Within (company)
Within is a technology company based in Los Angeles that creates, acquires, and distributes 360-degree video, AR, and VR experiences and products across web, mobile, console, and headsets. History. Originally named Vrse, Within was founded in 2014 by Chris Milk, and Aaron Koblin, creator of Google’s Data Arts team. The company has produced and distributed some of augmented and virtual reality's most seminal's works, including "Clouds Over Sidra", in partnership with the United Nations (2015), "Lambchild Superstar" (2017), co-directed by Milk and OK Go's Damien Kulash, and the children's augmented reality  reading app, Wonderscope (2018). In April 2020, after 2 years in development, Within released Supernatural, an in-home fitness, health, and wellness service for virtual reality, which combines real-life trainers with rhythm mapped exercises set in beautiful locations. In 2020, Within was named one of FastCompany's Most Innovative Companies and Supernatural was named "Best App" in Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Awards. In 2017, Within announced it had raised a $40 million Series B round of funding led by Temasek and Emerson Collective. In 2016, the company announced it had raised a $12.56 million  funding round, lead Andreessen Horowitz, which also led their seed round. Investors. On June 16, 2016, Within rebranded from Vrse and raised a $12.65 million series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from 21st Century Fox, WME, Tribeca Enterprises, Annapurna Pictures, Vice and Freelands Ventures. Current investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Temasek, Emerson Collective, 21st Century Fox, Raine Ventures, WME, Live Nation, Vice Media, Tribeca Enterprises, Annapurna Pictures, and Legendary Pictures. Product. Within's VR app supports all major headsets, including Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Sony PlayStation®VR, and Google Daydream and  is available on the iOS App Store, Google Play, Steam and the Oculus Store. Within hosts content that is compatible with iOS and Android operating systems and accessible on iPhone, Android phones, Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Oculus Quest, and Oculus Rift. Within has partnered with The New York Times, NBC, VICE, United Nations, U2, Annapurna Pictures, Conservation International, TOMS, and Apple to produce and distribute content. Installations & Events. In 2016, Within (known as VRSE at the time) showed roughly 1,200 attendees a synced 360-degree video collage at a TED Talk. Awards. Within was named the #1  VR app for iOS by Apple Insider, featured as "Best New App" on iTunes and is the most downloaded and highest rated cinematic VR app for Google Cardboard. Within VR films were selected for the Tribeca Film Festival and chosen for the Sundance Film Festival, respectively, in both 2015 and 2016. Within film, "The Displaced", won the Most Next Award at the 2016 AICP Awards and the 2016 Cannes Lions Grand Prix in the Entertainment category. Within Founder Chris Milk’s SNL40 VR special won the Best Online Film & Video Award at the 2016 Webby Awards. Milk’s "Clouds Over  Sidra" won the Interactive Category at the 2015 Sheffield Doc/Fest Awards. In 2020 Within was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. Within's Supernatural won "Best App" in Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Awards.