The Virtual Reality Company
Content studio that creates virtual reality experiences by combining technology, art, and storytelling.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| N/A | €0.0 | round | |
$23.0m | Series A | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Founded in 2014 by a team of Hollywood veterans, The Virtual Reality Company (VRC) operates as a content studio and production house focused on creating cinematic virtual reality experiences. The founding team includes Robert Stromberg, an Academy Award-winning production designer for films like "Avatar" and director of "Maleficent"; Guy Primus, former COO of Overbrook Entertainment and head of digital media at Starbucks; Chris Edwards, CEO of the previsualization studio The Third Floor; and Joel Newton. This convergence of talent from narrative storytelling, technology, and art positioned VRC to explore VR as a new medium for immersive entertainment.
VRC's business model centers on the production of high-end, narrative-driven VR content for various platforms. The company generates revenue by creating original content and producing experiences for major entertainment franchises. Its client base implicitly includes major film studios and entertainment companies, as evidenced by its collaborations. The company secured significant financial backing to execute its vision, raising a $23 million Series A round in June 2016, which brought its total funding to over $25 million. Investors included Hengxin Shambala Cultural, Elementum Ventures, and Metallica's lead singer, James Hetfield.
A cornerstone of VRC's portfolio is "The Martian VR Experience," an interactive and immersive journey created for the 20th Century Fox Innovation Lab and executive produced by Ridley Scott. This production, directed by Stromberg, allows users to step into the perspective of astronaut Mark Watney, performing tasks such as driving a rover on Mars and steering in zero gravity. The experience received critical acclaim, earning a Cannes Silver Lion in Digital Craft. Another significant project is "Jurassic World VR Expedition," an interactive game that debuted in over 100 Dave & Buster's locations, making it one of the largest location-based VR launches. VRC also developed original content, such as "Raising a Rukus," a family-oriented animated narrative about two sparring twins and their magical dog.
Keywords: virtual reality content, cinematic VR, VR production studio, immersive storytelling, location-based VR, VR entertainment, Robert Stromberg, Guy Primus, The Martian VR Experience, Jurassic World VR Expedition, Raising a Rukus, VR film, VR gaming, interactive entertainment, digital media production, entertainment technology, augmented reality content, 360-degree video, VR experiences, immersive media