Doug Clark, founder and CEO of DesignVR, is looking forward to bringing architects, designers and homebuilders an end-to-end application to show clients their spaces in real-time.
“When our customers present a space to their client in [virtual reality], they can make changes to the space,” Clark said. “When those are made, they can see the budgetary impact. Then, they can complete the project with an e-commerce transaction.”
Clark says the process works by DesignVR taking a 3D CAD file and converting it into a virtual reality presentation. The presentation will include menus to make changes. Clients can load the presentation onto a smartphone and connect to any type of virtual reality glasses. Some of their clients use Google Cardboard headsets, branded with their business, for example.
“A feature that is key to our clients is that upon completion of their presentation, they will have an updated CAD file,” Clark said. “A lot of the time, the person presenting is an account executive and maybe doesn’t have the skill set to create a CAD file. But this way, the person who created the CAD file doesn’t have to be involved in all that back and forth.”
DesignVR, a Dallas area startup that is part of the latest class of startups in Capital Factory's accelerator, is Clark’s fifth start up. He said in all his startups, he reverse engineers the product. He does this by going to target clients and finding out what they need first, and then building the technology. This approach sets DesignVR apart from the competition, he said.
“DesignVR started when I had the opportunity about three years ago where I was in New York at a designers’ Christmas function, which includes a tradeshow where designers can present their space,” he said. “The designer was asking, ‘how can I expand this event?’ It got me thinking about virtual reality.”
Clark started meeting with architects and designers in the Dallas area when he returned home. He said they all said the same thing when it comes to presenting in virtual reality—that they have challenges with the back and forth and actually closing transactions. Clark then started engineering the product.
“We are in our beta phase,” he said. “Before the end of December, we will be completing our beta phase and have clients in an active role with us.”
