8i is a volumetric video company specializing in the capture, transformation, and streaming of real human holograms, on any device, for the Metaverse.

8i
Type of businessPrivate
Founder(s)Linc Gasking
Eugene d'Eon
Sebastian Marino
Joshua Feast
CEOHayes Mackaman
URLOfficial website
Launched2014 (2014)
Current statusActive

History

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8i was founded in May 2014[1] by Linc Gasking, Eugene d'Eon, Sebastian Marino and Joshua Feast[2] to develop software that can capture, analyze, compress, and recreate all the viewpoints required for volumetric capture.[3][4][5][6]

In October 2015, 8i raised $13.5 million in Series A funding. Investors included RRE Ventures, Founders Fund Science, Samsung Ventures, and Dolby Family Ventures.[7][3][8][9]

In January 2016, 8i premiered #100humans at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival as part of its New Frontier exhibit.[10] The program featured four VR projects that placed characters captured using 8i technology in distinct environments ranging from a dystopian wasteland to the Grand Canyon.[11][12][2]

In October of 2018, Hayes Mackaman became CEO and relaunched the company in 2019.

References

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  1. ^ Devlin, Collette (14 October 2015). "Ashton Kutcher, Samsung among investors in Wellington virtual reality company". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Kiwi company 8i puts viewer in movie". Stuff. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  3. ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (4 January 2016). "8i unveils web VR player for its 3D imagery of people". VentureBeat. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ James, Paul (4 January 2016). "8i Launch 'Volumetric VR' Player for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift at CES". Road to VR. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  5. ^ Hodson, Hal. "Virtual reality throws you in at the deep end". New Scientist. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. ^ Johnson, Eric. "'Come Invent This New Medium': 8i Wants to Be Vine for Virtual Reality". re/code. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (14 October 2015). "Virtual Reality Startup 8i Raises $13.5M in Series A Funding". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. ^ Roettgers, Janko (14 October 2015). "3D Virtual Reality Startup 8i Raises $13.5 Million Series A". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. ^ Olanoff, Drew (14 October 2015). "8i Raises $13.5M To Chase The Human Side Of Virtual Reality". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ^ Brascia, Lorenza; Elam, Stephanie. "How virtual reality could change moviegoing". CNN. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  11. ^ Watercutter, Angela. "The VR Company Helping Filmmakers Put You Inside Movies". Wired. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  12. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (26 January 2016). "Sundance: Looking for the Tarantino of Virtual Reality". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
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