The XR industry is buzzing. AR had record growth in 2018 and will grow rapidly going forward. VR is anxiously waiting for the multiple new and exciting headsets coming in 2019.
Oculus has two VR headsets coming out this month, out of which the wireless Quest promises to broaden the appeal of VR with freedom and ease of use. HP Reverb and Valve Index provide even more choices for the consumer. Finnish Varjo released their enterprise VR-1 headset earlier this year to rave reviews with its human eye resolution technology. AR continues to infuse itself into the mainstream at an accelerated pace, even beyond Snapchat and Instagram that everyone is already using.
VR gaming saw its first runaway hit in Beat Saber, selling over a million copies. Coming from a small Czech-Slovak-based indie team, Beat Saber proves that million dollar ideas are just waiting to be found in VR. A simple rhythm game transforms into an explosive and immersive experience in Virtual Reality!
Despite the positive outlook, there are a lot of challenges: the install base, the misconceptions, the technical hurdles. The industry is still incredibly young (think smartphones a decade ago), so startups that drive the innovation need all the support they can get. That’s where Nordic XR Startups steps in.
After two successful years and two successful batches of accelerated startup companies, Nordic XR Startups has opened up their application period to an ongoing model. Now it’s always a good time for AR and VR startups in the Nordics to apply for investment and support. Last year one NXS portfolio company, Adverty from Sweden, went public on the Nordic Growth Market. NXS’s portfolio companies range from gaming to healthcare, and everything in between.
NXS’s mentor base of world-class professionals is constantly evolving and eager to coach new teams, with a joint mission to contribute to and improve the competitiveness of the Nordic VR/AR ecosystem and accelerate the growth of NXS’s investment portfolio companies.
Come and see for yourself at the XR track at Arctic15, on June 5th! The X Reality Track has interesting keynote speeches and panels to get you up to speed on XR, as well as showcasing the pitches of the most recent Nordic XR Startups portfolio companies. Come spend an afternoon immersed in XR.
Learn more about Nordic XR Startups here: http://nordicxrstartups.com/
Janne Kaitila is the Program Manager of Nordic XR Startups. Previously the Managing Editor of the gaming magazine Pelaaja for 10 years, Janne is an expert in all things gaming.
