Virtual reality design platform ShapesXR has secured $8.6 million in seed funding. The round was led by Supernode Global with others such as Triptyq VC, Hartmann Capital and Geek Ventures also contributing.
“The DNA of ShapesXR is the ability to show the design in motion without any line of code — one can build a storyboard or an interactive prototype that can be tested and interacted with,” ShapesXR CEO and founder, Inga Petryaevskaya, told VentureBeat. “We give UI/UX XR designers the power to own the design process and iterate on the design, [and] run user tests without the need to involve the developer early on. It saves a ton of time and ends up in better, magical designs.”
Simplifying 3D content creation
ShapesXR aims to simplify 3D content creation and spatial design for designers through an intuitive interface. The company hopes to become the industry standard for UI/UX design for spatial computing. ShapesXR’s platform allows creators to build at a human scale within the media where they develop their apps. With this feature, developers need not transition their creations from flat screens to VR headset format.
Developers can access ShapesXR via Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets, as well as the yet-to-be-released Quest 3. The new funding will extend compatibility to other VR headsets, such as Apple Vision Pro and Pico.
Petryaevskaya believes the new investors will add to the company’s expertise and help to advance ShapesXR saying, “With the new funding, we are aiming to expand ShapesXR’s compatibility with the latest major VR devices, such as Apple Vision Pro, Pico and Magic Leap. We will also be integrating our platform with the most common development pipelines to enable a smooth transition to and from ShapesXR. By supporting all types of possible inputs — controllers, hand pinch and eye gaze — we will allow people to build the best experience for the platform.”
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
