The first version of MapMate appeared in the mid-1990s. It was created by Mark Yeates, a moth enthusiast who combined his recording and computing interests. MapMate utilised a Microsoft Access 97 database, which was based on Microsoft's Jet Engine 3 database model and considered to be very stable
Due to its popularity among local natural history societies, Mark formed a company called Teknica (later MapMate Limited) to support the growing uptake of the software. Mark supported MapMate for over 25 years.
MapMate's appeal stemmed from its user-friendly, Windows-based interface, its use of up-to-date species checklists, and its innovative distributed database approach. It allows users to store data locally and then exchange (synchronise or 'sync') records with a central hub or other users via the internet using a unique license key (Centre Unique Key), which ensures data records remain unique across the entire network of users.
By 2006, over 7,000 licenses had been issued, with the active user community numbering over 6,000. Its popularity expanded beyond amateur naturalists to include organisations like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI).
As a result of Mark's retirement, MapMate was also retired November 2024, and is no longer available to purchase. Support and maintenance were phased out October 2025. A Legacy Support Portal is available for existing users with valid Centre Unique Keys.