CHICAGO

WELCOME TO THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL ASSOCIATION FOR VR & AR

Chicago is a world-class city that is home to multiple thriving industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, advertising, higher education, entertainment, construction, and retail.  It is the ideal backdrop for VR, AR, and immersive technology firms to create, refine and market their solutions.  All these potential customers are combining with the entrepreneurial spirit of Chicago’s tech community, and industry leading incubator 1871 to build Chicago into a powerful hub of VR/AR innovation and opportunity.

VRARA Chicago 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.  By building this local connection with the local business community, VRARA Chicago seeks to establish Chicago as a worldwide home for VR/AR thought leadership and technology. 

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70 +

Chapters

60,000+

Professionals

4,000

Organizations

  • "Thanks so much for featuring our study in the newsletter. The summary is very nicely done. We've got several requests already - happy to see the response and continue interacting with VRARA members on this topic"

    Edstutia

  • “The VRARA is providing us a tremendous platform by connecting experts, the cautiously curious and the novice users to help move this industry forward.”

    — Melissa Mancini

  • “VRARA is an incredible organization. I highly recommend it to anyone in the field. The contacts I’ve been able to make have been so valuable. I’ve met academic researchers who are publishing a study on the effectiveness of overall well-being for older adults. I also made contact with people from Meta, which has led to a fantastic joint PR opportunity. These connections would otherwise be very challenging to develop as a small early-stage nonprofit organization. VRARA has been the best industry organization to be part of.”

    — Robert Signore, President, Thrive Pavilion Inc.

  • “VRARA helped me to expand significantly my network particularly in education, healthcare and storytelling sectors. I’ve participated in presentations and discussions which really boosted my knowledge in various XR-related topics. Actually I was not fully aware that so much is happening in these markets. Short, very focused meetings with interesting speakers - that’s what we actually need instead of lengthy conferences. Above all the members include those that use VR in their daily work, not only tech geeks and solution providers. ”

    — Jan Szczycinski, Showtime VR

  • “VRARA is a tremendous asset and I very much enjoy being part of this community. The weekly Education Committee meets and quarterly online conferences are an essential part of my professional development. My VRARA membership has directly contributed to the growth of my company through many networking and partnership development opportunities. Highly recommend! ”

    — Ashley Pereira

  • “It’s a pleasure being part of VRARA! As a leading provider of XR solutions in India, we at Plutomen have always been committed to helping industries adopt immersive solutions. VRARA has always been an instrumental org designed to foster collaboration and promote th industry. We look forward to working with the association and contributing to the growing field!”

    — Keyur Bhalavat, CEO, Plutomen Technologies

  • “I was very impressed with the community of professionals that are associated with the VRARA. The willingness to help each other out and the eagerness to collaborate amongst VRARA members was at the forefront. As an individual member my aim is to become part of the great community and provide value any way I can. In addition, I would like to learn and grow as a professional in the XR space.”

    — John Phillips, Esri

  • “As the chief of XR training for Air Force Special Operations Command, I understand the importance of building relationships with commercial industry. I’m going to take every opportunity I can get to communicate our needs and goals to industry leaders to try and build pathfinding partnerships moving forward.”

    — Kyle Schoonover, US Air Force

  • “Zanni landed its first big contract through an initial connection over an online VRARA event.”

    — David Rodriguez, CEO & Founder, Zanni

  • “The discussions during the committee meetings are so valuable I’m encouraging all of our executives to join future sessions.”

    — Vi Kellersohn, Oberon Tech

  • "All the Online Meets are great for connecting with - and learning from - some amazing VR/AR creators, and I’ve really come to value the Storytelling Committee meets. The contacts I’ve made there had a direct, positive impact in the release of our first WebXR experience, Expedition Nebraska.”

    — Chad Davis | Chief Innovation Officer Nebraska Public Media | Labs

  • “Membership is well worth it as it’s all year round networking. Every week there are online presentations and meetings with discussions and it really feels like a community. People are very open. ”

    — Jimmy Vainstein, The World Bank Group

  • “Membership is worth it! Great community, learning, networking.”

    — Nick Roseth, XPLR Design

  • “Being a part of a collective where creators are sharing their work, questions and ideas is a big reason we’re excited to become a member of VRARA. At 6D.ai I was able to participate as a Member of the VRARA AR Cloud Working Group and can say from personal experience, I really enjoy the workshops and content VRARA members create and share. And, we are looking forward to start doing the same at Niantic.”

    — Meghan Hughes, Niantic

  • “Joining the VR/AR Association has helped Visionary Training Resources to accelerate our business by creating immediate connections to both the business and technology leaders in VR/AR around the world.”

    — Evey Cornican - CEO Visionary Training Resources

  • “Since joining the VRARA, our business has grown. I attribute our growth in part to the access membership has provided us, to individuals and organizations who are truly involved in our industry. The weekly meetings have not only allowed us to connect and share ideas, understand use cases and establish relationships with thought leaders in the industry but most of all its benefits are recognized on our bottom line. ”

    — Craig Colwell, Founder/CEO LBX Immersive

  • “The VRARA’s endeavors towards immersive technology are worthy of an olive wreath, if not more. Simulations are turning out to be quintessential. Working with this association has assisted the healthcare sector in substituting archetypal, orthodox practices with much more pragmatic approaches that obliterate contagion by the core.”

    — H.E. Dr Maryam Matar, Founder and Chairperson, UAE Genetic Diseases Association

  • "Perhaps the most important benefit of being part of the VR/AR Association is the opportunity to network with professionals and entrepreneurs in the field, connect and share experiences with other members of the committees and have access to resources, discounts or special access to events and conferences to develop my skills and stay on top of new products, services and innovations.”

    — Veronica Luna, Unilever

  • “The VRARA gives you a unique opportunity to be connected with the best in the immersive ecosystem.  ”

    — David Moreno, Head of Marketing, Virtualware

  • “The combination of experience, views and backgrounds of its members is what makes the VRARA such an interesting forum. It is rare to find such a mix of end-users, technology suppliers and experts come together in this way. Although each group can have different needs, they fit together well within the VRARA structure.”

    — James Watson, CMO, Immerse

  • “PIXO VR is proud to be a VRARA member. As an organization, VRARA has helped foster and build the VR community like no other, effectively educating and advocating on behalf of this world-changing technology. In a dynamic field, with so many new players and ideas, VRARA has served as an essential touchstone, helping us learn, share, and grow as a business.”

    — Sean Hurwitz, CEO

  • “We appreciate the opportunity to learn from our fellow colleagues, and how VRARA amplifies our message.”

    — Sarah Hill, CEO, Helium

  • “I’m so impressed with the activities of the VRARA in just a few months. The energy at the events, the connectivity across the community and the information and demos of VR AR applications are all driving relationships and business development.”

    — Carol Ann Dykes Logue, University of Central Florida

  • “Our participation in VRARA gives us the opportunity as a company to meet with other players in the sector and to share news, experiences and projects. And as Sponsors of the Training Committee, it gives us interesting networking opportunities and sharing valuable experiences for our company.”

    — Seabery

  • “This membership has grown my network and knowledge of the VR/AR industry like no other portion of my professional life.”

    — Sam Trevino

  • “Joining VRARA right out of the gate was probably the best move we could have made in helping us to build this business. The VR/AR Global Summit was instrumental to getting us on a pathway to success.”

    — Scott Burns, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, oasisVRX

  • “The VR/AR Association is an outstanding network of imagineers, creators, and supporters. My thanks to VRARA for highlighting IKONA, Inc.’s work and for continuing to help drive meaningful outcomes VR AR in patient education”

    — Tim Fitzpatrick, CEO at IKONA

  • “VRARA is a wonderful organization with a clear mission. With the launch of Apple’s ARkit and Google’s soon to be launched ARCore, many retailers have integrated VR or AR in some fashion for their mobile applications, however, the quality and simplicity of these features vary drastically depending on the product. We believe there are a lot of standards that still need to be developed in order to help increase adoption of this technology. That’s one of the main reasons we wanted to join VRARA. By being a part of these conversations and helping build these standards, Overstock can continue to give customers the best possible shopping experience.”

    — Overstock.com

  • “The VRARA has enabled Epson to connect with the thousands of professionals and companies looking to drive VR/AR forward, and facilitate how VR/AR can help grow their businesses. As a leading manufacturer of AR smart glasses, Epson wants to be deeply involved in VR/AR socialization and education across industries and verticals, which the VRARA facilitates through speaking engagements, conferences, and other events and activities.”

    — Epson

  • “The 3D/VR/AR ecosystem is very fragmented. VRARA has managed to gather the key players in the space, to foster collaboration and make sure the important discussions which need to happen to push the ecosystem forward are indeed happening. It seemed like a natural fit to join VRARA, to share what we’ve learned over the years and get some feedback on what others are seeing.”

    — Sketchfab

  • “Joining the VRARA supports our emphasis of maintaining the studio’s VR/AR momentum and we believe that joining the VRARA will increase the studio’s visibility as a primary player in the VR/AR environment.”

    — Schell Games

  • “Collaboration and insight. We are part of two VRARA committees with professionals that are open to share and learn from each other. Being part of the VRARA means being part of an inclusive group of professionals playing with one of the most powerful storytelling tools that’s ever existed.”

    — Pound&Grain

  • “VRARA has been instrumental in helping Mativision expanding overseas from London. Introductions to major brands and helping build brand awareness in the US market are only some of the activities that are offered via our membership and are already driving value for us. We definitely see VRARA NYC playing a crucial role as we establish ourselves in the US market. Thanks guys!”

    — Mativision

  • “VRARA has played a tremendous role in helping to get the word out about Touchstone VR’s consumer insights services and research reports and connecting us with key VRARA partners in the U.S. Since we became members, our VR/AR research has been featured in over 25 major media publications across the world. VRARA is the answer we have been waiting for to help us build up the VR AR community here on the East Coast and at the same time expanding our connections with other amazing VRARA members across the globe. We look forward to attending future VRARA NYC sponsored events and continued partnerships with VRARA members in the years to come.”

    — Touchstone Research, Inc.

  • “We’re excited to be part of VRARA and be in a position to make an impact in the VR community. Our opportunity with VRARA has given us access to it’s expanding network that helped us excel and break through into the global market. We continue to look forward in working with VRARA members as we venture into this new wealth of opportunity.”

    — LNG Studios

  • “The VRARA has given us the boost we needed to get into the places we need to be. In a short time, the exposure to major strategic partners like the USPS, Venture Capital Investors and Major Corporate clients has given us the opportunity of a lifetime in the VR space. We continuously leverage our VRARA team and member community to gain access to the most important contacts to make our business grow.”

    — SpaceoutVR

  • “Thank you so much for featuring our study in your newsletter. The summary is very nicely done. I got two requests for the article copy already- happy to see the response and continue interacting with VRARA members on this topic.”

    — Estutian goes here goes here

TEAM

Chapter President

Ed Haravon

Ed Haravon is the Co-Founder of Get Real, an advisory firm helping businesses and nonprofits explore how VR, AR, and immersive storytelling can boost productivity and connection. With over 20 years in finance and technology, he’s led innovation from trading at Spot Trading to building Apex Crypto at Peak 6 Investments.

A seasoned entrepreneur and educator, Ed has shared his insights at institutions like Northwestern and the University of Chicago. He’s also Co-Chair of Hearts for Help for Children’s Midwest Committee. Outside work, he enjoys live music and spending time with his four kids.

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Member Benefits

  • Networking & Community

    • 70+ global chapters in major metro areas

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    • Member Slack channel to connect with solution providers & brands

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  • Knowledge & Insights

    • Unlimited access to chapter events (in-person + online)

    • Weekly web conferences with industry speakers

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  • Growth & Visibility

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    • Sponsorship opportunities with member discounts

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  • Savings & Resources

    • Discounts at 3rd-party industry events and conferences

    • Software & AI partner discounts

    • Up to 40% off paid analyst research + private sessions

    • Access to member-only reports, rentals, and tools

  • Learning & Development

    • Participate in industry committees shaping best practices

    • Training programs (online + on-site)

    • University partner program with academic collaboration

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Sep 30
VRARA Virtual Summits
Best in XR + AI Education (VRARA Edu Summit 2025)
Oct 23
Best in XR + AI Education (VRARA Edu Summit 2025)
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Oct 28
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Why VR/AR ?

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Great ideas stall without the right partners

Learn

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Collaborate

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✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • You get access to a global network (70+ chapters; 60,000+ professionals across 4,000+ organizations), weekly online sessions, on-demand videos, industry publications, and analyst access. Members also get event discounts, a member portal, analyst reports, a job board, and equipment-rental perks.

  • Yes—there are 70+ city chapters running meetups, trainings, and networking. Together we host 300+ events each year; see what’s near you or online

  • You can join 20+ industry committees to co-create standards, reports, and real-world pilots (like Next-Gen VR/AR Technologies). Sign up from the committees page and collaborate in the member portal and Slack:

  • Builders and decision-makers across VR/AR/XR and AI: founders, product and design leaders, enterprise innovators, educators, and researchers. If you want credible peers, practical learning, and visibility, you’re in the right place

  • Apply to speak or demo at chapter meetups and major events, or pitch articles for our publications and podcasts (80K+ social reach). You can also volunteer on committees or share case studies through the member portal

  • Click Join Now to pick a plan and create your member profile—it takes about one minute GO THERE NOW

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