German startup rooom emerges from stealth with €6M in funding to launch its 3D virtual experience platform

In Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality News

September 16, 2021 – rooom, an all-in-one platform for creating, managing and promoting engaging 2D, 3D, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) experiences that work across all desktop and mobile devices, has today announced that it has emerged from stealth with a total investment of EUR €6 million. The lead investor to-date in rooom is German venture capital firm bm-t (Beteiligungsmanagement Thueringen GmbH), along with several other business angels in Germany. 

rooom is a web-based platform that requires no downloads, and runs on desktop computers, smartphones and tablets. rooom environments can also be used without a VR or AR headset, meaning users can access digital content such as 3D models and virtual rooms, stages and more via any browser from any device through the power of WebGL from the Khronos Group. Furthermore, VR functionality is supported for Oculus users (although Oculus support is still currently in Beta), with some support for AR headsets too.

rooom offers a self-service platform for digital experience creation and allows anyone to create complex 3D experiences without special knowledge or skills. Users can choose between best-practice templates for both showrooms and events. rooom also provides an extensive 3D object library with furniture, exhibition booths, decoration, advertising space and more.

According to the company, throughout 2020 and 2021 (despite still being under wraps), a range of companies such as Augmented World Expo 2021 (AWE), Carl Zeiss AG, Deutsche Telekom, DHL, E.ON, Mars, PwC and Vodafone (amongst others) came to rely on rooom to offer hybrid or fully-online 3D events and experiences during the pandemic. room stated that one of the most influential virtual events was the IFA 2020 show (known as ‘Europe’s biggest tech show’), which had more than 200,000 attendees and was fully-based on rooom for its online component. 

rooom’s ‘experienceCloud’ merges a range of use-cases into a single platform made up of 4 different components: 

• eventCloud – a flexible and comprehensive solution through which users can plan and implement all their internal and external events simply, quickly and 100% Web-based;
• spaceCloud – allows companies to present their services in completely interactive online 3D showrooms. Users can explore rooms, halls or entire worlds simply by using a mobile or desktop device. Also possible are 360-degree tours based on scans;
• productCloud – with rooom’s productCloud, product manufacturers and sellers have the opportunity to present their products online in 3D. Customers can experience the 3D models without an app directly via a browser from all angles in 3D and view all colors, surface textures and product details. Models can be created from existing 3D data, from photos or videos or by using the rooom 3D Scan app;
• immerseCloud – allows for the use of augmented reality for new marketing strategies, such as viewing 3D models, 3D product visualizations, expanding upon exhibitions and attractions, or bringing objects to life with AR. 

Hans Elstner, CEO and co-founder of rooom, said: “ExperienceCloud is the culmination of more than 3 years of development to create the ultimate 3D experiences without falling victim to using multiple platforms, mixing and matching products and learning several different user interfaces. Unlike so many other competitors, we see 3D virtual events as best experienced through a standard browser – we are excited to support VR and AR HMD’s as well for those lucky enough to own them, but we believe in democratizing 3D to the widest possible audience.”

rooom relies upon the open 3D visualization standards promoted by the Khronos Group and as such has joined the organization as a Contributor to enable the company to participate in the future development of standards such as WebGL, glTF and WebVR, amongst others.

“Khronos members are developing open, royalty-free standards for 3D and XR user interfaces that form a foundation of pervasive 3D interactive graphics that can enrich people’s everyday  lives,” said Neil Trevett, President of the Khronos Group. “rooom embodies the mission of leveraging these interoperability standards to create 3D experiences that are accessible on any device, be it a head mounted display, desktop, or mobile device. Khronos welcomes rooom’s participation in the ongoing construction of the metaverse.”

Moving forward, rooom stated that it plans to announce a wide range of new customers, product enhancements and more in 2021.

For more information on rooom and its 3D experience platform, please visit the company’s website.

Image / video credit: rooom