Awards

Solution of the Year Finalists

Holographich display / Distance Technologies Oy

Holographic display is a volumetric and holographic display for automotive industry. Distance Technologies Oy is a Finnish deep-tech startup transforming transparent surfaces (like windshields and cockpit windows) into immersive, glasses-free mixed-reality displays. Their proprietary 3D light-field technology fuses synthetic content with the real world, targeting automotive, aerospace and defence applications.

https://distance.tech/Technology

Virtual Dawn / Creation tools for XR/AI

Virtual Dawn delivers a Unity-based AI/XR creation platform that multiplies developer productivity by 10×. It combines OpenXR/WebXR deployment, an AI NPC system with emotional intelligence and memory, and ready-made templates to rapidly build apps for training, culture, and industry. With pricing tiers from €18 to €4,000/month, we lower barriers to XR adoption while enabling rapid prototyping, faster go-to-market, and scalable, future-proof XR solutions across sectors.

https://virtual-dawn.com/

WowMouse / Doublepoint Oy

WowMouse made it on TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025 list as a special mention. WowMouse turns your Apple Watch into a hands-free controller for your Mac. Move your hand to control the cursor, and tap your index finger and thumb together to do a left click. Tap the mouse icon on the screen or turn your wrist upside down to perform a palm-up tap to enable or disable WowMouse.

https://www.doublepoint.com/product

Collaborator of the Year Finalists

Helsinki XR Center

Helsinki XR Center, home of Extended Realities, is the Nordic hub for VR, AR and MR. Since 2019, it has collaborated with 100+ organizations, supported 30+ developer hub teams with space, mentoring and equipment, and welcomed thousands of visitors to its showroom and events. Operated by Metropolia UAS with partners like FIVR, Yle and the City of Helsinki, HXRC drives XR innovation and is active in XR4Europe, FAIR and the Metaverse Standards Forum.

Laura Olin / Younite AI

Laura Olin, Chief of Staff at Younite AI, almost single-handedly made it possible for the Finnish ecosystem to be showcased in Japan at the Osaka World Expo 2025.

Ouluversum project

Ouluversum, led by Oulun Innovaatioallianssi and coordinated by BusinessOulu, is building a strong regional ecosystem for metaverse innovation. The project brings together research, business, and public actors to make Oulu a leading hub for XR and digital experiences in Finland.

Hall of Fame Finalists

Jörgen Geerds

Jörgen Geerds is the inventor of the first fully spherical 360 video rig at the end of 2011/ beginning of 2012. His patented 360rig kicked off a wave of 360 videos, started the careers of many 360 video professionals and their companies and advanced a new field of media production and storytelling. He contributed significantly to the development of 360 video stitching software such as Kolor Autopano Video, 360 stitch and Mistika VR. Throughout, Jörgen freely shared his knowledge and advice.

Mika Luimula

Mika Luimula is behind many XR projects and all in all an influential person on the field in Finland promoting collaboration across sectors. He works as the Head of Education and Research for the School of Software and Interactive Technology at Turku University of Applied Sciences. He also holds an Adjunct Professorship at the University of Turku. He has published around 160 scientific papers and his research group has won various awards.

Urho Konttori

Urho is a founder is a Finnish deep-tech entrepreneur and XR pioneer. He is behind companies like Varjo and Distance Technologies. Now heads Distance Technologies as CEO, pushing the boundaries of glasses-free mixed reality for vehicles, aerospace and defence.

Meet the jury

The MatchXR Awards decisions were made by a distinguished international jury of industry leaders and innovators:

• Jani Jokitalo (Business Finland): A key figure in Finland’s immersive tech scene and co-author of the Finnish Metaverse Initiative.
• Valerie Riffaud Cangelosi (CNXR & REAPSE Consulting): CEO, AR/MR expert and CNXR Executive Committee Member with vast international experience supporting companies in deploying immersive solutions and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Michael Barngrover (XR4Europe): Managing Director of XR4Europe, developer, and researcher specializing in multiuser VR and cultural heritage.
• David Garcia (Epic Games): David is a Partner & Education Advisor at Epic Games, where he helps empower creators through education and ecosystem support.
• Krista Jäntti (Aalto Creatives) is the founder of AI, XR and blockchain ventures, former lead designer at Varjo and one of Finland leading women in AI.

Get your ticket and join the gala on Tuesday November 18 18.00-22.00 at Aleksanterinsali, Mikonkatu 5, 00100 Helsinki.