A startup founded by gaming and tech industry veterans in cities including Seattle and Los Angeles has raised $1.6 million in seed funding to build what they’re calling a “virtual creature experience” for virtual and mixed reality devices.
The startup, Windup Minds, was inspired in part by its founders’ experiences with their own pets, said Bernie Yee, the Windup Minds CEO and co-founder, in an interview. They’re aiming to develop a similar level of connection between humans and virtual creatures in the virtual world.
The idea is for users to engage and interact with virtual creatures in their own living spaces when wearing their headsets. The creatures will persist in the space, finding their favorite spots to sleep in the home, for example.
“One of our designers said they’ll know we’ve succeeded when you take off your headset and you still feel your creatures’ preferences when you walk around your house,” Yee said.
Founded in June, Windup Minds is currently in prototyping mode. The company is aiming to release a “minimum lovable product” next year, Yee said.
The founders are Yee (formerly with companies including Oculus and PopCap/EA), Ben Vance (WeVR, EA), Amy Conchie (Oculus, Microsoft Hololens) and Stefani Swiatkowski (Oculus).
The company, based virtually, announced its seed investment Monday morning. The round was led by the Venture Reality Fund, with participation from Acequia Capital, and New Leaf Ventures, in addition to individual investors Nate Mitchell (founder, Oculus), Eden Chen (founder, Pragma; Riot Games), James Gwertzman (founder, Playfab; PopCap/EA), Tom Sanocki (Oculus; Pixar), Greg Essig (Apple), and Anthony Batt (Outsider DAO).
