NYC venture fund investing in immigrant founders building exciting scalable tech

Geek Ventures

Supernode Global is an early-stage VC that invests in companies whose technologies will fundamentally change the media landscape. The firm brings an exceptional understanding of media and has unparalleled access to the European and U.S. media ecosystem. SG invests at the earliest stage and aims to follow on into later rounds, providing successful companies with continuity of investment and strong signalling to the market, as well as financial security.  In addition, RNV is building a global community focused on media- tech innovation by connecting builders, funders, buyers, and partners, called Supernode. Through Supernode, RNV's portfolio companies will have direct access to our network of experts and partners, a diversified pool, investors across all stages of growth, peer-to-peer support, and a range of highly curated events.

Supernode Global

LETA Capital is a venture firm investing in early-stage b2c and b2b software startups. LETA Capital was founded by a successful IT entrepreneur Alexander Chachava, who invested his money and experience. We believe that enthusiastic entrepreneurs can present the world with new values. Our fund aims to support innovative IT startup companies at their seed or early growth stage. In 2018 LETA Capital raised its second $50 mln fund. In 2021 it introduced the third fund and is now in an active investment period till 2024. We aim at long-term cooperation and help talented teams. https://bit.ly/LetaCapitalManifesto

LETA Capital

Boost VC is an early stage venture capital firm with $200m AUM+, investing in deep tech: aerospace, VR/AR, energy, climate, robotics, crypto, bio/health, AI/ML & more. Boost VC leads the first round of $2M or less.

Boost VC

The Venture Reality Fund drives innovation and investment at the intersection of immersive, spatial, and intelligent computing for consumer and enterprise sectors.

The Venture Reality Fund/VRF

Imagine standing on the bridge of a starship rocketing across the galaxy, or strolling through the streets of ancient Rome, or shrinking down to subatomic size and watching molecules collide. Now Re-imagine.   HTC’s VIVE headset, Virtual Reality through HTC VIVE, pulls those virtual worlds off your computer screen and into your home. You’ll experience sights and sounds vivid and lifelike enough to transport you to another place, another time—whole new realities with limitless possibilities.

HTC Vive

The WXR Fund invests in early stage start-ups with gender diverse teams that are employing VR, AR and AI.  The portfolio spans industries including healthcare, enterprise training, remote collaboration, entertainment, education, AEC, retail and e-commerce from pre-seed to series A.

WXR Fund

Hartmann Capital is a frontier-tech investment firm, seeking out opportunities that produce global paradigm shifts, such as Digital Assets, VR/AR, AI, space, and transhumanism.  In early 2018, Hartmann Capital launched its inaugural long-biased, multi-strategy crypto asset hedge fund, Hartmann Digital Assets. The fund is renown for its long/short, thematic, event-driven, and activist investing in the digital assets ecosystem.  Since 2020, Hartmann Capital runs a pure prop arm, Hartmann Ventures, which has has made long term investments in both digital assets and spacetech (Starbridge, Space Capital, Axiom, Lynk) In October 2021, Hartmann Capital launched its second fund, Hartmann Metaverse Ventures I, a pure metaverse venture fund, focused on investing into the infrastructure, content, and access points of the metaverse.

Hartmann Capital

Flyer One Ventures is an international early-stage venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups from CEE region. The fund invests in future-proof startups, founded by exceptional teams, and operating on global markets worth more than $10 billion.  Flyer One Ventures funds startups in Mobile, Health Tech, EdTech, Fitness & Wellness, B2B SaaS, Gaming, FoodTech, and AI/ML industries and helps them scale on international markets. Founded by the co-founder of BetterMe and supported by Genesis Tech, Flyer One Ventures has deep expertise in Digital Marketing, Product, PR, Branding, and Recruiting. Along with the financial investment, Flyer One Ventures actively supports its portfolio companies, helping them optimize Digital Marketing campaigns, hire R&D staff, build user-friendly products, and fundraise Series A and Series B rounds.  Flyer One Ventures' ultimate goal is to support early-stage startups in the geographies with low access to early financing and help them become global leaders by mentorship and daily support.

Flyer One Ventures

STRATMINDS is a San Francisco-based Venture Capital and Advisory firm. We support exceptional entrepreneurs with an ambition to generate an outsized impact. We help them reach their full potential with early-stage investment and strategic advice. We are a thesis-driven firm, focusing on key areas of development that are disrupting the world for the better: AI, Next-gen Computing+Web, UX Innovation, and New Commerce. https://stratminds.vc/about

StratMinds

Remote First Capital invests in companies that improve remote work or that leverage global work in a unique way. Second-degree effects of a globally connected world are one of the cornerstones of the portfolio.

Remote First Capital

Ludus finds, invests in, and nurtures the best-in-class gaming startups. We aim to pioneer the venture studio model in Turkey by providing in-house expertise, strategic guidance, and funding for entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Ludus

Triptyq Capital is a seed stage venture capital firm based in Montreal, Canada. The firm seeks to invest in technology companies at the crossroads of tech, creativity, and business such as the creator economy, gaming, metaverse, Web3, esports, NFT, virtual reality, music, augmented reality and more.

Triptyq Capital

ShapesXR

ShapesXR enables users to instantly create fully immersive scenes and populate them with crucial artifacts which were previously impossible for people without the time and resources to develop costly physical environments, mock-ups, or experience laboratories.

ShapesXR is a VR spatial design and collaboration platform for teams. It enables users to brainstorm and design in XR, create interactive prototypes with zero code, invite others to co-create in real time, or present the ideas developed through ShapesXR’s storyboard feature. Further, output from the platform can be shared instantaneously, even those without a VR headset, via the web, the Unity plugin, or by taking a picture. The company launched its 2.0 update in June 2024, streamlining cross-platform support by enabling team members to easily edit and collaborate in both mixed or virtual reality, and the web, among other updates.

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

Major ‘ShapesXR’ Update Streamlines Collaborative XR Prototyping, Releases Web Editor for PC Users

ShapesXR is a VR spatial design and collaboration platform for teams. It enables users to brainstorm and design in XR, create interactive prototypes with zero code, invite others to co-create in real time, or present the ideas developed through ShapesXR’s storyboard feature. Further, output from the platform can be shared instantaneously, even those without a VR headset, via the web, the Unity plugin, or by taking a picture. The company launched its 2.0 update in June 2024, streamlining cross-platform support by enabling team members to easily edit and collaborate in both mixed or virtual reality, and the web, among other updates.ShapesXR offers three beta version software products that can be used on their main platform to enhance user experiences: 1) Figma Integration - a feature that enables users to import and update the UI components and frames created with Figma directly into XR; 2) Interactivity - provides a more tangible and immersive demonstration of the concept created; and 3) Holonotes - a method of commenting with the platform's virtual environment.ShapesXR offers a variety of plans to address the needs of various customer segments: 1) Free Plan - designed for individual creatives; 2) Studio Plan - targeted at small scale teams for collaboration; and 3) Enterprise Plan - tailored toward larger enterprises. For schools and universities, the company provides free access to their Studio Plan.Key customers and partnershipsKey customers include Logitech, Nanome, CAE Healthcare, Futuregames, Immersive Insider, and Prisms.Specific customer feedback includes that from Logitech, which claims that using ShapesXR enabled the company to get from concept to immersive presentation to stakeholders in VR within three weeks, have 5x faster interaction cycles from idea to spatial design, and save 40% of the time during the creation of prototypes in Unity for the organization. Additionally, Nanome claimed that product iteration time had been reduced from 10 days to 1 day.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20884">August 2023 </a>, ShapesXR raised USD 8.6 million in a seed funding round led by Supernode Global. Funding was to be directed toward making ShapesXR the industry standard for UI/UX design in spatial computing, positioning it as a counterpart to platforms like Figma.

Interplay Learning (Interplay) provides on-demand, interactive, and hands-on simulation learning courses for skilled trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, and facilities maintenance, through VR, mobile, and desktop applications. The learning courses also include simulated walkthrough videos where experts lead users through procedure guides methodically, with knowledge testing features and additional learning material such as wiring diagrams, equations, sample system configs, and charts at the end of each lesson. The platform also enables managers to track user progress.The company operates a subscription-based model with monthly packages for individuals (USD 54) and teams (USD 229), alongside a custom plan for larger organizations.Key customers and partnershipsNotable customers include Tesla and Rheem Manufacturing. Interplay’s customer usage rose by 445% YoY in 2020. As of February 2021, the platform had over 2,000 customers and 110,000 users across the US.Funding and financialsIn its last funding round (February 2021), Interplay raised USD 18 million in Series B funding co-led by S3 Ventures and Owl Ventures, the world’s largest venture capital firm focused on education technology. As part of the deal, Managing Director of Owl Ventures, Ian Chiu, joined Interplay’s board. The funds were raised to expand its offering to new markets and to accelerate its vision to combine immersive learning experiences with a human connection.

Interplay Learning

Switzerland-based WayRay develops holographic AR technology and hardware for the automobile sector. Its technology is used in head-up displays (HUDs) that project images into a driver’s field of vision to assist with navigation. Although its initial focus was on developing HUDs that can be purchased and installed in any vehicle, it has since pivoted to producing embedded HUD systems (i.e., hardware built into vehicles). WayRay’s HUDs are considered to provide a wider field of vision and combine data (location and mapping information) with vision data to generate images by projecting a laser beam through a Picture Generating Unit (PGU) onto a Holographic Optical Element (HOE).&nbsp;In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18537">May 2023</a>, WayRay announced integration of its AR displays into Tesla Model 3's in Switzerland, with plans to follow shortly afterwards in the US. Previously, in September 2021 the company launched its deep reality system that replaces the traditional car dashboard. In addition, WayRay launched “The Holograktor” dubbed the first “metaverse on wheels”, which can be driven conventionally or using a remote control via a 5G and satellite connection (November 2021).&nbsp;The company’s founder and CEO, Vitaly Ponomarev, identified that its systems are more advanced, backed by more patents, and potentially 20x smaller than comparable devices in the market. WayRay’s HQ in Switzerland also acts as a product design and development hub, while its R&amp;D center and prototyping factory are based in Russia.&nbsp;Key customers and partnershipsThe company is backed by strategic investors such as luxury automaker Porsche, which highlighted the management’s expertise in space engineering, hardware, and software development as key reasons for its investment, Hyundai Motor Co., and Alibaba. It is also notable that these investors, particularly Hyundai, are looking at ways to potentially use WayRay’s technology to offer more services in the future. For instance, Hyundai believed that the technology could be used for smart cities and smart buildings, which are its new areas of interest.WayRay partnered with Karma Automotive, a producer of luxury electric vehicles, in December 2021 to support the implementation of its HUDs into their test fleet. Moreover, it partnered with a leader in designing and manufacturing specialty glass, AGP eGlass, in September 2021 to further proliferate its technology.&nbsp; Funding and financialsIt was reported in April 2021 that the company is considering a public listing at a USD 2 billion valuation via a SPAC, although no further updates on this have been announced as at January 2024.&nbsp;

WayRay

AmazeVR initially focused on developing VR technologies but pivoted to VR concerts in late 2019. The concerts are backed by proprietary 9K cameras and software that automate complex VR concert visual effects that run on more than 100 headsets simultaneously. Users join and hang out with other users as avatars while experiencing VR concerts. It intends to bring VR concerts by major artists to theaters and eventually, homes.AmazeVR rolled out its first commercial VR concert, which will feature 3x Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion, in 2022. The artist is expected to tour select AMC Theaters across the US. It is also in the final stages of closing deals with its second and third artists. AmazeVR also revealed plans to release weekly content by 2024 in theaters and for at-home viewers.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/20145">July 2023</a>, AmazeVR launched its official AmazeVR Concerts app, featuring an exclusive VR concert from Swedish pop star, Zara Larsson. The app is available on major VR app stores, and the exclusive Zara Larsson VR concert can be accessed for a year at a launch price of USD 6.99. AmazeVR also produces and monetizes VR content on a subscription basis.As of August 2023, the company was in the process of producing and releasing mixed reality concerts by overlaying virtual elements onto live, real-world video.Funding and financialsThe company’s most recent funding was in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13338">September 2022</a>, when it raised USD 17 million in a Series B funding round led by Mirae Asset Capital. The fresh funds were allocated to expand partnerships with artists, artist management companies, labels, publishers, and agencies.

AmazeVR

Dispelix, based in Finland, designs and manufactures single-layer, full-color waveguide displays, a thin (about 1mm) transparent element that takes in a projected image and relays it to the eye, using a nanophotonics-based approach catering to AR applications (e.g., smart glasses). It uses laser beam scanning technology to render laser-sharp images with a gamut of color palettes, which are displayed using beam-combiner technology. Its patented and proprietary approach includes diffractive surface relief gratings, which are elements used for high-power laser applications, fabricated on high refractive index glass wafers that enhance field-of-view and image quality.The company had a total of more than 40 granted or pending patent families as of November 2021. Its product line, Dispelix DPX, includes Dispelix DPX - Ohut, Dispelix DPX - Selva, and Dispelix DPX - Sade with a varying degree of field of view, form factor, and weight. According to Co-Founder and CTO Juuso Olkkonen, its displays are the lightest and thinnest in the market.Key customers and partnerships1) Foxconn and Pegatron: to create reference designs for AR glasses based on its Selvä waveguide display (October 2023)&nbsp;2) VividQ: created a “waveguide combiner” which accurately displays variable-depth 3D content in a user’s environment (January 2023)3) ColorChip and Maradin: To further Light Beam Scanning (LBS) solutions for AR glasses (October 2022)4) Jade Bird Displays: To develop multiple reference designs for AR devices (June 2022)5) AAC Technologies: To improve waveguide displays for the AR and MR industry (March 2022)6) OQmented: for the development and commercialization of MEMS-based LBS technology (November 2021)7) Coretronic: To develop a range of AR optical module solutions (December 2020)8) Hoya Corporation: To improve quality of waveguide displays (November 2020)Funding and financialsIn its most recent funding round (November 2021), Dispelix raised USD 33 million in a Series B funding round co-led by Atlantic Bridge, CCB Trust, and Flashpoint with participation from Lifeline Ventures, VTT Ventures, and 3M Ventures. The funds were allocated to product development. It revealed that several OEM customers were slated to integrate its technology into their consumer offerings by 2023.

Dispelix

DigiLens is a developer of holographic waveguides, which is a clear, thin piece of glass or plastic, used for AR devices. In January 2023, the company launched ARGO, an XR smartglass designed for enterprise and industrial use, the first AR device to utilize Qualcomm’s SnapDragon XR2 platform. Other specifications included 6-degrees of freedom (6-DoF) tracking, a 30-degree field-of-view, spatial audio, a 48MP RGB camera, voice and gaze recognition, access to real-time data visualizations, and a 2,500-nits HD display.&nbsp;The company’s first product, the DigiLens Crystal was introduced in 2019, was a thin-film laser-etched photopolymer embedded with microscopic holograms of mirror-like optics. By projecting a micro display to one end of the lens and another set of optics working to guide the light wave toward the eye, this proved to be an ideal piece of hardware for AR devices, which are preferred with as little hardware as possible.&nbsp;It claims that its patented optical platform and photopolymer technology coupled with a holographic copy manufacturing process enable it to produce cheaper and more scalable solutions. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17598">April 2023</a>, the company announced the launch of SRG+, a surface relief gratings product that improves upon its waveguide technology.The company generates revenue by licensing its technology across a range of industries including the automobile, enterprise, consumer, avionics, and military sectors. DigiLens also offers a white-label solution for automotive companies whereby it creates holographic waveguides for windshields that could offer in-cabin experiences for drivers.&nbsp;&nbsp; Key customers and partnershipsKey partnerships include that with1) Phantom Technologies: - Phantom Technology: To integrate Phantom's CASSI Spatial AI assistant into the DigiLens ARGO glasses, providing features such as spatial search, a contextual assistant, and task management using voice commands (October 2023)2) Wisear: To integrate its neural interface-powered earphones with the ARGO smart glasses (May 2023)3) Mojo Vision: To utilize Mojo Vision's micro-LED technology to build improved AR glasses (May 2023)4) Taqtile: To integrate the company's ARGO smart glasses with Taqtile's AR work platform, Manifest (May 2023)5) OMNIVISION: To develop new XR product offerings (January 2023)Other partnerships include that with OMNIVISION (January 2023), a leading global developer of semiconductor solutions to develop new XR product offerings. OMNIVISION’s liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panels allowed DigiLens to build LCOS/LED projectors optimized for its holographic waveguides. OMNIVISION's core camera technology provides DigiLens' devices with features such as visual odometry and six degrees of freedom.&nbsp;DigiLens also works with Taiwanese licensed waveguide manufacturer Young Optics, Chinese original design manufacturer and electronics supplier Malata, Korean display manufacturer Sekonix, international technology company Continental, Chinese optical elements manufacturer Crystal Optech, and Mitsubishi Chemical.&nbsp;Funding and financialsIn April 2022, DigiLens announced the second close of its Series D funding round (intiial close in November 2021) in which it raised USD 50 million at a valuation of USD 530 million. The funds were allocated for the development of DesignV1, its second-generation product.

DigiLens

Companies developing XR headsets and relevant sub-components (displays, sensors, and processors). Also includes complementary XR hardware (tracking devices, haptic vests, and gloves)

Companies offering engines that enable the development of AR/VR content, also includes companies offering capabilities to capture and create 3D images for immersive environments

Companies offering AR/VR solutions or toolkits for specific industry applications, including VR game developers

Companies offering location-based AR/VR experiences

AR/VR platforms offer remote assistance to field experts and headset manufacturers facilitate virtual work

Some solutions in the "content" segment are offered under a B2B SaaS model

Headsets and content segments provide the building blocks for the metaverse

AR, VR, and MR are the primary enabling technologies for the XR industry

ShapesXR

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