Nasdaq screen. And you know what they say about New York: if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere 😉 🧡 New faces, same vibes We’ve welcomed a LOT of new starters recently — 12 onboarded since the start of the year alone (and more on the way!). With so many fresh faces, last week’s monthly Polar Beers couldn’t have come at a better time. Dutch-themed (in honour of King’s Day, which falls this month 🇳🇱), it was a proper celebration: bitterballen, quizzes, drinks, and more fried snacks than we care to admit 🍻🎊 Want to be part of everything we’ve got coming up? Check out our vacancies — we’re still hiring: https://lnkd.in/dZjFvzgW 🚀

At Polarsteps, we love seeing how people use our app to track their adventures — whether they’re solo backpackers, couples on a road trip, or families exploring the world together. But sometimes, it's the smallest (and furriest) travel companions that capture our attention. 🐾 Meet Kyra — a Border Collie who’s been racing through powder since puppyhood. Together with her humans, Mariëlle and Marc, this trio shows how adventure doesn’t have to be limited to two legs. From off-piste runs to mountain views, they’ve used Polarsteps to document their snow-filled journeys — and inspire others to travel as a pack. Curious what it's really like to travel with a dog? We asked Mariëlle to share a bit more about their adventures: 👀 How did you introduce Kyra to snowy adventures? “When we got Kyra as an 8-week-old pup, she was instantly obsessed with snow — from the very first step, she was in her element. My husband has a ski racing team, so we’re often in the mountains. On her first trip, we took turns skiing, since it felt too risky to take her on the slopes. But one day, we had to walk down a bit, and Kyra just took off running, with my husband sliding behind her in ski boots — it was such a special moment. After that, we slowly introduced her to skiing, and she picked it up right away. She stays at the side of the slope, ignores other skiers, and responds to commands like ‘faster,’ ‘stop,’ ‘left,’ and ‘right.’ She’s such a calm, confident dog — teaching her slope etiquette was surprisingly easy.” ♥️ What is the best part about traveling with Kyra? “Seeing how much she loves discovering new places, which makes us appreciate the little things even more. Plus, having our furry friend with us on vacation is a huge bonus. We’d really hate to be away from her for such a long time. She really makes the whole experience so much more fun. We just love watching her have the time of her life!” 🐕🦺 What would you say to dog owners who want to take their pets on adventures? “Honestly, just go for it! Take your lovely dog on holiday and enjoy the simple things together — there’s so much out there to explore. Do a bit of research beforehand so you’re not caught off guard, and don’t over-plan, since things can change quickly with a dog. Watching how others travel with their pets can be super inspiring too — Instagram and Polarsteps are great for that. But most importantly… just enjoy the time together.” Follow this travel pack on the Polarsteps app: https://bit.ly/42vS0MA

🚀 OPEN ROLE: Head of Engineering 🚀 After wrapping up a successful hiring boost here at Polarsteps, we're now focusing on a fantastic role — Head of Engineering! Build the future of travel with us! If you've successfully led growing engineering teams and you get excited about building consumer products that people love, let's chat. We’re already doing big things (14M+ users, a 4.8⭐️ app, and a lot of travel love), and there’s much more ahead 🌍✨

Want to help shape the future of travel — and lead the tech team behind it? We’re hiring a ✴️ Head of Engineering ✴️ at Polarsteps for what might just be one of the most exciting roles we’ve ever opened! You’ll be working across product, platform and people — scaling a beautifully built app with 14M+ users and a seriously talented team. Ready to build, guide, and grow? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eg57ZfW3

What does it take to build a travel app used by over 10 million people ? Clare Jones is joining the Upstream 2025 lineup, and we couldn’t be more excited. As CEO of Polarsteps, one of the world’s fastest-growing travel apps, she’s changing how we plan, track, and relive our journeys – with millions already along for the ride 🌍 Before that? She helped scale what3words, backed purpose-driven startups as an angel investor, and landed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30. Tech, travel, impact – Clare doesn’t just talk innovation, she builds it. Catch her at Upstream – get your tickets now 🔥 https://hubs.li/Q03dR7Fn0 #Upstream2025 #Founder #Innovation #Startup #Tech

Lots of brands are dropping April Fool’s jokes today. We’re not 🚫 Because we actually MADE this very limited range (just 5 bottles!) of PolarScents — inspired by the real, not-always-pleasant smells of travel. And yep, our followers can win one. Because as incredible and life-changing as exploring the world is, it’s not always polished, perfect, or pristine. But honestly? That’s exactly what makes it worth it 💪 These room sprays will transport travelers straight back to life on the road — and not just the parts pretty enough for social media. Want to see which (questionable) scents we bottled? And maybe even get your hands on one? Head over to Instagram, give us a follow, and check it out: https://bit.ly/42cnMhi

🚀 10 years ago yesterday, Polarsteps hit the App Store 🎉 What began as an idea on a catamaran crossing the Atlantic has become something bigger than we ever imagined — a travel companion for 14+ million explorers, powered by a team of 76 passionate adventurers 🌍✨ And what a journey it’s been. Our Explorers have taken us to the wildest corners of the world — from snow-capped summits to desert roads, from motorbikes weaving through mountain passes to sailboats chasing the horizon. They’ve trusted us with their stories, their detours, their triumphs. To be part of these journeys is an honor. To help turn fleeting moments into lifelong memories — priceless. And the best part? We’re just getting started. Here’s to the roads less traveled, the stories yet to be written, and the next decade of adventure🥂 #Polarsteps10Years #Anniversary #Polarsteps

For the first time in a while, our Vacancies page is almost empty! Thanks to the brilliant work of Sandy, Sandi and Relinde, our team is now at 75 people 😱 We're slowing things down now on the hiring front and focusing on building for the next few months, but we do still have one vacancy live on our site - a Senior Android Engineer. So you'll have to be fast if you want to work at one of Europe's fastest-growing startups (14 milllion users and counting...). This is our very full team page these days - a page full of people who love travel, building brilliant things.

🚀 The HR Impact Sessions 2025 were packed with insights, inspiration, and game-changing conversations—our kind of adventure! Our very own Sascha Vloet took to the stage to share something we live and breathe at Polarsteps: the power of aligning company values and benefits with your product and culture. In today’s competitive job market, standing out isn’t just about perks—it’s about creating a workplace where people genuinely want to be. Key takeaway? The best companies attract and retain top talent by investing in: ✅ A strong brand identity — because people want to be part of something bigger. ✅ Unique benefits — tailored to what truly matters to their team. ✅ Human connection — supporting employees through life’s big moments. We left the event buzzing with ideas, from leadership built on trust to transparency as the foundation of company culture. Huge thanks to 7people ✨ & Personio for an inspiring day! 💬 What’s the best company culture initiative you’ve ever experienced? Drop it in the comments 👇 #HRImpactSessions #EmployerBranding #CompanyCulture #