Pixvana, a virtual reality (VR) technology startup, has been launched with a $6 million investment led by Madrona Venture Group with participation from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, and angel investors. Pixvana is developing a cloud-based technology platform that dramatically improves the immersive video viewing experience for VR and augmented reality (AR) applications across a broad set of viewing devices, and is coming to market in 2016.
The founding Pixvana team has been deeply involved in digital video and entertainment content production, delivery and software platforms for more than two decades. Headed by entrepreneur and digital media exec Forest Key, Pixvana is solving the challenges inherent in creating and delivering high quality VR and AR video.
“There is incredible momentum in the VR space and it is clear that outstanding VR video will be a central pillar to the success of the medium, “ said Tim Porter, managing director, Madrona Venture Group. “It’s exciting to back the Pixvana team that has been at the forefront of the massive shifts we have already seen in the industry–from film to digital and from TV to web and mobile video. This team has the experience and vision to create the industry standard technology platform for VR video.”
“It is clear that just as in the early days of web video, which was hard for consumers to configure on their devices and often stuttery and unsatisfying to watch, VR video is facing similar challenges,” said Pixvana CEO Key. “I couldn’t be more excited to work with this incredible team as we make VR video a reality for content producers and crucially, make viewing video on VR headsets a profoundly magical experience for consumers.”
Also investing in the company are notable angels including former Microsoft Developer Tools division executive S. Somasegar, and aQuantive co-founder Mike Galgon, both of whom will join the company’s board of directors, along with Porter.
The Pixvana founding team brings together singular experts in software platforms, visual effects, video production, codecs and content creation with the business expertise to build a meaningful company.
— CEO Key started his career in visual effects at Lucasfilm. He was later central to the success and evangelism of the two most important web-based video technologies, Flash and Silverlight. Key has also built and sold two successful companies, most recently buuteeq, a cloud-based solution for hotel marketing and customer management that was purchased by Priceline in 2014.
— Chief product officer Bill Hensler has driven the consumer- and business-facing products in the digital image industry for both Apple and Adobe. Most recently he was sr. director of engineering at Apple for photo apps and imaging technologies, and at Adobe he was the chief technologist of creative suites and oversaw engineering and R&D for all video products.
— CTO and creative director Scott Squires is a Sci-Tech Academy Award winning digital visual effects pioneer and software innovator. At Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic, Squires was the CTO who led the company’s transition from analog film to digital production technology, and was a three-time VFX Academy Award nominee for his work on several feature films including Star Wars: Episode I-The Phantom Menace.
— VP of product management Sean Safreed is the co-founder of film and video software company Red Giant whose products have been used by thousands of filmmakers and designers. Safreed has developed go-to-market strategies for dozens of professional media and entertainment software tools.
Sinners and Saints Adds Apple Pie To Its Branded Menu
Bicoastal Sinners and Saints--the multidisciplinary studio overseen by managing director/executive producer Heather Heller, and partners/EPs Yann Henric and Thomas Carroll--has added Apple Pie Tabletop to its roster for branded content. Known for its food and beverage content creation, Apple Pie comprises the husband-and-wife team of director/DP Gene Dubin and director/art director Alisa Volodina. In addition to representation, the move expands Apple Pie’s production capabilities through the combination of its centrally located full-service studio in New York and a newly established mobile studio in Los Angeles. Apple Pie recently teamed with Sinners and Saints on a Wienerschnitzel project created by Innocean.
“We believe that our dual studio strategy positions us uniquely in the competitive landscape of food and beverage storytelling,” said Heller. “By blending the artistry of the New York studio with the flexibility of our Los Angeles location, we can tailor our productions to meet the unique demands of each project, regardless of geography.”
“Working with Sinners and Saints in the demanding field of tabletop was an absolute pleasure,” shared Apple Pie Tabletop in a joint statement. “Warm welcome, unwavering support and dedication--everything a director can ask for. The entire experience was both enjoyable and rewarding. We will not miss an opportunity to collaborate with them again.”
“The first thing you notice is that Apple Pie has beautiful work,” Heller observed. “Having worked with them, I can say that Gene and Alisa are extremely meticulous and detail-oriented; their combination of talent and agility appeals to agencies and clients.” Also appealing to Heller is Apple Pie Tabletop’s brisk international... Read More