Category: Thrive Global

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Finalists Announced For Innov8: V-Commerce Competition

You may recall a story we covered on VRFocus back in July, where Store No.8 and Thrive Global came together to launch a new competition which focused on virtual reality (VR), not for games, but as a tool to aid commercial endeavours. The contest was called the Innov8: V-Commerce Competition and it had some potentially invaluable rewards, on a business level, should you have been chosen as a winner. Not just development capital in oprder to facilitate the development of your idea, but mentorship and the chance to work with big names in the retail sector who could potentially be your busiess partners.

Submissions ended at the beginning of the month and earlier this week the ‘Innov8tors’ selected were announced. There are five finalists in total, all of whom five finalists that will present their ideas
at Innov8’s exhibition on October 18th 2017.

You can find a little bit more about all five below:

Fyusion

Based in San Francisco, Fyusion is “on a mission to fundamentally change the definition of photography” as they explain on their website.

“The company’s breakthrough technology generates deeply immersive “surround view” images that fuse the capabilities of a traditional photo, a panorama, motion capture and 3D to create a more complete, captivating photography experience.”

8i

Based both in Culver City, California and Wellington, New Zealand, 8i‘s technology is implimented to transpose recordings of humans into immersive reality spaces.

“8i provides the easiest way to create, mix and experience human holograms that look real and feel as if they were in the same room. Our proprietary technology transforms video from an array of cameras into a photo-realistic 3D hologram of a human that can be viewed from any angle, on any device for virtual, augmented or mixed reality.”

Nurulize

A VR software developer from Los Angeles who already this year took GTC’s Grand Prize at VR Content Showcase, Nurulize work on Atom View which they describe as “a cutting edge tool for raw volumetric data processing, color management, and delivery. Built from the ground up for VR, Atom View helps you integrate the highest quality volumetric data on the planet with traditional workflows for game or film.”

Specular Theory

Based in Venice Beach, California Specular Theory create VR films and have had selections at both Sundance and Tribeca since their foundation. The company “creates and distributes cutting-edge, premium, and authentic experiences for virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed-reality and location-based entertainment (LBVRE).”

Perspective Chapter 2: The Misdemeanor

Obsess

New York based Obsess provide three types of 360 degree experiences giving different levels of immersion and retail options. You can find an example of one of their campaigns here: https://360experience.verabradley.com/

VRFocus will bring you news on the event in October and any updates in the meantime as we get them.

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Store No 8 and Thrive Global Launch Innov8: V-Commerce Competition

When it comes to virtual reality (VR) videogames or experiences something often mentioned as a key factor that people should think about for success is storytelling, that it is the key to connecting with your audience. Although there is some debate about just how important that truly is in the great scheme of things.

Connecting, however, is one of the focal points of a new nationwide competition that has been announced by American companies Store No 8 and Thrive Global.  The contest, entitled Innov8: V-Commerce, is being presented in collaboration with Accenture and is inviting companies and individuals to submit their ideas for developing “disruptive technologies and experiences that could help shape the future of commerce in virtual reality” and “with the mindset of creating a step-change in the consumer experience that makes shopping more mindful, more human, less stressful and more enjoyable.”

Submissions are open now and will be up until 4th August 2017, with selected ‘Innov8tors’ announced on 16th August 2017. with an invitation only gala event scheduled for some time in October Selected winners will be given development capital, mentorship and the chance to work with retail names such as Walmart.

“Virtual reality is rapidly transforming the way companies connect and engage with their customers and employees,” said Marc Carrel-Billiard, Senior Managing Director of Accenture Labs. “Accenture is committed to developing and investing in this powerful technology given the potential we believe it has to drive real business value. We’re excited to participate as a strategic innovation advisor to Innov8 and look forward to seeing the ideas that emerge.”

Katie Finnegan of Store No 8 explained her company’s involvement. “Virtual reality creates a presence, a mindfulness, that nothing else today can. We are looking to leverage virtual reality to drastically enhance the way people shop. Our first step is to identify the most innovative companies and minds in the space to help us on this mission. Innov8 will further define the future of commerce by inspiring and driving growth in the underlying ecosystem of technologies needed to bring shopping into the era of virtual experiences.”

“Right now, we’re in the middle of a cultural shift away from burnout and based on the connection between well-being and performance,” added Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global. “The companies that will win the hearts and minds of consumers are those that shape our daily lives by making everyday experiences, like shopping, easier and less stressful. Innov8 will focus the industry’s brightest minds and talent toward the development of virtual experiences that change the way we live for the better.”

More information can be found at the competition website at http://storeno8.com/innov8, VRFocus will bring you more information on activities within the VR space as we get it.