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I run a VR-focused VC firm (Presence Capital). We've done 25+ investments in this space, so you can say that we believe in the long-term potential of VR. Even g
by amitt 10y ago
I run a VR-focused VC firm (Presence Capital). We've done 25+ investments in this space, so you can say that we believe in the long-term potential of VR. Even given that, we're bearish on how quickly there will be a profitable/sustainable VR consumer business and have advised most of our portfolio companies targeting consumers to keep burn low.
That being said, almost all of the comments here are taking a singular worldview: consumer-focused VR for a western market.
VR for B2B or enterprises can make money today and doesn't require mass-consumer adoption. If you make someone 10x more effective at their job (tools for sales people: OssoVR) or onboard employees faster (training: STRIVR), you can overcome the cost and rough edges on the hardware.
In China, VR-arcades are going to be how most consumers first experience high-end PC VR. Culturally, people there are already used to going to internet cafe's to use computers by the hour and seek out 3rd spaces. VR-by-the-hour rooms fit this mold. Additionally, the short length of most VR experiences makes it easy to have a 15-20 minute session and not be disappointed by the lack of content. More info on this here: https://medium.com/@amitt/vr-will-be-huge-in-china-41de0c75841c#.ayknhfjtt https://medium.com/@amitt/vr-will-be-huge-in-china-41de0c758...
- brilliantcode 10y agoGenuinely curious but what are your thoughts on VR porn being a thing? Recall that porn on the internet has really been one of the first to start accepting credit cards. The old adage "internet is for porn" rings true.
- amitt 10y agofunny you should mention that. I did an AMA on Whale today and that was one of the questions: https://askwhale.com/q/86968f/ https://askwhale.com/q/86968f/
- BatFastard 10y agoIt is already a thing. As many hours spent in VR porn as in all the games combined.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- chejazi 10y agoNitpick: tools for sales people: OssoVR Osso is for surgeons, not sales people. Or am I missing something?
- amitt 10y agoSales people at medical device companies. They need to learn how to use the devices and then easily demo them to customers. It's also used by the end customers, after the sale is made.
- chejazi 10y agoInteresting... sounds like a pivot from what's shown on http://ossovr.com http://ossovr.com
- JBlue42 10y agoAre you looking at anything or have been pitched anything in the AEC space? The firm I work for has a small R&D department that is heavily testing out VR. As I've said in other posts, I can only really see it as a marketing tool currently but some of that team are hoping there might be ways to "move and build" items in terms of visualizations.
- 6stringmerc 10y agoWell thought out and thanks for sharing. Having worked in quite a few sales / B2B / Fortune environments, I see VR in a lot of ways similar to video conferencing. Sure, it works and can save lots of money in time and travel, but I don't think it really has the value proposition to be a huge cultural change. I definitely see the use cases in training (heavy equipment, safety management) down the line.