INTERVIEW WITH KERSTIN MÜHLOW, CEO OF IMMERSIVEUNITY

SACC San Diego got the opportunity to have an interview with Kerstin Mühlow, CEO of Immersive Unity. The interview explored the history of ImmersiveUnity's development, its global network of VR and AR developers, challenges faced in XR development, collaboration with large companies, and the future of XR technologies.

Kerstin Mühlow is the founder and CEO of ImmersiveUnity. She works with her team and partners in the XR and Metaverse industry. During 25 years as a professional, Kerstin has experience working in all sectors. She has worked at an international level with large telecom and tech companies.

Interview:
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What are ImmersiveUnity’s main goals?

At ImmersiveUnity, our primary goals are to support and empower small players in the XR field, fostering entrepreneurship and facilitating their growth. We aim to create a global market presence for XR companies, grouping them into different tech categories like XR Gaming, XR Healthcare, XR Real Estate, XR Industrial training ect. to encourage collaboration and collective development within the industry.

Can you tell us about your role in ImmersiveUnity and your responsibilities as CEO?

As the CEO of ImmersiveUnity, my role involves developing the company by leveraging the global resources we've built. It’s a lot about networking and assisting the people I work with both internally and externally. 

Could you share the backstory of ImmersiveUnity's development?

ImmersiveUnity started five years ago when we recognized the evolving landscape of immersive technologies. Anticipating the need for a large developer community to drive this evolution, we began building a global network of virtual and augmented reality developers. Today, we have one of the world's largest VR and AR developer networks, with access to around 70,000 developers in approximately 70 countries.

What led you to consider San Diego as a potential hub for subsidiary development?

San Diego appealed to us because it's an expanding XR tech hub, hosting major companies such as Qualcomm, Apple, and Lenovo representatives. We saw an opportunity to establish a subsidiary there to sell our development services, which is why we started to work with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

How do you navigate challenges in XR development, and how do you support small businesses in the industry?

Challenges are inevitable for small businesses, including ours. Access to resources is a common hurdle. We've focused on creating a network of developers globally, not only to sell our services but also to support and connect small XR players. Our goal is to strengthen the XR ecosystem, providing both individual and group support to companies active in the same areas.

Your extensive network is impressive. How crucial is it to your projects? 

Our network is the backbone of our company. It's not only an essential resource in building our business but also in identifying and supporting XR companies. It's a two-way street. Many startups encounter common challenges, such as securing adequate resources for rapid growth. We've faced and addressed similar challenges, making our experiences valuable for those we assist.

How do you collaborate with small and large XR companies in San Diego?

While we have good relations with some large companies, they may not fully grasp our initiatives yet. Currently, our primary interactions are with smaller firms. However, we see the potential for collaboration with larger enterprises as they gain a deeper understanding of our work.

You mentioned the possibility of establishing a subsidiary in San Diego. How do you envision balancing your presence between Sweden and the U.S.?

We're currently exploring the idea of establishing a small subsidiary in San Diego, and it's likely to become a reality. However, our primary focus at the moment is on building up a fund. While I'm mainly based in Sweden, there's a possibility of spending more time in the USA in the future as we seek opportunities for further expansion.

Lastly, how do you foresee the future of XR technologies, and what role does Immersive Unity aim to play in shaping that future?

XR technologies will profoundly impact our lives in the near future, and only a small percentage of people currently understand the extent of this transformation. We aim to influence this change globally by consolidating interests in XR technologies, creating competence hubs, and facilitating knowledge-sharing among companies in various XR sectors. Our goal is to make a positive difference for developers, enabling them to grow and find meaningful collaborations in this rapidly evolving field.

Thank you ImmersiveUnite for letting us get to know you better!

Read more about ImmersiveUnity on their website here!