Serial tech entrepreneur Godard Abel has led a $10 million USD investment in retail tech startupThreeKit, a 3D product configurator and visualization company based in Ottawa and Chicago. Abel will also take the role of executive chairman of ThreeKit.
ThreeKit was founded by CTO Ben Houston, an Ottawa native and 15-year veteran in Hollywood Visual FX software. The company’s solutions allow brands to move from static images to interactive 3D experience online, with features such as custom product designs, and product tours. ThreeKit also offers augmented reality and virtual photography capabilities, allowing customers to preview their customizations before making their purchase decision.
“We saw a major opportunity to bring this technology to ecommerce, and are leading a new standard of product experience in the industry.”
“Traditionally visualization technologies have been clunky and difficult to use, but ThreeKit is a holistic platform that allows sellers to create their own interactive product experiences for their web stores,” said Houston. “Originally built for Hollywood, we saw a major opportunity to bring this technology to ecommerce, and are leading a new standard of product experience in the industry.”
ThreeKit is headquartered in Chicago, but the company chose Ottawa for its technology innovation center. A representative for the company told BetaKit the move was designed to create close proximity to the city’s visualization tech pool, including from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.