TechSquare Labs is an incubator, seed fund and 15k sf of coworking and corporate innovation space. They are driven to Build Something From Nothing with companies ranging from two guys and a laptop to established enterprises looking to stay ahead of the pack. They do this by combining experience in patents, research, and team building with a network that spans from freshman coders to Fortune 500 CEO’s. TechSquare Labs is in Atlanta for its incredible density of educational institutions, enterprises, and entertainment. Over 250,000 students call Atlanta home along with 27 Fortune 1000 companies that generate nearly a half a trillion dollars in revenue. The city drew in $6 billion from film production budgets in the last fiscal year alone. They have hung their hat in the middle of it all in Technology Square. In addition to a cluster of corporate innovation labs and startups, the area is swarming with tech talent from Georgia Tech – where more engineers graduate than MIT and Stanford combined. TechSquare Labs was founded by Dr. Paul Judge and Allen Nance, two technology entrepreneurs with a track record of building, advising, and investing in successful technology companies.

TechSquare Labs

Vuzix is a supplier of video eyewear products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets. The company’s products- personal display devices that offer users a portable high quality viewing experience- provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and virtual and augmented reality. Vuzix holds over 48 patents and patents pending, as well as numerous IP licenses in the video eyewear field. The company has won 13 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Awards and several wireless technology innovation awards, among others. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (OTCBB:VUZI.QB), with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK and Tokyo, Japan.  Vuzix’s high-resolution Video Eyewear Family of consumer products solves the main challenge in viewing video and digital information via portable and mobile devices – the small screen. Vuzix iWear® and Wrap® Video Eyewear are worn like regular glasses and provide the effect of a big screen experience, ranging from 44” to 75”, as seen from 10 feet (~ 3m). They are ideal for use with media players, portable DVD players, gaming consoles, and mobile phones. The company is focused on making its video eyewear the standard mobile equipment for watching news, sports, music videos and movies, and for playing video games on the go.  Vuzix is a leading name in Virtual Reality (VR), immersing users in computer-generated worlds. Vuzix VR eyewear enables users to view the world outside their flight simulation cockpit and look around like sitting in the real plane. Look down and to the left to see your landing approach and your view changes automatically. VR software and Vuzix VR eyewear are used in a variety of applications ranging from game and flight simulations to medical applications such as pain and phobia management.  Vuzix Augmented Reality (AR) eyewear provides a first-person view of the real world, overlaid with computer-generated data and content. Both digital and optical see-through models provide 2D and 3D support of real world and computer content. Integrated camera systems capture AR markers and targets, enabling a host computer or mobile device to merge the real and virtual worlds. AR technology is catching on quickly in a vast array of applications from hands-free maintenance assistance, virtual engineering/product demonstrations, gaming, simulation, and more.

Vuzix

Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund is an outgrowth of Revolution’s Rise of the Rest platform, a national initiative launched in 2014 to spotlight emerging startup hubs. Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund invests in seed- and early-stage companies located outside of New York City, Silicon Valley, and Boston. By partnering with regional ecosystem leaders and co-investors, Rise of the Rest is helping to build and scale the next wave of transformational companies. The Rise of the Rest Seed Funds are backed by a group of iconic entrepreneurs and business leaders committed to the vision that the next great startups will be located outside of the coastal tech hubs.

Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund

MaC Venture Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on finding ideas, technology, and products that can become infectious.  The firm invests in technology companies that benefit from shifts in cultural trends and behaviors in an increasingly diverse global marketplace. MaC VC is the result of the merger between successful Los Angeles and Bay Area-based Seed funds, Cross Culture Ventures, and M Ventures.

MaC Venture Capital

Florida Funders is a Florida-focused Venture Capital Firm and Angel Investor syndicate with over 1,500 members. Led by successful entrepreneurs and seasoned investors, it partners with its portfolio companies to set them up for success. Its team scours the state of Florida to find the best early-stage ventures across all industries. It blends the best of equity crowdfunding, angel investing, and venture capital to generate strong returns for its investors while supporting the next generation of the Sunshine States' most promising entrepreneurs.

Florida Funders

Founded by Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund launched in 2016 as an initiative of KCRising, a long term vision for the greater Kansas City region to build capacity, bring existing businesses to scale, and fully realize the KC region’s potential. Decidedly for-profit, KCRise Fund is a traditional venture capital fund which invests side-by-side with other institutional VC investors in early stage companies based in Kansas and western half of Missouri. Our investors include corporations, university endowments, family offices and prominent business leaders in the region.  In 2019, KCRise launched KCRise Fund II, and KCRise currently has $70 million in committed capital under management.

KCRise Fund

Willow provides early growth capital to entrepreneurs building the next generation of transformative consumer brands. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Willow Growth Partners

Cortado Ventures invest in capital-efficient businesses that leverage technology to scale in the fintech, biotech, aerospace, ag tech, and energy tech.  It was founded in 2020 and headquartered in Oklahoma, United States. Intake form: https://cortado.ventures/contact-us/

Cortado Ventures

BBG Ventures is a NYC-based, early-stage fund backing big ideas that will reshape the way we live. BBGV backs typically overlooked female founders who are building scalable solutions to problems that millions of people face — and that the founder understands firsthand. BBGV’s most recent $50M Fund III addresses large categories demanding reinvention: health and wellbeing; the future of education and work; climate friendly commerce; overlooked and emerging consumers.

BBG Ventures

Atento Capital is a Tulsa-based investment firm focused on returns, quality job creation, and being helpful.  They look for exceptional entrepreneurs that address large markets. Most of their investments will be in early-stage venture funds from other parts of the country and world. They look for funds with cumulative advantages in their investment space that can drive outsized returns, but also those who will be willing partners in their effort to build a tech ecosystem in the city of Tulsa.

Atento Capital

Great Wave Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund, investing in the future of the built world.

Great Wave Ventures

Ox is an enterprise software provider that develops human-centered automation systems across the supply chain. The Operator Experience directs frontline operators to perform their work through software automation, wearable displays, and artificial intelligence to deliver operational excellence.

Ox (formerly known as Oculogx) is a technology company that uses AI to assist frontline workers in AR-based industrial operations. The company’s hardware-enabled software automation system can be integrated with AR headsets, mobile devices, and smart watches to support operational processes. Ox’s warehouse solutions include order picking, inventory control, real-time routing, pallet building, workload visibility, and performance analytics, alongside retail solutions such as curbside fulfillment, parcel fulfillment, workload visibility, and performance analytics.&nbsp;

Technologies bringing about a new reality

Extended Reality

Ox (formerly known as Oculogx) is a technology company that uses AI to assist frontline workers in AR-based industrial operations. The company’s hardware-enabled software automation system can be integrated with AR headsets, mobile devices, and smart watches to support operational processes. Ox’s warehouse solutions include order picking, inventory control, real-time routing, pallet building, workload visibility, and performance analytics, alongside retail solutions such as curbside fulfillment, parcel fulfillment, workload visibility, and performance analytics.&nbsp;Its software optimization layer provides real-time instructions and assistance to frontline workers, with app-based workflows and intelligent optimization, which the company claims can train a worker in 30 minutes, have infrastructure that can be scaled across operations in 8–12 weeks, and have a payback period 3x faster than traditional mechanical forms of automation.&nbsp;In August 2023, the company announced the launch of its Productivity Assessment feature. The feature optimizes warehouse execution via a 48-hour warehouse analysis to determine how Ox's AI-powered frontline applications could enhance operator productivity.Ox generates revenue for its SaaS solutions in the form of monthly subscriptions.Key customers and partnershipsThe company noted that its technology has been adopted by multiple Fortune 500 companies for retail, supply chain, and warehousing use cases. In January 2023, the company partnered with Vuzix to integrate its software into Vuzix smart glasses.&nbsp;Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/18002">April 2023</a>, Ox raised USD 12.6 million in Series A funding co-led by BBG Ventures and MaC Venture Capital. Funds were earmarked to develop a patented wearable device, acquire more customers, and increase use case variety.

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.&nbsp;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

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

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

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

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Extended Reality

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XR and MEP (Q2 2023): Apple's Vision Pro fuels XR's cautious comeback as metaverse plummets

Automated micro-fulfillment: small structures creating big waves in the ‘new normal’ supply chain

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AR platform for front-line workers Ox raises USD 12.6 million in Series A funding

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