A Chat with Danny Stefanic, CEO and Founder at 3D Metaverse Virtual Platform: MootUp

MootUp is the first 3D virtual events and meeting solution for the metaverse, powered by Hyperspace, the Metaverse for Business platform. MootUp provides organizations with the ability to create virtual worlds to host meetings & events, communities, and remote work in a truly immersive 3D environment. The virtual reality technology can be accessed across devices, without headsets or downloads, and offers partner integrations including Zoom, Hopin, Teams, Slack, and more.

Customers already hosting events in the Metaverse for Business include TEDx, United Nations, Novartis, Dell, and thousands of other brands finding new ways to create shared experiences to enhance human connection.
 
 
MootUp
 

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

 
I have been working in this space for over two decades: back in 2003, I pioneered the concept, design, and launch of the 3D internet, back when everything was just domains and search bars. Since then, 3D content has become viewable in browsers. All major devices, platforms, and browsers now support this medium. It’s a fundamental shift, the 3D media type is the core building block for the Metaverse along with VR and AR it’s now universally available.

MootUp, therefore, was born out of a passion for 3D web technology and is now made up of a dedicated team who all believe in the power of immersive technology to bring teams together around the globe. During a time where tech innovation, digitization, and the Metaverse are at a transcendental peak; we’re proud to be the torchbearer of this and the Metaverse for Business movement.
 

 

How has the company evolved during the pandemic?

 
During the pandemic, the uncertainty threw organizations into a spin, and many of them came to us looking for a solution.

However, this is now becoming more about the value they see in high touch user engagement. Whereas before, when the metaverse was even more so in its infancy, businesses either didn’t possess the finances or technical know-how to be able to implement it into everyday working practices, much less understand its value.

They’re now beginning to realize that mini-sites with webinars aren’t actual events. It’s similar to our experiences with virtual calls during the pandemic: it just feels like another work meeting where there’s often no agency or impact. Smart organizations, therefore, are adopting metaverse events because they do have these advantages and are actually changing the way in which we engage with online events.
 

What can we hope to see from MootUp in the future?

 
You can certainly expect some exciting milestones and announcements in the near future, from product integrations to new features like holograms and 360 hybrid streaming. As more and more businesses, particularly in the tech startup ecosystem realize that they need to incorporate XR into their strategy to keep ahead of the curve. The expansion of the metaverse will drive experiential marketing in the coming years, and the Metaverse for Business will be a significant part of this.

We can expect to see the platform infiltrate many leading industries, namely business general, retail, hospitality, entertainment, travel, and so on, and this is only set to rise in the coming months and years. Excitingly, we are only scratching the surface when it comes to the metaverse.