4th September 2019
Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Mrs Heather Humphries T.D., today launched the new offices of Irish technology company VRAI. VRAI specialise in Virtual & Augmented Reality and are working with large international clients such as Samsung, IAG and the United Nations, as well as domestic clients such as the ESB & Kingspan.
Speaking on the launch of VRAI’s new offices Minister Humphreys said:
“VRAI are an innovative and exciting Irish technology company who are creating high value jobs, driving IP development and increasing software exports from Ireland. Through the Future Jobs Ireland initiative, the Government is preparing our businesses and workers for the future by investing in areas like technological change, SME productivity and skills. VRAI is exactly the kind of company that is helping us to meet our ambitions and I wish them every success in the exciting period ahead.”
VRAI have grown from 4 people to 12 people since June of this year and have now expanded into two floors of the Skylab Building in Dublin's Temple Bar to accommodate further growth plans. VRAI have recently raised €575K through the Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start Up Programme in order to develop their Virtual Reality training platform HEAT – Hazardous Environment Awareness Training.
VRAI’s founders, and Managing Directors, Niall Campion & Pat O’Connor welcomed the Minster to their offices and commented on the event:
“At VRAI, we are building an innovative and creative technology company where diverse teams are empowered to do great things. We feel that virtual & augmented reality can have a transformational impact on business in the coming years and we aim to lead that transformation for our clients.”
VRAI’s VR training product HEAT, allows employers to prepare their people to work in hazardous environments but with reduced risk, improved operational outputs and data driven insights into performance. 52% of Fortune 500 companies have had a death or serious injury in the past 18 months despite spending €100Bn annually on training. VRAI aim to reduce workplace deaths and serious injuries while improving operational performance with their AI powered VR training platform.
Niall McEvoy, High Potential Start-Ups ICT Accelerate Manager, Enterprise Ireland added:
“VRAI’s virtual reality technology has multiple applications, from industrial safety to next generation manufacturing and assembly. With the VR/AR market forecast to be worth $108 billion by 2021, Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support the global ambition of the VRAI team as one of our 2019 High Potential Start-Up companies.”
VRAI are also part of the Government funded Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund where they are helping to drive innovation in the MedTech sector through the Tyndall National Institutes €8m HOLISTICS consortium.
VRAI appointed ex Born na Mona & Lac Padraig CEO Gabriel D’Arcy as its Chairman earlier this year, bringing a wealth of experience to VRAI board and supporting VRAI’s global ambitions.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Photos of today’s event are available from julienbehalphotography@gmail.com
VRAI’s founders are Niall Campion & Pat O’Connor:
· Niall Campion, Managing Director, has a background in digital content creation delivering prestigious, high quality projects. Working in film, TV and interactive design, he uses cutting edge technologies to tell better stories. He designed VRAI’s production pipeline mixing VFX, film and gaming techniques.
· Pat O’Connor, Managing Director, has 20 years’ in leadership and strategy in the Irish Defence Forces, working in high threat environments and a track record in innovative communication technology. Pat holds Masters from both Smurfit Business School and DCU.
You can see some of VRAI’s previous work here: vrai.ie
You can see an overview of the HEAT VR Training platform here: heatvr.io
The media point of contact is VRAI Managing Director Pat O’Connor available at:
pat@vrai.ie & +353873434485
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