Irish augmented reality start-up Imvizar has raised €1.5 million in funding to launch its no-code augmented reality creation tool Lureo and support expansion in the US.
The investment includes backing from Delta Partners VC, alongside continued support from former head of Meta Ireland Gareth Lambe, Pigsback founder Michael Dywer, former group CTO of Ooredoo Nigel Byrne and Enterprise Ireland.
The company is aiming to open up augmented reality story-telling tools to creators worldwide. Founded by Michael Geurin in 2021, Imvizar creates immersive experiences for tourism and entertainment, bringing characters and environments to life. The company already works with a number of tourist attractions, artists, influencers and universities, blending technology and storytelling.
Its Lureo creation tool provides a way for anyone to high-quality augmented reality experiences, regardless of their technical skills. Lureo has a user-friendly interface that can appeal to a range of creators, including film-makers, markets and educators.
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“Our mission is to make spatial storytelling as mainstream and accessible as possible,” said Mr Guerin. “With Lureo, we’re breaking down the barriers to AR content creation, enabling anyone, anywhere, to produce immersive experiences. Just as the introduction of 4G and video streaming drove innovation and made content creation more accessible, Lureo will do the same for AR as we usher in a new era of spatial computing.”
Since it began operating in 2021, Imvizar has signed up a number of clients, including Salesforce, Grant Thornton, and North Carolina State University. It offers its augmented reality experiences in Ireland, the US, Portugal and Australia, including at popular tourist destinations such as Spike Island, Sligo, Dublin, Waterford and the Kerry Way.The funding will allow the company to pitch itself as a “driving force” in AR innovation.
“Lureo is an exciting innovation that offers a truly accessible platform, with the potential to transform how we create and engage with AR content,” said Dermot Berkery, partner at Delta Partners VC. “We believe in its enormous potential to open new avenues for creators and brands alike, and we’re excited to see how Imvizar will continue to evolve.”
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