Attending a live event will never be the same, thanks to SAIRYŌ.
That’s because the Ottawa-based startup, a pioneering livestreaming platform that recently emerged from stealth mode, is revolutionizing how users view content and redefining how people experience live events through augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
“There’s a shift happening in immersive experiences,” explains CEO Emilie Westbrook during an interview from SAIRYŌ’s downtown office space. “There’s a shift in audience preferences that’s occurring right now.”
SAIRYŌ, which has already forged an impressive roster of partnerships, is now poised to capitalize on this shift largely thanks to its patented mixed reality automation engine, which pairs with the equally impressive Apple Vision Pro AR/VR headset.
Experiencing events… the new-fashioned way
The experiences Westbrook referred to include concerts, recitals, and DJ-fueled club nights, but also extend into the business realm to include conferences, meetings, and other corporate events users may not be able to attend in person. The company digitizes these real-world events while providing a monetization platform for businesses.
With SAIRYŌ’s SaaS application and the Vision Pro headset, users can participate in events virtually and feel like they’re really there—transcending physical boundaries and catering to users who can’t attend due to physical or geographical limitations.
Considering SAIRYŌ’s impressive technology, however, it’s possible many users might prefer attending virtually anyway. “Audiences increasingly want to view things and consume things in a different state,” adds CTO Fazal Sadikali.
The evidence bears this out: LinkedIn maintains that nearly 80% of event organizers say virtual has provided opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise had, and nearly 70% say virtual events provide greater return on investment than physical events.
“Our vision is that you can travel the globe virtually—you can go down to India and listen to some sitars, or go to a business conference in another part of the continent,” he says, adding that the company facilitates both 2D live streaming and immersive, virtual video.
Via SAIRYŌ, users can find and experience global events “not only in a two-dimensional state, but a three-dimensional state” as companies and artists create immersive experiences that enhance audience engagement, without the limits of venue size or location.
A patented engine that does the streaming heavy lifting
At the heart of SAIRYŌ’s business is its patented mixed reality automation engine, aimed at simplifying the process of creating and monetizing immersive content.
The engine takes much of the technological and administrative burden away from businesses and artists by managing content, copyright, streaming video compression and codecs, and through AI-powered recommendations and content optimization for different platforms.
“The content could be live. It could be pre-recorded. You feed it into our engine and it provides recommendations around your ideal target platform and audience for monetization,” explains Sadikali, adding that it also performs automated validation to ensure content isn’t AI generated or stolen.
“The engine recommends the best, most optimized viewing platform so you can better monetize that content.”
The company’s target market includes business and performing venues, conferences, and festivals, and along with mind-blowing AR/VR experiences also offers businesses monetization opportunities via online ticketing and merchandise sales. SAIRYŌ also facilitates blockchain-based digital tickets to deter scammers.
SAIRYŌ: Looking to take the next step
SAIRYŌ, which is already revenue generating and has received IRAP funding, is now looking to scale quickly to meet the growing demand for virtual events—and is on the hunt for venture capital funding to achieve that goal.
It lists a lengthy roster of clients and partners including the federal government, TD Place, the NAC, SAW Gallery, City at Night, and Groove Society.
“Investment is fundamental to us right now,” says Sadikali.
Westbrook agrees, adding that the company’s unique mix of creative and technical acumen—Sadikali is a technology veteran who has led teams at heavy hitters like Accenture and Lookout, and Westbrook is an accomplished creative who has appeared on stage and on the silver screen—has it well-positioned to ride the cresting wave of immersive experiences.
“We’ve brought the creative and technology sides together,” she explains.
