Ludus

Ludus, established in Bilbao, Spain, in 2011, develops a virtual reality platform for health and safety training. The company was founded by engineers from the University of Deusto, including Mikel Cearsolo, who serves as CEO. Cearsolo's background in Industrial Organization Engineering and his experience in managing innovation projects have shaped the company's direction. The idea for Ludus emerged in 2013 after the founders encountered a new generation of virtual reality technology at a fair in Amsterdam.

Ludus operates on a subscription-based model, offering its platform as a service (SaaS) to a diverse client base. Clients include companies that provide training services to other businesses, educational institutions like technical colleges and universities, and organizations across various sectors that conduct in-house employee training. The company's business model involves providing an all-in-one solution that includes access to all current and future simulations, the necessary hardware (high-performance laptop, VR headsets, etc.) on a rental basis, and initial support. Ludus offers different license tiers and also has a channel partner program to market its licenses and provide after-sales service.

The core of Ludus's offering is a platform of virtual reality simulations designed to provide realistic and safe training for high-risk procedures. This allows trainees to experience and learn from potentially dangerous situations without any physical risk, addressing issues like employee motivation and the high costs associated with traditional training methods. The platform features a wide range of simulations covering areas such as CPR, fall protection, forklift risks, overhead crane operation, fire safety, confined spaces, and electrical hazards. Ludus continuously develops new simulations, releasing approximately two every four months. The platform supports guided, remote, and autonomous training modes and provides data and statistics to track user performance and demonstrate training completion. A key feature is the ability for users to repeat exercises multiple times to master procedures, and a recent addition includes predictive statistics to identify likely accidents.

Keywords: virtual reality training, occupational health and safety, HSE training, VR simulation, workplace safety, industrial training, emergency services training, SaaS, corporate training solutions, risk prevention, safety compliance, VR platform, employee training, experiential learning, simulation-based training, safety technology, hazard identification, CPR training, fire safety simulation, fall protection training