8i (virtual reality)

8i is a virtual reality software company focusing on volumetric human capture.[1][2] The company was founded in Wellington, New Zealand and has since expanded to Los Angeles and San Francisco.[3][4][5]

8i
Type of businessPrivate
Founder(s)Linc Gasking
Eugene d'Eon
Sebastian Marino
Joshua Feast
CEOHayes Mackaman
URLOfficial website
Launched2014 (2014)
Current statusActive

History

8i was founded in May 2014[4] by Linc Gasking, Eugene d'Eon, Sebastian Marino and Joshua Feast[6] to develop software that can capture, analyze, compress, and recreate all the viewpoints required for volumetric capture, a process that enables virtual reality headset users to freely lean toward or walk around the captured subject.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

The company has built a team experienced in light field research, visual effects, consumer platforms and growing communities by recruiting employees from Weta Digital, YouTube, Nvidia, PayPal, Microsoft Research, Sony Computer Entertainment, DreamWorks, Digital Domain, Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar and Valve.[3][13][7]

In October 2015, 8i raised a $13.5 million Series A. Investors included RRE Ventures, Founders Fund Science, Samsung Ventures, and Dolby Family Ventures.[3][9][14][15]

In January 2016, 8i premiered #100humans at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival as part of its New Frontier exhibit.[16] The program featured four VR projects that placed characters captured using 8i technology in distinct environments ranging from a dystopian wasteland to the Grand Canyon.[1][17][6]

In January 2019 Hayes Mackaman was named CEO.

In February 2017, the company secured $27 million from media, tech, and telecommunications strategic investors.[18][19]

References
  1. Watercutter, Angela. "The VR Company Helping Filmmakers Put You Inside Movies". Wired. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. Terdiman, Daniel. "Why Volumetric VR Is The Real Future Of Virtual Reality". Fast Company. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. Giardina, Carolyn. "Virtual Reality Startup 8i Raises $13.5M in Series A Funding". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. Devlin, Collette. "Ashton Kutcher, Samsung among investors in Wellington virtual reality company". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. Giardina, Carolyn. "Virtual Reality Startup 8i Opens in New Zealand". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. "Kiwi company 8i puts viewer in movie". Stuff. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  7. Gaudiosi, John. "There's Nothing Transparent About This Startup's Holographs". Fortune. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. Hamilton, Ian. "The 10 Most Important VR/AR Developments of 2015". Upload. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. Takahashi, Dean. "8i unveils web VR player for its 3D imagery of people". VentureBeat. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  10. James, Paul. "8i Launch 'Volumetric VR' Player for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift at CES". Road to VR. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  11. Hodson, Hal. "Virtual reality throws you in at the deep end". New Scientist. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  12. Johnson, Eric. "'Come Invent This New Medium': 8i Wants to Be Vine for Virtual Reality". re/code. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  13. Dave, Paresh. "Virtual-reality software start-up 8i invites content creators to Culver City studio". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  14. Roettgers, Janko. "3D Virtual Reality Startup 8i Raises $13.5 Million Series A". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  15. Olanoff, Drew. "8i Raises $13.5M To Chase The Human Side Of Virtual Reality". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  16. Brascia, Lorenza; Elam, Stephanie. "How virtual reality could change moviegoing". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  17. Giardina, Carolyn. "Sundance: Looking for the Tarantino of Virtual Reality". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  18. "8i raises $27 million round for augmented reality holograms". VentureBeat. 13 February 2017.
  19. "Baidu Ventures among investors in 8i funding round". South China Morning Post. 14 February 2017.
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