You're Invited: Apply to showcase your demo at INNOVATEwest on April 16-17 (VRARA Members only!)
VRARA Vancouver is a core partner of INNOVATEwest: a celebration of the emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt all sectors. These technologies drive advancements and solve critical challenges within their respective domains. INNOVATEwest is at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 16-17, 2024!
Experience innovation and technology live on the Expo floor at INNOVATEwest via interactive demonstrations of some of the hottest/newest technologies available from creative partners from BC and around the Globe. Attendees will come face-to-face and be hands-on with ground-breaking innovative products, tech solutions and inspiring concepts that will open your mind to new possibilities. TECH LIVE will bring the future forward at INNOVATEwest.
There is no better opportunity to have technologies featured to leaders in tech, enterprise, and corporate tech-enabled organizations looking to innovate, grow, and harness the power of emerging tech for impactful business results. IW will help galvanize and celebrate the tech ecosystem in the West.
Via a vetted process, IW is working with *Core Community Partners of the event to find highlight members/affiliates to propose installations at the two-day Conference and Expo April 16+17 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The space will be sponsored by an overarching non-competitive presenting sponsor, and the individual exhibits will be presented in partnership with their host Core Community Partner and featured on the show floor and in event communications. Spaces size will be determined based on the proposed installation, and will be provided with recognition signage, electricity, wifi, and event passes. There will be no charge to the Core Partner, nor the member to participate in the TECH LIVE feature.
Interested parties are asked to submit a short brief outlining the company and the proposed installation. IW and a select steering team will work with the Core Partners and interested companies to select participants for this unique opportunity.
*Only members and associates of IW Core Community Partners are eligible for TECH LIVE opportunities. “
**Please submit your proposal for exhibition to vancouver@thevrara.com by February 8th to be considered for this unique opportunity **
Call for Speakers: VRARA Summer West Fest
Summer West Fest will bring together experts from Pacific North West of US and Canada together under one roof (virtually) to share knowledge and network. The July 19th event is the first in a series of events. Interested in speaking? See the detail and themes of this first event below!
Preliminary Schedule
11am - opening Sarah/Roberto and introduction to the Pacific NorthWest Chapter Presidents
11:20-11:45am : Featured speaker 1
11:45 - 12:15 pm : Virtual Networking
12:15 -1pm Featured speaker 2
Themes for Speakers:
AI revolution: What does it mean for XR?
APPLE glasses
XR Analytics
If your expertise covers these themes, please contact vancouver@thevrara.com for more information of applying as a speaker to this series!
Vancouver's Aequilibrium is helping companies push the boundaries of the digital world
Post originally appearing on bcbusiness.ca by Nathan Caddell.
Founder Adrian Moise helped revolutionize mobile gaming and is now turning his attention to the metaverse
It’s always a bit harder to believe when people make predictions about things that aren’t tangible, like the metaverse and XR (a catch-all term for VR/AR). But when Adrian Moise talks about how he and his company, Vancouver-based technology and software consulting company Aequilibrium, plan to use those concepts, one is more easily swayed.
After all, Moise, a Romanian native, has enough degrees on his wall to inspire confidence from even the most hardened skeptic. There’s a masters in computer engineering from the Politehnica University of Bucharest, a PhD in computer science from SFU and a post-doc in the same subject from UBC, as well as certificates in executive education from ivy league institutes the Wharton School and Harvard.
And if it’s work experience you’d prefer, he has that in spades, too. Moise started his career with French video game giant Ubisoft before going west for school. He considered a career in academia and did a stint as a professor of computing science, but ultimately took a job at Burnaby’s Electronic Arts building the mobile gaming division.
“At the time, Nintendo DS and the Sony PlayStation Portable were coming up,” he recalls. “Game manufacturers were saying that mobile gaming is going places—we should probably learn how to build mobile games.” Moise started the department at EA with three managers under his supervision. In the next six months the department had 120 people and seven games to its name.
After that, it was off to Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters, where he served as a program manager before coming back to Vancouver and working as a director for marketing firm Blast Radius. A few years later, in 2012, he decided to start his own venture.
“I didn’t want it to be another digital agency, doing WordPress and digital marketing, I wanted to solve complex business problems by bringing together strategy and technology,” Moise says.
That’s what Aequilibrium has been doing, and the company has been growing “anywhere from 25 percent to 100 percent year-over-year,” according to Moise. It counts firms like Hootsuite, Kit and Ace and Central 1 among its clients, and currently has 70 employees, with an expectation of hitting the century mark this summer.
“It isn’t about putting warm bodies in seats. I’m an immigrant, if you look at our composition, we have top talent from all over the world. The way we collaborate and the pedigree our team members bring is kind of what separates us. I call the company Aequilibrium because of this balance between technology and user experience, between craftsmanship and speed. That idea of balance has stayed with me.”
Balance is going to continue to be key for the company as it makes advances in new innovations like the metaverse and XR. Aequilibrium helped build one of the first mobile wallet applications in Canada and has made advances into chatbots as well. Now, with Zoom “not really cutting it,” according to Moise, the company is looking at other options.
“Can XR close of this gap of what Bill Gates called Hollywood Squares to make it a better, more immersive experience?” asks Moise. Aequilibrium built a possible solution to that problem and launched it at the Immerse Global Summit in Miami last month.
“We were part of the Canadian delegation at that event and are working with some of the government, including San Francisco’s Consulate General of Canada,” says Moise, who is trying to solve a core pain point for employers with the new technology. That problem? That too many workplaces are the exact same now.
“Employees now can say, If everyone gives me a laptop, a Zoom screen and a cheque, why would I stick with you?” says Moise. “How do I get and keep top talent? What do I do different from everyone else? How do I improve the way I collaborate? I think we have solutions that can help.”
At least one old-school business pro is intrigued by what Aequilibrium is building, as Moise recalls an interaction at last year’s BCBusiness Top 100 event (not to toot our own horn or anything). “We were showing off some of our XR technology, and Jimmy Pattison came to our booth and spent tons of time trying everything out,” says Moise with a big smile. “I think he was a big fan.”
Call for Sponsors for VRARA Vancouver Event
The VRARA Vancouver Chapter is hard at work preparing a incredible event for their area, and are looking for sponsors. Email info@thevrara.com today to learn more!
From the chapter staff:
This will be a VIP session where industry leaders on the West Coast visualize the "art of the possible". XR industry leading professionals from Intergalatic (nominated for top 100 metaverse companies in the world) as well as the Departure Lounge (North America's most advanced vol capture studio and also in the top 100 metaverse companies). We have spent some time to ideate what this experience could look like. In order for our teams to collaborate and build this custom activation, we need some funding to cover the talent and the equipment.
Our goal is to educate these VIPs of the "art of the possible" with the XR tech. Here is the experience as we envision it:
We will install a physical frame outside the DL facilities. Upon scanning this install, people will be immersed in WebAR experiences where they can swipe between. The goal is to appeal to a large variety of industries so from a yoga storefront to a car manufacturing facility. The experience will be interactive so they can possibly take photos with elements inside. The entrance will get attendees excited about what is inside...
The attendees will then enter the DL vocap facilities On the stage, our Chapter President (Sarah) will be having a discussion about applications of VR/AR and VoCap and she will be surrounded by/interacting with a Vocap asset double of herself on various LED screen, Projection and WebAR forms. For the AR asset, there will be an interactive element to this experience where attendees can increase or decrease Sarah's size, etc . Then Sara's double will exit the vocap stage in WebAR to a station. In that station, there will be a VR headset and you can see her within an experience that showcases the vocap captured stage...so basically everything goes from the stage to inside the VR headset.
If you are interesting in sponsoring this event, please email info@thevrara.com.
Cognitive3D, a Spatial Analytics Platform for 3D Apps, Raises a $2.5M Seed Funding
Cognitive3D uses spatial analytics to help analyze user experiences within 3D simulated environments
VANCOUVER, CANADA: SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2022 - Cognitive3D, the spatial analytics platform that collates and measures how users behave within immersive 3D environments, has raised a $2.5M Series Seed round led by Konvoy, with participation from Space Capital and Boost VC.
Jim Preston, Lead Technical Producer at Electronic Arts (EA), with over 20 years of experience in cutting-edge frontier technology and video games, and Konvoy Principal Taylor Hurst will be joining Cognitive3D’s board.
Cognitive3D uses immersive technology to help provide an innovative way of researching consumer behavior within a 3D extended reality (XR) setting. As users move from content consumption through 2D web and mobile platforms, towards a more interactive content participation in 3D apps, Cognitive3D provides the ability to understand what happens within a 3D space, including how users interact with objects in the chosen environment.
With user experiences and metrics changing through the advancement of 3D apps, traditional analytics tools are becoming less efficient as organizations are struggling to gain important user insights within XR environments. As a result, Cognitive3D identified a unique opportunity through collecting spatial intelligence by leveraging virtual, augmented, and mixed reality devices as means for data collection.
This approach of using spatial analytics to carry out user research and collate essential data enables organizations to understand consumer behavior through a unique quantitatively measured platform. This includes showing where users look and how they engage with the 3D environment; how they navigate and where they spend the most time; and specific events that happen, such as users taking off their headsets which could indicate that they got stuck in an immersive 3D experience.
Through the launch of a freemium offering, the company is constructing industry standard benchmarks for application performance that evaluates telemetry from XR devices. These benchmarks provide baselines for a participant’s comfort, presence and performance, and provides insight into where developers should spend their time in app optimization, and how their app compares against other apps in their category.
Vancouver-based Cognitive3D was founded in 2015 by CEO Tony Bevilacqua, and since launching has built a team of nine, all based in Canada, with the aim of doubling the headcount over the next 18 months. The latest seed round brings Cognitive3D’s total funding amount to date to $3.5M.
Cognitive3D Founder and CEO Tony Bevilacqua comments: “The interest and use of 3D applications is on the rise as it creates a simulated environment that can fully immerse users and be easily adapted and improved. As with all platforms there needs to be a way of assessing its effectiveness and efficiency, and this is where Cognitive3D’s innovative and unique methods come in. Our way of testing and assessing user experiences within 3D environments allows those building and creating them the ability to see what works and how their applications can be enhanced.”
Taylor Hurst, Principal at Konvoy, adds: “Cognitive3D’s ability to collect and measure spatial data to bring visibility to user participation, and help organizations optimize their games and apps is a game changer for all of those involved in creating immersive 3D environments. From training simulations, to consumer and academic research, and entertainment, the adoption of immersive 3D applications is increasing exponentially, and Cognitive3D is poised to be the market leader in this new category of spatial analytics.”
About Cognitive3D
Cognitive3D is a spatial analytics platform that collates and measures how users behave within immersive 3D environments. Vancouver-based Cognitive3D was founded in 2015 by CEO Tony Bevilacqua, and since launching has built a team of nine, all based in Canada, with the aim of doubling the headcount over the next 18 months. Cognitive3D has to-date raised $3.5M and is backed by Konvoy, Space Capital, Boost VC, and HTC Vive.
About Konvoy
Denver-headquartered Konvoy (www.konvoy.vc) is an early-stage investment firm that invests at the frontier of gaming. With the launch of its latest fund, Konvoy Fund III, it will have $270M under management. Konvoy’s portfolio consists of 33 companies which have collectively raised $450M in follow-on funding. Founded by Managing Partners Josh Chapman, Jason Chapman, and Jackson Vaughan, Konvoy currently employs six investment team members and a Head of Platform.
For media enquiries please contact Nick Mouton at Nara Communications
nick.mouton@naracommunications.com
Nextech AR Becomes 3D Model Supplier For Prime Marketplace @Nextech_AR
Nextech AR Solutions Corp. (“Nextech” or the “Company”) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a Metaverse Company and leading provider of augmented reality (“AR”) experience technologies and services is pleased to announce that the Company is now a 3D model supplier for the world’s largest Prime eCommerce marketplace. In addition to this significant achievement, in the past 45 days, the Company has signed 17 new 3D modelling deals, continuing its rapid expansion and growth into Web 3.0 and creation of digital twins for eCommerce.
Nextech AR CEO Evan Gappelberg commented, “A rapidly rising number of companies within the eCommerce ecosystem are recognizing the game-changing ROI and customer satisfaction experienced by implementing 3D/AR models on their eCommerce websites. We are currently working directly with some of the world’s largest eCommerce retailers and are integrated with the largest eCommerce marketplaces including, Shopify, BigCommerce and WooCommerce, who are now all rolling out 3D/AR and setting the standard for Web 3.0 in eCommerce. In my opinion, it is evident that it won't be long before all eCommerce businesses must follow suit to stay competitive in the marketplace.”
He continued, “We firmly believe that the transition from flat 2D photos to 3D models is in full swing and that 3D models are currently being established as the standard in eCommerce throughout the globe. Companies who don’t adopt a 3D/AR eCommerce strategy will be left behind, as 3D/AR produces immersive shopping experiences that customers are beginning to expect. With our end-to-end solutions, white glove service and ability to scale production, Nextech AR is emerging as the digital twin ecommerce leader”
According to Shopify, 3D augmented reality product models have proven to generate a 94% increase in conversions and a 40% reduction in returns online. On some product pages, 3D/AR models have increased conversion rates by up to 250%.
Canadian VR/AR at the 4th Annual AWE EU
This year the Vancouver VRAR Association led a mission to the fourth annual Augmented World Expo (AWE) EU in Munich, Germany. As the world’s leading VR/AR conference, the AWE draws industry experts, insiders, and enthusiasts from around the world each year to explore the latest advancements in immersive technology. With nearly 2,000 guests, 125+ speakers, and 100+ exhibitors, plus a record number of startups and enterprises in attendance, 2019 was the biggest year yet.
In partnership with Launch Academy, the VRARA was proud to debut the first-ever Canadian Pavilion and host a delegation of ten Canadian companies from across 5 provinces and 5 from BC: VR Vision Inc., Finger Food Advanced Technology Group, MAMMOTH XR, Kognitiv Spark, Motive.io, Arcane Technologies, Volumetric Camera Systems, Precision OS Technology, Quantum Capture Inc., and YDX Innovation.
Over the course of the two-day conference, the Canadian Pavilion put Canadian VR/AR talent and innovation on display for the world to see and interact with. The pavilion included booths for each company where conference guests could meet and greet with local leaders and demo the latest activations.
“Attending AWE EU was the perfect opportunity to bring our local industry together to showcase the strength of the Canadian VR/AR ecosystem and the incredible talent at work here to an international audience of VR/AR leaders.” Dan Burgar, President of the Vancouver VRAR Association.
Panel discussions and networking opportunities gave the Canadian delegation the opportunity to further share their experiences and weigh in on the future of VR/AR.
Vancouver VR/AR Association VIP Reception Dinner
To kickstart the conference, the Vancouver VRARA hosted a special VIP reception dinner that brought the Canadian delegation of companies together with international VR/AR thought leaders and top brands including BMW, Siemers, Daimler, Audi, and the BBC.
The evening was led by Nancy Basi, Executive Director of Media and Entertainment at the Vancouver Economic Commission, and focused on emerging trends in VR/AR and opportunities for growth and global collaboration.
Panelist speakers included Jay Latta of BMW Group, Amy Peck of HTC and EndeavorVR, Martin Liboska of Deutsche Telekom, Jacob Loewenstein of Spatial, Kavya Pearlman of XR Safety Initiative, and Jan Pflueger of Audi.
It was a full-house event and a lively evening of networking and relationship building where guests discussed the latest advancements in VR/AR technology, exchanged ideas, and laid the foundation for future collaboration.
Between the well-attended VIP dinner and bustling two-day conference, the delegation had the chance to network with big-name brands and VR/AR thought leaders who they otherwise may never have connected with. It’s in-person meetings like these that drive collaboration and spark innovation.
The Canadian Delegation at AWE EU will have an impact on not only the companies who attended but also the wider Canadian VR/AR ecosystem as a whole. The Vancouver VR/AR Association has been focused on developing the immersive industry in BC by driving increased exposure and securing global interest for local enterprises. AWE EU presented the perfect opportunity to expand these efforts across the country and forge stronger relationships between Canadian VR/AR companies from coast to coast.
The Canadian Delegation was hosted jointly by the Vancouver VR/AR Association with support from our valued partners the Vancouver Economic Commission, Launch Academy, VHDA, Tourism Vancouver, Creative BC, Trade and Invest BC, the Canadian Government, and the Bavarian Government.
VR/AR Hub Created in Partnership with the Vancouver Chapter of the VR/AR Association
Dan Burgar, the Vancouver chapter president of the VR/AR Association | Photo: Chung Chow
The hub was created in partnership with the Vancouver Chapter of the VR/AR Association.
Startup incubator Launch Academy is opening a new virtual reality and augmented reality hub at its Vancouver headquarters.
The 12,000-square-foot facility features a device lab to test out new technologies and is aimed at assisting a wide spectrum of early-stage companies, according to CEO Ray Walia.
“It’s all the way from people just starting out to [companies with] a product in market,” he told Business in Vancouver.
“Other companies that are more established that don’t necessarily need to take desk space here but they want to be part of the community and be part of a founding partnership in helping cultivate and grow the ecosystem [will also take part].”
The hub was created in partnership with the Vancouver chapter of the VR/AR Association.
It will offer training and education programs, equipment rentals, workshops and mentorship opportunities for participants.
Mentors include investors in the VR/AR space, including Super Ventures, the VR Fund, WXR Fund, Outpost Capital and the GFR Fund.
Experts from Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), Finger Food Studios, Archiact, LNG Studios, LlamaZoo Interactive Inc., Blueprint Reality Inc., Cognitive3D, YDreams Global Interactive Technologies Inc. and the Vancouver Economic Commission will also offer mentoring.
Vancouver was home to just over a dozen VR companies in 2015 but has since growth to 220 organizations that are pursuing VR technologies, according to the VR/AR Association.
“We have all the right ingredients to make Vancouver No. 1,” Dan Burgar, the Vancouver chapter president of the VR/AR Association, said in a statement.
“We believe it’s extremely important to keep the momentum up and build the support infrastructure now for companies to accelerate their growth. Launch Academy has a proven track record of incubating over 600 companies and we’re thrilled to work with them on this.”
Vancouver Is Now One Of The Largest VR AR Hubs In The World with over 200 Companies
Register for the VR/AR Global Summit here
XR companies based in Vancouver have skyrocketed from 15 to 200 in just three short years.
A lot has changed in the XR industry since 2017. In teaching hospitals, brain scans have transformed into dynamic, moving holograms. Apps now let individuals walk around the homes of their loved ones without stepping outside their door. Home décor items can appear, life-sized, in a person’s living room at a touch of a screen, before being delivered to their doorstep.
All of those concepts have been developed in one year – in one city.
Vancouver is one of the fastest growing VR, AR, and MR hubs in the world. Nestled under fir tree-covered mountains and bordered by beaches, the city’s urban center boasts businesses that are transforming industries, creating immersive stories, and defining the next wave of computing.
Its expansion is staggering. Just three years ago, Vancouver hosted around 15 XR companies. Now, there are over 200.
There’s more than one reason why the city is exploding with talent. In 1977, Vancouver established itself as a top-flight filming destination, earning the nickname “Hollywood North.” Animators and VFX professionals flocked to the area, helping it to become the third largest film and TV production centre in North America. That expertise led to cross-pollination. Electronic Arts (EA) opened its Canadian arm in the Metro Vancouver area in the early ‘80s, inspiring a raft of world-class games and mobile entertainment businesses. Now, those professionals are moving to XR.
Since last year, the composition of the Vancouver VR, AR, and MR ecosystem has developed dramatically. The city has always shown a strength in creating enterprise, architecture, and data visualization solutions. Over the past 12 months, the number of companies offering those services has almost doubled.
That’s due in a large part to the “collaborative spirit” of Vancouver that sets its ecosystem apart. Last September, two centres – Axiom Zen and Launch Academy – were the sole incubating organizations within the city. This year, seven more hubs have been created to nurture local XR talent. Developments like these have helped the industry grow by 54 percent since 2017.
As well as the scores of new startups opening their doors in 2018, the local ecosystem has seen victories from more mature companies. Finger Food Studios, an XR organization whose clients and partners include Microsoft, Hootsuite, and Cirque du Soleil, was integral in securing $1.4 billion in government funding to boost Vancouver’s digital technology. The Vancouver Virtual Reality Film Festival (YVRFF) – the only dedicated VR film festival in the world – launched its second annual event to much acclaim, while five of the city’s largest XR companies including Archiact and Motive.io were invited to speak at SXSW festival on the rise of VR and AR in Vancouver.
“XR in this city is growing quicker than anyone expected,” says Dan Burgar, president of the Vancouver branch of the VR/AR Association, an organization that connects companies working in the sector across the globe. “Five years ago, the industry was non-existent in Vancouver. Now, with our talent pool and proximity to San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, there’s been a huge uptick in business-to-business development. We’re one of the best places in the world to set up an XR company, and it’s only going to get bigger from here.”
With so many new companies joining the fray every month, it can be hard to keep track of the innovation. Monitoring the growth of the community, the Vancouver chapter of the VR/AR Association – in partnership with the Vancouver Economic Commission, Gowling WLG, and CreativeBC – has created a comprehensive infographic to visualize the ecosystem.
As businesses increasingly choose Vancouver as their home, it’s easy to see how the city has grown to become what could very well be the second largest XR cluster in the world.
Source: VRScout
Register for the VR/AR Global Summit here
VRARA Vancouver at TED2018
The VRARA Vancouver and 7 local VRAR companies represented BC’s immersive tech industry at the annual TED Conference, TED2018 “The Age of Amazement.”
Each year TED brings together change-makers and big thinkers from across industries and areas of research to discuss the ideas, science, and technology shaping our world.
From April 10 - 14, over a thousand attendees filled the Vancouver Convention Centre to exchange ideas, experience immersive installations, and discuss this year’s theme, “The Age of Amazement.”
The five-day conference was headlined by 100 international speakers, from artists and activists to developers and scientists. Each challenged the audience to think bigger and consider the ways in which emerging ideas and technology could impact our future. Talks covered everything from research on biological teleportation and advancements in AI to climate change and the #MeToo movement.
In partnership with TED2018, the Vancouver VR/AR Association had the opportunity to join the conversation and showcase how BC’s local industry is playing a major role in the advancement of immersive technology.
Along with a delegation of local companies, the VRARA Vancouver presented BC’s VR/AR industry to a VIP audience. Archiact, Cognitive 3D, LlamaZOO, Ziva Dynamics, Finger Food Studios, Shape Immersive, and Precision OS each demoed their products and demonstrated the impact that immersive tech can have on industries as diverse as gaming and film, to technical training and business solutions.
Shape Immersive unveiled their newest product at TED, which they built specifically for TED2018 in partnership with the VRARA Vancouver. Using Occipital's depth camera and mixed reality framework, the company was able to create the illusion of context-aware virtual objects. The result is one the most spatially accurate augmented reality experiences ever created.
“With computer vision technology, virtual content can now understand its spatial surrounding and interact with it. Experiences are no longer bounded by physical constraints and can be more versatile and imaginative,” said Alex Chuang, Co-Founder and CEO of Shape Immersive.
The demo was greeted with praise from industry professionals and since its debut, has already received 10,000 views on LinkedIn.
“It's so new that even the experts in our field that came and saw it at TED were caught off guard. This is unchartered territory for us digital creatives to play in," said Aaron Hilton, President at Steampunk Digital and the project supervisor for this demo.
The over 180 companies that make up BC’s immersive tech industry have proven the vast number of ways that VR/AR technology can improve how we live, work, and experience the world.
The challenge of identifying VR/AR utility has been resolved. What comes next is bringing immersive tech into the mainstream and connecting developers to the businesses that can benefit from their ideas. Attendance at influential conferences like TED, shines a spotlight on BC's tech industry and can open the doors to new opportunities and investment.
We’re looking forward to what next year brings!
SXSW 2018 Wrap Up
The VRARA Vancouver recently attended the annual South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, to showcase BC's dyanmic VR/AR industry to business and tech leaders from around the world.
Bringing BC VR/AR to the Global Tech Community
BC VR/AR Delegation at SXSW 2018
Last month the VRARA Vancouver, along with four local companies, headed down south to Austin, Texas, for the annual South by Southwest conference (SXSW) to showcase BC’s VR/AR industry an international audience of business and tech leaders.
With the support of British Columbia Trade and Investment, the VRARA secured an exclusive booth space at prominent technology incubator Capital Factory. From March 9 - 13, Finger Food Studios, Motive.io, Archiact, and Momentus demoed their products and shared insights with attendees.
Representatives from each of the attending companies also took center stage on March 12 to lead a panel conversation about the rise of BC’s VR/AR industry. The panel drew an engaged crow of over 200 people and demonstrated why Vancouver is one of the top VR/AR hubs in the world.
SXSW is internationally renowned for shining a light on innovation and sparking conversation about the future of the creative industries, from art and music, to tech. The conference routinely attracts some of the most creative and inspired thinkers in the industry and this year featured tech leaders Elon Musk, Melinda Gates, and Nonny de la Peña as keynote speakers.
During SXSW, Capital Factory becomes the hub for all things tech and was the ideal locale for the BC VRAR delegation to meet and mingle with creators, investors, and business leaders from around the world.
VR/AR is rapidly making its way into the mainstream and the value of immersive tech is being noticed by industries as varied as healthcare, education, and enterprise solutions. We’ve reached an exciting moment in VR/AR development and the timing couldn’t have been better for BC to join the global tech community at SXSW and assert itself as a top destination for VR/AR investment, opportunity, and development.
It was an all-around awesome experience and you can be sure we'll be back!
Vancouver Emerging As Top Five VR and AR Hub
***Reserve your spot (here) at the VR/AR Global Summit taking place in Vancouver!***
Why Silicon Valley is looking north for new investment opportunities.
Surrounded by towering mountains, picturesque lakes, and urban beaches, it’s easy to forget that Vancouver hosts a booming technology industry.
For those in the know, that’s starting to change.
Over the past 40 years, the Canadian region has emerged as a dominant force in the video game, special effects, and animation industries. Known in the business as Hollywood North, the area is home to some of the largest VFX stages in North America. Among other notable studios, the location boasts gaming giant Electronic Arts Canada – the powerhouse behind the NHL, NBA, and FIFA franchises – and employs nearly 17,000 workers in the 3D industry.
When VR and AR began to emerge, the region took full advantage of that talent. Last year, there were 15 XR companies in Metro Vancouver. Now, there are over 180. Creating everything from veterinary education software to search-and-rescue robots operating in VR, developers are helping the city become a world leader in content production.
That expertise is beginning to pique the interest of Silicon Valley investors.
Marco DeMiroz is a co-founder and general partner of the Venture Reality Fund, an XR venture capitalist group based in the Bay Area. Visiting Metro Vancouver for the first time two months ago for the Women in Tech seminar, he’s now looking to make an investment in the region.
“My takeaway from the trip is that Vancouver should be considered among the top five hubs for XR,” he said. “I would put it together with San Francisco, L.A., Seattle, and Austin. It’s got a very vibrant, dynamic community with both men and women leading the space, and it’s really covering everything from content production to enabling technologies.”
“As I’ve been getting to know the region and its opportunities, I’ve been talking to the provincial government about two aspects,” DeMiroz continues. “One is my interest in being more active in the local community and making direct investments. The other is to find talent for our portfolio of 21 companies. It’s very competitive to hire people in San Francisco, L.A., Seattle, or Portland, because you’re going up against giants like Google or Microsoft. In Vancouver, there are equally competent people with specialized expertise. I would consider the region to be great resource to find employees.”
DeMiroz isn’t the only high-profile venture capitalist looking north. Tom Emrich, a partner at Super Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based AR fund, highlights many benefits to investing in Metro Vancouver.
As well as the region’s geographical proximity to the tech giants along the west coast, he says, it also has strong commercial ties to Asian markets. Government programs for the area support early stage companies with grants and tax credits, meaning its startups can survive for longer in competitive industries. Most importantly, though, U.S. investment goes further in Canada. Not only is it less expensive to run a company in Metro Vancouver, an exchange rate favorable to the States means capital has a higher value in Canadian dollars.
“The burn of a company – how much it’s spending on rent, electricity, and potential talent – is definitely much less than in the Bay Area,” Emrich said. “When a company receives U.S. currency, it lasts for longer. I’m originally from Canada. Part of the investment thesis for Super Ventures is that we all have ties outside of the States. That’s a really big benefit for us to have a global viewpoint, and to not just invest in the startups around Silicon Valley.”
Metro Vancouver’s companies are already beginning to feel the benefit of the Bay Area’s cash. Cognitive 3D, a local business that provides analytics on how individuals in virtual and augmented reality interact with their surroundings, recently secured funding from Silicon Valley – a financial injection that will allow it to develop its product for different industries. In its founder and CEO Tony Bevilacqua’s opinion, it’s vital for Metro Vancouver startups to network with their southern neighbors.
“The message we gave to investors in Silicon Valley is that a Vancouver company is no different to those down in the States,” he said. “They have similar valuations, they have the same talent capacity, and they’re in a great location geographically. Companies like ours are talking to investors in the Bay Area and showing how Vancouver is a diamond in the rough that everyone had previously been overlooking.”
“Vancouver is growing into an ecosystem that is globally recognized,” Bevilacqua continues. “We’ve got one of the largest VR events in the world coming to town in September. We’ve got one of the strongest VR networks in the world through the VR / AR Association. I think that we’re starting to build an epicenter. Our local government is beginning to appreciate it, as are big enterprise organizations like Microsoft. I think we’ve got all the right factors for success.”
Reserve your spot (here) at the VR/AR Global Summit taking place in Vancouver!
Canadian investors are missing out on profits from Vancouver’s VR and AR industry
Article Written by Kate Wilson and Vancouver Chapter President Dan Burgar and posted by BCBusiness here
Few industries will remain untouched by virtual and augmented reality, experts predict
In the past year alone, surgeons have begun practising their work on digital bodies, mines have been planned in immersive 3D, and Walmart Inc. has chosen to train its employees in constructed realities. Touted in the same breath as blockchain, AI and machine learning, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are now transforming how businesses are structured.
Metro Vancouver has emerged as an epicentre of the industry. For more than 40 years, the region has nurtured talent in the animation and 3D spaces—and, in its capacity as Hollywood North, has become home to some of the largest special-effects stages in North America. Upward of 180 VR and AR companies are taking advantage of that local expertise, creating enterprise solutions for sectors from retail to real estate.
It’s a boon for investors. But according to local entrepreneurs, British Columbia’s venture capitalists are missing out.
“Metro Vancouver is one of the top markets worldwide for creating VR and AR content,” says Tony Bevilacqua, founder and CEO of Cognitive 3D, a company that provides analytics on how individuals in virtual and augmented reality interact with their surroundings. “But we’re being challenged by the lack of local investment in what we would call at-risk technologies—businesses that are very research- and development-oriented, and don’t necessarily have a healthy financial outlook in the short term. If you have the metrics for a Series A round, you can raise money here. It’s in that seed stage, where a company doesn’t necessarily have the traction or numbers to show investors, that we see the biggest gaps in local funding.”
That reticence has allowed U.S. investors to plug the breach. Many Silicon Valley–based venture capitalists have funded between 10 and 30 early-stage VR and AR companies. In Canada, there are far fewer investors, and most are only supporting one startup. As a result, profits from an industry predicted to be worth up to US$215 billion by 2021, according to market intelligence provider International Data Corp., are passing local venture capitalists by.
In the view of Tom Emrich—a partner at Super Ventures, one of the few Silicon Valley AR funds that has invested in Metro Vancouver—that shouldn’t be the case.
“It’s cheaper to run a business in Canada than in the Valley, where most of the VR and AR startups are concentrated,” Emrich says. “If you’re in America, and you’re giving an American cheque to a B.C. company, that cheque is worth more in Canadian dollars. On top of that, the burn of a business—how much it’s spending on rent, electricity, and potential talent—is definitely much less than in the Bay Area.
“Canada also has a lot of grants and government programs, like SR&ED and IRAP, that help support the growth of startups,” Emrich continues. “It can extend their runway. Funds want a company to provide them with a return, and they need to survive to do that. As an investor, hearing that a government is willing to put their arms around VR and AR businesses is another benefit.”
Commentators have proposed multiple theories to explain Canada’s reservations about investing in early-stage companies. Consumer adoption of the technology has been slower than anticipated, and it’s unclear how long it might take for funds to see returns. The country’s reputation for politeness, too, means local startups are often less bold in forecasting their success and sell themselves short compared to U.S. businesses—a factor that makes them less attractive to investors.
If B.C. venture capitalists don’t choose to put their money into seed stage funding soon, though, Emrich believes the opportunity might be gone.
“The investment possibilities for this technology come early on,” he says. “As the space matures, the larger players start to hire and acquire their own solutions. When Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon begin to put more of a focus on developing their own solutions, the startup opportunity changes, and the venture capital opportunity changes.
“I think it’s the lowest-hanging fruit if you’re in B.C. to look in your own backyard at what’s happening,” Emrich adds. “It can be part of your competitive angle as a fund to be able to identify some stellar Hootsuites, Wattpads, or Nortels early on. The Silicon Valley folks are being inundated by Silicon Valley pitches, and they might not have the luxury or time to scope out Canadian companies. If it fits your investment thesis, can you find the hidden gems that no one knows about in the area, and help support and create the tech giants of tomorrow? If so, you can reap the returns because you got in so early.”
That sentiment is echoed by Marco DeMiroz, co-founder and general partner of the Venture Reality Fund. Also based in Silicon Valley, DeMiroz has spent the past month visiting Metro Vancouver and talking with provincial government officials about the potential for investment partnerships. Currently exploring the possibility of collaborating with local venture funds or government-sponsored entities, he deems the region to be one of the world’s top VR and AR hubs.
“Collectively, VR and AR is a tremendous market opportunity, both from a hardware and software perspective,” he says. “I think the local entrepreneurs in Metro Vancouver and I would like to see more engagement from the Canadian venture capital community, just because economically and commercially, the technology has such huge potential. It’s happening, and it’s going to evolve, and investors can’t really stay out of it.”
BC VR/AR Industry on Display at TED2018
Six BC VR/AR companies will showcase their products at the TED2018 global conference on April 10.
6 VR/AR companies to showcase their products at global conference
Vancouver, BC - March 28, 2018, The Vancouver Chapter of the VR/AR Association (VRARA) has partnered with the TED2018 Conference to showcase BC tech and innovation in VR/AR on April 10.
The annual TED Conference will return to the Vancouver Convention Centre from April 10 - 14, 2018. Internationally renowned for bringing attention to the latest research and innovation in technology, entertainment, and design, the event routinely attracts influential business leaders from around the world.
This year’s theme, “The Age of Amazement,” includes a focus on the transformative power of emerging technology and the impact these innovations will have on how we live, work, and understand each other. The VRARA Vancouver is excited to join this conversation and demonstrate how VR/AR is shaping our future.
Trauma Platform, Precision OS
The VRARA Vancouver will attend TED2018, along with local companies Archiact, Cognitive 3D, LlamaZOO, Ziva Dynamics, Finger Food Studios, and Precision OS, and represent BC’s VR/AR industry to an international audience. The initiative offers each company the opportunity to demo their products to key industry stakeholders and showcase BC as a leader in immersive tech. Home to more than 180 VR/AR companies, BC is one of the largest immersive tech hubs in the world, second only to California’s Silicon Valley.
"With applications for game development, enterprise and immersive experiences, Vancouver's VR/AR ecosystem demonstrates that it is ready for the challenge of developing both the platforms and content of the future. Anchored by household names like Microsoft, populated by game-changing creators like Archiact and Finger Food, and supported by a connected, generous and innovative ecology of educators, incubators, and associations, this is a sector 40+ years in the making.” Nancy Basi, Executive Director, Film and Media at the Vancouver Economic Commission
The attending companies represent VR/AR innovation in entertainment, gaming, healthcare, education, and analytics. Together they demonstrate the wide-reaching applications for VR/AR technology and how it is improving the professional capabilities for business across diverse industries. VR/AR products are being used to increase efficiency, improve safety, and lower costs.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for BC’s world-class VR/AR companies to showcase a variety of products to a global audience. From entertainment to education, to medical and business applications, BC is growing its reputation as a leading jurisdiction in the VR/AR sector.” Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology
“We are excited to showcase the local innovators who are pushing the immersive tech sector forward and putting BC on the map as a global leader in VR/AR.” Dan Burgar, VRARA Vancouver Chapter President
Evasion VR Game, Archiact
In partnership with Shape Immersive, the VRARA Vancouver will feature a special AR application tailored to TED attendees. One of AR's biggest promises is the ability to organize information at its origin. With the help of computer vision technology, digital content can now understand its spatial surrounding and interact with it. Experiences are no longer bounded by physical constraints and can be more versatile and imaginative.
"We are very proud of VRARA Vancouver to represent our Association at the TED Conference. Our members make a strong contribution within our ecosystem and will showcase what the 4th technological transformation (VR/AR) is all about at the conference." Kris Kolo, Global Executive Director
MinelLife VR, Llama Zoo
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Archiact was first founded in 2013, specializing in early virtual reality development. Today, with offices in Vancouver, Canada and Shanghai, China it is one of the world’s largest virtual and augmented reality studios – providing top quality experiences across all major platforms in entertainment and enterprise solutions. Archiact has partnered with the very best at Intel, Epic Games & Nvidia to deliver AAA quality graphics for next generation devices. Their upcoming flagship title “Evasion,” is an authentic full locomotion FPS featuring intense action that has already been hailed by VR critics as a “Borderlands for VR” and a “landmark FPS title”, a must-have VR game for 2018 which will be showcased at TED.
For more information, please visit https://www.archiactvr.com/.
Cognitive 3D was founded in 2015 with a vision to change the way human behavior is analyzed and understood. The platform records, measures, aggregates, and analyzes data from VR, AR, and MR experiences, and generates reports with actionable insights. This technology helps brands develop better products, understand spaces in new ways, and carry our training with clearer results. Cognitive 3D is also creating a language for VR/AR/MR analytics, giving people new ways to talk about and understand this new type of behavior. For more information, please visit https://cognitive3d.com/.
LlamaZOO Interactive is an award-winning AR/VR development studio that creates 3D communication, training, and digital twin visualization solutions. LlamaZOO Interactive will be demoing the following two projects which showcase the power and capability of VR for visualizing complex interactive 3D data for industries such as mining and education. JetsonVR is the world’s first virtual reality canine dissection experience where users to conveniently, safely, and interactively explore the complete canine anatomy, and dissect it organ by organ, inside a virtual lab. MineLife VR fuses complex geospatial and mine planning data into an interactive, 1:1 scale digital twin of the planned, current, and future states of a mine site, over 30,000 km2 (18,600m2). For more information please visit https://www.llamazoo.com/.
Ziva Dynamics is an innovation company changing how virtual humans are created and rendered in interactive experiences through proprietary authoring, intelligence, and rendering technologies. The software automates the creation and utility of virtual humans, through anatomically-correct psychologically-driven character stimulation intelligence. Ziva Dynamics joined forces with Intel to showcase the future of character FX at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Ziva will have two stations set up to show the advancements in virtual human and creature simulation with our tech over the last 2 years. For more information, please visit https://zivadynamics.com/.
Precision OS is a software company positioned to positively impact Orthopedic surgery with their high-fidelity VR software platforms. Their focus on the critical elements of surgery, haptics, and metric feedback provides for an unparalleled educational experience. In addition, their pre-operative planning tool eliminates the trial and error associated with fracture care through an immersive interaction with your patients’ images. This combined with their carefully selected team provides the domain expertise one would expect to change the delivery of Orthopedic care globally. For more information, please visit https://precisionostech.com/.
Finger Food Studios is an award-winning technology solutions company that excels at creating industry transforming solutions for global companies at the convergence of AR/VR, AI, and IoT. Combining technical prowess and some of the world’s best creative, engineering, quality assurance, and business professionals, the company embraces challenge as an opportunity to change things for the better. We care deeply about our clients’ success and are dedicated to creating positive change for each business we work with, our community, and the environment. For more information please visit https://www.fingerfoodstudios.com/.
VR/AR Association Vancouver Chapter (VRARA) represents the coming-together of brilliant minds across the VR/AR/MR ecosystem in Vancouver, from original content creators and creative distributors to innovative hardware companies and ambitious researchers. Vancouver is a national and international hub for technological innovation and the VRARA Vancouver chapter is dedicated to supporting and strengthening BC’s position as a global leader in immersive technology. VRARA Vancouver works across the globe with other VRARA chapters to provide members with worldwide reach and opportunities. For more information, please visit www.thevrara.com/vancouver-chapter/ and find the VRARA Vancouver on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Key Contact
Dan Burgar, VR/AR Association Vancouver Chapter President
604.880.8983
Vancouver, British Columbia is a leading creative hub at the forefront of interactive technology (report)
British Columbia, Canada, is home to a creative cluster of world-class companies specializing in game development. As an international centre for console, social, and mobile game production, as well as an emerging hub for virtual reality technology, British Columbia offers highly skilled talent, a cost-competitive and convenient west coast location, and targeted incentives.
Join leading companies including Capcom Game Studio, EA (Electronic Arts), Microsoft, Sega, Eastside Games, and over 120 more studios that make up British Columbia’s creative cluster of game developers. With strong links to the U.S. west coast, Asia, and Europe, our interactive games sector is integrated with world markets and can handle the full range of development from concept through production.
If you want to locate your business in a thriving interactive technology ecosystem, or partner with innovative game developers, British Columbia is the right place to be — it’s where the creative revolution is taking off.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA:
- Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit
- Skilled labour force
- High quality of life
- Strategic West Coast location
- Low corporate and personal income taxes
- Targeted tax incentives
Member Spotlight: Ryan Chapman, Motive.io CEO
We caught up with VRARA Vancouver member Ryan Chapman, CEO of Motive.io, to discuss location-based AR, how to get people engaged in immersive tech, and the Vancouver VR/AR community!
Laura Ryu Marketing Manager of VRARA Vancouver caught up with VRARA Vancouver member Ryan Chapman, CEO of Motive.io, to discuss location-based AR, how to get people engaged in immersive tech, and the Vancouver VR/AR community!
Tell us about yourself! Who is Ryan Chapman and where does Motive.io fit into the VR/AR space?
Hi! I'm Ryan Chapman, CEO of Motive.io. I've been working in the tech industry for 20 years, with stops including Microsoft, TiVo, and a handful start-ups. Currently I'm CEO and tech lead of Motive.io where we're building a platform that streamlines the development of location-AR apps and games.
How did you get involved in VR/AR?
We've been working in the location-based augmented reality space since 2009. We started as RocketChicken Interactive and released a location-based spy game called CodeRunner in 2012. With CodeRunner we focused really heavily on first-person narrative and created some unique technology that allowed us to tell a compelling story that adapted to the player's surroundings no matter where they were playing.
Tell us about your most recent project?
Motive.io takes the lessons we learned from building CodeRunner and turns them into a platform that anybody can use. Not only are you getting a platform that's been developed, tested, and refined for over five years, you're also getting close to a decade of our own experience crafting location-based AR experiences.
What piece of work that your team has produced are you most proud of?
The Motive platform is by far the product that I am most proud of. It's an incredibly complex system with hundreds of moving parts. I'm also extremely proud of the team that we've built, all of whom have pushed through some pretty challenging times with incredible humour and resilience.
It seems like Motive.io has created a handful of app focused on location-based technology, is there a particular reason why?
We've always been fascinated by the potential to create meaningful engagement with the real world through technology. We started working in the space in the early years of smartphones and felt that many of the elements that made these devices unique were being ignored by developers. Everybody was starting to carry, in their pocket, a device that had access to the boundless resources of the Internet and at the same time knew exactly where you were and what was going on around you. CodeRunner was our first attempt to push the boundaries of a whole new form of entertainment and we haven't looked back since!
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced at Motive.io so far?
I think our biggest challenges are the same ones that a lot of small companies and start-ups face: learning about your market and surviving long enough to get a product ready that fits it.
The public interest in immersive technology seems to grow and fade. What do you think will change the attitude of those who still have reservations about VR/AR technology?
I think people need an entry point into immersive experiences that feels familiar and inviting. This is really one of the key values that we're trying to create. Motive.io gives people compelling, immersive experiences using a device that they already carry with them every day. As people get comfortable with these sorts of apps and games, they will naturally start to see the potential for VR and AR and will start looking for more depth and interaction.
What are you throught on the VR/AR industry in Vancouver? How can companies, communities, and institutions help foster growth and adoption?
I'm beyond thrilled about the VR/AR industry in Vancouver. Our history as a gaming and film hub positions us perfectly to be a pioneer in VR and AR.
As a member, what do you wish people knew about the VR/AR Assocation, especially in Vancouver?
In Vancouver in particular, I'd really love more people to know just what a vibrant technology scene we have, and especially how well represented we are in one of the hottest technology trends of the day. The Global Summit in September is testament to the incredible work that everyone in the industry here has done to push us into a position to be recognized as a global leader.
What can we expect from Motive.io this year?
We are launching open access to Motive.io at GDC later this month! We're thrilled to finally get this in the hands of developers looking to create location-AR and we have a huge stack of features that we'll be adding throughout the year. Stay tuned!
BC VR/AR Industry Joins International Tech Community at SXSW 2018
VRARA Vancouver and four local companies will represent BC's VR/AR industry at the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) interactive art, music, and technology conference March 9-13, 2018.
VRARA Vancouver and four local companies to represent BC VR/AR industry at annual interactive art and technology conference March 2018
Vancouver, BC - March 1, 2018, British Columbia Trade & Investment and the Vancouver Chapter of the VR/AR Association, in conjunction with The BC Tech Cube, have secured an exclusive booth space at prominent technology incubator, Capital Factory, during this year’s South By Southwest Conference (SXSW).
Located in the heart of Austin, Capital Factory is an exciting incubator and coworking space devoted to the promotion and development of technology startups. This 55,000 square-foot space focuses on highlighting new and emerging technology and in 2016 created the AR/VR Lab to provide people with the opportunity to learn about and experience VR/AR. Capital Factory is the nexus of tech innovation and investment in Austin and has been visited by tech leaders including Steve Case, Tim Draper, Ash Carter, Peter Thiel, and Eric Fanning.
SXSW is an internationally renowned interactive art, music, and technology conference which attracts thousands of attendees each year. During this time, Capital Factory becomes a hub for the international tech community and in 2017 hosted the AR/VR MegaLounge where more than 20 VR startups demoed their products to over 5,000 guests. The activation brought together developers and creators, investors, business leaders, government delegations, and foreign dignitaries from around the world to meet and greet with the presenting companies.
The VR/AR Association along with representatives from Finger Food, Motive.io, Archiact, and Momentus will run the booth from March 9 - 13. This initiative will give Vancouver VR/AR companies a central location for product demonstrations, meetings, and networking during the conference. The delegation will also host a panel conversation about the BC VR/AR industry on March 12, The Rise of VR/AR: Spotlight on British Columbia. The panel will showcase BC’s dynamic VR/AR ecosystem to international stakeholders and reaffirm Vancouver as a top destination for tech investment, opportunity, and development. Ryan Peterson (CEO, Finger Food), Anne-Marie Enns (Producer, VR/AR Global Summit/VRARA), Daniel Japiassu (CEO YDreams) and Eric Hine (VP, Archiact) will round out the panel.
“We are very excited to be at Capital Factory with the local chapter of the VR/AR Association and the support of the BC government through their Trade and Investment Representative office. This will provide our companies with a unique opportunity to share their knowledge, expertise, and business know-how at this year’s SXSW.” - Alan Goldman, Chair of the Cube Society
“We expanded our US Trade and Investment Representative office in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley to give BC’s vibrant and growing tech sector greater access to the U.S. market and to promote BC tech to prospective investors. This is a fantastic opportunity for BC’s world-class VR/AR companies to showcase their products to a global audience, reinforcing the province’s reputation as a leading jurisdiction in this sector.” – Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology
The Capital Factory initiative will bring renewed attention to BC’s immersive tech industry in the run-up to the VR/AR Global Summit. The summit will take place in Vancouver September 21-22 and brings together the most intriguing and innovative leaders in VR/AR/MR from around the world.
This activation opportunity also comes in the wake of new federal funding to support the continued growth of BC’s tech industry. The BC-industry led Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster will share up to $950 million with four other superclusters as a result of the Canadian government’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative. The BC government recently appointed a new Innovation Commissioner to advocate for the BC tech sector in Ottawa and abroad, and support the sector through the BC Tech Fund, Venture Acceleration Program, and other programs.
“There has never been a better time for VR/AR in BC. We have more than 180 companies innovating here, a thriving startup culture, and the continued support of the federal and provincial government. We are thrilled to partner with the BC Tech Cube and the provincial government to showcase these innovative companies and our dynamic tech community to the world.” - Dan Burgar, VR/AR Association Vancouver Chapter President
VR/AR Association Vancouver Chapter (VRARA) represents the coming-together of brilliant minds across the VR/AR/MR ecosystem in Vancouver, from original content creators and creative distributors to innovative hardware companies and ambitious researchers. Vancouver is a national and international hub for technological innovation and the VRARA Vancouver chapter is dedicated to supporting and strengthening BC’s position as a global leader in immersive technology. VRARA Vancouver works across the globe with other VRARA chapters to provide members with world-wide reach and opportunities. For more information please visit www.thevrara.com/vancouver-chapter/ and find the VRARA Vancouver on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
British Columbia Trade & Investment works with international enterprises to help them build strong links to the resources, skills, and businesses that make British Columbia an attractive place to work and invest. BC Trade & Invest creates and strengthens business contacts through industry-specific trade missions and helps international organizations discover how they can profit from BC’s world-class goods and services in leading industries including technology and digital media. For more information please visit www.britishcolumbia.ca.
BC Tech Cube is a 6,000 square-foot co-working space dedicated to the growth of AR/VR/MR companies and serves as a platform for the community to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. Supporting early stage entrepreneurs and corporate innovators, members have access to the latest tech gear, business-building workshops, mentorship and technical training programs, industry events, and access to investors, customers, and talent. The BC Tech Cube is home to the innovators who are pushing the immersive tech sector forward and putting BC on the map as a global leader in AR/VR/MR. For more information please visit www.wearebctech.com/memberships/the-cube/.
Dan Burgar, President, VR/AR Association Vancouver
604.880.8983
Alan Goldman, Chair of the ‘Cube Society’
604.649.2486
$1.4B in Funding! The VR/AR Global Summit is happening in Vancouver & the Tech Industry here is to Receive $1.4B; Initial Funding Allocated to VR AR
Reserve your spot at the VR/AR Global Summit here
By Kate Wilson (source)
The funding will initially be allocated to ventures in health, natural resources, and industry. Those projects will draw on Vancouver and B.C.’s expertise in data gathering and quantum computing, and create visualizations using VR and AR.
British Columbia’s tech industry is about to get a huge injection of funding.
Today, Minister Navdeep Bains announced that the Digital Technology Supercluster, led by B.C., will receive a substantial grant from the Government of Canada’s Innovation Supercluster Initiative.
The Innovation Supercluster Initiative is a scheme designed to create up to five superclusters—geographic areas with interconnected businesses and suppliers—around the country. Superclusters are often centres of innovation, and its members can compete more efficiently with national and global companies. The Innovation Supercluster Initiative was created to stimulate the country’s economy and ensure the growth of its chosen regions.
The Digital Technology Supercluster, B.C.’s proposal, will receive $1.4 billion over 10 years. That money will fund 100 collaborative projects, create 50,000 jobs, and inspire a projected $15 billion in GDP growth.
"It is an exciting and historic time for innovation in Canada,” says Bill Tam, co-chair of Canada's Digital Technology Supercluster consortium. “The Digital Technology Supercluster is a generational opportunity—one that holds significant promise for companies in B.C. and across Canada. Now the important work begins.”
The funding will initially be allocated to ventures in health, natural resources, and industry. Those projects will draw on Vancouver and B.C.’s expertise in data gathering and quantum computing, and create visualizations using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
Three of the 100 schemes already earmarked for funding include:
• a secure, anonymous Health and Genomic Platform: this will build the systems required to allow medical specialists to create custom, leading-edge cancer treatments that are personalized to the unique genetic makeup of each patient.
• an Earth Data Store: this project will facilitate and improve data collection, sharing, and visualization in the resource sector. It will enhance how information about resource projects is shared between project proponents, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and communities.
• a Digital Learning Factory: this venture will help facilitate the development of virtual environments that enable design, rapid experimentation, and testing of cost-saving approaches to address the most significant challenges in modern manufacturing.
The cash injection will allow Metro Vancouver’s startups and medium-sized businesses the opportunity to compete globally, and expand the productivity and reach of its larger international firms.
"The Canadian Digital Technology Supercluster is a powerful example of what we can achieve together as we build a globally-recognized technology hub along the Cascadia Innovation Corridor,” says Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, in a statement. “The economic growth to be generated by the British Columbia-born consortium is a testament to how emerging technology will create new industries and jobs. Bravo to the Canadian Federal Government for making this bold investment in the future of Canada's fastest-growing tech sector.”