Tripp Raises $11M Series A for Psychedelic VR Meditation

A New Approach to Well-being: Immersive VR Experiences

With a growing number of startups focusing on mobile applications designed to enhance consumer well-being and mindfulness, a different trend is emerging. This new wave of companies is developing more immersive solutions, enabling users to completely disconnect from their surroundings.

Introducing Tripp: Virtual Reality for Relaxation

Tripp is pioneering immersive relaxation exercises. These experiences aim to combine elements found in guided meditation apps with the freedom of more open-ended exploration. Users can unplug and delve into their thoughts within a virtual reality headset, accompanied by captivating visuals like fractal shapes, luminous trees, and orbiting planets.

The company’s name reflects its intention to recreate sensations similar to those experienced during a psychedelic journey, but without the use of hallucinogenic substances.

Hacking Feelings Through Technology

“A significant portion of the population may never be comfortable with psychedelics,” explains CEO Nanea Reeves to TechCrunch. “This offers a readily accessible alternative that can deliver aspects of that experience in a safer manner.” The core concept involves integrating mindfulness techniques with video game mechanics to potentially influence emotional states.

Recent Funding and Investment

Tripp has recently secured $11 million in funding, spearheaded by Vine Ventures and Mayfield, with additional participation from Integrated. This brings the startup’s total funding to $15 million.

Challenges and Opportunities in the VR Landscape

VR startups have faced difficulties attracting consistent investor enthusiasm in recent years. Major technology companies have discontinued their virtual reality initiatives, leaving Facebook and Sony as the primary players in a market still grappling with monetization challenges. Despite ongoing user engagement, many investors who previously supported VR companies are now prioritizing gaming and computer vision ventures with broader applications.

The Impact of the Pandemic

Reeves notes that the pandemic has heightened consumer awareness regarding the importance of mindfulness and mental health. This shift in focus has encouraged investors to be more receptive to projects within this domain.

Accessibility and Features

Tripp’s applications are available on both the Oculus and PlayStation VR stores. Users can access subscription-based experiences for $4.99 monthly.

The platform offers a range of guided experiences. Furthermore, users can leverage the “Tripp composer” to create personalized visual sequences.

Quick and Effective Meditation

A key benefit of Tripp is its ability to facilitate deeper, more rapid meditative experiences. The company asserts that users can reduce stress with sessions lasting as little as eight minutes within the headset.

Expanding into Enterprise Wellness

The startup is also investigating the potential of its platform for in-office wellness programs. Currently, Tripp is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the software’s efficacy as a therapeutic tool.

To date, users have completed over 2 million sessions within the application.