3 weeks ago
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As the CEO of echo3D, Alon Grinshpoon is at the forefront of transforming how 3D content is created, managed, and deployed across industries. Speaking with us at the Slush Conference, Alon shared insights from his journey—from identifying key challenges in 3D and AR/VR development to building a platform that addresses interoperability and scalability. In this interview, he discusses the future of AI-driven content creation, pitfalls for AR/VR startups, and surprising applications for 3D technology. Dive in to explore his vision, leadership principles, and predictions for the metaverse and beyond.
From NVIDIA to founding echo3D, your journey reflects a deep passion for 3D and cloud technologies. What pivotal moment or insight sparked your vision for echo3D, and how has that vision evolved?
echo3D was born from a pressing problem facing the 3D/AR/VR & Spatial Computing development community. During my time at Columbia University and by observing many 3D/AR/VR projects in development, I noticed that developers struggle to create dynamic AR/VR apps and update 3D models frequently. It’s difficult to update 3D content across teams and different platforms which often have platform-specific specifications. In order to scale the use of 3D assets, a cross-platform & cross-team solution is needed: “the Dropbox of 3D”. We conduct interviews with developers who validate that key tools are missing. We decided to build it for them.
The comparison between 3D files, images, and videos is central to your work. Can you elaborate on why 3D content stands out as transformative for industries, and what misconceptions about it you’ve encountered?
While 2D files (images and videos) are usually a single that works across platforms, 3D assets can (1) consist of many files (mesh, textures, materials, animation, rigging, etc.), (2) be massive in size which requires new forms of compression, and (3) inconsistent across different rendering platform which supports different file formats. A solution was needed to address these issues – echo3D was born.
It is now easier than ever before to create 3D models – you can use 3D modeling software like Blender, Autodesk Maya, or Adobe Substance, or even use free 3D scanning apps.
Your expertise spans AI innovation within the 3D space. How do you envision AI reshaping content creation and user experiences in AR/VR applications over the next five years?
We use AI to introduce automatic tagging and metadata to 3D assets to make searching and indexing faster and more efficient. We also explored text-to-3D content creation and other ways to help teams streamline their 3D workflows.
Leadership in a cutting-edge domain often requires balancing technical innovation with strategic foresight. What leadership principles guide you in navigating the rapid shifts in the tech ecosystem?
Effective leadership in a fast-paced tech ecosystem requires fostering a culture of continuous learning, relying on mentors for guidance, and maintaining strategic clarity. By leveraging the wisdom of experienced advisors & investors, leaders can navigate uncertainty while aligning teams toward long-term goals.
As someone who speaks frequently at global events, what emerging trends in AR/VR and the Metaverse have captured your attention most recently, and how are they influencing your roadmap for echo3D?
Alongside client feature requests, the fast-growing advancements in AI are shaping echo3D’s roadmap. With text-to-image and text-to-video becoming commonplace, 3D content through text-to-3D and AI-generated 3D experiences have to be next.
Collaborating with startups through Techstars and mentoring founders gives you a unique perspective. What are the common pitfalls you see in early-stage AR/VR ventures, and how can they overcome them?
Talk to as many people as you can – a common pitfall for early-stage founders is focusing too heavily on technology without addressing real user needs or not evangelizing their product enough. By collecting insights from clients, mentors, and even other founders, you can refine your product-market fit, prioritize usability, and build solutions that resonate with your target audience.
The Metaverse often raises questions about interoperability and standardization. What role do you think platforms like echo3D play in creating a more seamless and collaborative digital ecosystem?
echo3D is all about solving the interoperability and standardization problems. Our underlying tech includes a 3D compression and conversion API that ensures 3D assets can be used anywhere and with any digital system.
Reflecting on your dual background in engineering and research, how has your academic foundation influenced your approach to solving real-world problems in 3D and cloud technology?
My time as a researcher has given me a strong understanding of the challenges in 3D and cloud technology and instilled a methodical approach to problem-solving, emphasizing experimentation and data-driven decisions. It enables me to blend theoretical insights with practical applications, and alongside a joy for learning, find efficient solutions that bridge the complexity of 3D assets with the power of the cloud.
If you had to predict one surprising application of 3D/AR/VR that will dominate a non-tech industry in the next decade, what would it be, and why do you believe it has such untapped potential?
Banking! I think fintech can benefit greatly from 3D visualization.
English (US) ·