© 2024 IMMERSIVE X
Starseed Studios Presents… The Quantum Experience: An interactive metaverse game show. We aim to revolutionize traditional conference talks by transforming them into an immersive, game-driven experience. Imagine a 3D game environment where the host Fearless Tigress and a Guest engage in a quest that sparks conversations about Life and new media (AR, VR, XR) and it’s impact on society.
We invite you to join our revolution. Together let’s build a community that celebrates your most fearless avatar and embraces your bold, unapologetic ideas!
Starseed Studio is a branding and creative production powerhouse that fearlessly executes experimental formats and campaigns that leave audiences feeling truly WOW’ed. We blend our world-class creative minds, relentless work ethic, and devotion to making badass content with new media like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Gaming.
Spatial
My African Dream
Alexandra Stone
Founder and CEO at Starseed Studios
Alexandra Nicole Stone is a visionary marketer with 8+ years of experience in industries like AI, Blockchain, SaaS, and IT infrastructure who sees a future where technology helps us embrace a spirit of play and pushes the boundaries of what we’ve previously thought possible. As the host of Life is the Game, she explores the blurring edge between our physical and virtual worlds. Now, as the founder and CEO of Starseed Studios, she channels her love for gaming and emerging technologies into memorable experiences that resonate with audiences on a deeper level.
Reema Bhachandani
Co-Founder and CCO at Starseed Studios
With over 15 years of experience in media production and business development, Reema has been shaping innovative entertainment experiences for global audiences. Her journey includes producing more than 50 original international IPs, enhancing viewer engagement and driving revenue across premier platforms such as Netflix, MTV, Roku, YouTube, and Paramount. As the creative mind behind iconic shows like Fear Factor, Big Brother, and Next Top Model, Reema is now pioneering the use of AR, VR, and MR to create next-generation content that engages audiences worldwide.
Jake Steinerman
Head of Community & Developer Relations at Spatial
Jake Steinerman is a visionary leader in the AR/VR industry With over a decade of experience in creating immersive and interactive experiences worldwide. As Head of Community & Developer Relations at Spatial, he leads the charge in empowering game designers, artists, and creators to transform their Unity scenes into live, multiplayer experiences across web, VR, and mobile with a single click. A dynamic speaker and active contributor to the AR/VR community, Jake is driving innovation and revolutionizing the way we connect and engage in the digital world.
BRCvr presents BurnerSphere is a new social VR application built for the global Burning Man community to explore, learn about, and practice the guiding principles of Burning Man—radical self-expression, communal effort, decommodification, and self-reliance—in an immersive virtual setting. Following the closure of AltspaceVR, the journey led Athena Demos and Doug Jacobson to recognize the need for a dedicated platform to support and amplify the Burner community’s values and ethos in VR. In this session, they will share their story of finding a new digital “home” and the collaborative effort behind creating BurnerSphere from the ground up, built with burners in mind.
More than a social VR space, BurnerSphere is a living documentary experience, weaving together digital worlds and real-world footage from Black Rock City. Join Athena and Doug as they explore the challenges of bringing Burning Man’s principles into a virtual realm and the opportunities for meaningful, principle-driven engagement in a VR environment. Attendees will gain insight into the development process, the obstacles and solutions in creating such an experience, and tools for fostering sustainable, value-aligned virtual communities for creative collaboration.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Athena Demos
Co-founder and CEO at Big Rock Creative
Athena Demos is co-founder and CEO of Big Rock Creative (BRC), an award-winning XR experience company specialising in innovative Social VR and Metaverse projects. She produced BRCvr presents BurnerSphere, an official virtual Burning Man experience, and social impact VR projects such as Breonna’s Garden and Pride Has No Borders. With a focus on creative collaboration in the Metaverse, Athena speaks globally about its potential and continues to pioneer immersive storytelling formats.
Doug Jacobson
Co-founder of Big Rock Creative
Doug Jacobson is the co-founder of Big Rock Creative, an XR company specializing in immersive social VR events. He co-created BRCvr, a virtual Burning Man experience that was featured in Wired and won the Producer’s Guild Innovation Award. His projects include Breonna’s Garden (Auggie for Best Societal Impact) and Pride Has No Borders in partnership with Microsoft. Passionate about storytelling in the metaverse, Doug creates VR worlds, shoots 3D video and explores new forms of digital interaction.
Get ready for the ENTERPRISES track! In this interactive warm-up session, Sebastian Kühne and Michael Gairing from RAUM will guide you through the Social VR platform. Learn how to navigate, design your avatar and make the most of the immersive features. This is your chance to get hands-on experience and ensure a seamless start to the ENTERPRISES sessions. Whether you’re a first-time user or a seasoned pro, this session will help you prepare for an engaging and productive IMMERSIVE X journey.
RAUM
Warm-Up
Get ready for the ENTERPRISES track! In this interactive warm-up session, Sebastian Kühne and Michael Gairing from RAUM will guide you through the Social VR platform. Learn how to navigate, design your avatar and make the most of the immersive features. This is your chance to get hands-on experience and ensure a seamless start to the ENTERPRISES sessions. Whether you’re a first-time user or a seasoned pro, this session will help you prepare for an engaging and productive IMMERSIVE X journey.
RAUM
Warm-Up
2024 delivered several inflection points in the journey to consumer mass adoption of immersive technology. This was the end of the beginning. It’s time to assess where we are in the hype cycle as we enter a new era where AI is powering content creation. We’re far along, but still have a way to go before the transformation of the virtual revolution is complete. This talk will explore the role of standards and interoperability in unlocking investment, workforce development, and human creativity as 3D becomes a required skill. Join Ben Erwin, creator of The Polys, board member of Metaverse Standards Forum, and president of Academy of Immersive Arts & Sciences for a deep dive into considerations for building the experiential economy.
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/Q0U-qNfy4Co.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Engage VR
Ben Erwin
President of the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences, Creator of The Poly Awards
Ben Erwin is the Creator, Executive Producer and Writer of The Polys – WebXR Awards, WebXR Summit Series and MetaTr@versal. He is a prominent voice in the XR community, advocating for ethics, standards and interoperability. He recently co-founded the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences and serves on the board of the Metaverse Standards Forum. Ben Erwin has 35 years of experience in marketing and management as an entrepreneur. He founded his digital media consultancy, Powersimple, in 1997. He has worked on over 40 major brands for digital media agencies, including T-Brand Studio at The New York Times. For 13 years, he worked for the United Nations Office of the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives for Children in Armed Conflict and Sexual Violence Against Women. Known for his humorous and engaging talks, he’s spoken at events such as AWE and VRTO, and led innovative XR performances including “Why Open Wins”.
Join us for an exciting kickoff session designed especially for newcomers who want to dive right into IMMERSIVE X 2024! Organizer and Programming Lead Thomas Zorbach will give a brief overview of what’s hot over the next three days, highlighting the can’t-miss moments and key experiences ahead.
But what would an overture be without music? We’re delighted to welcome Lauren Michelle, aka Metadiva, who has created the first opera house in the Metaverse, and Carlos J. Ochoa, founder and advisor at ONE Digital Consulting and the visionary behind the Vivaldi 3.0 VR experience. Together with Thomas, they’ll take us on a journey into the future of music in the Metaverse. Don’t miss this rocking start to an unforgettable event!
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR8C4xySTXc.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
AREA X
Lauren Michelle
International Opera Singer | Pioneering Opera in the Metaverse
Lauren Michelle is a visionary opera singer and creative technologist, redefining the intersection of classical music and cutting-edge technology. Renowned for her rich, velvety soprano voice, Lauren has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Milan’s La Scala. She’s collaborated with legendary orchestras such as the Berlin and New York Philharmonic, and graced celebrated venues like Carnegie Hall, Tokyo Bunkakai to name a few, all under the direction of renowned conductors including Plácido Domingo and Seiji Ozawa.
A trailblazer beyond the stage, Lauren merges opera with digital innovation, creating immersive experiences that push the boundaries of performance art. Her sold-out VR theater transported audiences to an underwater opera house, blending AR, VR, and Web3 technologies to transform storytelling. She’s shared her groundbreaking vision at global events like NFTNY, NFTPARIS and ETH Denver, showing how opera can transcend into Spatial computing and Web3.
Carlos J. Ochoa
Founder and Advisor of ONE Digital Consulting, and President of the VRAR Spain Chapter
Carlos J. Ochoa is a visionary in immersive technologies with a strong focus on the Metaverse, digital education and music experiences. As Founder and Advisor of ONE Digital Consulting and President of the VRAR Spain Chapter, he leads innovation in the XR space. He’s a member of the Metaverse Standards Forum, co-chairs the VR/AR Education Committee, and is a key figure in immersive learning and smart city initiatives. Carlos is also spearheading Vivaldi 3.0 VR, which combines technology and music to create a groundbreaking, immersive cultural experience.
Thomas Zorbach
Thomas Zorbach, Organizer and Programming Lead at IMMERSIVE X, Founder and CEO at vm-people
Thomas helps brands to find and tell better stories. Together with his team at vm-people he creates immersive experiences in order to transform attitudes and behaviors. Since the pandemic hit, Thomas has become a frequent traveler of the Metaverse. Equipped with a headset and controllers, he hosts conferences, gives lectures, runs theater courses, throws parties and assists others in exploring the potential of Virtual Reality and the Metaverse for their purposes.
In the midst of the pandemic’s first winter, Björn Ognibeni invited Thorsten Hennig-Thurau, marketing professor at University of Münster, to attend an X Night social gathering. Half a year later, the eXperimental Reality Lab at Uni Münster’s Marketing Center was up and running. Since then, the XRLab@MCM (xrlab-mcm.space) has conducted extensive scientific experiments of and in the metaverse, published influential articles, ran seminars and lectures in various virtual apps, contributed to various events in virtuality, and built two, not one virtual headquarters. In this session, Sean Keogh from headroom will look back with Thorsten and Björn and some special guests at the XRLab@MCM’s first 3 and ½ years, their greatest metaverse moments as well as their biggest disappointments, and what will have to happen to realize the metaverse’s potential. At the end, attendants are invited for a very special “first look” experience.
VRChat
Campus Virtual Marketing Center Münster
Thorsten Hennig-Thurau
Professor of Marketing & Media at Univ of Münster and Academic Director at eXperimental Reality Lab XRLab@MCM
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-Thurau alias “ProfTHT” serves as Academic Director of the XRLab@MCM. He holds the Chair for Marketing & Media Research at the Marketing Center Münster and oversees the university’s M.B.A. in Marketing program. He is consistently ranked as one of Germany’s leading business scholar; the Stanford study in PLOS lists him among the Top 100 most impactful marketing scholars globally. Thorsten’s work studies the digital economy and has been honored with a number of awards, including a Lifetime Award for Published Scholarly Contributions from the UCLA and the JAMS Sheth Foundation Best Paper Award in both 2015 and 2018.
Björn Ognibeni
Practical Visionary and Strategic Director at XRLab@MCM
For over 20 years, Björn Ognibeni has been helping his clients navigate digital transformation through all trends & hypes. Always with the aim to provide practical visions & solutions instead of PowerPoint slides. That also counts for the Metaverse. He is instigator and curator of IMMERSIVE X.
Sean Keogh
Partner at headroom
Consultant for Digitalisation, previously VP eCommerce Swarovski and CPO mybet, co-founder and Partner of headroom, experts for Collaboration in VR.
What does it mean to be a street artist, a musician, or a museum when your city is bombed, and your country is under attack? Felix Gaedtke and Gayatri Parameswaran present a behind-the-scenes look at their immersive VR experience “You Destroy. We Create”, exploring the impact of war on Ukraine’s cultural heritage. This session dives into their creative process, from research to the technical challenges of bringing real stories to life, blending storytelling, technology, and activism to protect endangered cultural landmarks.
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/S0ziRf7zzpc.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Felix Gaedtke
Co-Founder at NowHere Media
Felix Gaedtke is an Emmy®-nominated immersive creator and co-founder of NowHere Media. He has received multiple accolades, including a Peabody Award and the Storyscapes Award at the Tribeca Film Festival. Dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through VR and AR, his work has been showcased at venues like Venice Film Festival, SXSW, and the United Nations. Felix is also a Sundance New Frontier alumnus and a guest lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts and HMKW.
Gayatri Parameswaran
Co-Founder at NowHere Media
Gayatri Parameswaran is an Emmy®-nominated, Peabody-winning writer, director, and producer from India. She co-founded NowHere Media in Berlin, where her work explores storytelling, technology, and societal impact. Her immersive pieces have been showcased at Venice, Tribeca, and SXSW. A Sundance New Frontier alumna, she has won the Tribeca Storyscapes and SXSW awards. Gayatri also lectures at FU Berlin, HMKW, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, and ZHdK.
This presentation dives into the UFO Project, which merges virtual reality and neurofeedback to provide neurodivergent individuals with tools for self-determined cognitive training. By translating real-time brain activity into visual and haptic feedback within immersive environments, the project empowers users to build emotional regulation and cognitive skills at their own pace.
A key focus is the use of participatory design, where autistic individuals collaborate as creators in shaping VR environments. Their input ensures that these digital spaces address sensory sensitivities, enhance comfort, and reflect their lived experiences, resulting in tools and experiences that are both practical and deeply inclusive.
Finally, the talk explores neuroinclusive VR world-building, imagining virtual environments as safe, accessible, and engaging spaces tailored for neurodivergent users. By prioritizing sensory balance, user comfort, and emotional well-being, these worlds demonstrate how VR can foster meaningful inclusion and bridge the gap between diverse needs and innovative technology.
VRChat
AREA X
Marc Ristau
Senior IT Consultant and Neurodiversity Ambassador at Auticon
When not consulting companies or giving presentations about neuroinclusivity, Marc Ristau is a technology enthusiast passionate about user interface design and conceptual artistry. He has been an early adopter of 3D and web technology and is a seasoned systems developer with over 20 years of experience across many related fields. As a VR power user since the Quest 2, Marc now combines science, technology, and user perspectives in the UFO Project to create inclusive VR experiences focused on user-centered design, accessibility, and perceptual coherence.
Niko Lang
IT-Consultant and 3D-Artist at VRium
Niko Lang is an IT consultant, 3D artist and a long-time wanderer between different realities. The worlds he creates shape our understanding of the sphere that may one day make the metaverse a reality.
Enter the immersive world of AREA X and meet the creative minds of the IMMERSIVE X community! Join us for a Get-together where meaningful connections come to life in a vibrant virtual space designed for collaboration and inspiration by renowned worldbuilders Shu Shu and Niko of the VRium Creative Team. Whether you come to network, share ideas, or spark new collaborations, this is the place to meet pioneers and visionaries. Don’t miss out – let your ideas flow without limits!
VRChat
AREA X
Step into CyberiaXR, a digital recreation of the iconic 39 Whitfield Street, London Cyberia internet café opened in 1994, and explore how this cultural institution has been reimagined in the Metaverse. From its role as the world’s first internet café to its rebirth in extended reality (XR), this session delves into the café’s cultural legacy and its persistent digital presence. After the presentation, browser participants and those with VR headsets will be invited to explore the CyberiaXR space in Spatial.io, interacting with its virtual elements and engaging in open discussion about Art and Culture in XR and the potential of extended reality for preserving cultural landmarks.
Spatial
CyberiaXR
Caron-Jane Lyon
Theater Producer and Creative Technologist at PCM
Caron-Jane Lyon is a live performance theatre producer and creative technologist at PCM immersive staging. With a background in stage management and extended reality (XR), she brings a unique blend of theatre production and immersive technology to her projects. Caron has been at the forefront of creating dynamic virtual spaces, such as the CyberiaXR Café, blending cultural nostalgia with cutting-edge technology. Her work explores the intersection of art, storytelling, and digital innovation.
Join Andy Fidel, a pioneer in immersive tech and social engagement, as she explores how spatial networking is revolutionizing brand engagement.
Unlock the potential of spatial networking and elevate your brand’s impact.
Foretell Reality
Andy Fidel
Founder and Creative Lead at Spatial Networks
Andy Fidel creates digital events for remote teams and global networks.
With over 15 years of experience in social engagement and 9 years in immersive tech, Andy Fidel has built strong partnerships with teams worldwide. Renowned for her expertise in emerging tech, Andy drives innovation in remote workspaces, creator programs, and hybrid events. In 2016, she introduced the term “Spatial Networking” to highlight the impact of immersive reality on digital communication and collaboration.
“Social media shares information; spatial networks create shared experiences. In these moments, we build memories and foster community.” — Andy Fidel
Creating immersive virtual worlds requires both vision and technical insight. In this session, renowned VR artists ShuShu and Niko Lang will share their expertise on how to “think VR” and bring a new VR experience to life. Starting with an introduction to their creative journey and achievements, the session will delve into the process of conceptualizing VR spaces, exploring the unique qualities of virtual environments and harnessing the potential of immersive experiences and AI.
Following the discussion, attendees will embark on a “Trippy Trip” of several visually stunning VR worlds designed by the VRium Creative Team. From branded event spaces to mystical environments, each world will showcase a different application of VR, highlighting its versatility and emotional impact. Join ShuShu, Niko Lang and moderator Anne Seubert (Brands & Places)) for an interactive exploration that will inspire new perspectives on designing for the metaverse.
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/ELbqKDMWoMM.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Agog House
Shu Shu
VR Artist at VRium
ShuShu’s greatest passion is art and the emotional experience it brings to our life. Throughout his career, he has gained professional experience in various fields of the arts. He decided to “immerse” himself in the Metaverse, where all the disciplines he has mastered come together in harmony. His vision is to create a new Akropolis of the Arts in the Metaverse. He has founded a team of artists – the VRium Creative Team. So far, his team has created VR experiences that have won awards at several film festivals.
Niko Lang
IT-Consultant and 3D-Artist at VRium
Niko Lang is an IT consultant, 3D artist and a long-time wanderer between different realities. The worlds he creates shape our understanding of the sphere that may one day make the metaverse a reality.
Anne Seubert
Managing Director at Brands & Places
Anne Seubert is founder of the strategy consultancy Brands & Places, mentor, moderator and since 2020 Program Director at the non-profit Common Purpose Deutschland GmbH. As an experienced leader, passionate incubator and accomplished process facilitator, Anne Seubert shapes change and builds communities. For 15 years, she has been supporting companies, organizations and networks to redefine their role in people’s lives in a new and relevant way, both digitally and analogously, and develops strategies, formats and platforms for this purpose – preferably immersive, participative and transformative.
XR is brimming with transformative potential, yet many executives remain cautious about its strategic value. In this interactive workshop, we’re bringing more questions than answers, inviting participants to co-create insights on how to reveal XR’s value across industries. Together, we’ll examine real-world cases, share diverse perspectives, and brainstorm ways to foster executive buy-in. Join us for a collaborative exploration aimed at unlocking XR’s potential and shaping actionable strategies to bring it to the forefront of business innovation.
Naer
Sean Keogh
Partner at headroom
Consultant for Digitalisation, previously VP eCommerce Swarovski and CPO mybet, co-founder and Partner of headroom, experts for Collaboration in VR.
Björn Ognibeni
Practical Visionary and Strategic Director at XRLab@MCM
For over 20 years, Björn Ognibeni has been helping his clients navigate digital transformation through all trends & hypes. Always with the aim to provide practical visions & solutions instead of PowerPoint slides. That also counts for the Metaverse. He is instigator and curator of IMMERSIVE X.
In this eye-opening session, Kathrine Fremming, Arts and Sustainability Lead at Khora Virtual Reality, an award-winning XR studio based in Copenhagen, shares exclusive insights into the role of spatial branding in immersive technologies.
Discover how Extended Reality (XR), 360-degree storytelling and Augmented Reality (AR) transform brand interactions from passive to active. Find out how XR can create deeper emotional connections, boost brand loyalty and reshape the future of digital marketing.
VRChat
AREA X
Kathrine Fremming
Arts and Sustainability Lead at Khora
Kathrine is Art and Sustainability Lead at the award-winning VR/AR production studio Khora. She blends a strong passion for the arts with a strategic focus on business development. With a keen eye on digital transformation, she leverages her expertise to create storytelling narratives powered by immersive media. Kathrine is dedicated to driving innovation at the intersection of art, business, and technology.
Inloco Gallery offers a unique fusion of streetart and virtual exploration. Instead of traditional walls, the artworks are stored in a shipping container that visitors can interact with. This immersive experience allows you to step into the world of each artist. Both the physical and virtual gallery feature the same container – visitors can open its compartments to reveal the artists’ works. In the virtual space, accessible via VR headset, PC or smartphone, the experience goes a step further. As each compartment opens, the surrounding environment transforms, taking you deeper into the artist’s creative vision.
Join Anastasia Nesterova, Olga Kai and Elsa Kolesnikov on a journey where the streets of Dubai meet the endless possibilities of the Metaverse.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Spatial
Inloco Open Storage
Anastasia Nesterova
Creative Producer and Artistic Director at Inloco Gallery
Anastasia Nesterova is a creative producer, multimedia director, filmmaker and curator. She works across film, theatre, digital experiences, experimental projects and spatial design. Her experience includes performances, multimedia museums, art exhibitions, projection mapping and educational projects. Anastasia is also active in the Metaverse and frequently speaks at public events.
Olga Kai
Metaverse Strategist and Ambassador at Inloco Gallery
Olga Kai is a marketing professional with over a decade of experience, currently working in the field of immersive technologies. She joined the Inloco Gallery in 2023 as a metaverse strategist. Based in Prague, Olga consults companies, sharing her expertise in this rapidly evolving industry.
Elsa Kolesnikov
Metaverse Artist and Ambassador at Inloco Gallery
Elsa is a metaverse enthusiast, Inloco Gallery ambassador, creator and Roblox teacher.
Juliana Loh invites you to embark on a journey of awe and wonder into the jaws of a dragon within her award-winning VR project, Dragon Magic: Freedom Giants. Meticulously hand-painted and optimized on the Engage VR platform, each facet of the world offers a truly distinctive perspective on VR design possibilities. Like layers of an onion, the story unfolds, celebrating diverse cultures and inspiring you to dream bigger.
Featured on prestigious platforms such as Raindance Immersive, Fivars, and Viff Signals, including the 2023 Passive Immersive Prize at AUSTXR Festival, Dragon Magic | Freedom Giants aims to mesmerize and inspire. Join this session and immerse yourself in this visionary world.
Engage VR
Dragon Magic | Freedom Giants
Juliana Loh
Creative Technologist
Juliana is a creative technologist who is passionate about imagining meaningful and playful scenarios. Since 2020, she has been recognized for vision, excellence in creativity and design as a nominee in various global XR Film Festivals and XR Creator Lists. In 2023, she was honored to have been awarded the Passive Immersive Award granted by AUSTXR Festival for her team’s 2023 VR experience entitled: Dragon Magic, Freedom Giants. Her works have also been included in various performances including live painting at the The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Science World Vancouver (Creative Technology Gallery) and public art exhibitions. She has been a member of the Siggraph jury since 2022 and is currently experimenting with AI as an agent of positive change as well as embarking on experiential projects such as Spark and Sound 2024 XR choreographed performance.
Street Art is impermanent. Great work is painted over. Buildings are demolished. Sometimes, with luck or the right karma, street art is recorded and saved in the eternal Street View database. From there it can be mapped to a sphere in Unity and resurrected in virtual worlds.
Join us for an exhibition of eight works by Banksy on-location from different parts of England, including several from Bristol, where he grew up. The program will include a hosted discussion of Banksy’s art, private property, and changing the world.
VRChat
Banksy-England1
Tom Nickel
Teacher and Digital Media Explorer
Tom Nickel, Ph.D. is a teacher and digital media explorer.
He began his media career as a writer at WGBH-TV and was part of the early years of independent video. Later he was a pioneer in online teaching and learning and received a PhD in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State University.
He has led educational and personal growth events in Virtual Reality since 2018. His workshops have been offered through Educators in VR and his work is featured on the Tripp meditation app. He has hosted weekly sessions in the metaverse on death and loss since early 2020.
He is also a Founding Board member of the Africa VR Campus & Center, in Nairobi, Kenya; and an Advisory Board Member for the Khmer Magic Music Bus, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Embark on a serene and awe-inspiring journey to five extraordinary planets created by Niko Lang, aka “The King of Shaders”. From exploring rugged terrain to witnessing the raw power of an ocean planet, this chillout experience featured by VRChat in your homespace will let you marvel at the universe as you have never seen it before.Niko Lang, an IT consultant and visionary 3D artist, guides you through these breathtaking worlds that not only help shape our understanding of the universe, but also allow you to calm down after a long day in the Metaverse.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Niko's Exoplanet Journey
Niko Lang
IT-Consultant and 3D-Artist at VRium
Niko Lang is an IT consultant, 3D artist and a long-time wanderer between different realities. The worlds he creates shape our understanding of the sphere that may one day make the metaverse a reality.
Embark on an immersive journey through the Africa VR Campus and Centre with our interactive Open VR Classroom experience. This session provides insights into how Virtual Reality is transforming education and creating new opportunities in Africa. Attendees will begin in a 360-degree video room to familiarize themselves with the Africa VR Campus, followed by an exploration of the immersive campus world through a captivating 360-degree photosphere. Experience the innovative “Metaverse Soko”, a pioneering Web3-based business concept designed to support the campus’ fundraising efforts. Participants will see first-hand how this platform empowers students to engage in Web3 commerce.
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/AIKN3gVclwY.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Engage VR
Africa VR Campus and Center
Diana Njeri
Founder at Africa VR Campus and Center
Diana Njeri is the Associate Director of the Africa VR Campus and Center and the director of XR Girls Africa, a socio-economic digital young women empowerment program of The Africa VR Campus and Center. She is committed to using immersive technologies to drive positive change and empower young women and girls across Africa. As Director of XR Girls Africa, Diana leads a dynamic team focused on closing the gender gap in XR technology. Her mission is to inspire and equip young women to explore XR technologies, develop their skills, and contribute to groundbreaking projects.
Paul Simon Waiyaki
Founder at Africa VR Campus and Center
Paul Simon Waiyaki’s journey began with VOFCIN in 2012, addressing challenges for African children. In 2014, he entered real estate to boost African growth. In 2016 he became the first African in VR and pioneered the technology by founding the The Africa VR Campus and Center. In 2019, he hosted mainstream MetaVerse event hosted live from Africa. In 2022, he launched VR & Space programs customized for the African Learner.
VenusSX shares virtual reality experiences that lead to changes in our awareness, our attitude and our engagement with Life. Immersive media creates a shift in perception of what is possible and allows us to connect more viscerally with powerful personal growth.
Join us on a sensational tingling quest to discover and unlock the five elements of humanity within a famous virtual world that celebrates the boundless potential of technology in art.
Breathe. Listen. Open all your eyes and ears… The elements of humanity are the gifts that are always here, in all dimensions, as the basic building blocks of joyous human experience. With courage and imagination, we seek to touch them and return to true alignment and balance in all our aspects.
Together we consider how to have a proper attitude and approach to deal with any life situation, so that we increase our measure of self-deservement and… along the way… gain the gift of Humour.
World Design by Niko* Lang
VRChat
Niko’s Magic AI Art Dimensions
VenusSX
Virtual Sensory Designer at PlayRoomSX
Meet Venus – she, who comes from the Empire of Love. She is a thought leader providing immersive experiences with unique content that opens your imagination and results in a shift in awareness about what is possible in how we engage with each other.
A pleasure advocate, a therapist and coach, VenusSX is on a mission to unlock human potential; to be stimulated and invigorated with simple conversations and immersive events so that we are enlightened about what connects us and pleasures us.
VenusSX is the founder of PlayRoomSX, a creative team who assumes the responsibility to help shape the future of immersive media and healthy human relationships.
Together, we become a strong ethical voice in creating a sex-positive community, and increasing accessibility to self-development that transcends physical location and limitations.
Explore how creative communities leverage immersive technologies to shape a sustainable future for museums, cities and communities. Led by Paige Dansinger, this session explores innovative projects using XR and spatial computing to foster community empowerment and smart city solutions. Learn how the Better World Museum and other initiatives inspire change by using digital tools to create interactive and inclusive experiences. Discover the transformative power of creative collaboration for building more sustainable spaces and the role of immersive technology in this journey.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Horizon Worlds
Horizon Art Museum
Paige Dansinger
Futurist and Founding Director at Horizon Art Museum
Paige Dansinger creates participatory, community-empowering solutions for sustainable smart cities, museums, and communities using XR immersive technologies and spatial computing. Founder of Better World Museum, Horizon Art Museum, and Women in Horizon, she serves as a Global Ambassador for the VR/AR Association (VRARA) and is a member of the XR Women Leadership Committee. Paige is recognized among the Top 25 Women in the Metaverse, Top 100 Global Women of the Future, and Top 115 Community-Builders via Meta’s Inaugural Community Leadership Program.
Typically experienced by astronauts when viewing the Earth from space, the “Overview Effect” is a profound moment that changes one’s perspective on our planet. Space philosopher and author Frank White, who coined the term, believes it should be a human right to understand humanity’s place in the universe.
In this session, participants can experience the Overview Effect for themselves in a stunning VR show. Following the presentation, join Frank White, VR visionary Tom Nickel, and award-winning VR artist ShuShu for a discussion on how VR can play a key role in changing the world for the better.
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/U4MMd1LjaGc.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
The Overview Effect
Shu Shu
VR Artist at VRium
ShuShu’s greatest passion is art and the emotional experience it brings to our life. Throughout his career, he has gained professional experience in various fields of the arts. He decided to “immerse” himself in the Metaverse, where all the disciplines he has mastered come together in harmony. His vision is to create a new Akropolis of the Arts in the Metaverse. He has founded a team of artists – the VRium Creative Team. So far, his team has created VR experiences that have won awards at several film festivals.
Frank White
Author of “The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution”
Frank White is a renowned author, space philosopher and consultant. He has written extensively on space exploration, climate change and artificial intelligence. His seminal work, The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, introduced the now standard term for the cognitive shift astronauts experience in space. Frank’s latest book, The Cosma Hypothesis, explores humanity’s purpose as a spacefaring species.
Niko Lang
IT-Consultant and 3D-Artist at VRium
Niko Lang is an IT consultant, 3D artist and a long-time wanderer between different realities. The worlds he creates shape our understanding of the sphere that may one day make the metaverse a reality.
Tom Nickel
Teacher and Digital Media Explorer
Tom began his media career as a writer at WGBH-TV and was part of the early years of independent video. Later he was a pioneer in online teaching and learning and received a PhD in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences from Utah State University.
He has led educational and personal growth events in Virtual Reality since 2018. His workshops have been offered through Educators in VR and his work is featured on the Tripp meditation app. He has hosted weekly sessions in the metaverse on death and loss since early 2020.
He is also a Founding Board member of the Africa VR Campus & Center, in Nairobi, Kenya; and an Advisory Board Member for the Khmer Magic Music Bus, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Experience Climate Data through a New Design Medium
Inspired by wagashi, the traditional Japanese art of confectionery art, DataWagashi transforms climate data into a tangible, sensory experience. By incorporating taste, smell, touch, and texture, it redefines how we engage with one of the greatest challenges of our time.
In this session, Tiange Wang, Senior Designer at IDEO and I-Yang Huang, Architectural Designer at CBT Architects explore DataWagashi sets that spotlight climate issues like glacier change and carbon footprints, dissect their algorithmic design process, and share insights into using sensory data perception to make complex information more accessible and emotionally engaging.
VRChat
Tiange Wang
Senior Designer at IDEO
Tiange Wang is an award-winning and internationally-exhibiting designer and creative technologist. Her work investigates innovative interactive paradigms among humans, technology and the environment. Tackling subjects like climate change, holistic wellbeing, multisensory experiences and speculative futures, she employs mediums including multimodal interaction, creative data visualization, multimedia art, installation, food, ambience tech, software, AI and games.
Tiange is the recipient of iF, Red Dot, UX Design Award, Falling Walls Art & Science Breakthrough among others. Her work has been presented at SXSW, SIGGRAPH, CHI, MIT Museum, Fast Company, among others.
I-Yang Huang
Architectural Designer at CBT Architects
I-Yang is a multidisciplinary designer working across R&D, labs, luxurious residential, public space and industrial design. He specializes in complex modeling, parametric generative geometry and storytelling by visualization.
I-Yang’s work explores emerging design trends and opportunities arising from digitalization, including game engine, new retail experience, multisensory data experience, experimental development paradigm and speculative spatial design.
His work has been widely featured by major outlets such as ArchDaily, Business Wire, Dezeen, Domus, Designboom, Fast Company, The Boston Globe, and more.
Presentation 1
Enemies : Interactive Workshop
Presentation 2
Crystal Ship : Immersive Meditation
VenusSX is a somatic educator and coach providing pathways to freedom from social and cultural conditioning through educational events, intimate circles and workshops in the enchanted beauty and sensuality of Elysium, VR Tantric Meditation Space.
A tantric lifestyle cultivates awareness of our emotions, body, mind and spirit, leading to more health, more authenticity and greater emotional intelligence and resilience.
Blending a shamanic approach, we discover secrets within the seven Chakras that hold keys to our health. We look into the shadow to illuminate the Enemies of the Chakras – things that zap our life force energy.
Gain awareness of how to combat your inner Enemy to stop energy loss. We learn how to build up our organic essential energy to rejuvenate our body.
During the second session, we slide onto the Crystal Ship where we breathe, submerge into a deep relaxation and fly… play with energy gain in this magical world of freedom. Immerse yourself in a live guided meditative space that transcends our physical limits, increases our energy and opens our hearts to connection and ecstasy.
World Design by VRium Creative Team
VRChat
Elysium
VenusSX
Virtual Sensory Designer at PlayRoomSX
Meet Venus – she, who comes from the Empire of Love. She is a thought leader providing immersive experiences with unique content that opens your imagination and results in a shift in awareness about what is possible in how we engage with each other.
A pleasure advocate, a therapist and coach, VenusSX is on a mission to unlock human potential; to be stimulated and invigorated with simple conversations and immersive events so that we are enlightened about what connects us and pleasures us.
VenusSX is the founder of PlayRoomSX, a creative team who assumes the responsibility to help shape the future of immersive media and healthy human relationships.
Together, we become a strong ethical voice in creating a sex-positive community, and increasing accessibility to self-development that transcends physical location and limitations.
In this session, we’ll explore the transformative potential of Virtual Reality in mental health care through HEKA VR’s innovative software. Dr Farah Shiraz will present the unique features of the HEKA platform, which empowers people with schizophrenia who experience auditory hallucinations to create avatars based on their perceptions of the voices they hear. Dr Shiraz will share compelling stories of the software’s impact on users and discuss how advances in VR are shaping a future of safer, more personalised therapeutic experiences.
Remio Enterprise
Future World
Dr. Farah Shiraz
Chief Scientific Officer at Khora
Dr Farah Shiraz is the Chief Scientific Officer at HEKA VR, bringing over two decades of dedication to mental health. With a background enriched by insights from both patients and therapists, Dr Shiraz leads a passionate team committed to revolutionising mental health care through Virtual Reality. HEKA VR’s technology is based on a user-centred approach, ensuring it meets real needs in the therapeutic landscape.
Stephanie Bagehorn
Brand Manager at vm-people
As a brand manager at vm-people GmbH, Stephanie advises brand leaders on immersive brand building. After her training as a marketing communications specialist and subsequent studies in business communications, she always focuses on the question of “How?”. How do companies communicate with their target audience? How do customers become enthusiastic fans? How does a brand become an experience?
Join us for an insightful talk on neuro-aesthetics and its role in enhancing mental health through innovative technologies. Neuro-aesthetics explores the relationship between art, beauty and brain function, revealing how aesthetic experiences can impact our emotions and cognitive processes. This talk will explore how virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) serve as powerful therapeutic tools, creating immersive environments that facilitate emotional expression and healing.
We’ll discuss how these technologies can transport individuals into engaging artistic landscapes, foster mindfulness and reduce anxiety. By integrating neuro-aesthetic principles with VR and AR, therapists can offer tailored experiences that promote mental wellbeing, allowing for deeper self-exploration and personal growth. Discover the future of mental health treatment at the intersection of art and technology!
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Remio Enterprise
Future World
Jacki Clark
XR-Artist and Art Mentor
Jacki Clark (JackiVR) is a fine artist and educator with a passion for using art as a therapeutic tool. As an independent artist and qualified therapist in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), she works with people of all ages at Space4autism, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. Since discovering Virtual Reality in 2018, Jacki has created augmented reality experiences for various events, including light festivals and cultural celebrations. She also empowers adults to create their own VR and AR artworks, blending creativity with technology for transformative experiences.
Stephanie Bagehorn
Brand Manager at vm-people
As a brand manager at vm-people GmbH, Stephanie advises brand leaders on immersive brand building. After her training as a marketing communications specialist and subsequent studies in business communications, she always focuses on the question of “How?”. How do companies communicate with their target audience? How do customers become enthusiastic fans? How does a brand become an experience?
The landscape of medical training is transforming rapidly. Traditional methods, often tied to travel and hotel stays, have shifted dramatically, with video conferencing taking center stage during the pandemic. But what comes next? Could immersive training in the Metaverse redefine how healthcare professionals learn and grow?
Join us for a journey into the future where two visionary pioneers in XR-based medical education share their groundbreaking insights.
Spatial
Educators in VR
Dr. Jane Harrington
CEO & Co-Founder at MedMicroMaps
Dr. Jose Ferrer Costa
Medical Doctor and XR Developer
Ines Heitkamp
Product Manager HCM Solutions at MedTriX Group
Ines Heitkamp has always been fascinated by new media and studied communication with focus on media management (M.A.). Since 2022, she is not only Junior Marketing Manager, but also Project Manager of MedTriX’s Healthcare Metaverse Solutions. Together with the team, she cares for new media solutions for the healthcare market in the virtual space.
Get ready to dive into an epic quiz showdown with fellow Immersive X adventurers! Join mixed international teams as we battle through 5 mind-bending metaverse categories. One team will emerge victorious, but everyone’s a winner when it comes to making new friends! Let the games begin!
RAUM
Christopher Werth
Chief Creative Officer at VOK DAMS worldwide
Christopher Werth is an expert in experiential marketing. He studied theater production and staged at the Schauspielhaus Bochum in Germany. After working as a creative at Jung von Matt and Scholz & Friends, among others, he is now Director Strategy & Concept at the agency for events and live-marketing VOK DAMS worldwide. He writes a gaming column for CulturMag and gives lectures at universities and international conferences.
Step into a winter wonderland to end all parties and get ready for the grand finale of IMMERSIVE X 2024 in a magical, snow-covered world filled with Christmas trees, snowmen, and steaming virtual mulled wine! Set against the cozy charm of a virtual Christmas market, this is more than just a party—it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and, of course, bratwursts!
Whether you’re fine, coarse, or spiced with VR magic, Bratwurst Wonderland is the place to connect, laugh, and close out IMMERSIVE X 2024 in style.
Don’t miss the last and most festive VR event of this year’s IMMERSIVE X!
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Klaus Lemm
New Media Experiencer
Klaus is a high-end IT consultant in the field of business consulting, system integration and outsourcing at a global service provider for IT and business processes. In his spare time he is a discoverer of immersive worlds and a pioneer in the field of social VR applications.
Celebrate the new trajectory of immersive parties in virtual reality! Come let loose, dance and de-stress together in VIOLET, a powerful space that inspires connection and networking, empowering us to imagine new possibilities in our realities.
A combination of art and digital technology, VIOLET is a sensual Club like no other in VRChat with three rooms, chill space, dance bridge, audio-linked skybox and dance floor with pumping bass, strip pole and psychedelic shaders by Niko*.
Get pumped and primed for the conference with Live DJ sets to get you moving.
The Hypnotic Missile of Love is primed to be activated and released. Be seduced into an audio-visual shader experience that awakens your crown chakra, the Dream.
Enter PlayRoomSX – the new digital community playground where we share respect, positivity and freedom of self-expression.
World Design by VRium Creative Team
This session will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/live/lG3Ml8x5tRM.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
VIOLET
VenusSX
Virtual Sensory Designer at PlayRoomSX
Meet Venus – she, who comes from the Empire of Love. She is a thought leader providing immersive experiences with unique content that opens your imagination and results in a shift in awareness about what is possible in how we engage with each other.
A pleasure advocate, a therapist and coach, VenusSX is on a mission to unlock human potential; to be stimulated and invigorated with simple conversations and immersive events so that we are enlightened about what connects us and pleasures us.
VenusSX is the founder of PlayRoomSX, a creative team who assumes the responsibility to help shape the future of immersive media and healthy human relationships.
Together, we become a strong ethical voice in creating a sex-positive community, and increasing accessibility to self-development that transcends physical location and limitations.
Gain practical insights from our journey into the Metaverse.
The Metaverse is neither utopia nor dystopia. It is here. Bayerische Landesbank has been gaining experience with Enterprise Metaverse platforms since last year and is bringing one of its classes from the tried-and-tested Risk Academy into virtual reality in 2024. Fully immersive with VR headsets, remote participants experience a new quality of content focus and team spirit.
In VR 4x more focused than in e-learning? 3.75x more emotionally connected in VR training than in classroom training? We want to check these promises. Experience the class „Country Rating“ of our BayernLB VR Risk Academy.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
RAUM
Dr. Jürgen Michels
Chief Economist & Head of Research at BayernLB
Dr. Jürgen Michels has been Chief Economist and Head of Research at BayernLB („Financing progress“) in Munich since October 2013. Prior to joining BayernLB, he served as an economist in Citigroup’s Investment & Research Analysis (CIRA) department in London from 2002 to 2013, and became chief euro-area economist in 2008. From 1997 to 2002 he worked at Sal. Oppenheim in Cologne, and from 1996 to 1997 at the Institute for International Economic Policy at the University of Bonn.
Gerald Kottmann
Managing Partner at Alice to Bob
Gerald Kottmann is founder of Alice to Bob, a Business Model and Brand Consultancy from Munich. He launched his first office in VR in October 2022 and has been advising companies on their choice of enterprise metaverse platform ever since. After studying economics and business informatics, management career at DDB and BBDO. Self-employed since 2001. Bridge builder between generations and fighter for relevance.
For the introduction of it’s new longhaul product Allegris, Lufthansa German Airlines is applying various extended reality use cases for marketing and training purposes. Dr. Bjoern Becker, Head of the program, provides insights on those use cases and the value driven approach Lufthansa used to identify opportunities of this new technology.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
RAUM
Dr. Björn Becker
Head of Program Future Intercont Experience at Lufthansa Group
Bjoern has over 20 years experience with Product Management, Passenger Experience and Cargo Operations, holds a PhD in Revenue Management and has published articles on Revenue Management, Production Control and Service Excellence. He is responsible for the Entry Into Service of the longhaul product Lufthansa Allegris. Before that he headed the customer related topics of the Lufthansa Group ReStart program during the Covid19-crisis as well as the ground and digital service experience, such as lounges, airport and digital self services.
A real community that has been living in the Metaverse for 5 years. The VR family has almost 10,000 members and uses various platforms to meet regularly in the Metaverse. The family evening in the VR world Stonehenge on RAUM offers the opportunity to experience a community event live. Stonehenge was already part of the Metaverse exhibition at the Deutsche Museum in Nuremberg. Exciting connections to the world of work and the Metaverse can also be made. An interesting exchange of experiences is guaranteed – an ideal opportunity to experience the enthusiasm for the Metaverse and the VR Family Community first hand.
RAUM
Stonehenge
Pierre Kretschmer
Senior Specialist and XR at WWK-Versicherungen
Pierre Kretschmer – Senior specialist digital marketing and extended reality at WWK Versicherungen. Responsible for testing the possible uses of XR and Metaverse in the company. Founder of the Facebook community “Meta Quest VR Familie” with almost 10,000 members, which actively explores and shapes the Metaverse. Convinced of the potential of the Metaverse and part of the pioneering work for its development.
WWK Versicherungen already uses Enterprise Metaverse systems for various use cases in the company. As part of this session, the WWK Employer Branding Space will be presented in RAUM to show how innovative the insurance industry can be. Insurers are often seen as old-fashioned, but it is clear that an insurance company is also a tech company. WWK has existed for 140 years and is a pioneer in many areas. This example shows how the Metaverse is already changing the world of work today and the exciting prospects for tomorrow – join us on a journey into the digital future.
RAUM
Pierre Kretschmer
Senior Specialist Digital Marketing & Extended Reality at WWK Versicherungen
Pierre Kretschmer – Senior specialist digital marketing and extended reality at WWK Versicherungen. Responsible for testing the possible uses of XR and Metaverse in the company. Founder of the Facebook community “Meta Quest VR Familie” with almost 10,000 members, which actively explores and shapes the Metaverse. Convinced of the potential of the Metaverse and part of the pioneering work for its development.
Do you believe the future of communication and collaboration is bound to 2D flat screens? Think again. Step into the future with Microsoft Mesh, now seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Teams. This session will explore how Mesh’s immersive 3D environments and advanced interactive tools are transforming remote and hybrid work experiences. We’ll cover the value of immersive collaboration, walk through upcoming features and the product roadmap, and discuss best practices for adopting this cutting-edge technology in your organization. Join me to experience how Microsoft Mesh is not just reshaping enterprise collaboration but also inspiring innovative connections and driving the next evolution of the digital workspace.
Microsoft Mesh
Oasis
Christian Glessner
Founder Hololux & iLoveMesh
Christian Glessner, the eccentric and passionate MVP, is at the forefront of reshaping workplace connections through immersive technologies and Microsoft Mesh. As the founder of Hololux, a cutting-edge innovation agency, his vision has revolutionized how businesses and employees interact with technology. With over 20 years of experience in technology and innovation, he specializes in immersive technologies and Mixed Reality, creating innovative solutions for businesses. In 2024, he won the German Innovation Award, was part of the first Microsoft Mesh MVP batch, and founded I💜Mesh, the first Mesh community. Recognized as a Microsoft MVP for over 15 years, Christian continues to simplify complex technical concepts through dynamic presentations, making significant contributions to the tech community.
Connecting and communicating with customers, training employees and working together. These are some of the areas where the Metaverse has significant potential for large financial institutions, but there are hurdles to overcome first. This session explores the journey of introducing this technology to Commerzbank AG and takes the audience on a deep dive into this HR project. Join the discussion on lessons learned and what the future may hold.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
RAUM
Christian Spiekermann
Software Engineer at neosfer
Christian is a software engineer at neosfer, the early-stage investor and innovation unit of Commerzbank AG. Here he looks at how future technologies will change financial services and does venture building. Christian’s passion for XR and all things three-dimensional started in 2017. Since then he has worked on several projects in this field.
Heiko Wöllner
Chapterlead Learning Media Production at Commerzbank AG
Heiko is Chapterlead Learning Media Production, has 20 years of management experience in cross-functional teams and is the responsible standard setter for the selection of production software to be used. He is the coordinator for external service providers in learning media production. He is a technical and qualified specialist and sales trainer for banking topics and project leader for qualification in the area of sustainability.
Veronique Caldori
Business Expert Learning Media at Commerzbank AG
Veronique is a Business Expert for Learning Media Production in HR Learning at Commerzbank AG since 2022. Previously, she worked in sales, projects, sales coordination and as a trainer at Commerzbank AG. As one of the early digital natives, she is always the first to find and implement interesting new technologies for contemporary and future-oriented learning and communication.
Immersive technologies and AI open up new opportunities for companies such as STMicroelectronics to develop their talent and leadership teams. AI-powered soft skills training in VR complements theoretical learning in the classroom or on e-learning platforms with highly scalable and customizable simulations in which newly acquired skills can be applied in realistic scenarios. Learners can benefit from individual learning paths, immediate feedback and repeatability – all in a psychologically safe environment.
Join this session to explore real-world examples of how immersive learning is transforming professional development and taking it to the next level.
RAUM
Dimenteers/Rockhouse
Isabel Steinhoff
Founder at Dimenteers
For over 10 years, Isabel worked in the media industry and management consulting. She also co-initiated the Future of Work Ecosystem “Shake Up The Workplace” in Switzerland. Driven by an unquenchable curiosity, she loves working at the intersection of strategy, technology and people – now, as co-founder of Dimenteers.
Markus Meier
Founder at Dimenteers
After studying economics at the University of Zurich, Markus began his career in international consulting – first in IT-related organizational consulting and then for more than 22 years as co-founder and partner of the Executive Consulting Group with a focus on international leadership assessments at board and C-level. Fascinated by new technologies, Markus co-founded Dimenteers in 2022 to advise organizations on the Metaverse and the application of immersive technologies, especially in the HR domain.
VRChat isn’t just an app—it’s a universe brimming with creativity, chaos, and connection. Home to one of the largest communities in the Metaverse, VRChat lets users bring their wildest imaginations to life with custom 3D avatars and fantastical virtual worlds. Every day, new spaces spring up, turning VRChat into an ever-expanding playground of discovery and adventure.
Join Klaus Lemm, a seasoned explorer of this digital frontier, on an unforgettable tour through the weird, wild, and wonderful worlds of VRChat. From gravity-defying landscapes to jaw-dropping creative spaces, this session dives deep into the heart of Social VR, showcasing what’s possible when imagination meets technology.
Ready to hop into the madness? Don’t miss this journey through the Metaverse’s most vibrant neighborhoods!
VRChat
AREA X
Klaus Lemm
New Media Experiencer
Klaus is a high-end IT consultant in the field of business consulting, system integration and outsourcing at a global service provider for IT and business processes. In his spare time he is a discoverer of immersive worlds and a pioneer in the field of social VR applications.
The cosmic horror narrative game Broken Spectre set out to redefine immersion in VR gaming. Using natural hand movements, the game eliminates abstraction and places you directly in the body of the protagonist, Casey Brewer, as you climb Coldblood Mountain in search of answers to your father’s mysterious disappearance. Designed to be played in a single, thrilling session, Broken Spectre forces players to make irreversible choices, creating a story that only VR can tell.
Join the Executive Producers Evan Jones (Stitch Media), Michael Monello (Campfire) and Nick Braccia (Columbia University) in this roundtable discussion as they break down the design decisions behind this groundbreaking title, which has won multiple awards, including “Best VR Experience” at the XR Awards, “Best in Play” at GDC 2024, and “Reboot Develop Blue Special Selection Award 2024.
Note: Parts of this event will be video recorded, potentially capturing individual voices and usernames. Please take this into consideration when joining the session, and let us know if you have any concerns.
VRChat
Evan Jones
Founder and Creative Director at Stitch Media
Evan Jones has two decades of award-winning production in interactive media and games. His early work in Alternate Reality Game design won two Emmy Awards and he was named “Top 10 New Media Groundbreaker” by the Bell Fund and “Best in Electronic Culture” at the UNESCO World Summit. His studio produces documentaries as Stitch Media and Games by Stitch creates narrative puzzle games for VR, PC, mobile and web.
Michael Monello
Co-Founder and Creative at Campfire
Renowned for his innovation in immersive storytelling, Michael Monello has played a pivotal role in shaping pop culture. With his partners at Haxan Films, he co-created The Blair Witch Project. In 2005 he co-founded Campfire, which produces participatory narratives for TV series and films. Monello’s work has garnered acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival and The Cannes Lions Festival of Advertising and received numerous Clio, Andy, and Emmy awards.
Nick Braccia
Writer, Director and Producer
Nick Braccia is an award-winning producer, writer, and director. He co-created and executive produced the horror franchise Video Palace for AMC’s Shudder alongside his creative partner, Mike Monello. Together, they also served as executive producers and narrative consultants on Broken Spectre, a VR horror experience by Games by Stitch, which won VR Experience of the Year at the VR Awards. Nick recently taught Comparative Media: Film and Video Games at Columbia University.
Christopher Morrison
Writer-Director
Christopher is a multitalented writer-director who has worked on over 200 films, theatre pieces, VR, videogames, and immersive entertainments on 3 continents. His feature film ‘The Bellwether’ was released in 2019. He has written and directed 360° films. He has been commissioned for multiple feature scripts, TV pilots, and plays alike. He is also a Narrative Designer for videogames. His VR branching narrative “The Werewolf Experience” just finished playing Japan. Cirque du Soleil called him “A huge asset to the creative process.”
Join Ferryman Collective for a 60-minute journey into the world of Gumball Dreams, an award-winning live theater production in virtual reality. Witness a short demo of the show, where immersive storytelling and interactive elements bring the narrative to life. Following the performance, enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour that reveals the innovative techniques and technology that make our VR theatre possible. Discover how such a unique experience is created and operated and engage with the producers in a Q&A session. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of live theater in VR!
VRChat
Gumball Dreams
Ferryman Collective
Ferryman Collective creates live VR theatre taking audiences on unprecedented journeys. From The Severance Theory: Welcome to Respite, premiering at Tribeca and winning awards, to Gumball Dreams, winning the SXSW Audience Award and many more, their productions have garnered worldwide acclaim. International collaborations with Find WiiLii and their latest, Uncanny Alley: A New Day, which will premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, they are defining a new generation of XR media.
In this conversation, Melanie Eilert, expert for inclusive gaming experiences, and Casey Kreer, consultant for digital accessibility, discuss the design of accessible virtual worlds. With their combined expertise, they address how virtual reality (VR) can be made more accessible for people with different disabilities. Melanie Eilert contributes her experience as a person with limited mobility, while Casey Kreer, who lives with a visual impairment herself, contributes her technical expertise in the field of digital accessibility and assistive technologies. Together, they shed light on how VR environments can be designed to be usable by all users – regardless of their physical abilities.
VRChat
Agog House
Melanie Eilert
Inclusion Activist
Melanie Eilert is an expert in inclusion and games. Due to her spinal muscular atrophy, she explores the world from a wheelchair perspective and pays particular attention to accessibility in gaming. She also loves her cat and musicals.
Casey Kreer
Freelance Accessibility Consultant
Casey Kreer is a software developer and freelance consultant for digital accessibility. She is an activist for the rights of people with disabilities, especially in administrative digitalization, and one of the most important young voices in her industry. Casey is committed to self-determined access to government information and a reflective use of artificial intelligence.
Anne Seubert
Managing Director at Brands & Places
Anne Seubert is founder of the strategy consultancy Brands & Places, mentor, moderator and since 2020 Program Director at the non-profit Common Purpose Deutschland GmbH. As an experienced leader, passionate incubator and accomplished process facilitator, Anne Seubert shapes change and builds communities. For 15 years, she has been supporting companies, organizations and networks to redefine their role in people’s lives in a new and relevant way, both digitally and analogously, and develops strategies, formats and platforms for this purpose – preferably immersive, participative and transformative.
In a book, the author tells a story. If it’s a thriller about a serial killer, we learn about the victim’s suffering through the narrator. In VR, the viewers can become victims themselves. Rowohlt Verlag added an XR experience to the bestseller “Hast du Zeit” by Andreas Winkelmann, creating a terrifying closeness to the killer.
In this session, you will experience how a traditional book publisher uses XR to innovate novel marketing. Andrea Luck (Rowohlt), Director Tim B. Frank (VRtualX) and Executive Producer Marcus Meier (vm-people) will provide insights into this groundbreaking project.
VRChat
AREA X
Andrea Luck
Head of Marketing at Rowohlt Verlag
As head of marketing at Rowohlt Verlag, she has carried the strategic, operational, and content-related responsibility for all marketing and communication activities since early 2020. Before that, she held the same position at HarperCollins and Carlsen Verlag.
Prior to entering the publishing world, she worked in advertising agencies for many years, including Springer & Jacoby, Scholz & Friends, and from 2007 to 2009 in Kyiv at Leo Burnett.
Tim B. Frank
CEO at VRtual X
Tim Frank is co-founder of VRtual X, an agency for virtual reality and 360° videos. He designs tailor-made VR experiences that support companies with training, product presentations and recruiting. His strength lies in the development of projects that can be used intuitively and offer real added value. In addition, Tim is committed to explaining virtual reality in an easy-to-understand way to give even people without technical knowledge access to good information.
Marcus Meier
Creative Director at vm-people
Anne Seubert
Managing Director at Brands & Places
Anne Seubert is founder of the strategy consultancy Brands & Places, mentor, moderator and since 2020 Program Director at the non-profit Common Purpose Deutschland GmbH. As an experienced leader, passionate incubator and accomplished process facilitator, Anne Seubert shapes change and builds communities. For 15 years, she has been supporting companies, organizations and networks to redefine their role in people’s lives in a new and relevant way, both digitally and analogously, and develops strategies, formats and platforms for this purpose – preferably immersive, participative and transformative.