These 43-square-foot pods were originally for travelers to take a nap at the airport, but now the company is selling them for $50,000 each

• NapCity started out smalling private pods travelers could rent to take a rest in airports.
• The company pivoted to selling the pod as private, contactless spaces because of the coronavirus pandemic.
• They're customizable, and start at $50,000.

Since March of 2020, millions of people around the world have been forced to figure out how to work from home, from improvised office space to quick childcare solutions.

NapCity makes tiny pods mostly used in airports, where travelers can take a quick nap on a layover. The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended the travel industry, and the company has pivoted to selling what president Stephen Rosenfeld calls "private space as a service." With travel way down, and many international routes closed, Rosenfeld is pitching his Napcabs as hotels, offices, wellness centers, and anything else that can fit in 50 square feet.

Features that were good for convenience before, like touchless check in and online payments, are now key safety features in high demand. Rosenfeld predicts that more companies will be looking for ways to use tiny spaces like Napcabs. In the past few months, the Internet has been flooded with tiny backyard office designs, so there may be room for more growth in the tiny space industry.

Look inside a Napcab here.

Napcabs started as a convenient option for getting some rest during a layover at an airport.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

In airports, the 43 square foot pods offered a small area of privacy.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

They've already been implemented at the Munich and Berlin-Tegel airports, and are coming soon to Frankfurt.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

They can be reserved online by the hour from about $12 to $18 per hour.

Napcab reservation.      Napcab

The company was also working towards installing Napcabs in airports and hotel chains in the US before COVID-19 hit.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

Since March, the coronavirus has drastically changed how and when people travel.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

Now, the company is pivoting to "automated private space as a service model," according to NapCity Americas president Stephen Rosenfeld.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

The pod comes in a few different versions and can be customized to different situations.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

If the company creates a partnership with a hotel chain, Napcabs could be rented out as smaller, less expensive hotel stays.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

The pods could use the same mattress, sheets, and pillows as standard rooms.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

With experience from Napcabs in airports, check-in and check out could be quick and contactless.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

The pods can be equipped with secure, touchless payments, facial recognition, and biometrics.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

The interior and exteriors can both be customized.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

Some buyers are even interested in franchise options, Rosenfeld told Business Insider.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

A standard Napcab costs $50,000 with assembly, while the slightly larger ADA compliant pod is $60,000.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

The design is modular, so single or multi-units sales are both possible.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

Rosenfeld predicts more industries will continue to turn to private space options like NapCity.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity

"From workspace companies to wellness centers we have the only 'private space in any space' amenity that people want in a world of chaos," Rosenfeld told Business Insider.

NapCity cabin.      NapCity