VRee, a VR startup based in Eindhoven, got a seed investment from the regional fund Brabant Development Agency (BOM) and accelerator LUMO Labs. With the money, the startup will further develop its real-time full-body tracking platform.
The investment also allows the company to start with its sales and marketing efforts. The deal size was undisclosed. BOM usually invests in all kinds of stages and from 150.000 euro to 2.5 million euro.
The VRee platform traces its roots back to a VR archery game, which was developed in 2014 as part of a student project at the Fontys Hogeschool Eindhoven. After graduation, the company’s two founders Menno Bischops and Roy Noten teamed up with current CEO Andy Lürling, who helped them pivot from a content to a platform company. Lürling is also the co-founder of LUMO Labs.
Full-body VR
VRee paves the way for what could be the next step in immersive VR: a full-body experience. This lets you play games or sports in an entire arena for instance. Also: think training and simulations. It is said the platform works with peripherals such as motion-capture suits, headsets, controllers and gloves from different vendors.
Starting next year, VRee aims to license its technology to content and hardware developers.
VR capitals
For BOM its their first investment in a VR company. “The Brabant region provides a lot of opportunity for developers of VR/AR platforms,” said Miriam Dragstra, director of BOM Capital. “VRee perfectly demonstrates the strength of our region.”
Eindhoven indeed is considered a strong VR hub, next to Amsterdam. Both cities recently started initiatives to strengthen their VR focus.
Image: VRisb, a work-in-progress game by VRee