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Varjo

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Varjo
Information
Type Private – Oy (Osakeyhtiö)
Industry Virtual Reality
Founded Template:Start date in Helsinki, Finland
Founder Niko Eiden, Klaus Melakari, Urho Konttori, Roope Rainisto
Headquarters Vuorikatu 20, 00100 Helsinki, Finland; Arlington, Virginia, USA
Notable Personnel Timo Toikkanen (CEO), Urho Konttori (Co-Founder, CTO), Klaus Melakari (Co-Founder, CTO), Niko Eiden (Co-Founder, CXO), Roope Rainisto (Co-Founder, CDO), Patrick Wyatt (CPO), Jussi Mäkinen (CMO)
Products Varjo XR-4 Series, Varjo Aero, Varjo XR-3, Varjo VR-3, Varjo Base, Varjo Reality Cloud, Teleport by Varjo
Parent None
Website varjo.com
See also: Companies

Varjo Technologies Oy (commonly referred to as Varjo, pronounced "var-yo", meaning "shadow" in Finnish) is a Finnish manufacturer of high-resolution virtual reality headsets designed for professional and enterprise use.[1] Founded in 2016 by experienced product leaders and innovators with backgrounds in developing high-end technology at Nokia, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, Varjo specializes in delivering advanced VR/XR technology to demanding industries such as aerospace, defense, maritime, engineering, and research.[1]

The company is known for pioneering human-eye resolution VR headsets and developing what it calls the world's most advanced virtual and mixed reality products for professional users.[2] Varjo's solutions are used to train astronauts, pilots, and nuclear power plant operators, design cars, and conduct pioneering research.[2] Today, 25% of Fortune 100 companies use Varjo's XR/VR hardware and software, delivering ROI to major companies such as Volvo Cars, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Aston Martin, Kia, and various departments across the United States and European Governments.[3]

History

Founding and Early Development

Varjo was founded in 2016 in Helsinki, Finland, by four experienced technology professionals:[4]

  • Urho Konttori - Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, a product innovator and program manager with over 15 years of experience in designing, engineering and managing large-scale hardware and software projects at Microsoft and Nokia[4]
  • Klaus Melakari - Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, with 20 years of experience in R&D, system design and technology, previously Head of Computational Vision Systems at Microsoft Mobile and Distinguished architect at Nokia[4]
  • Niko Eiden - Co-founder and Chief Experience Officer, also CEO of Pixieray, a company specializing in optics[4]
  • Roope Rainisto - Co-founder and Chief Design Officer, with 15 years of experience in concepting and UX design, previously principal designer at Microsoft and Nokia[5]

The founders had a vision of seamlessly merging the virtual and real worlds with human-eye resolution virtual and mixed reality.[1]

Product Development and Market Entry

The company's first head-mounted display, Varjo VR-1, was launched in February 2019, introducing a dual-display "Bionic Display" architecture with 60 pixels-per-degree (PPD). This was followed by the Varjo VR-2 and VR-2 Pro models in October 2019. Varjo's first mixed reality device, the Varjo XR-1 Developer Edition, was released in December 2019, featuring photorealistic video pass-through with dual 12MP cameras.[4]

The third-generation products, Varjo XR-3 and VR-3, were launched in December 2020, widening the field of view to 115° and raising center clarity above 70 PPD while integrating Ultraleap hand tracking and LiDAR depth sensing. The fourth-generation consumer product Varjo Aero was released in 2021, aimed at both professional and advanced consumer users.[4]

The latest generation, the Varjo XR-4 series, was introduced in 2024, featuring revolutionary full-dome optics with flawless aspheric clarity across 120° x 105° FOV, enhanced depth awareness with 300 kpix extended range LiDAR, and inside-out tracking.[6]

Leadership Changes and Expansion

In August 2020, the company underwent a significant leadership change. Timo Toikkanen (previously president and COO of Varjo) was appointed as the new CEO, while co-founder and previous CEO, Niko Eiden, continues to drive Varjo's technological innovations as CXO and a board member.[7]

Varjo has expanded its operations globally, with a U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and additional operations in Munich, Germany, alongside its Helsinki headquarters. The company employs over 200 professionals worldwide.[1]

On June 24, 2021, Varjo acquired Dimension10, a Norwegian company specializing in 3D collaboration software, further expanding its software capabilities.[8]

Products

Current Product Line

Varjo Current Product Lineup
Model Type Key Features Release Year Price Range
Varjo XR-4 Mixed Reality Dual 4K x 4K mini-LED displays, 120° x 105° FOV, 20MP pass-through cameras, LiDAR depth sensing, inside-out tracking 2024 $3,990+
Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition Mixed Reality Gaze-driven autofocus camera system, enhanced pass-through clarity, human vision computerized XR camera 2024 Premium tier
Varjo XR-4 Secure Edition Mixed Reality TAA-compliant, no radio components, offline operation, made in Finland 2024 Government/Defense
Varjo Aero Virtual Reality Dual mini-LED displays, 2880 x 2720 pixels per eye, aspheric lenses, 115° FOV, lightweight design 2021 $1,990

Varjo XR-4 Series

The Varjo XR-4 series represents the company's latest generation of mixed reality headsets, featuring revolutionary full-dome optics with flawless aspheric clarity across 120° x 105° FOV – a 50% increase from XR-3. The series includes enhanced depth awareness with 300 kpix extended range LiDAR, eight times more powerful than in XR-3, and inside-out tracking removing the need for base stations.[6]

The XR-4 series includes three main variants:

  • Varjo XR-4 - The standard model with industry-leading visual fidelity at 51 PPD
  • Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition - Features a human vision computerized XR camera system that mimics the human eye at 33 PPD with dedicated ambient lighting reconstruction cameras
  • Varjo XR-4 Secure Edition - Fully TAA-compliant headsets made in Finland without radio components or online connectivity requirements[2]

Legacy Products

Product Launch Date Type Key Features Notable Innovations
Varjo VR-1 February 2019 VR headset First "Bionic Display" with 60 PPD Introduced dual-display architecture
Varjo VR-2 October 2019 VR headset Improved Bionic Display, SteamVR compatibility Enhanced resolution and compatibility
Varjo VR-2 Pro October 2019 VR headset Integrated Ultraleap hand tracking First integrated hand tracking
Varjo XR-1 Developer Edition December 2019 Mixed reality headset Photorealistic video pass-through, dual 12MP cameras First mixed reality with human-eye resolution
Varjo VR-3 December 2020 VR headset >70 PPD, 115° FOV, 200Hz eye tracking Widest FOV at the time
Varjo XR-3 December 2020 Mixed reality headset LiDAR depth sensing, advanced pass-through Professional-grade mixed reality

Software and Services

Varjo Base

Varjo Base is the company's primary software platform that manages headset functionality, provides access to VR/XR applications, and includes developer tools for creating immersive experiences.[6]

Varjo Reality Cloud

Varjo Reality Cloud is the company's XR streaming platform announced in April 2022, designed to provide cloud-based XR streaming capabilities for enterprise users. The platform utilizes Amazon Web Services EC2 G5 Instances to deliver high-fidelity XR content over 35+ Mbps connections.[9]

Teleport by Varjo

Teleport allows users to scan places in the real world using just an iPhone, and automatically create a virtual 3D reconstruction to share and explore. Teleport scans can be viewed in stunning detail via the dedicated desktop application, directly on browser, on mobile devices and across a range of different VR and XR headsets. The latest version, Teleport 2.0, launched in April 2025, represents a generational leap in photorealistic 3D capture using AI-powered gaussian splatting technology.[10]

Technology

Human-Eye Resolution and Bionic Display

Varjo's primary technological innovation is achieving what the company calls "human-eye resolution" in virtual reality. The proprietary Bionic Display technology combines high-resolution focus areas with lower-resolution peripheral vision, mimicking natural human vision patterns to provide optimal visual fidelity where users are looking. This dual-panel architecture places a micro-OLED "focus display" (up to 3,000 ppi) inside a wider-angle LCD "context display," achieving retinal clarity with foveated rendering to reduce GPU load.[11]

Advanced Eye Tracking

All Varjo headsets include integrated 200Hz eye tracking capabilities that enable interaction, analytics, and dynamic foveated rendering. The eye tracking system supports precise gaze-based interaction and provides valuable data for research and training applications.[12]

Mixed Reality Capabilities

Varjo's mixed reality technology features photorealistic, true-to-life mixed reality powered by low-latency, up to 20-megapixel video pass-through, depth awareness powered by LiDAR for pixel-perfect real-time occlusion and 3D world reconstruction. The XR-4 series introduces gaze-driven autofocus camera systems that mimic human eye behavior.[13]

Recent Technological Advances

  • **Integrated Hand Tracking**: Introduced for XR-4 series in April 2025, enabling natural interaction without external controllers[14]
  • **Full-Dome Optics**: Revolutionary optical system providing flawless clarity across the entire 120° x 105° field of view
  • **Extended Range LiDAR**: 300 kpix depth sensing capability, eight times more powerful than previous generation

Applications and Industries

Training and Simulation

Varjo's headsets are extensively used across various professional training sectors:

Industry Applications Notable Use Cases Key Benefits
Aviation Pilot training, flight simulation FAA-certified XR flight training, Boeing Starliner astronaut training Cost reduction, safety improvement, realistic scenarios
Automotive Design validation, driver training Virtual prototyping at Volvo Cars, Honda, Aston Martin Faster iteration, reduced physical prototypes
Defense Military training, tactical simulation NATO forces training, U.S. Army simulations Safe training environment, scenario repeatability
Healthcare Surgical training, medical education Medical imaging visualization, patient rehabilitation Risk-free practice, improved outcomes
Industrial Equipment operation, safety training Nuclear power plant operator training Hazard-free training, standardized procedures
Research Academic studies, neuroscience University of Maryland Flight Lab, human factors research Controlled conditions, data collection

Notable Case Studies

  • University of Maryland's Flight Simulation and Control Lab uses Varjo for breakthrough VR/XR research in aerospace engineering[15]
  • Slovenian Armed Forces adopted VR/XR technology powered by Varjo and AformX for operational readiness[16]
  • Boeing Starliner Programme uses Varjo headsets to augment astronaut training, replicating each phase of commercial crew missions to the International Space Station[17]

Enterprise Customers

Varjo's customer base includes over 25% of Fortune 100 companies and notable organizations such as:

  • Airbus - Aircraft design and training
  • Audi - Vehicle design and visualization
  • Boeing - Aerospace training and simulation
  • Lockheed Martin - Defense and aerospace applications
  • Siemens - Industrial design and training
  • Volkswagen - Automotive design processes
  • Volvo Cars - Ultimate driving simulator and design validation
  • NASA - Aerospace research and simulation
  • Various U.S. and European Government departments

Funding and Investment

Varjo has raised substantial funding through multiple investment rounds since its founding, totaling over $225 million as of 2025:

Investment Timeline

Round Date Amount Lead Investors Notable Participants
Series A 2017 Undisclosed EQT Ventures, Lifeline Ventures Initial funding
Series B October 2018 $31 million Atomico Next47, EQT Ventures, Lifeline Ventures
Series C August 2020 $54 million Tesi, NordicNinja, Swisscanto Invest Atomico, EQT Ventures, Lifeline Ventures, Volvo Cars Tech Fund
Series D September 2022 $40 million EQT Ventures, Atomico Volvo Car Tech Fund, Lifeline Ventures, Mirabaud, Foxconn
Additional Funding 2023-2025 $50+ million Various Defense-focused funding, NATO admission impact

Key Investors

Partnerships and Collaborations

Technology Partnerships

Varjo maintains extensive partnerships to ensure compatibility and enhance capabilities:

Strategic Collaborations

Corporate Structure

Company Operations

Varjo operates from multiple locations worldwide:

  • Helsinki, Finland - Primary headquarters and R&D center (200+ employees)
  • Arlington, Virginia, USA - North American operations and customer support
  • Munich, Germany - European operations support

The company is structured as a Finnish Osakeyhtiö (Oy) and remains privately held with no announced plans for public offering.

Awards and Recognition

Industry Recognition

  • Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" - Named in both 2023 and 2025[19]
  • Lumiere Award (2019) - For mixed reality headset excellence in immersive storytelling[20]
  • Auggie Awards (2022) - "The Best Headworn Device" for Varjo Aero at Augmented World Expo
  • NATO Accreditation - Varjo XR-4 achieved NATO accreditation in Inzpire's JTAC Simulator (March 2025)
  • FAA Certification - First VR/XR flight training solution to receive FAA certification

Professional Certifications

  • FAA FTD Level 7 Certification - Leonardo's VxR Pilot Training System powered by Varjo headsets
  • TAA Compliance - XR-4 Secure Edition meets Trade Agreements Act requirements
  • EU Regulatory Compliance - CE marking for European market access

Future Developments

Industrial Metaverse Vision

Varjo is committed to building a true-to-life, industrial metaverse for all professionals, focusing on creating immersive work environments that seamlessly blend physical and virtual elements. The company's roadmap emphasizes enterprise applications over consumer markets.[3]

Technology Roadmap

  • Advanced AI Integration - Enhanced computer vision and AI-powered features
  • Cloud Computing Expansion - Continued development of Varjo Reality Cloud platform
  • 5G Integration - Leveraging next-generation connectivity for untethered experiences
  • Sustainability Initiatives - Developing more environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes

Market Expansion

The company continues to expand into new vertical markets including:

  • Healthcare and Medical Training - Surgical simulation and medical education
  • Architecture and Construction - Virtual building design and safety training
  • Energy Sector - Oil, gas, and renewable energy training applications
  • Education and Research - Academic institutions and research facilities

See Also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About us". Varjo. https://varjo.com/company/.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Most advanced virtual and mixed reality headsets for professionals". Varjo. https://varjo.com/.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Varjo Raises $40 Million Series D Funding". Varjo. September 6, 2022. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-raises-40-million-series-d-funding-to-build-an-industrial-metaverse/.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Varjo". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varjo.
  5. ↑ "Varjo's Leadership Team". The Org. https://theorg.com/org/varjo/teams/leadership-team.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Products". Varjo. https://varjo.com/products/.
  7. ↑ "Varjo closes USD $54 million in Series C funding and appoints Timo Toikkanen as new CEO". Auganix. August 12, 2020. https://www.auganix.org/varjo-closes-usd-54-million-in-series-c-funding-and-appoints-timo-toikkanen-as-new-ceo/.
  8. ↑ "Varjo Acquires Dimension10". Varjo. June 24, 2021. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-acquires-dimension10/.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Varjo Case Study". Amazon Web Services. https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/case-studies/varjo-case-study/.
  10. ↑ "Varjo Launches Teleport 2.0". Varjo. April 24, 2025. https://varjo.com/company-news/varjo-launches-teleport-2-0-a-generational-leap-in-photorealistic-3d-capture-for-creators/.
  11. ↑ "Bionic Display Technology". Varjo. https://varjo.com/vr-lab/bionic-display-technology/.
  12. ↑ "Eye Tracking Technology". Varjo. https://varjo.com/vr-lab/eye-tracking-technology/.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Varjo XR-3". Varjo. https://varjo.com/products/varjo-xr-3/.
  14. ↑ "Introducing Integrated Hand Tracking". Varjo. April 22, 2025. https://varjo.com/vr-lab/introducing-integrated-hand-tracking-for-varjo-xr-4-series/.
  15. ↑ "University of Maryland Flight Lab Case Study". Varjo. May 22, 2025. https://varjo.com/case-studies/university-of-maryland-flight-lab/.
  16. ↑ "Slovenian Armed Forces Case Study". Varjo. May 5, 2025. https://varjo.com/case-studies/slovenian-armed-forces-operational-readiness/.
  17. ↑ "Boeing Starliner Case Study". Varjo. https://varjo.com/case-studies/boeing-starliner-astronaut-training/.
  18. ↑ "Varjo Raises $31m Series B from Atomico". Varjo. October 8, 2018. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-raises-31m-series-b-from-atomico-to-transform-heavy-industry-with-worlds-first-human-eye-resolution-vr-product/.
  19. ↑ "Varjo Named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 2025". Varjo. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-named-to-fast-companys-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-of-2025/.
  20. ↑ "Varjo Mixed Reality Wins Lumiere Award". Varjo. 2019. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjos-mixed-reality-wins-the-lumiere-award-for-immersive-storytelling/.
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