Mynd Virtual Reality

Mynd Immersive, formerly known as MyndVR, operates as a health and wellness company focused on providing virtual reality-based digital therapeutics. Founded in 2016 by Chris Brickler and Shawn Wiora, the Plano, Texas-based company targets the growing senior population across North America and Australia. The founders combined their distinct experiences to launch the company; Brickler brought his background as a producer and video technologist in Silicon Valley, while Wiora contributed his experience in using technology to improve the lives of seniors in the care industry. Brickler's prior career includes managing large business units at companies like Verizon and British Telecom.

The company's business model is centered on a subscription service that provides a complete solution for its clients, which include senior living communities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare agencies, and veterans' homes. This bundled service includes all-in-one VR headsets, companion tablets for control, a proprietary software interface, and access to an extensive library of senior-friendly virtual reality content. The platform is designed to address age-related health conditions such as isolation, depression, and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's and dementia. Revenue is generated through annual contracts, with a starter price cited at $6,000 per year for a two-year commitment, which includes three headsets and content access.

Mynd Immersive's product, the MyndXR platform, delivers a range of virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality experiences through hardware like the HTC VIVE XR Elite headset. The content library is carefully curated and includes original programming with hundreds of titles covering travel, nature, music, arts, and adventure. A key feature is the shared experience capability, allowing caregivers or family members to see what the user is viewing on a connected tablet. The company has also focused on hardware ergonomics, partnering with HTC VIVE to utilize lightweight glasses to improve comfort for older users. A significant milestone was the December 2021 acquisition of Immersive Cure, a virtual reality therapy company, which expanded its reach into hospice and veteran care and brought on Immersive Cure's founder, Jessica Benson, as VP of Market Development. Mynd Immersive also collaborates with academic institutions like Stanford University and government bodies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to research the impact of XR technology on aging populations.

Keywords: virtual reality therapy, senior care, digital therapeutics, health and wellness, immersive technology, gerontechnology, cognitive health, assisted living, VR content, subscription service