Rampersand is an early-stage venture capital firm. We invest in the best Australian technology founders, teams and companies and are committed to helping them become major national, regional and global leaders.  The rampersand team has worked with successful startups and technology firms in Australia, Silicon Valley, Israel, Europe and Asia. Our partners have seen numerous companies from the early stages through to successful exits including BEA Systems (acquired by Oracle for US$7.2bn), Jajah (acquired by Telefonica), Snaptu (acquired by Facebook), Onavo (acquired by Facebook), StepStone (acquired by Axel Springer) and Amobee (acquired by Singtel for over US$300m).  As you can see, we have done it before and know that companies need more than just capital to succeed.

Rampersand

Investible is an early-stage venture capital firm backing the visionaries advancing humanity through technology. Its mission is to connect ground-breaking companies with the capital, expertise and networks they need to realise their potential on a global scale. Founded in 2014 and with offices in Sydney and Singapore, its unique approach to early-stage tech investment globally sees its VC Funds co-investing alongside members of Club Investible, an active, global investor community. Its group portfolio includes more than 100 early-stage companies across 11 countries and 20 sectors.

Investible

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that provides early-stage and growth equity investments. The company provides ongoing momentum that accelerates ideas, careers, and companies toward standout success.

General Catalyst

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

Eleanor Venture is a tech investment syndicate, that allows angel investors to easily build diversified startup portfolios, that fit their own investment theses.

Eleanor Venture

Flying Fox Ventures is an early stage investment firm that invests across industry and across the micro-stages of pre-seed and seed.

Flying Fox Ventures

Vulpes Ventures is the venture capital group within vulpes Investment management Pte Ltd, an alternative investment manager.

Vulpes Ventures

JigSpace

We learn better in 3D, but until now doing so has been expensive and inaccessible. Our mission is to create a world where knowledge can be shared in the best possible way, with simple, useful, and delightful tools. Since launching, millions of people have used the free JigSpace app to discover the world and share ideas. From jet turbines, to spaceships, to coral reefs, these 3D presentations, or ‘Jigs’ empower the user to explore at their own pace, in 3D or augmented reality.  Jig Workshop enables anyone to create and share Jigs, like Canva or PowerPoint for 3D. Popular use cases include product marketing and sales training, manufacturing prototyping, education and technical support in industries like manufacturing and engineering.  Jig Workshop is used by large companies like Medtronic and Hino Trucks for its collaborative features and organization-wide scalability. Niche manufacturers like Swoop Aero (drones) or Triangle Waterquip (filtration) cite its ease of use for non-technical users to quickly share 3D presentations. Businesses use Jig Workshop to demonstrate and develop 3D products with live multiplayer interaction from customers, remote colleagues, or stakeholders.

Australia-based JigSpace offers a platform for creating WebAR models and 3D presentations, describing itself as a 3D-version of Canva or PowerPoint. Users can create guided AR product tours to highlight inner workings or processes by uploading relevant CAD files. These “Jigs” can be embedded directly onto a website or QR code and are viewable in AR without the need for an external app download. Additionally, the Jigs can be edited directly, without the use of CAD software or programming knowledge. Other software applications include use in trade shows, marketing, and enterprise training.

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

Deals in brief: Lhoopa raises USD 80 million, Breakthrough Victoria leads investment in JigSpace, 12 China and India deals, and more

Australia-based JigSpace offers a platform for creating WebAR models and 3D presentations, describing itself as a 3D-version of Canva or PowerPoint. Users can create guided AR product tours to highlight inner workings or processes by uploading relevant CAD files. These “Jigs” can be embedded directly onto a website or QR code and are viewable in AR without the need for an external app download. Additionally, the Jigs can be edited directly, without the use of CAD software or programming knowledge. Other software applications include use in trade shows, marketing, and enterprise training.In November 2023, the company announced Jig Spark, a GenAI tool for creating customizable 3D presentations, which can subsequently be converted into AR. JigSpace uses an in-house development GenAI model based on a selection of over 300,000 Jigs created by its team.The company offers a freemium model, with paid monthly subscriptions ranging USD 140–500 per month (with discounted pricing plans for educators), with custom pricing for larger enterprises.Key customers and partnershipsNotable customers include PepsiCo, Panasonic, and Medtronic. The company claims that it is the world’s highest-rated AR demonstration app, with over 5 million downloads as of April 2023.In May 2021, the company partnered with Snap, allowing Jigs to be viewable within its Snapchat app.

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

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 Australian Augmented Reality (AR) startup, JigSpace, recently secured AUD 13 million (approximately USD 8.8 million) in Series B funding. The funding round was spearheaded by Breakthrough Victoria and saw contributions from Aura Ventures, Anorak Ventures, Rampersand, Investible, Vulpes Ventures, along with angel investor Hugh Bickerstaff.
 The funds will contribute towards boosting the company's growth. JigSpace plans to broaden its team based in Melbourne, establish its first-ever US office, and enhance product offerings significantly. The company envisions expanding its workforce to 40 by the year 2028, with an aim to possibly double that number to 80 employees by 2030.
 </div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 The round underscores investor confidence in JigSpace, which claims to be the world’s highest-rated AR demonstration app. The company previously raised AUD 5.2 million (~USD 3.5 million) in a Series A round in <a href="https: 
//www.investible.com/blog/jigspace-raises-5m-investible-rampersand-vulpes"> April 2023 </a> , which saw its proceeds used to expand its commercial team. Notably, the company launched Spark in <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/23416"> November 2023 </a> , a tool that uses GenAI to create 3D product presentations for AR devices.

JigSpace

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