Startup looks to provide high-quality VR solutions

Jaunt gets $65m of investment from Walt Disney Co and China Media Capital

Jaunt Inc, a Californian virtual reality software startup, is aiming to shoot, produce and distribute high-quality VR content for the Chinese market.

James Fong, chief executive of Jaunt China, said: "China's VR industry is growing fast. VR companies in China now mainly focus on hardware or content production."

"We hope to join with creators, artists and technical personnel in China to create exciting VR stories and experiences and bring them to a global audience."

Founded in September 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Jaunt is considered one of the most valuable VR companies in the industry.

In September 2015, it received a Series C investment of $65 million from Walt Disney Co and China Media Capital. The company has also set up its studios in Los Angeles and branch offices in London and Amsterdam.

Jaunt China, a joint venture set up by Jaunt, Shanghai Media Group and China Media Capital in 2016, with a total investment of $100 million, provides total content solutions ranging from camera equipment, later-stage cloud automatic stitching, rendering technology and content distribution.

Fong said: "Jaunt China aims to become the first company to bring comprehensive VR shooting, production, distribution, and experience platform into one body."

Furthermore, Jaunt China will be joining forces with Chi-China's beta edition app will be available in the app stores of certain Xiaomi mobile phones and support Xiaomi's VR headset devices. Meanwhile, the two parties will cooperate in technology and marketing.

Tang Mu, president of Xiaomi Pictures and general manager of Xiaomi VR/router, said: "Jaunt owns movie-level VR shooting equipment, later-stage automatic stitching and cloud transmission services, content release and other solutions, while Xiaomi's rich consumer base, technological experience and market insight can provide Jaunt with powerful support and backup."

The Jaunt VR App, which has nearly 150 high-quality VR movies, is the world's largest VR content platform, involving movies, travel, music and sports. Its Chinese edition app is expected to be a top-class VR content platform that covers all mainstream terminal devices.

Zhao Ziming, an analyst at Analysys International in Beijing, said: "Jaunt has an advantage in VR video content production, which is in short supply in China, so it has a promising future."

Statistics from industry consultancy iResearch show that China's VR market revenues are expected to reach 5.66 billion yuan this year, up from 1.54 billion yuan ($223 million) in 2015.

fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn