Startup Spotlight #198: MOONHUB
MOONHUB is a virtual reality training platform that focuses on training companies with innovative VR systems
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I got the chance to speak with Dami Hastrup, co-founder and CEO of MOONHUB, about what he’s working on at his startup, and any advice he has for emerging entrepreneurs.
MOONHUB is a virtual reality training platform that focuses on training companies with innovative VR systems. Moonhub, which just closed its $2.6 million seed round, has a patented scoring system that allows for easy data capture. MOONHUB uses its patented spot and jot scoring system to allow for easy and effective data collection that is then delivered to users via a comprehensive online dashboard.
Hastrup is the founder and CEO of MOONHUB. He founded MOONHUB back in 2016 shortly after finishing university, and has made it his mission to bring VR training into workplaces everywhere. Outside of MOONHUB, Hastrup mentors under-represented founders and schoolchildren to open up their opportunities in the world of tech. Heis an Evening Standard Progress 1,000 listee, “Pioneer of the new world” with Sifted, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Alumni.
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Startup Spotlight: MOONHUB
Problem: Training is broken, with knowledge retention rates as low as 5-10% with traditional training methods. Companies lose out on ROI for their L&D spend.
Market: Corporate companies and SMEs alike suffer from a lack of reliable and quantifiable training methods. VR training TAM is valued at $294 billion according to PwC.
Solution: MOONHUB is the VR training platform that provides companies with data and insights through our patented spot-and-jot scoring system, accessible via our dashboard.
Team: The founding team is Dami Hastrup, Vinh Ly and Hannah Sutcliffe. The rest of our team comes to (currently) 13 people.
Recent Success:
Hastrup: Building a company that people care about and want to work in/with. I’m passionate about this company and that translates not just to the team, but to our customers and partners too. Starting a company is never easy, but piloting a startup through the typical journey and then having to do it through an unprecedented global pandemic adds an element of “after this, I can do anything”. This also translates into me becoming someone who can communicate the potential and values of MOONHUB to the world, from investors, to customers, to those who may just simply be interested in finding out more. Over the years, I’ve been featured by news outlets like the BBC, been listed on the Forbes 30 under 30 and the Evening Standard’s Progress 1,000 and I’m eternally grateful for the support I’ve received in getting to where I am.
Recent Struggle:
Hastrup: Scaling! Scaling is different with each stage that the company goes through and it’s been interesting to face new challenges each and every time. Balancing internal and external growth is the trickiest bit, as they’re equally important and equally time intensive. On a personal note, I’ve also struggled with finding a work life balance. I know that may seem like quite a standard answer, but when all you’re thinking about is how you can continue to propel your company forward, it can become difficult to switch off and focus on the personal side of life. Culture can often feel like it’s changing rapidly as you grow and it’s important to ensure that scaling does not come at the expense of losing your company’s core values and culture.
Founder Advice:
Hastrup: Do something, no matter how small, every day that progresses you towards your end goal. It’s easy to get swept up in planning and strategising, but having a timeline and working towards it is important as it helps you benchmark your progress against something. I like to think of this as switching from the “When I/Then I” Mindset to the “Because I, Now I” mindset. For example, it’s easy to think “When I get funding, then I will be able to build my product” whereas what you should be thinking is “Because I have a basic prototype, now I can get some early user feedback”. This is imperative because it’s easy to get stuck in a macro way of thinking. If we’re always keeping our eye on the grand picture without focusing on the small day to day tasks that will get us there, we will never reach our end destination as we’ll always be “waiting”.
Three Cool Founders You Should Know About:
Hastrup: Here are three founders you should check out next!
Ryan Howell, Founder of M-XR: M-XR is developing the next generation 3D capture system, which is able to accurately and automatically digitise real-world objects.
Liam Rushforth, Founder of Flux Outdoor: Flux Outdoor help marketers use data and context to scale relevant brand experiences into the real world.
Kunmi Oludoyi, Founder of Sorair: Sorair brings the future of delivery vehicles to final mile delivery businesses by providing autonomous delivery drones as a new, more efficient, carbon neutral replacement for current road vehicles.
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