FestivAir uses Bluetooth mesh networking to share locations with your friends - even when there's no cell service in the crowd.
The Problem
50,000 people all trying to text at once. Messages don't send. Calls don't connect. You're stuck.
Your friend's phone died and now you have no idea where they are. The meetup spot is packed.
"I'm by the sound booth" means nothing when there are 10,000 people between you.
How It Works
Your phones talk directly to each other using Bluetooth and WiFi - no cell towers needed.
When you're within about 30-100 feet of a squad member, your phones connect directly using Bluetooth. Like walkie-talkies, but automatic.
If your friend is far away, your message bounces through other FestivAir users until it reaches them. Each phone passes the message along. More users = better coverage.
If just ONE person in the mesh has cell service, they become a "gateway" - syncing everyone's messages to the cloud. Your friend on the edge of the crowd with signal helps everyone.
Every message has your squad's unique code. Other phones relay messages but can only see content meant for their own squad. Your conversations stay private.
Features
See your squad members on a map. Their location updates automatically - no need to keep asking "where are you?"
Send messages to your squad through the mesh network. No cell service? No problem.
Discover nearby parties or create your own. Host campsite hangouts or find the after-party.
Build your personal lineup and get notified before your favorite artists perform.
Tap a squad member to get a compass arrow pointing directly to them and distance remaining.
Automatic battery management. The app rotates "gateway" duty to phones with more battery.
Real Scenarios
These are actual situations where FestivAir makes a difference.
Your friend leaves to get water during a set. The crowd shifts. You both text "where are you?" but messages won't send because cell service is overloaded. You spend 20 minutes wandering, miss the best song.
Open the app and see their blue dot near the water station. Tap their icon for a compass arrow pointing right to them. Walk directly there in 3 minutes. Messages send through nearby phones via mesh.
It's 2am, you're tired, and every row of tents looks identical. Your friend who went back early isn't answering texts. You wander for 45 minutes before finding the right spot.
Drop a meetup pin at your campsite when you arrive. Even if your friend's phone is on silent, you can see their location on the map. Follow the compass arrow directly to camp.
Your friend's phone dies at 15%. Now you have zero way to find them. You check all your meetup spots but keep missing each other. Festival day ruined.
FestivAir sends you a "low battery" alert when their phone hits 20%. You see their last known location before it died. Plus, you agreed on a backup meetup spot in the squad chat earlier.
You hear there's a great party in lot G but have no idea which campsite. You walk around awkwardly trying to find it, eventually give up.
Check the Parties tab - someone created a party listing with a location pin. You can see it's 0.3 miles away and has 12 people attending. Navigate directly there.
Technical Details
We believe in transparency about what the app can and can't do.
Direct connections work within 30-100 feet in crowded conditions. Less in dense crowds, more in open areas.
If there are no other FestivAir users nearby and no cell service, messages won't send until connectivity returns.
Bluetooth + GPS uses battery. Expect 15-25% more drain than normal. Low power mode helps for long days.
The mesh works best when more people use the app. Tell your squad to download it before the festival.
Currently iOS only. Uses Apple's MultipeerConnectivity framework. Android version not available yet.
You must be 18 or older to use FestivAir. Age confirmation required during signup.
Pricing
Perfect for small friend groups
For larger crews
The full experience
FAQ
Yes, but with conditions. Your phones connect directly via Bluetooth within 30-100 feet. For longer distances, messages hop through other FestivAir users nearby. If there are no other users in range and no cell service, messages queue until connectivity returns.
Expect about 15-25% more battery drain than normal since the app uses Bluetooth and GPS. We recommend bringing a portable charger to festivals anyway. Low Power Mode reduces location updates to save battery on long days.
No. Your location is only visible to members of your squad. Other FestivAir users help relay messages through the mesh, but they cannot see the content or your location - it's encrypted with your squad's unique code.
They won't appear in your squad or on the map. Everyone in the squad needs the app installed. Send them the TestFlight link before the festival!
Not yet. FestivAir is currently iPhone only. We use Apple's MultipeerConnectivity framework which doesn't have an Android equivalent. Android support may come in the future.
If you signed in with Apple, your identity persists across reinstalls. Your profile and squad membership are restored automatically. Without Apple Sign In, you'd need to rejoin your squad with the invite code.
Yes! The free tier supports squads of up to 6 people with all core features. Paid tiers ($4.99/mo Basic, $14.99/mo VIP) unlock larger squads and premium features like party hosting.
FestivAir is in beta testing via TestFlight. Download in 2 steps: