GeoSherpa is a newly-founded product marketing company for household goods and services advertised on the internet using virtual world technologies. We create and deliver advertising experiences by placing interactive product models in the context of virtual houses. These virtual houses are realistically displayed walk-through models of actual new residential developments.
Products and Services
GeoSherpa offers a radically new way for our product partners — appliance and furniture manufacturers, cabinetry makers and all related interior housing product makers — to go beyond simple 3D model product viewing.
At the GeoSherpa wesite, users will walk-through fully furnished virtual 3D houses as they like. All aspects of these houses, from the wall color choices, flooring, appliances, cabinetry and décor, are composed of “smart” objects that reveal relevant textual and other multimedia information such as pricing, energy consumption, available styles and customization options in response to user interest and selection. We are working with our product partners to create and place their products and services into the GeoSherpa interactive world of virtual houses and charge them according to the level of set-up, integration, and other interactivity.
Shopping is easy, fun and informative as users access and share product ratings, reviews, contribute their product experiences or simply make a purchase. Revenue from a percentage of product sales is derived from user purchases generated either directly at the GeoSherpa website or by visits which initiate from product partner sites or information and entertainment sites, such as the virtual earths platforms. Additional revenue is generated by the collection and use of data regarding interest-to-sales ratios and other consumer activity. More fees are derived as content is syndicated to iPhones, game consoles and mobile devices.
Market and competition
Numerous companies currently offer 3D modeling services or sell 3D viewing software. Only GeoSherpa offers a unique shopping experience showcasing actual household products and services via an entertaining interactive, environment in virtual models of real homes in real communities. Even the houses are for sale! GeoSherpa’s closest competitor is View22 Scenecaster:
View22 Scenecaster: A true 3D room configurator, this product enables a user to import models from the vast Google 3D warehouse collection but does not use real home models or real products.
No other company offers buyers a free immersive experience of real home models and products and generates revenue primarily through affiliate marketing fees. The closest existing services include:
Autodesk Showroom: Introduced in July 2007, it is an Autodesk Labs product with very limited interactivity. The site is receiving heavy web traffic.
Ikea Home Planner: A proprietary room configuration tool with limited integrated product information on Ikea products exclusively.
Second Life: Limited functionality that is very difficult to use for anyone but dedicated gamers. Has generated enormous media attention.
Envision by Builder Homesite: Popular with builders but entirely 2D with minimal technological innovation.
Management team
Greg Howes, CEO and Evangelist, 10 years experience in information technology and 10 years experience in residential construction. Co-founder of the startup “Bizmetric”.
Malcolm Williamson, Geospatial specialist; Senior researcher for CAST, the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies.
Kelly Berger, Director of Product Management: Senior analyst and systems architect at UW Medicine, 20+ years of software development, one of the founding members of Attachmate’s International Consulting Group as senior consultant.
Bill Boyd, Director of Real Estate Developer Relationships: 17 years as a builder and developer for resort markets in Colorado. Owner of HypercisionSIP and ModSystemStructures.
Frank Kuehnel, Chief Technology Officer: Senior researcher and project team leader at NASA for geospatial intelligence, data searching and visualization. Held prior research positions in artificial intelligence and robotic vision. Ph.D. degree in physics form Michigan State University.
Damon Hernandez, Chief Technology Officer: Engineer at MediaMachines. 3d Web technologist
Chief Financial Officer, position to be filled.
Vice President, Director of Sales, position to be filled.
Advisors (Proposed)
Stefan Schneider – CAD/CAM tech & mfg specialist
Tony Parisi – Founder of Media Machines; 3D technology specialist
Fred Limp – Director of CAST
Jackson Cothren – Assistant professor at CAST
Kathleen Liston – Virtual Design and Construction, BIM knowledge