UK-based VividQ, which specialises in holographic technology, has raised $7.5 million in funding. The investment was led by Foresight Group, which recently backed Hexarad and Sentient Labs. It also saw participation from new investors such as GameTech Ventures, and NY-based Ruttenberg Gordon Investments (RGI), as well as existing investors.
The fresh funding will also expedite VividQ’s product development roadmap, making its proprietary technology available to existing and new global business partners.
Following its success in serving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), across gaming and automotive clients in Japan and the US, it intends to hire a US lead and open a US office in the coming year.
“VividQ has accelerated the commercialisation of their breakthrough computer-generated holography technology and is well placed to capitalise on the next generation of AR/VR hardware,” said Chris Wiles, Investment Director at Foresight Group. “We are thrilled to lead VividQ’s Series A funding round and look forward to supporting them with their US expansion plans.”
What challenge does it tackle?
Computer-generated holography (CGH) is the only 3D display technology capable of unlocking a new era of immersive experiences that are integrated into the fabric of the world around us.
Realising this, VividQ uses 3D holographic experiences to unlock new ways to enjoy content and communicate.
What does the company do?
Founded by Darren Milne and Tom Durrant in 2017 in Cambridge, UK, VividQ creates immersive 3D and holographic visual experiences. The company has eyes for a display revolution that will replace all screens on consumer devices with holographic displays.
It claims to have created the world’s first ‘retina resolution’ holograms. According to the company, this technological milestone is expected to bring a new level of realism and natural viewing experience to holography, matching the human eye’s resolution and focus cues. The company leverages high-performance 4K display hardware to project these computer-generated images, allowing for placement of 3D holographic objects within the viewer’s focal range.
“Spatial computing is rapidly growing as a consumer category, driven in part by the release of the Apple Vision Pro headset and advancements in generative AI from organisations such as Meta, which are pushing the extended reality (XR) industry beyond gaming to deliver immersive experiences across sports, entertainment, and everyday activities such as driving,” said Darran Milne, Founder and CEO of VividQ.
Partnerships
The company has partnered with leading OEMs, including JVCKenwood to integrate its advanced software and hardware solutions into augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), automotive head-up displays, and other consumer electronics.
Yoshio Sonoda, CTO at JVCKenwood commented: “Holography will deliver a paradigm shift in consumer experiences, especially in a market like VR, where limitations in current technology are holding it back from delivering the kind of jaw-dropping experience that consumers want. We are really pleased to be partnering with VividQ and seeing our cutting-edge LCoS displays be used to push the boundaries of VR and AR.”
