This startup raised $1m to bring VR ‘God mode’ to architects

Dverse CTO Tomonori Takata designing with Symmetry.

Japanese virtual reality (VR) software company Dverse announced roughly US$1.04 million in funding today from 500 Startups Japan. The round was joined by Colopl VR Fund, Klab Venture Partners, Adways, Will Group’s incubate fund, startup support company Slogan, Japanese gaming company Dena’s co-founder Shogo Kawada, and others.

Dverse wants to get designers involved in architecture and civil engineering with its new VR content creation software, Symmetry. The software is similar to Google’s Tilt Brush where designers can change tools and create objects in real time. With Symmetry, users can also convert 3D models made by engineers into VR content to work with.

Once imported into the software, designers or engineers can add more 3D objects, change environments, or build from scratch. Objects created in Symmetry can be used in other 3D modeling programs, even Unity. The software is currently compatible with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Founder and CEO Shogo Numakura says he got into VR after playing with the Oculus Rift’s first developer kit in 2013. “I was so impressed with it, I just had to start a VR company,” he explains. Dverse hopes to expand into other 3D modeling spaces like industrial and interior design, as well as entertainment.

Working with the software almost looks like a real life Minecraft.

“Imagine you’re an architect. You’re building something and then can see it immediately. It’s amazing. Being able to go from ‘god mode’ to ‘human mode’ and literally walk around what you just created truly is a tenfold improvement over existing software,” comments James Riney, head of 500 Startups Japan.

James adds, “There isn’t really a big enough addressable market for VR yet. As the price points for Oculus Rift or HTC Vive are still high for a mainstream audience, we believe B2B applications make the most sense at this stage in VR.”

Dverse plans to use the funding to hire more engineers and set up an office in Los Angeles.