UploadVR is a technology company.
UploadVR has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds.
UploadVR has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
UploadVR is a media company operating a leading virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) trade publication website, providing news, reviews, guides, and industry analysis for gamers, developers, and technology enthusiasts.[1][2][4][6] Originally founded as a coworking and incubation space for VR startups, it pivoted to focus on its media arm—UploadVR—after rebranding to Upload, Inc. in 2017, while hosting events, education programs, and supporting the VR ecosystem through content that covers hardware updates, games, and trends.[1][3] With a reported revenue of $6.9 million and under 25 employees, it serves both entertainment and professional audiences in the evolving XR space.[2]
UploadVR was founded in 2014 in San Francisco by Taylor Freeman, Will Mason, and Nick St. Pierre as a coworking company targeted at VR startups.[1] Freeman and Mason served as CEO and president, respectively, with St. Pierre exiting in early 2016; the team quickly expanded into events, business incubation via Upload Collective, and media content on the UploadVR website, starting with contributions from writers like Will Mason.[1][3] Key early milestones included $1.25 million seed funding from Shanda in 2015, partnerships with Udacity, Google, HTC, and Unity for a VR Nanodegree, and the launch of UploadVR Academy bootcamps with Make School.[1] A $4.5 million Series A in September 2016, led by Colopl with investors like General Catalyst and NetEase, fueled growth into a 20,000 sq ft LA office (Upload LA) and education initiatives, though the company faced a 2017 lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and harassment.[1][3] It later rebranded UVR Media, LLC, relocating to Marina del Rey and solidifying its media focus.[1]
UploadVR rides the resurgence of consumer VR/AR, tracking hardware like PC VR releases and games amid a shift from niche hobbyist tools to mainstream potential, as seen in its coverage of 2025 awards and 2026 anticipation.[1][5][6] Timing aligns with maturing ecosystems—post-Oculus Quest era, Apple Vision Pro influences, and developer tools—where market forces like economic downturns prompt layoffs (e.g., SideQuest, Soul Assembly) but also innovation in spin-offs and PC VR.[2][6] It influences the ecosystem by holding companies accountable, fostering community through events and education legacies, and amplifying trends like VR's path to everyday computing, helping bridge startups, publishers, and audiences in a fragmented XR market.[1][3][5]
UploadVR is poised to deepen its media dominance as VR/AR scales into consumer markets, leveraging memberships for stability and its decade-long expertise to cover hardware leaps, game launches, and enterprise adoption.[5][6] Trends like PC VR expansions, AI integrations, and mixed reality hardware will shape its content, potentially reviving incubation ties amid ecosystem growth. Its influence may evolve from startup supporter to essential chronicler, sustaining VR's momentum as public and executive awareness grows—echoing its origins as a San Francisco hub now informing the decade's XR transformation.[1][5]
UploadVR has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
UploadVR's investors include 8-Bit Capital, Broadway Angels, Fortress Investment Group, Founders Fund, IDG Ventures, Recursive Ventures, Alexander Rosen, Sapphire Ventures, super{set}, The Hit Forge, Adam D'Angelo, Eric Chernoff.
UploadVR has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Series A in May 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2017 | $5.0M Series A | 8-Bit Capital, Broadway Angels, Fortress Investment Group, Founders Fund, IDG Ventures, Recursive Ventures, Alexander Rosen, Sapphire Ventures, super{set}, The Hit Forge, Adam D'Angelo, Eric Chernoff, Jonathan Swanson, Kim Perell, Nicolas Berggruen | |
| Dec 1, 2015 | $1.0M Seed | Craft Ventures, Fika Ventures, GV, Presence Capital, Larry Braitman, Lawrence Braitman, Russell Cook |