8i is a technology company.
8i is a technology company.
8i has raised $41.0M across 2 funding rounds.
8i has raised $41.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
8i has raised $41.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
8i's investors include B Capital Group, 305 Ventures, 9Yards Capital, Arrive, Bling Capital, Bora&Sons, Casa Verde Capital, Cosmic Venture Partners, CP Ventures, Craft Ventures, DFJ, Draper Associates.
# 8i: Industry Leader in Volumetric Video Technology
8i is a virtual reality software company specializing in the capture, transformation, and streaming of volumetric video and holograms.[1][4] The company enables the creation of photorealistic 3D human representations that can be experienced across multiple platforms—from smartphones and tablets to VR and mixed reality headsets.[4] 8i serves entertainment, communication, and education sectors by providing both the hardware and software infrastructure needed to capture, process, and distribute volumetric content at scale.
The company addresses a fundamental challenge in immersive media: converting multi-camera footage into compressed, streamable holographic video that maintains visual fidelity across diverse devices. Rather than building consumer applications, 8i operates as a technology infrastructure provider, enabling brands and creators to produce next-generation spatial content.
8i was founded in May 2014 by Linc Gasking, Eugene d'Eon, Sebastian Marino, and Joshua Feast to develop software capable of capturing, analyzing, compressing, and recreating all viewpoints required for volumetric capture.[1] The founding team recognized an emerging gap: while volumetric capture technology existed, no comprehensive software solution could efficiently process and distribute the resulting content.
Early validation came quickly. In October 2015, 8i raised $13.5 million in Series A funding from prominent investors including RRE Ventures, Founders Fund Science, Samsung Ventures, and Dolby Family Ventures—a signal of confidence from both venture and corporate backers.[1] The company gained public visibility in January 2016 when it premiered *#100humans* at the Sundance Film Festival's New Frontier exhibit, showcasing four VR projects that demonstrated 8i's volumetric capture capabilities in creative contexts.[1]
A significant inflection point occurred in October 2018 when Hayes Mackaman became CEO and relaunched the company in 2019, suggesting a strategic pivot or operational restructuring to better position 8i for market growth.[1]
8i operates at the intersection of three converging trends: the maturation of spatial computing hardware (Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest), the enterprise adoption of mixed reality for communication and training, and the growing demand for photorealistic digital humans in entertainment and marketing.
The company's timing is strategic. As VR and MR headsets transition from niche consumer devices to enterprise tools, the ability to produce and stream high-quality volumetric content becomes a critical infrastructure layer. 8i's focus on compression and streaming—rather than just capture—addresses the practical bottleneck that has limited volumetric video adoption. By positioning itself as the backbone technology rather than a consumer-facing application, 8i avoids direct competition with platform holders while becoming essential to their content ecosystems.
The company has also expanded into venture capital through 8i Ventures, launching programs like "Origami" to back early-stage startups, signaling confidence in the broader volumetric and spatial computing market while building network effects.[3]
8i's evolution reflects a maturing market: the company has moved from proving volumetric capture was possible to building the infrastructure that makes it practical and scalable. As enterprise adoption of spatial computing accelerates—particularly in training, remote collaboration, and entertainment—demand for 8i's technology should follow.
The key question ahead is whether 8i can maintain its position as the dominant infrastructure layer as larger players (Apple, Meta, Microsoft) invest in volumetric capabilities. The company's strength lies in its specialized focus and technical depth; its vulnerability lies in potential vertical integration by platform holders. Success likely depends on expanding beyond entertainment into enterprise use cases where volumetric communication offers measurable ROI, and on maintaining technological leadership in compression and real-time streaming as the field matures.
8i has raised $41.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $27.0M Series B in February 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2017 | $27.0M Series B | B Capital Group | |
| Oct 1, 2015 | $14.0M Series A | 305 Ventures, 9Yards Capital, Arrive, Bling Capital, Bora&Sons, Casa Verde Capital, Cosmic Venture Partners, CP Ventures, Craft Ventures, DFJ, Draper Associates, Elefund, Founders Fund, FPV Fund, Future Perfect Ventures, Index Ventures, Koch Fund, KRM Interests LLC, LAUNCH, Moonshots Capital, Neotribe Ventures, Scott Sandell, Offline Ventures, Otherwise Fund, QueensBridge Venture Partners, Ribbit Capital, RRE Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Signia Venture Partners, Social Capital, Howard Lindzon, Summit Partners, Susa Ventures, Susquehanna Capital, Thrive Capital, Upside Partnership, Venture Development Partners, Aaron Levie, Drew Houston, Emlyn Scott, James Hong, Jared Leto, Marc Benioff, Marissa Mayer, Matt Mazzeo, Michael Birch, Nirav Tolia, Sam Altman, Tim Ferriss, Todd Corenson, Yajur Sehgal |