Technology

Virtual reality start-up 8i scores big name $US13.5 million funding

Rose PowellJournalist

Updated Oct 15, 2015 – 2.30pm, first published at 12.35pm

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A New Zealand-based virtual reality entertainment start-up has raised $US13.5 million ($18.4 million) from leading US venture funds and movie star Ashton Kutcher, as part of an accelerating trend of US funds seeking out deals in the Asia-Pacific region.

Serial entrepreneur Linc Gasking co-founded 8i, which develops software that can be used by virtual reality headsets such as Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR.

Rose Powell is a journalist with Fairfax Media. Connect with Rose on Twitter.