Sydney-based virtual reality studio Start VR was named “Digital Start-Up Of The Year” at the Melbourne-based 23rd AMY Awards, the most prestigious digital industry awards in Australia. Start VR CEO Kain Tietzel accepted the award after an outstanding year for the virtual reality production company, which created such award-winning experiences as VR Noir and game-changing travel experiences including Qantas VR, in partnership with Qantas Airways, and the upcoming globe-trotting VR adventure Atlas Obscura VR (see trailer here.)

Start VR is a leader in cinematic VR in the Australian region and has won acclaim at award circuits throughout 2017, having recently earned the “Best Bright Talent” and “Best Interactive Film” awards at the GCC VR Short Film Festival 2017 in Shanghai for their psychedelic VR art piece Fractasia. VR Noir was also nominated this month in the Interactive Category of the 50th Annual AWGIE Awards.

Momentum remains high at the virtual reality studio following a recent funding round of $1.2 million Australian dollars and the upcoming premiere of the VR travel experience for Atlas Obscura, which is expected to break new ground in the virtual reality travel sector.

About Start VR

Start VR is a cinematic virtual reality studio, creating highly immersive experiences and interactive content. A leader in longer form VR entertainment that resonates with viewers, the company is known for its compelling narratives, and best of class, blockbuster-quality visuals. Thanks to the in-depth industry knowledge and vast technical experience of Start VR’s team, the company consistently turns out polished, critically acclaimed experiences that are not soon forgotten.

Start VR’s beautifully made work is designed to spark unprecedented levels of engagement and viewer involvement, pushing the envelope to explore the storytelling capabilities of Oculus Rift, Gear VR, HTC Vive, Sony PSVR, Daydream and Google Cardboard–and platforms still to come.