Type Private Website metavision.com Founded 2012 | Key people John Werner Founder Meron Gribetz | |
Products Augmented Reality Products | ||
Meta is a Silicon Valley company known for making augmented reality products. Their products include the Meta 1 Developer Kit and the Meta 2 Development Kit. They combine real world technology with holographic images, and unlike the Oculus Rift, which is completely virtual, Meta is still transparent and the real world can still be seen. It was founded by Meron Gribetz. Gribetz thought of starting Meta while studying neuroscience and computer science at Columbia University under tutelage of Steven Feiner. CNBC identifies its main competitors as Vuzix and Recon Instruments rather than Google Glass. Their initial demographic will be business use, such as product engineers and architects.
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History
Meta was founded by Meron Gribetz. Gribetz thought of starting Meta while studying neuroscience and computer science at Columbia University under tutelage of Steven Feiner.
On May 17, 2013, Meta launched a crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign which successfully resulted in 501 backers pledging $194,444 out of a $100,000 goal. The summer of 2013 provided Meta the honored acceptance to Y Combinator's seed accelerator program. Around this time, Meta brought Steve Mann on as Chief Scientist providing the company with advice and guidance.
In the Fall of 2013, Feiner joined as Lead Advisor. Meta subsequently opted to rent a large house to serve as its headquarters. The new address was shared with the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation.
In 2014, Gribetz was awarded the "30 Under 30 award" in the technology category by Forbes. In 2014, Meta won best heads-up display award for the Meta Pro at the Consumer Electronics Show. The Meta Pro was deemed a prototype and never publicly released.
In September 2014, Meta presented the Meta 1 Developer Kit with a live medical demo at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. In September 2014, Meta began to ship the final version of its Meta 1 Developer Kit.
In January 2015, Meta announced a $23 million Series A round led by Horizons Ventures, Tim Draper, BOE Optoelectronics and Garry Tan and Alexis Ohanian of Y Combinator. Danhua Capital, Commodore Partners and Vegas Tech Fund also participated. In March 2015, Meta collaborated with Wix.com, Shapeways, and UploadVR in the first AR hackathon in Silicon Valley.
On February 17, 2016, Meta unveiled their second-generation product at TED. On March 2, 2016, Meta opened pre-orders for their second-generation headset, the Meta 2 Development Kit.
On June 13, 2016, Meta announced they had raised another $50M in venture funding from Lenovo, Tencent, Banyan Capital, Comcast Ventures, and GQY.
Allegations of theft of IP
In February 2016, allegations surfaced that Meta CEO Marone Gribetz had illegitimately used Intellectual property from Phasespace Inc, of San Leandro California, in development of the Meta 2.
Tracy McSheery, of Phasespace, had in 2009, received an SBIR grant for the development of wide field of view AR lenses.
Former employees of Meta report that McSheery demonstrated AR technology to Meta. Meta's CEO, Marone Gribetz, is recorded in a photograph viewing a Phasespace prototype.
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, lawyers from Meta sent a cease and desist to Phasespace, forbidding further public comment from current employees of the company.