WELCOME TO THE PHOENIX CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL ASSOCIATION FOR VR AND AR

Why Join VRARA Phoenix?

Phoenix is an emerging global tech hub that is home to multiple thriving industries including: semiconductors, autonomous vehicles, aerospace & defense, healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, real estate, and tourism.  With the recent opening of ASU’s Mesa Immersive eXperience campus & the institution's R&D leadership, we have the ideal backdrop for VR, AR, and immersive technology firms to develop and market their solutions.  This combination of potential customers and partners provides a powerful opportunity for extended reality entrepreneurs, creators and companies to enhance the region’s innovation ecosystem.  

VRARA Phoenix is committed to working with its members and representatives from outside industry to grow the VR/AR ecosystem in the city.  VRARA is an opportunity for members to network with peers and business leaders to gain access and visibility for the innovative VR/AR solutions they are building.  Our collaborative culture will bring together the local business community to establish the region as a global hub for VR/AR thought leadership and technology. 

See all Membership benefits here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

VRARA Phoenix Inaugural Chapter Workshop, Feb 6th

See all events here

NEWS

Connect with VRARA Phoenix on LinkedIn

See all news here

THE TEAM

James Hanusa Chapter President phoenix@thevrara.com  

James is Venture Catalyst at Digital Raign creating a community focused on the intersection of emerging tech and impact. As Futurist at the Virtual World Society, he advised on organizational development and partnerships. As Cofounder of Urban Innovation Exchange Global, he’s worked with cities on economic & innovation ecosystem development and smart city applications. 

James worked for 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area in Business Development, Sales and Strategic Alliances for technology companies including Intel, SAP, PeopleSoft and E2Open. His current focus is research and development of next gen tech stack of Web3, 4th Industrial Revolution tech and Society 5.0 applications (i.e. XR, AI, Blockchain, 5G, IOT, Twins). He earned his MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University.

Jake Taylor Chapter Vice President
NRT Citizen Centered Smart Cities | MGM - Creative Industries and Design Thinking |Thunderbird School of Global Management

Jake is a veteran producer and converging technology entrepreneur. Currently he operates as a consultant with  The Connective, a smart city regional consortium and acts as the gaming and technology specialist for the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce. Through his own organization, BNC Design Studios, he has developed and produced various titles for Nintendo’s Wii U and mobile devices.

Jake is currently working on gamified models for civic application and augmented reality experience with local municipalities. His academic research is in behavioral design with an emphasis in gamified-self and specializes in innovation at the convergence of emerging technologies. He is finalizing his Masters of Global Management at the Thunderbird School of Global Management with a B.S. in Management and a B.A. in Spanish Linguistics from Arizona State University.



 

NETWORK

Connect and build strong relationships with key players in the VR/AR ecosystem through VRARA or partner-hosted events.

COLLABORATE 

Work with innovators in the VR/AR ecosystem across all verticals, from original content creators to innovative hardware companies.

RESEARCH

Gain unlimited, exclusive access to VRARA research and publications, or, when applicable, receive discounts to third-party reports.