Xperiel

The founders' journey is deeply rooted in technology and entrepreneurship. Prior to Xperiel, the Hertel brothers founded Walleto, a mobile payment system that was acquired by Google and became a foundational part of Google Wallet. Both brothers hold Ph.D.s in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, and their academic research, particularly Alex's work in complexity theory, forms the technological basis of Xperiel's platform. Philipp also has a background as a Senior Software Engineer at Google, where he worked on products like Google Wallet and In-app Payments.

Xperiel's business model centers on providing a full-stack AR Cloud solution that allows designers and developers, even those without programming skills, to build interactive experiences. A key component of their offering is a graphical programming language called "Rox" (formerly "Pebbles"), which simplifies the creation of these applications. The platform is designed to connect hardware and software to the Internet of Things (IoT), turning everyday objects into trigger points for digital interactions on smartphones, wearables, and AR/VR headsets. This enables clients in sectors like professional sports, entertainment, and retail to create immersive brand experiences. For instance, a sports stadium could be transformed into a large-scale digital ecosystem, offering fans predictive games, personalized promotions, and interactive content in real-time. The company generates revenue by providing this platform to clients such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sacramento Kings, New York Jets, and PepsiCo.

The company has secured a total of $14 million in funding over two Series A rounds. The first round in August 2016 included Major League Baseball as an investor, and the second in January 2018 brought in backers like Scott Cook (co-founder of Intuit), Cyan Banister of Founders Fund, and the Sacramento Kings. This capital was intended to fuel growth and expansion beyond the sports technology market. In 2019, Xperiel received a Silver Edison Award for its Real World Web platform in the IoT category. The company was also a founding member of the Open AR Cloud initiative, aimed at promoting open and interoperable standards for augmented reality.