Within (company)
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{{short description|Technology company}}
{{Infobox company|
| name = Within Unlimited, Inc.
| former_name = Vrse
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2014}}
| location = Los Angeles, California
| founders = {{ubl|Chris Milk| Aaron Koblin}}
| key_people = Chris Milk (CEO)
Aaron Koblin (CTO)
| industry = Virtual reality
| products = Supernatural
| parent = Meta Platforms
| homepage = {{URL|with.in}}
}}
{{Meta sidebar}}
Within Unlimited, Inc., or commonly Within,{{cite web|author=Janko Roettgers |url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/vrse-within-series-a-chris-milk-1201796161/ |title=VR: Chris Milk's Within Raises $12.5M from Fox, Legendary, Liz Murdoch |publisher=Variety |date=2016-06-16 |accessdate=2016-11-19}} is a studio based in Los Angeles developing the VR fitness service Supernatural on the Meta Quest. The company was founded by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin in 2014 and initially created, acquired, and distributed 360-degree video, AR, and VR experiences across web, mobile, console, and headsets. In February 2023,{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Scott |date=2023-02-08 |title=Meta Completes Acquisition of VR Fitness Company Within |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/meta-completes-acquisition-of-vr-fitness-company-within/ |website=CNET}} Meta Platforms Inc. acquired the company.
History
Originally named Vrse,{{Cite magazine|last=Watercutter|first=Angela|date=2016-06-16|title=The VR company Vrse is changing its name to Within, and about to spend $12.56 million of VC money|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/06/vr-vrse-new-name-millions-funding/|access-date=2019-01-03|issn=1059-1028}} Within was founded in 2014 by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin, creators of Google’s Data Arts team.{{cite web|last=Franklin|first=Oliver|date=2014-11-17|title=LA filmmaker mixes immersive technology with film | WIRED UK|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chris-milk-new-reality|accessdate=2016-11-19|website=Wired.co.uk}} The company has produced and distributed augmented and virtual reality works including Clouds Over Sidra, in partnership with the United Nations (2015), Lambchild Superstar (2017), co-directed by Milk and OK Go's Damien Kulash,{{Cite web|title=LAMBCHILD SUPERSTAR: Making Music in the Menagerie of the Holy Cow {{!}} 2018 Tribeca Film Festival|url=https://tribecafilm.com/festival/archive/untitled-ok-go-within-project-2018|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Tribeca}} and the children's augmented reality reading app, Wonderscope (2018). In April 2020, after 2 years in development, Within released Supernatural, a home fitness, health, and wellness service for virtual reality, which combines footage of real-life trainers with rhythm-mapped exercises set in outdoor locations. In 2020, Within was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90457929/virtual-augmented-reality-most-innovative-companies-2020|title=The 10 most innovative virtual and augmented reality companies of 2020|date=2020-03-10|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-10}}
In October 2021, Meta Platforms, Inc. agreed to acquire Within for an undisclosed amount.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-sues-stop-facebook-buying-within-2022-07-27/ |title=U.S. sues to stop Facebook from buying virtual reality firm Within |date=2022-07-27 |work=Reuters |first=Diane |last=Bartz}} In July 2022, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Meta to block the acquisition, arguing that "Meta could have chosen to try to compete. Instead, it chose to buy."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/technology/meta-facebook-vr-ftc.html |title=F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta's Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech |date=2022-07-27 |work=The New York Times |first1=David |last1=McCabe |first2=Mike |last2=Isaac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728011648/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/technology/meta-facebook-vr-ftc.html |archive-date=2022-07-28 |url-access=limited}} In February 2023, the FTC lost its case against Meta in federal court, allowing Meta to acquire the company.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/01/ftc-loses-attempt-to-block-meta-acquisition-of-within.html|title=F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta's Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech |date=2023-02-01 |work=CNBC |first=Lauren|last=Feiner}} The acquisition was completed the following week,{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Scott |date=2023-02-08 |title=Meta Completes Acquisition of VR Fitness Company Within |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/meta-completes-acquisition-of-vr-fitness-company-within/ |website=CNET}} and the FTC announced it would cancel an administrative proceeding against the acquisition later in the same month.{{cite news|last=Wolfe|first=Jan|date=February 24, 2023|title=FTC Abandons Challenge to Meta's Acquisition of Virtual-Reality Startup|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ftc-abandons-challenge-to-metas-acquisition-of-virtual-reality-startup-6ee5e767|access-date=July 29, 2023}}
In October 2022, Within sold the Wonderscope app to Amira Learning for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite web |last=Solsman |first=Joan E. |title=Wonderscope AR Reading App Changes Hands, Will Head Into Schools |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/within-sells-ar-reading-app-wonderscope-to-amira-learning/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=CNET |language=en}} In February 2023, the Within app shut down "to focus exclusively on building Supernatural."{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=Within |url=https://with.in/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204122437/https://with.in/ |archive-date=2023-02-04 }}
=Investors=
On June 16, 2016, Within rebranded from Vrse and raised a $12.65 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from 21st Century Fox, WME, Tribeca Enterprises,{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/06/16/virtual-reality-startup-vrse-raises-12-65-million-changes-name-to-within/|title=Virtual reality startup Vrse raises $12.56 million, changes name to WITHIN | VentureBeat | Deals | by Jordan Novet|author=Jordan Novet|date=2016-06-16|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdate=2016-11-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/virtual-reality-startup-vrse-raises-903289|title=Virtual Reality Startup VRse Raises $12.56 Million; Rebrands as 'WITHIN'|author=Carolyn Giardina|date=2016-06-16|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=2016-11-19}}{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-chris-milk-director-koblin-vrse-within-vr-20160616-snap-story.html|title=Chris Milk's Vrse the latest VR firm to raise money, this time from Fox and WME|date=2016-06-16|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2016-11-19}} Annapurna Pictures, Vice and Freelands Ventures. Current investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Temasek, Emerson Collective, 21st Century Fox, Raine Ventures, WME, Live Nation, Vice Media, Tribeca Enterprises, Annapurna Pictures, and Legendary Pictures.
In 2017, Within announced raising $40 million in a Series B round of funding led by Temasek and Emerson Collective including funding from existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, 21st Century Fox, and Raine Ventures and new investors WPP and Macro Ventures.{{Cite web|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|date=2017-07-26|title=Chris Milk's VR Studio Within Raises $40 Million Series B Round of Funding|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/chris-milk-within-40-million-series-b-1202507040/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Variety|language=en}}
Awards
Within was named{{cite web|last=Hughes |first=Neil |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/08/02/the-best-virtual-reality-apps-for-iphone-compatible-with-google-cardboard |title=The best virtual reality apps for iPhone, compatible with Google Cardboard |website=Appleinsider.com |date=2015-08-01 |accessdate=2016-11-19}} the "Number 1" VR app for iOS by Apple Insider, featured as the "Best New App" on iTunes, and was the most downloaded and highest-rated{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmag.com/google-vr-best-content-guide/40140/ |title=The best VR content for Google Cardboard |website=Gizmag.com |date=2015-11-11 |accessdate=2016-11-19}} cinematic VR app for Google Cardboard.
Within VR films were selected{{cite web|url=https://tribecafilm.com/stories/tribeca-film-festival-2016-innovation-storyscapes-def-con-mr-robot-virtual-reality |title=The Complete Lineup for Experiential Storytelling at the Tribeca 2016 Festival Hub | Tribeca |website=Tribecafilm.com |date= |accessdate=2016-11-19}} for the Tribeca Film Festival and chosen for the Sundance Film Festival, respectively, in both 2015 and 2016. Within film, "The Displaced," won{{cite web|url=http://www.aicpshow.com/show/cat/y/year-2016 |title=Year 2016 | From the Archives of the AICP Awards | AICP Awards |website=Aicpshow.com |date=2016-05-16 |accessdate=2016-11-19}} the Most Next Award at the 2016 AICP Awards{{cite web|url=http://www.aicp.com/aicp-show |title=Awards |publisher=AICP |date= |accessdate=2016-11-19}} and the 2016 Cannes Lions Grand Prix in the Entertainment category.{{cite web|last=Nudd |first=Tim |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/new-york-times-vr-film-displaced-wins-lions-entertainment-grand-prix-172225 |title=The New York Times VR Film 'The Displaced' Wins the Lions Entertainment Grand Prix |publisher=Adweek |date=2016-06-24 |accessdate=2016-11-19}} Within Founder Chris Milk’s SNL40 VR special won the Best Online Film & Video Award at the 2016 Webby Awards. Milk’s "Clouds Over Sidra" won the Interactive Category at the 2015 Sheffield Doc/Fest Awards.{{cite web|url=https://sheffdocfest.com/ |title=Sheffield Doc/Fest: Sheffield International Documentary Festival |website=Sheffdocfest.com |date= |accessdate=2016-11-19}} In 2020, Within was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90457929/virtual-augmented-reality-most-innovative-companies-2020|title=The 10 most innovative virtual and augmented reality companies of 2020|date=2020-03-10|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-10}} Within's Supernatural won "Best App" in Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Awards.{{Cite journal|date=2004|title=Innovation Awards Finalists Named|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/e532882006-003|access-date=2020-10-12|website=PsycEXTRA Dataset|doi=10.1037/e532882006-003}}
References
{{Reflist}}{{Meta Horizon}}{{Meta Platforms}}
Category:Virtual reality companies
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles
Category:2014 establishments in California