Stalker Fund, a VC firm with Austrian roots, has invested €3 million in Another World, which develops virtual reality location-based entertainment (VR LBE) offers. The deal was closed in August, but was made public only recently.
Founded by a Russian team, the startup has its headquarters registered in Cyprus, even though it kept its R&D team in Russia.
Another World, which launched its first VR arena was launched in Moscow last month, will use the funding to open additional ones throughout Europe: in Austria in late 2018. Then, under plans, new arenas will be opened in London, Paris and Madrid.
In exchange for the capital injection, the fund received a 24% stake in the startup, as reported by Rusbase. This is the first round of funding from the startup, which was created in March 2018 and has been financed so far by its founders themselves.
Among Another World’s global competitors are The Void and Zero Latency VR, as well as Anvio VR from Russia.
Unlike the latter, Another World targets the EU markets as a priority: “We do not plan to develop a retail network in Russia at the moment,” said a Another World’s founder Dmitry Ekimovsky in an exchange with East-West Digital News.
Ekimovsky cited several “clear distinctive advantages” of his company. First, with arenas of 400 sq.m. or more, Another World allows for free movements, providing “the next level of immersion.”
Second, sohpisticated scenarios with multiple choices and branches, as well as graphics “at a cinematographic level” provide an “unmatched experience.”
Another advantage is in the fact that paratroopers and hooverbike pilots play within the same gameplay, said Ekimovsky.
Another World makes use of “best-of-breed equipment” such as optitrack Mocap, Striker VR guns, powerful vibration floor, etc.
The company creates two new worlds every quarter for its customers. PVP games will be presented to the public soon, added Ekimovsky.
Launched earlier this year by a few families, Stalker Fund makes its investments without much publicity, Ekimovsky said. The firm has offices in Austria, Germany and Russia.
