Decades spent in Inception’s limbo clearly weren’t enough to street Leonardo DiCaprio away from virtual reality.
The actor, known for roles in films like Titanic and The Wolf of Wall Street, recently announced that he had invested an undisclosed sum in Swiss startup MindMaze. As Fortune reports, DiCaprio became aware of the company through connections in the healthcare industry and pledged his support.
As we reported earlier this year, MindMaze is currently working on MASK, a software and hardware solution that includes sensors fitted to your VR headset that can predict the facial expressions you’re about to make. This information can then be projected onto a virtual avatar to provide realistic, timely responses within social VR experiences, for example.
The company has also been testing its tech in European hospitals as a means of treatment for stroke victims and others, helping them to get their movement back.
“I am excited about the possibilities of MindMaze’s technology, especially for its potential to be a driving force in media and entertainment in the years to come,” DiCaprio said in a statement.
This is far from MindMaze’s first funding round; back in 2016 the company raised some $100 million, valuing it at $1 billion. Currently, it’s licensing its technology to VR developers.
