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Kite & Lightning develops control systems for building automation, specializing in energy optimization and controls for small to mid-size buildings. The family-owned startup provides solutions installed in over 1,200 facilities nationwide, aiming to reduce energy consumption and operational costs for building owners and operators. Their systems are designed to optimize energy use across various building types, having reportedly offset millions of dollars in energy expenses for their clients by enhancing efficiency. Operating within the building controls and energy optimization sector, Kite & Lightning serves a diverse customer base across the country with its proprietary technology. While the exact founding year is not publicly known, the company was established by family co-founders Bill Hickner and Jason Hickner, alongside another family member. The firm focuses on building controls and energy optimization sector, customers include over 1,200 facilities across the country.
Kite & Lightning has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round.
Kite & Lightning has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Kite & Lightning is a cinematic virtual reality (VR) studio founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in blending gaming, social interaction, and storytelling to deliver emotionally transformative experiences.[1][2][3][6] The company creates immersive computer-generated worlds, including VR narratives and experiences for major brands like NBC’s “The Voice” (featuring Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Gwen Stefani) and Lionsgate’s "Insurgent: Shatter Reality" (starring Kate Winslet, Mekhi Phifer, and Miles Teller).[1] With $2.5 million in total funding, Kite & Lightning serves entertainment, media, and gaming sectors, solving the challenge of crafting engaging, festival-acclaimed VR content that stands out in immersive media—earning recognition at Cannes Lions, Toronto International Film Festival, and Proto Awards.[1] It targets audiences seeking novel VR storytelling, positioning itself as one of the earliest VR leaders now developing cinematic game worlds.[1][5]
Kite & Lightning emerged in 2013 as one of the first VR studios, quickly gaining traction through critically acclaimed projects that showcased immersive worlds.[1] While specific founders are not detailed in available sources, the studio's early focus on cinematic VR blended gaming, social elements, and narrative innovation, leading to high-profile collaborations like NBC and Lionsgate experiences.[1] Pivotal moments include festival wins at Cannes Lions, TIFF, and Proto Awards (VR's top honor), establishing its reputation and fueling development of ongoing cinematic VR game worlds.[1] Based in Los Angeles, it has maintained an active private status, evolving from initial VR narratives to broader immersive tech applications.[1]
(Note: A separate entity mentioned in design portfolios refers to a family-owned building controls company, unrelated to this VR studio.[4])
Kite & Lightning rides the wave of VR and AR maturation, capitalizing on trends like WebXR for cross-platform development, AR retail sales boosts, and VR in education—technologies blending virtuality with real-world utility.[7] Its timing aligns with AR/VR hardware evolution (e.g., ARKit/ARCore) and projects like Bebylon's full VR worlds or ArtTech's Iron Man interfaces, addressing market forces such as rising demand for immersive content amid mainstream adoption of AR glasses.[7] By influencing the ecosystem through award-winning experiences, it helps legitimize VR as a storytelling medium, bridging entertainment giants with emerging tech and fostering innovation in point-cloud tech like SLAM100 for realistic scene reproduction.[1][7]
Kite & Lightning is poised to expand its cinematic VR game worlds amid surging AR/VR adoption, potentially leading in WebXR-driven cross-platform apps and AR-enhanced retail/education tools.[1][7] Trends like ubiquitous AR glasses and hybrid VR/AR narratives (e.g., Senza Peso films, Bebylon metaverses) will shape its trajectory, amplifying its festival-honed expertise into scalable, transformative experiences.[7] Its influence may grow by deepening brand partnerships and tech integrations, solidifying its role as a VR pioneer in an emotionally immersive future—echoing its origins in blending gaming, social, and story for lasting impact.[1]
Kite & Lightning has raised $3.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Seed in July 2016.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2016 | $3M Seed | Gordon Rubenstein | 2XN, Eniac Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Index Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Raine Ventures, Matt Mazzeo, Riccardo Zacconi, Jason Rosenthal, Boost VC, Comcast Ventures, Courtside Ventures, Outpost Capital, Social Capital | Announced |
Kite & Lightning has raised $3.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Kite & Lightning's investors include Gordon Rubenstein, 2xN, ENIAC Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Index Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Raine Ventures, Matt Mazzeo, Riccardo Zacconi, Jason Rosenthal, Boost VC, Comcast Ventures.
