Marquis Who’s Who has honored entrepreneur and small business advocate Atif Abdelkader for his expertise in geofencing and dedication to supporting small businesses. He is the technologist behind GPSspecial.com and the sole inventor listed on the company’s geofence-based patents. U.S. Patents 11,120,422 and 12,169,822 describe a system that obtains a user’s location, identifies nearby entities, checks merchant-defined constraints, and delivers real-time offers.
Abdelkader is also named on the European patent application EP 3811193 A4, the Russian divisional application No. 2023116308, and the Japanese patent application (7389113), reflecting his pursuit of intellectual-property protection across jurisdictions.
From Tech Vision to Real-World Solutions
Professional profiles often describe Abdelkader as the chief executive officer and founder of GPS Special, although the company does not publish an official executive roster. His accomplishments include securing patents in multiple regions, developing the consumer-facing app and merchant tools, and spearheading initiatives to tokenize GPS Special’s rewards on the XRP Ledger.
GPS Special connects consumers with real-time local deals from nearby restaurants, bars, and retail shops. Unlike traditional marketing platforms, GPS Special empowers small businesses to reach nearby customers without relying on expensive advertising or third-party delivery apps.
Businesses can send out offers directly via text, email, or app notifications, each with a scannable QR code for easy redemption. The app also includes a digital wallet through which users can accrue funds. Critically, money accrued in the digital wallet cannot be transferred outside the platform and must be spent at participating locations, creating a win-win for both merchants and customers.
“Marketing shouldn’t be a luxury only large companies can afford,” Abdelkader says. “GPS Special levels the playing field.” Together, these efforts position him as both the creative and strategic leader driving GPS Special’s innovation roadmap.
Early Lessons in Business and Community
Abdelkader’s journey began in Clearwater Beach in the mid-1990s, where he worked as a dishwasher and taxi driver before purchasing a small pizzeria in 1995. When seasonal tourist traffic declined, he quickly pivoted, offering late-night hours and delivery service to stay afloat. These experiences shaped his understanding of local business struggles and inspired his future innovations.
In 1997, Abdelkader became actively involved in community discussions, even meeting with the city’s mayor and city manager to share his vision for Clearwater’s growth. That same commitment to local development continues to influence his work today, most notably through his dedication to supporting local law enforcement officers during catastrophic events, such as hurricanes.
The Future of Location-Based Services
Abdelkader believes that privacy and local empowerment must be a priority as GPS technology becomes more embedded in everyday life. Its implementation in navigation, retail, safety, and more means the technology must be approached ethically and with respect to consumers.
With his patented technologies (GEOFENCE) and ongoing product development, Abdelkader is helping redefine how location-based services interact with real-world environments, ensuring they serve both businesses and individuals with intelligence, respect, and transparency.
