It’s part eleven in the series on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) companies that, with any luck, will have something to say on how the Metaverse and Web3 develop. For those who have missed the series so far, or are here for the very first time, here’s the link to number one in the series.
1. BioDigital
BioDigital, an NYC-based company founded in 2013 by Frank Sculli and John Qualter, created the world’s first interactive 3D body platform to revolutionize the understanding of the human body.
Often referred to as “Google Maps for the Human Body,” the BioDigital Human platform is a medically accurate, virtual map of the human body — composed of over 8,000 individually selectable anatomical structures, 600 simulated health conditions, and a toolkit to map and visualize data. This fully embeddable, cloud-based software is available in eight languages, on any desktop, mobile device, or in AR/VR for use within any educational or clinical workflow within companies.
Today over 4,000,000 professionals, clinicians, students, patients, yoga instructors, physical therapists, and others rely on the BioDigital Human to understand human health and physiology.
So far, BioDigital has raised a total of $4.5 million in funding over three rounds.
2. ART+COM
ART+COM Studios designs and develops new media installations and spaces. A groundbreaking company and the inspiration behind the Netflix miniseries The Billion Dollar Code — based on ART+COM’s development of the planet browser, TerraVision, in 1991 and the ensuing legal battle with Google over a software patent — it was originally founded in Berlin as a collective of designers, architects and hackers back in 1988 by Joachim Sauter and others.
ART+COM uses new technology as an artistic medium of expression and as a medium for the interactive communication of complex information. In the process, it is improving the technologies constantly and exploring their potential for spatial communication and art.
Media designers, media artists, IT developers, tech people, programmers, communications and product designers, scientists, engineers, and project managers all work hand in hand at ART+COM Studios. Projects are developed from their individual contexts in small, multidisciplinary teams brought together.
With the company’s background and heritage, ART+COM is sure to have an influence on the Metaverse and the expansion of Web3.
3. Alt.vfx
Alt.vfx. is an artist-owned, artist-run company built around a passionate team of visual effects professionals. Originally based in Brisbane, it now has studios in Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles.
Specializing in visual effects, design and post-production for commercials and film — from visual effects to virtual reality, Alt collaborates with leading agencies and filmmakers across the world, helping creatives tell their stories across a vast range of projects, and aims to create, cultivate, collaborate, and provoke.
The company was founded in 2011 by Colin Renshaw and Takeshi Takada.
4. Sponge
With headquarters in Plymouth, the UK, Sponge is on a mission to lead the pack in digital learning, to truly leave a legacy that its clients value and its people can be proud of.
Founded in 2004 by Louise Pasterfield, Sponge has a proud heritage of delivering top-notch workplace training for some of the world’s largest brands, including IFRC, Intuit, Tetra Pak, PayPal, Dyson, IKEA, VW, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Specsavers, Tesco, AstraZeneca, AXA, GSK, Royal Mail, and the United Nations.
In 2020, Sponge acquired Bolt, a specialist provider of learning analytics. Together, they use creativity, learning science and technology to deliver powerful, effective and comprehensive digital learning solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible for the world’s leading brands.
Sponge’s learning solutions solve multiple business challenges, from risk and compliance (e.g., cyber security and health and safety) to business transformation, people development (e.g., employee onboarding) and skills enhancement. Harnessing the very latest in cutting-edge technology, Sponge’s solutions include e-learning, learning games and gamification, animation and motion graphics, immersive technologies (e.g., interactive video, simulations, virtual reality and augmented reality), microsites and blended learning.
Sponge was named Learning Provider of the Year at the 2019 Learning Awards and won silver for Company of the Year at the 2018 Learning Technologies Awards. Far outshining other VR and AR companies.
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