A BIT ABOUT US.
We’re problem solvers at heart. The immersive industry doesn't fit into tidy categories, neither do we. One week we’re shaping a VR launch strategy for a global brand; the next we’re hauling kit across a festival site or training XR technicians for a live activation.
We love the messy, creative, deeply technical reality of immersive work - and we’re proud to help the industry grow up.
Our approach is hands-on, collaborative and refreshingly honest. We’ll tell you when an idea is brilliant, and we’ll tell you when it isn’t. We work flexibly, either as an agile project partner or on a longer-term retainer, and we’re as comfortable on a stage in London as we are setting up demo stations in a field.
OUR VALUES.
CURIOUS
We’re always testing, always learning, always one headset deep into the next big thing.
HONEST
We tell clients the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially then.
HANDS-ON
We don’t just plan it. We build it, ship it and run it.
INCLUSIVE
The future of immersive should look like the world it’s build for. We work hard to make that real.
TESTIMONIALS.
“Virtual Umbrella have been an invaluable partner to the Philharmonia for over a decade. They provide a truly 360-degree service: delivering our VR activations, advising and consulting on projects, maintaining our fleet of headsets and software, and bringing a priceless network of sector contacts to every project.
Bertie and Sammy understand our technology, our products and our audiences, and we know we can rely on them to deliver to the highest standard. They are quite simply the best at what they do, and an indispensable extension of our team."
- Marta Genova, Philharmonia
Working with the VU team was beyond dreamy. They helped us with every aspect of the delivery, and came up with brilliantly innovative solutions to our biggest technical challenges. They set us up for an extremely successful run of our immersive installation at the Lincoln Centre - and worked tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly.
We felt safe and reassured knowing they were always on the other side of the line, and are thrilled to continue to work with them. We know you'll have a great time with them too.
- SARAH, HATSUMI VR
“We've benefited greatly from working with Virtual Umbrella to deliver our Digital Spaces programme for library services across England. Their technical and creative knowledge of Virtual Reality, combined with their passion for great user experiences and practical approach, makes them a great company to partner with”
⁃ John White, The Space
“We’ve really enjoyed working with Virtual Umbrella and are delighted to have them as an important partner to VITAL. Bertie, who leads the team, has been incredibly helpful in setting up the supply and support chain for the Meta headsets we needed. He has also always been generous with his time, open with his advice, and genuinely supportive in helping us think about how we position ourselves within the immersive technology market.
We look forward to continuing and strengthening this important partnership with Bertie, Meg and the whole team at Virtual Umbrella. Great people, great expertise and a fantastic team to work with.”
⁃ Fergus Wallace, Vital Sports
MEET THE TEAM.
SAMANTHA KINGSTON
CEO
Dinosaur lover. XR Pioneer
Sam is Virtual Umbrella’s unstoppable CEO and one of the most recognisable voices in the UK immersive scene. She’s a BIMA Rising Star, one of The Drum’s 50 under 50, and part of the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000. Outside Virtual Umbrella, Sam is a community champion for Alcohol Change UK.
BERTIE MILLIS
COO
VR thought leader. XR Wizard
Bertie is Virtual Umbrella’s COO, leading project delivery, client partnerships, business proposals and our VR masterclass programme. He’s at his happiest putting a headset on someone for the first time. Named a Games Industry Biz Rising Star and one of Grant Thorntons’s Faces of a Vibrant Economy.
SAMANTHA DOERGE
Director of US Operations
Animation lover & creative advocate
Samantha is Virtual Umbrella’s Director of US Operations. She started her career as a Creative Technologist, utilizing XR to tell stories and produce immersive events. Some of her former work includes the Tribeca Festival's Immersive and Games exhibitions, the Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier, and EarthX's Earth Day Expo.
SUPPORTING THE IMMERSIVE TECH INDUSTRY SINCE 2015
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