Virtual Reality in India: The Emerging Industry – VRAshwa

Welcome to the world of mixed reality! It’s a place where the line between the physical and virtual world blurs, and anything is possible with just a wave of your hand (well, not really, you’ll still need a VR headset).

Speaking of VR headsets, have you ever wanted to experience virtual reality but didn’t want to commit to buying an expensive headset? Well, fear not! Because in this day and age, you can easily rent a VR headset and enjoy the wonders of virtual reality without breaking the bank.

And India is catching up to this trend too! With a growing interest in mixed reality, more and more startups are popping up in the country, offering VR rental services and innovative mixed-reality experiences.

Imagine attending a virtual concert with your friends from the comfort of your home or taking a virtual tour of the world’s most exotic locations without leaving your couch. Sounds pretty cool.

Well, that’s precisely what some of these Indian mixed-reality startups are offering. They’re taking the concept of virtual reality and adding their unique twist to create truly immersive and unforgettable experiences.

If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to spend your weekend, why not try mixed reality? With so many exciting options, you’re sure to find something that will blow your mind and leave you wanting more.

Innov8 and Alive App

Now we’re talking about some cool stuff! Let me tell you about Innov8 and Alive App.

Did you know Dr. Ritesh Malik, a renowned Indian entrepreneur, and investor, is also interested in augmented reality? Yup, he’s not just a doctor but a tech enthusiast as well. Dr. Malik is the founder of Innov8, a co-working space provider that offers state-of-the-art facilities to startups and freelancers in India.

Now, let’s talk about Alive App. It was a super cool app that allowed users to scan newspapers, magazines, and other print media to access digital content like videos, music, and animations. It was like a magic trick – you just had to point your smartphone at the print media, and voila! The content would come alive.

In 2014, the Times of India group acquired Alive App, and it became a part of the group’s digital arm, Times Internet Limited. The acquisition was a big deal for the Indian digital media industry.

So how does Alive App work? It uses augmented reality technology to recognize images and overlay digital content. The app uses the smartphone camera to scan the image and then displays the digital content on top of it. It’s like having a virtual layer on top of the real world.

Memesys Culture Labs and ElseVR

Memesys Culture Labs and ElseVR! These guys are killing it when it comes to storytelling in virtual reality. Anand Gandhi, the founder of Memesys Culture Labs, is a true visionary when it comes to using VR as a medium for storytelling. He believes that VR can be a tool for empathy, and he’s not wrong.

ElseVR, the VR division of Memesys Culture Labs, is focused on creating immersive experiences that capture the essence of Indian culture. They’ve already made waves in the industry with their 360-degree capture of the behind-the-scenes action of the Bollywood movie, Dangal.

By using VR to give audiences a glimpse of what goes into making a Bollywood movie, ElseVR is tapping into a massive market of Indian movie lovers. It’s like they’re giving you a backstage pass to one of the biggest industries in the world. Who wouldn’t want that?

And it’s not just about Bollywood. ElseVR has also partnered with National Geographic to create VR experiences that take you to places you’ve never been. It’s like having a passport to the world without leaving your living room.

All in all, Memesys Culture Labs and ElseVR are doing some seriously cool stuff when it comes to VR storytelling. They’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with this technology, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

AutoVRse and Imaginate Software Labs

AutoVRse and Imaginate Software Labs are two Indian startups making a significant impact in the virtual reality world.

AutoVRse has created a virtual automobile showroom where customers can explore and interact with cars in a completely immersive environment. This is an excellent solution for car dealerships who want to give their customers a unique and engaging experience without physically transporting every car to their showroom.

Imaginate’s virtual fitting room, Dressy, allows customers to try on clothes in a virtual environment without physically changing clothes. This saves time and hassle for shoppers and allows retailers to showcase their clothes more engagingly.

Imaginate recently raised $500k in funding to boost its operations and expand its reach. This is an excellent example of how virtual reality is not just a fun and entertaining technology but can also have real-world applications and be a game-changer in various industries.

GridRaster and Lowe’s Innovation Lab

Let’s get into the fascinating world of mixed reality once again. This time, we have two startups to discuss – GridRaster and Lowe’s Innovation Lab.

First up is GridRaster, a company that focuses on overcoming the limitations of mobile devices in mixed reality experiences. We all know mobile devices are less powerful than PCs when rendering high-quality graphics in real time. But GridRaster has come up with a solution to this problem. They have built an infrastructure layer that enables graphics processing in the cloud instead of relying solely on the device’s computing power. This means you can enjoy high-quality mixed-reality experiences even on low-end devices.

Moving on to Lowe’s Innovation Lab, it is the first startup accelerator by the U.S. retail giant in Bengaluru. The lab is focused on bringing innovative ideas in mixed reality and other disruptive technologies. One of the notable startups that came out of the accelerator is “The Holoroom,” a mixed-reality experience that helps customers visualize home renovation projects before making any purchases. The idea is to provide customers a more immersive and engaging experience, which can lead to higher sales.

It’s fascinating to see how even retail giants like Lowe’s invest in mixed reality to enhance customer experiences. In the future, we might be able to buy our groceries in a mixed-reality supermarket!

Disruptive startups

We have some genuinely disruptive startups in the mix here! Let’s dive into them, shall we?

First, we have SmartVizX, a startup that has disrupted the architecture, engineering, and construction industry with its Virtual Reality platform, Trezi. With Trezi, architects, engineers, and builders can collaborate in real time and make changes to their designs on the fly, resulting in significant cost savings and increased efficiency.

Next, we have G for Gestures, a startup that has disrupted the hospitality sector with its Gesture Control solution. With their technology, guests can use simple hand gestures to control various aspects of their hotel room, such as the lighting, TV, and curtains. This enhances the guest experience and helps hotels save on energy costs.

Moving on, we have PlayShifu, a startup that has created Augmented Reality products to make education fun for kids. Kids can learn about everything from geography to dinosaurs interactively and engagingly with their products. It’s a great example of how technology can enhance the learning experience.

Lastly, we have House of Blue Beans. This startup has created Roomstyler, a Virtual Reality-based consumer experience for the home design industry. With Roomstyler, customers can visualize how different furniture and decor items would look in their homes before purchasing, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and reduced returns.

These are just a few examples of how startups disrupt industries with Mixed Reality technology. Who knows what other exciting developments we’ll see in the future?

Potential for Indian mixed reality startups

So you want to know about the potential for Indian mixed-reality startups? Well, let me tell you, it’s looking pretty exciting!

Firstly, let’s talk about developers’ role in driving the mobile gaming ecosystem. As the number of mobile gamers increases in India, the demand for innovative gaming experiences also increases. And that’s where mixed reality comes in, providing a new level of immersion and interactivity.

Popular gaming engines like Unity and Unreal Engine are widely used when developing mixed-reality applications. They offer a comprehensive set of tools for developers to create interactive experiences across various platforms.

And what about the expected increase in mixed reality applications in India? According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the Indian mixed reality market is expected to grow from $66.0 million in 2020 to $408.3 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 43.4%. That’s a massive potential for growth!

So, it’s safe to say that Indian mixed reality startups have a lot of potential in the coming years, especially in the gaming and entertainment industries. With the increasing adoption of VR headset rental and VR on-rent services, mixed reality is becoming more accessible to the Indian population. This means more opportunities for startups to disrupt and innovate!

Established companies’ adoption of mixed reality

It’s not just startups getting into the mixed reality game; big companies are also adopting this futuristic technology! Let’s take a look at a couple of examples.

First up, we have Myntra, the famous Indian fashion e-commerce platform. Myntra is known for always staying ahead of the curve when using technology to improve the shopping experience. And the mixed reality is no exception! The company has started using mixed reality technology in its physical retail outlet, allowing customers to see how clothes would look on them without trying them on. How cool is that?

Next, we have Byju’s Classes, the edtech giant that has revolutionized how students learn in India. Byju has been hiring Unity engineers for 360 video streaming, a technology for creating immersive educational experiences. This shows that even established companies recognize the potential of mixed reality to enhance their business.

Who knows what other established companies will start using mixed reality in the future? The possibilities are endless!

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap; we’ve taken you on a virtual journey through some of India’s most exciting mixed-reality startups. From Innov8’s cool AR features to Memesys Culture Labs’ Bollywood magic, there’s no denying that the Indian mixed reality scene is booming.

We also saw how established companies like Myntra and Byju’s Classes are adopting mixed reality technology to enhance their offerings. With the increase in mobile gaming and the popularity of gaming engines like Unity, the future of mixed reality in India looks bright.

The potential for growth and development is enormous, and we’re excited to see what’s in store for the industry. So whether you’re renting a VR headset for your next gaming session or using mixed reality to try on clothes, the possibilities are endless. Get ready to be transported to a world of infinite possibilities – all from the comfort of your couch!