Niantic & Digital Catapult Launch Programme to Accelerate Real-World Metaverse Creation

When Pokemon GO creator Niantic Labs launched its Lightship software development kit (SDK) for augmented reality (AR) developers in 2021, the company spoke of its desire to build a “real-world metaverse” rather than a purely virtual one. Today, in the next step down that road Niantic has announced a new accelerator programme in collaboration with UK tech agency Digital Catapult, looking for UK-based startups to help build immersive AR experiences.

Niantic Metaverse

Niantic and Digital Catapult are teaming up with Cartoon Network and internationally renowned choreographer Wayne McGregor on the programme. Successful applicants will utilise the Lightship ARDK to build AR experiences for these brands, exploring the definition of a real-world metaverse, the social interactions that take place and how to bring people closer together.

Three startups will be selected for the Niantic Lightship Augmented Reality Accelerator which Digital Catapult will run under its own FutureScope accelerator programme. Each startup will be awarded up to £100,000 GBP to create a socially engaging AR demo.

“This unique collaboration with Niantic and Digital Catapult allows us to dream bigger and venture further into our evolving metaverse(s), visioning a new kind of shared creative adventure that untethers the imagination,” said McGregor in a statement. “This project provides everybody with accessible tools to tap into their innate creativity, to connect playfully with others and to explore their bodies and spaces they inhabit in surprising, limitless ways.”

Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor. Photo credit: Pål Hansen

“This new accelerator program with Digital Catapult will allow startups to push the boundaries of possibility with technology, creating groundbreaking new experiences for leading brands – and we are proud to unleash the potential of our Lightship Augmented Reality Developer Kit as part of this, Kate Carlyle, Senior Marketing Manager, Niantic’s Lightship Platform added.

Details regarding when the programme will begin and what sort of timeframe the startups have to build these demos haven’t been released at present. But if you’re UK-based and wish to apply then email niantic@digicatapult.org.uk.

For continued updates on the latest immersive accelerators, keep reading gmw3.

The VR Job Hub: PTC, Digital Catapult & CM Games

Welcome to another VR Job Hub where every weekend gmw3 gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industries, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.

LocationCompanyRoleLink
US/RemotePTCAR Product DesignerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultSenior Bid ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultBusiness Development Manager – Process IndustriesClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultPresales Solution ArchitectClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultStrategic Account ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultTechnology Partnerships DirectorClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultSenior Regional Strategic Partnerships ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultProject ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultResource ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultProduct OwnerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultProduct ManagerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultCloud Network EngineerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultSystems AdministratorClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultTelco Cloud DevOps EngineerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesArt LeadClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesOffice ManagerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior Unity Developer (R&D)Click Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior Unity Developer (Production)Click Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior UI/UX ArtistClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior Game DesignerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior Fullstack DeveloperClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesProduct ManagerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesMarketing LeadClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesDevOps EngineerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesAnimatorClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesQA EngineerClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesTraining & Development SpecialistClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesMarketing ArtistClick Here to Apply
Tallinn, EstoniaCM GamesSenior Marketing ManagerClick Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to community@gmw3.com.

We’ll see you next week on gmw3 at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

MyWorld Opens £2m Funding Initiative for UK Creative Tech

The UK is continually striving to help promote and fund new opportunities in its creative technology sector with programmes like the recent UK-Canada Immersive Exchange. Today, a new initiative has been announced by Digital Catapult and the University of Bristol called MyWorld, where businesses can apply for project grants taken from a £2 million GBP funding pot.

MyWorld
University of Bristol researchers are editing the high frame rate video for denoising, light balance and colour correction. Image credit: Alice Berkeley

MyWorld is looking for companies from across the West of England who are pioneering new digital formats and technologies, whether that’s in creative production, arts, or the higher education sector. Applications open later this month from 25th April to 1st June 2022. With funding amounts ranging from £100k – £200k, MyWorld does stipulate that: “Supported projects must focus on screen-based and immersive technologies within the creative sector industries.”

It’s not just funding that MyWorld will supply successful applicants. They’ll also gain access to advanced training programmes and talent development from the University of Bath, University of the West of England, and Bath Spa University.

“The West of England excels in the creative technology sector, so I’m intrigued and excited to see what will emerge from this first public call for funding,” said David Bull, MyWorld Director and Professor of Signal Processing at the University of Bristol in a statement. “MyWorld is based on a foundation of world-class research and development, combined with industry strength, in this field across Bristol, Bath, and beyond. It is fantastic to be able to open MyWorld funding up to the organisations and academics that have been building this reputation for years, and to welcome new collaborators to the region. I have every confidence it will catalyse a raft of new innovations and opportunities to supercharge future growth across our region.”

MyWorld
University of Bristol researchers discussing how to use a RED EPIC camera to shoot high dynamic range video content, based in the 1 Cathedral Square studio. Image Credit: Alice Berkeley

“From virtual reality to motion capture, technologies can unlock so many exciting new experiences for audiences in the creative space. The West of England is fast emerging as a front runner in this area, boasting some of the leading CreaTech minds in the country,” adds Katie Hudson, Senior Innovation Partner at Digital Catapult for MyWorld. “Whether you’re an industry leader or academia, MyWorld is on the hunt for some of the brightest tech and creative innovators in the region.”

Supported by £30m from the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Strength in Places Fund, MyWorld is supported by partners including the BBC, Aardman Animations, BT, Google, and Microsoft. To officially kick things off, MyWorld will run a free event at Bristol’s M Shed Museum on Tuesday, 26th April, where it’ll showcase past industry-academic R&D partnerships and examples of the region’s creative technology.

For continued updates on the UK’s creative technology sector, keep reading gmw3.

Showcasing ‘Best of British’ VR, the Immersive Arcade Begins UK Tour

Immersive Arcade: The Showcase header

The United Kingdom has some incredible talent when it comes to immersive content creation which is why the Immersive Arcade: The Showcase was put together, a collaborative effort between several agencies including Digital Catapult; commissioned by UKRI as part of the ‘Audience of the Future’ challenge. Initially released via the Museum of Other Realities, today marks the first day of a month-long physical tour around the UK.

Notes on Blindness

The unique showcase features a collection of 12 stunning examples of virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree experiences created in the UK between 2000 and 2020. Visiting a selection of cities across the country during September, Immersive Arcade: The Showcase is themed around an exploration of the human mind and is completely free for visitors to attend.

Locations will have VR headsets for guests to step inside these immersive worlds. There’s a broad selection on offer such as Modigliani VR: The Ochre Atelier which reimagines Modigliani’s final Parisian studio whilst Flood provides a 45-minute location-based XR for up to 8 audience members. Lucid follows Astra who enters her mother Eleanor’s mind after a car crash leaves her in a coma, giving Astra a chance to say goodbye; with surprising results.

Immersive Arcade: The Showcase isn’t just about bringing these immersive works to audiences that may not have experienced VR before. It’s also being used as a call to action, highlighting immersive production as a career path for young women.

Flood

“Digital Catapult is a long-standing advocate of the power of immersive technologies to create a fundamental shift in how we work and play, and we are very proud to have been so closely involved in the extraordinary growth of many immersive companies over the years,” said Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult in a statement. “The Immersive Timeline and Immersive Showcase both aim to demonstrate the breadth and depth of the UK’s ground-breaking innovations in the area, profiling the far-sighted experiences that made an impact over the last two decades.”

Immersive Arcade: The Showcase Tour Dates

  • GUILDFORD: 7th & 22nd September Virtual Production Test Stage, Unit 1A Riverside Business Centre, Guildford, GU1 4UG
  • LEICESTER: 13-14th September, 14:00-19:30 The Phoenix Micro Cinema, 4 Midland Street, Leicester, LE1 1TG
  • COVENTRY: 15th September West Orchards Shopping Centre, Smithford Way, Coventry CV1 1QX
  • LONDON, WATERLOO: 16th September 15:00-17:00 and 19:00-24:00 MCV/Develop IRL event, 26 Leake Street entry via Waterloo Tunnel – Ticket booking required)
  • MANCHESTER: 16th September. HOST, Salford, Blue Tower, MediaCityUK, M50 2ST
  • LONDON, KENSAL: 17th September 14:00 – 19:00 Parlour, 5 Regent St, London NW10 5LG
  • CARDIFF: 23rd September 12:00 – 14:00 and 16:00 – 18:0 Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff, CF10 5AL
  • HARTLEPOOL: 23rd & 24th September 10:30 – 16:30 The Northern School of Art, Hartlepool,TS24 7DR
  • NOTTINGHAM: 28th September Zero Latency, Victoria Centre, Nottingham NG1 3QN
  • BRIGHTON: 28th, 29th & 30th September The Fusebox Brighton, Wired Sussex, BN1 4GH
  • GATESHEAD: 28th & 30th September 10:00 – 16:30 PROTO, Abbott’s Hill, Baltic Business Quarter, Gateshead, NE8 3DF
  • DUNDEE: 30th September  InGAME, V&A Dundee, 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee DD1 4EZ – Ticket booking required

Of course, if you’re not in the UK or have your own PC VR headset then you can always view the collection at home. Museum of Other Realities is free on Steam with Immersive Arcade: The Showcase requiring an additional DLC download; also free. For continued updates on the latest VR events, keep reading VRFocus.

Enter the Immersive Arcade: The Showcase in Museum of Other Realities for Free

Immersive Arcade: The Showcase header

The Museum of Other Realities has been used for several events of the past year including Cannes XR Virtual and fashion exhibition The Fabric of Reality. The latest is a showcase of British virtual reality (VR) experiences ‘Immersive Arcade: The Showcase’, put together by Digital Catapult and UKRI in partnership with Kaleidoscope its completely free to enjoy.

Museum of Other Realities
Common Ground by Darren Emerson, East City Films

Normally, the Museum of Other Realities is a paid app but for the couple of weeks the showcase is running you can download it for free. Supporting Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Immersive Arcade: The Showcase brings you Volume One: Realities & Dimensions, four works themed around the exploration of the human mind.

  • Common Ground by Darren Emerson, East City Films
    • “A VR documentary narrative exploring the history, politics and human face of the current crisis in the UK housing system. Through the brutalist concrete blocks of the notorious Aylesbury Estate, the biggest social housing estate in Europe, audiences will enter its world from its construction to its controversial redevelopment today.”
  • The Invisible by Darkfield
    • “Imagine you could make yourself invisible. What would you do with this remarkable talent? Could you resist the temptation to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting? If you cannot be seen, how can you be held responsible for anything? Meet the invisible man and choose your path.”
  • Fly by Charlotte Mikkelborg, Novelab
    • “From a multiple award-winning VR team and Oscar-winning special effects team, Fly enables you to become a time-travelling pilot – from the earliest imaginings of Leonardo da Vinci and his ornithopter, to the Wright Brothers’ success on Kitty Hawk Beach and, ultimately, into one potential future of flight.”
  • Notes on Blindness by ARTE, Atlas V, Archer’s Mark, Novelab
    • “In 1983, after decades of steady deterioration, John Hull became totally blind. To help him make sense of the upheaval in his life, he began documenting his experiences on audio cassettes. These original diary recordings create the basis of this interactive non-fictional narrative which is a cognitive and emotional experience of blindness.”
Fly - Novelab
Fly by Charlotte Mikkelborg, Novelab

The Immersive Arcade: The Showcase is available until 26th March 2021 for those interested in these types of VR experiences. As this is the first volume when further additions are announced VRFocus will let you know.

The VR Job Hub: Triangle Factory, Digital Catapult, SPREE & Chatterbug

VR Job Hub

Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.

LocationCompanyRoleLink
Ghent, BelgiumTriangle FactoryJunior 3D ArtistClick Here to Apply
Ghent, BelgiumTriangle FactorySenior 3D ArtistClick Here to Apply
Ghent, BelgiumTriangle FactoryJunior Game DeveloperClick Here to Apply
Ghent, BelgiumTriangle FactorySenior Game DeveloperClick Here to Apply
Ghent, BelgiumTriangle FactorySenior Game ProducerClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultTechnologist – AI + Machine LearningClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultNetwork Orchestration R&D Engineer – 5GClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultSoftware DeveloperClick Here to Apply
London, UKDigital CatapultLegal CouncilClick Here to Apply
Bristol, UKDigital CatapultInnovation Partner (Manager)Click Here to Apply
 Munich, GermanySPREE InteractiveMultimedia Design & Marketing Assistant  Click Here to Apply
Nuremberg, GermanySPREE InteractiveFull Stack DeveloperClick Here to Apply
Berlin, GermanyChatterbugSenior Software EngineerClick Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

10 UK Startups Complete Digital Catapult’s Augmentor Programme

Augmentor - Digital Catapult

Over the past four years, Digital Catapult’s Augmentor programme has helped numerous tech startups succeed in making their ideas a reality, like soft skills training platform BodySwaps and design tool Gravity Sketch. The latest programme has now concluded with new 10 companies worth keeping an eye on in the XR space.

Vika Books - Baby BSL
Image Credit: Jo Hounsome

For the 2020 initiative, Digital Catapult focused on a range of sectors within the industry, most notably architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), data visualisation, training and 3D design, production and tooling whilst also encouraging those working in AI or 5G. The 12-week programme is a great way for early startups to attract private investment and scaleup their plans quickly.

Those who were successful include Evidential which built VR training platform EVITA. Designed for major incidents, it equips police officers with essential soft and hard skills. The platform is Evidential’s second having created augmented reality (AR) app First Responder to improve the preservation of crime scenes.

Or then there’s Percept Imagery‘s AR platform Sprie which creates immersive shopping experiences for retailers and their customers. Ecommerce websites or social pages can use Sprie to make their products more accessible, thus allowing shoppers to see a digital product in the real world before buying it, great for household items for example.

Fracture Reality
Fracture Reality

“We’ve seen some amazing startups take part in Augmentor since the inception of the programme, and it was no different for this edition. The quality of the products and ideas was outstanding, and we’re thrilled to have played a role in helping to give these startups a boost towards investment readiness,” said Jessica Driscoll, Head of Immersive Technology at Digital Catapult in a statement. “Thanks also to our incredible investor partners and mentors who have been staunch advocates of the programme and instrumental in supporting these companies to bring them closer to becoming the next big thing.”

Take a look at all the successful startups from 2020 and previous years over on the Augmentor website. For further updates on the latest XR investments, keep reading VRFocus.

Digital Catapult’s Augmentor Programme Reveals 10 new XR Startups

Augmentor - Digital Catapult

Now in its fourth year, during the summer Digital Catapult’s Augmentor programme announced an open call for UK-based XR startups. They’ve now been chosen, selecting 10 companies working across the immersive industry spectrum, from training platforms to augmented reality (AR) books.

Fracture Reality

They will now begin a 12-week programme to help grow their products and enhance their business model, meeting and learning from leading industry mentors and investors to attract more financing in a bid to scale.

The teams selected for the 2020 Augmentor programme are:

  • Emperia – “Is creating virtual reality experiences that boost sales and customer engagement for businesses in art and luxury fashion.”
  • Evidential – “Has produced EVITA, an incident training platform which provides large scale environments where multiple training scenarios can take place.”
  • Fracture Reality – “Developing an online mixed reality platform called Join specifically for engineering and data-intensive users that includes immersive 3D features like gestural sketching and avatars.”
  • MagicBeans – “It has developed Roundhead, a platform for creating and delivering six degrees of freedom spatial audio experiences at scale, so users can create, share and listen to spatial audio across multiple devices.”
  • MOONHUB – “Has created a high quality, immersive training product which uses virtual reality to convert e-learning solutions into interactive training scenarios to improve engagement in employee training.”
  • Overview Ark – “Created a tool for production designers and event coordinators to build 1:1 replicas of a live show without the need of programming knowledge.”
  • Percept Imagery – “Developed a unique augmented reality platform called Sprie that enables retailers to personalise online shopping experiences by allowing shoppers to try products in the real world before buying them.”
  • Retinize – “An award-winning content studio based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that specialises in the creation of cutting edge immersive VR content as well as interactive and geolocative AR applications.”
  • Slanted Theory – “Through the power of 3D technology (XR) and immersive analytics, Slanted Theory has created “Alaira”, a cloud data analysis and visualisation platform which provides views of data unparalleled in 2D dashboards.”
  • VIKA Books – “Using augmented reality to promote British Sign Language (BSL) as a language for deaf and hearing children alike.”
Vika Books - Baby BSL
Image Credit: Jo Hounsome

“At a time when access to entertainment venues is restricted, online shopping has soared, and remote collaboration for work is more important than ever before as many of us remain working from home for the foreseeable future, this year’s Augmentor cohort are providing innovative, commercially viable solutions to issues that are important to us all,” said Jessica Driscoll, Head of Technology – Immersive at Digital Catapult in a statement. “What’s more, because Augmentor has always been about bringing investors and industry along for the journey, the teams see tangible results, from business support all the way to investment. We’ll be watching the next three months very closely and look forward to seeing the results.” 

In the past three years, 27 companies have taken part in Digital Catapult’s initiative, helping them raise a combined total of over £6.7 million GBP. These have included Somewhere Else which developed soft skills training platform BodySwaps, so it’s always worth keeping an eye on participants for the next big thing. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

20 Startups Selected for CreativeXR’s Third Accelerator

CreativeXR

Back in March Digital Catapult and Arts Council England launched the application call for their third CreativeXR startup accelerator. Looking for 20 companies to help fund and develop their projects, this year’s assortment of applicants have now been chosen.

260 teams applied for CreativeXR, beating previous years. Each of the 20 teams automatically receives £20,000 GBP in funding as well as intensive mentoring and technical support to create a prototype.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time, CreativeXR will be run remotely from July – November 2020. This factor has also influenced many of the projects with some creating at-home accessible experiences while others addressed topical social and political issues.

“The third cohort for CreativeXR, run with Arts Council England, is more diverse and inclusive than in previous years. It’s also more tightly engaged with contemporary themes such as climate change, anti-racism and the social media commentary of populist leaders. The cohort’s prototypes will give us an intriguing glimpse into future ways of storytelling,” said Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO of Digital Catapult in a statement. “Chosen from over 250 applicants, each of the 20 in the cohort will rise to the challenge of finding a new format to create a compelling experience with dramatic, comedic and downright provocative themes.”

The chosen teams are as follows:

  • (Hi)story of a Painting by Gaëlle Mourre and Quentin Darras – An educational series which builds storyworlds around iconic works of art.
  • #CorpTopia by Kimeleon.tv – An AR multiplayer game set in a parallel world of human-animal species.
  • #TrumpsTower by Satore Studio and Borough Productions – A musical drama tracing the intense relationship between one man and his digital surrogate.
  • A Place to Be by Independent Film Trust – A 360˚ VR experience set in a South London shebeen.
  • Austerity On Trial by English Touring Theatre – An immersive courtroom drama examining the human impact of austerity measures.
  • Blood Speaks: Maya – The Birth of a Superhero by Just Another Production Company – An immersive story following a girl’s transformation into a uniquely female superhero
  • Bodymapping by Hatsumi – A webVR experience enabling people to communicate the experience of pain and emotion through 3D drawing.
  • Child of Empire by Project Dastaan – An interactive VR docufiction based on the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.
  • Dracula Immersed by Davy & Kristin McGuire – The world’s first augmented reality pop-up book reimagining the classic gothic story.
  • Future Rites by Alexander Whitley, Sandra Rodriguez and Normal Studio – An immersive and collaborative performance experience based on the seminal ballet The Rite Of Spring.
  • IamMUSIC by KRAKED and Associated Industries – A creative tool which turns the process of making audiovisual art into a physical experience, using the body to generate sound and light.
  • Munkination – A Second Chance by Visualise & Royal Opera House – An immersive hiphop/opera presenting an Afro- futuristic adventure story about climate change.
  • New World by Forest Tribe Theatre – An immersive world created using live-streaming, music, theatre and human connection.
  • REBOOT by AΦE – An immersive performance based on the true story of Matheryn Naovaratpong, the youngest human to be cryogenized.
  • Song.world by Sammy Lee, M.J. Harding, Cream Projects and Off World Live – A documentary about the global phenomenon of K-pop, experienced as a 360 livestream.
  • Story Portals by YonderBeyond – A physical pop-up building which becomes home to multiple stories and characters through the power of AR.
  • The Foundling by Raucous – A tabletop theatre show combining fairytale and fact, designed as a prequel to a live immersive theatre experience.
  • Transportalists by FANDCO – A live concert brought into the audience’s home through mixed reality.
  • extraordinary people – extraordinary places by ScanLAB Projects – A narrative experience about the relationship between people and their place of ‘work’.

Their work will culminate in a virtual showcase to be held in November 2020, helping teams secure further investment and commissions. As more details on this year’s CreativeXR are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

Open Call Begins for Digital Catapult’s Augmentor Programme Looking for 10 XR Startups

Augmentor - Digital Catapult

In 2017, Digital Catapult announced its first Augmentor programme to help the UK’s immersive technology startups, through funding, access to hardware, mentorship and other avenues. The organisation has just announced an open call for 2020’s Augmentor, looking to find 10 companies developing innovative XR tech.

Resus.VR - Digital Catapult

Just as in previous programmes, it’ll be a 12-week accelerator to nurture the next generation of businesses. To be eligible to apply applicants must have minimum viable products or applications which are primarily developed using immersive technology.

While the Augmentor initiative covers startups working in any sector, for 2020 Digital Catapult will be focusing on companies working in: 

  • Architecture, engineering and construction
  • 3D design, production and tooling
  • Advanced manufacturing (e.g. robotics, automotive, aerospace, supply chain)
  • Data visualisation 
  • Training
  • Utilities sector
  • Creative industries  (e.g. entertainment, gaming, media)

Other startups also encouraged to apply are those utilising other technologies such as AI or 5G.

“Remote operation of machine processes, control devices in hazardous environments, rapid training on complex technical equipment, distributed virtual social media, the covid pandemic has prompted growing interest in virtual and augmented solutions. Augmentor attracts some of the most creative and inventive companies in the UK and Europe to get a boost to their product development and a positive steer on their business strategy from super smart and highly experienced mentors and investors,” said Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult in a statement.

The Wild - Oculus Quest

“In these interesting, difficult times, the investment landscape is hard for immersive companies. Augmentor is a vital piece of the puzzle for the UK startup community,” Silver continues. “We’ve aligned the programme closely to industry needs, we’re helping forge deep and lasting connections with investors to help these small businesses reach their full potential.”

Digital Catapult has partnered with several big investment funds to help make Augmentor a reality, including Vive X, Remagine Ventures, MMC Ventures, Ascension Ventures and more. The accelerator programme will run the open call until 29th July 2020.

Since inception, Augmentor has helped 27 companies including Somewhere Else, which developed soft skills training platform BodySwaps and HoloMe, the team behind Asos’ ‘Virtual Catwalk’. For further updates on Augmentor including this year’s participants, keep reading VRFocus.