When VR changed the world, Silicon Valley VCs pointed out that startups should not blindly follow the VR, especially the opportunities left for start-ups in the hardware field. Relatively speaking, there are still many startups in the software system and content level. Opportunity to attack the city.
Since 2015, VR (Virtual Reality) has almost ignited the passion of the entire Internet industry. Major analysts have listed VR/AR (Augmented Reality) as an important technology trend for future technological development. Goldman Sachs The report predicts that VR and AR hardware and software revenues will reach $182 billion in 2025. When VR changed the world, Silicon Valley VCs pointed out that startups should not blindly follow the VR, especially the opportunities left for start-ups in the hardware field. Relatively speaking, there are still many startups in the software system and content level. Opportunity to attack the city.
Hardware venture capital is past tense
VR hardware mainly includes displays, input/output devices, recording hardware, computing devices, etc. At present, Silicon Valley VCs feel that the hardware has gradually become "pit", or more suitable for large companies and not suitable for startups.
With the emergence of a large number of VR devices such as HTC, Sony, Microsoft, etc., in the view of Zhang Yuqing, managing partner of TEEC Angel Fund in Tsinghua University in Silicon Valley, the best time to invest in hardware display has passed. "The industry is waiting for Google and Apple's display hardware. For investors, this is not a suitable investment area. Investors choose to invest in display hardware such as Oculus in 2012, which is an opportunity four years ago." In terms of recording hardware, he said that if the startup can A small device to increase processing power, while the price is cheap, there is still a certain market space, but overall it is still a little late to enter this market, "after all, we chose to invest in recording hardware such as LucidVR is also in 18 months. prior to".
On the other hand, Zhang Wei, co-founder of Silicon Valley Fund Newgen Capital, said that the VR industry is not only focused on head-mounted display devices, but a complete ecosystem with other links, because of the big players like Apple, Google, and Samsung. Their respective ecosystems have been established, and for new hardware type start-ups, one problem may be how to integrate into the existing ecosystem. “Because it’s already very difficult for new start-ups to build an ecosystem, and to try to integrate into other people’s ecosystems, the replacement is very high and the prospects for acquisitions are not as clear as before.†She said.
Software engine, next opportunity
In the software system, since the content distribution platform belongs to the field of heavy assets, the content distribution platform is not the best investment choice for the angel investment institutions with relatively small investment volume, so some investors turn their attention to the engine system.
In the hot VR game field, since the opening of VR games is the same as that of ordinary games, the current mainstream engine companies are Unity and Unreal Engine. But in Zhang Yuqing's view, although Unity and Unreal Engine are the industry leaders, VR needs a wider range of content, and the content they provide is not complete, so there are still many opportunities for startups, such as a startup engine company, Midas touch. It focuses on the technology of interacting with animals and is welcomed by investors.
More exploration space in the content field
The lack of VR content has become an obstacle to the development of the industry, but it also means the birth of opportunities, especially for start-up companies. For VCs, they are also particularly willing to support innovation in VR content.
“In 2014, we started to create VR content startups.†Zhang Wei said that in fact, content startups must be companies that provide content collection technology. If a company has collected many 3D models in the past 9 years. Data, now it is technically translated into VR content directly, accumulating a huge content database. “When the various VR platforms grow up, the very important next step is to integrate the VR content directly into their own systems. So the VR content database we have laid out in advance can be combined with these different systems and hardware platforms very quickly. Said she.
In addition, from the general concept of VR, its vision is to allow users to build a virtual world to do anything, no matter where they are, including the experience that is difficult to achieve in physical space. “So in the field of VR content, perhaps a larger application is to provide an experience that is difficult to achieve in terms of physical space.†We have seen some companies from this perspective to innovate, including companies. VR technology transmits information in outer space, allowing users to experience the scenery in outer space at home, etc., which are very interesting applications." Zhang Wei further analysis.
MR - the docking of virtual and reality
Zhang Wei said that another focus of the current Silicon Valley fund is in the field of MR (Mixture Reality). MR technology is a technology that is wider than AR and more advanced than VR. It uses real-world data to enhance the virtual environment.
"At the VR and AR level, you may be limited by the VR and AR application technologies that you are currently seeing. It is considered that AR should be similar to Google Glass. VR is basically a head-mounted device, but it is not entirely true. In fact, the product is actually It's a way of technology, but it can have more different technology extensions."
For example, she said, for example, a startup that recently launched a new startup is not a traditional VR company or an AR company. The company has invested $5 million in research and development funds to provide MR technology to solve a problem often faced by AR and VR. Social Transparency. "This kind of similar technology will really make us feel that it will be the next generation technology that supports the future development, and can realize the technology of more seamless connection between virtual reality and real life."
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