Emperia - virtual reality innovation

by Startacus Admin
Metaverse-as-a-service; virtual reality platform Emperia and its immersive digital experiences for the retail, fashion and art sectors.
Some people can’t stand shopping. They would rather be doing almost anything else, and if they must buy a new shirt, they’ll either do it online or walk into a shop, grab the first thing they see that fits, and be done with it. Other people can spend, in our approximation, six solid days browsing and browsing or trying things on while we desperately look for a chair to ease the wait. But what happens to those people when they’re unable to go to a physical shop, like, for example, during a lockdown? They’re reduced to enduring the horrors of static images and an ‘Add to basket’ button. Or perhaps there’s a particular retailer that you’d love to visit, but it’s on the other side of the country or the world.
London- and New York-based fashtech startup Emperia wants to bring the experience of in-person clothes shopping to you at home. They do this by allowing brands to build a virtual store that can be explored through a user’s browser without any additional installs or downloads, or in virtual reality in the metaverse. This could be a perfect replica of a physical shop or showroom, or it could be built from the ground up for this purpose, unrestricted by the real world’s need for indoor space. One of the startup’s partners, Ralph Lauren, has a shop in a ski chalet, for example. The experience allows perfect recreation of the retailer’s products, with 500% zoom allowing users to get a close look at the design, colours, and materials.
Of course, fashion retail isn’t the only sector in which this technology can be used. The startup is already being used to set up virtual art galleries and exhibitions, for example. The potential applications are really only limited by imagination.
In January, Emperia announced that they had raised £8.1 million in funding in a round led by Base10 Partners, with participation from Daphni’s Dastore, Sony Innovation Fund, Background Capital, Stanford Capital Partners and Concept Ventures, as well as angel investor Jay Radia. The startup already counts the likes of Bloomingdale’s, Dior, Burberry, and Lacoste among their partners, and based on this and their claim of a 73% average conversion rate and a 750% average return on investment, we expect to see many more brands using the technology.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.

Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.

Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.

The lowdown on Manchester-based Arctic Shores and its innovative recruitment solution to help candidate potential count as much as skills and experience.

With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.

By combining machine-learning with zero-party data, new tool launched by MarTech startup Qudo ends the ‘era of assumption’ for marketers.

Want to be your own boss and earn some money whilst travelling? Here are a few ways to do just that...

Innovative app marketing and analytics startup, App Radar becomes first platform to provide app marketers with Generative AI-powered insights into their own apps and competition.

Shropshire-based agri-robotics startup upp is automating broccoli harvesting and 'upcycling' the 80% waste into sustainable protein.

Alba secures licence to help transform banking for small and medium sized businesses in Scotland via its high-tech and customer-focused solution.
Published on: 13th February 2023
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Huckletree opens new London hub for tech companies pioneering Web3 solutions 16th Mar 2023 Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.
- OpenSponsorship making its move into the music sector 16th Mar 2023 Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.
- Scottish Highlands Home to the Next Generation of Future Female Investors 15th Mar 2023 Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.
- London-based NAAMA Studios on a mission to raise £11m funding 14th Mar 2023 With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.