Rising ICON #51: Amir Berenjian
What name do you prefer to be called?
Amir
What are your pronouns?
he/him
Where did you grow up?
Eden Prairie, MN (0 - 18), Minneapolis, MN (18 - current)
What city are you currently based in?
Minneapolis, MN
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
I’m Amir, I live in Minneapolis with my amazing wife and two young, very wild boys. I’m a relentlessly curious nerd. Do you want to talk nerd stuff with me?
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I have strong opinions, but they are loosely held. I enjoy having someone change my mind.
Who do you help?
Organizations that want to leverage spatial computing technologies like VR and AR in an accessible and meaningful way.
What are you building now?
An immersive technology platform that redefines and elevates how content and stories are delivered and consumed.
What were you building ten years ago today?
10 years ago I was an investment banker focused on middle market M&A, and two years away from taking a 180 turn into VR and AR.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
By then I hope I’ve learned how to let off the gas pedal a bit. But most importantly, I just want to hang out with my family.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
The future of VR and AR isn't about games, it’s the future of how everyone will interact with technology. PCs, phones, and all other screens will eventually go away. It wasn't that long ago the “internet” was a silly concept and the iPhone was considered a flop … yet here we are.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
We need more humanity built into the foundation of technology.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
My dad. He doesn't give advice. But I watch. Shit happens. Be kind. Push forward.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
We recently traveled to Zambia and documented the front-line work in the fight to eradicate polio in VR. We’ve had the opportunity to present the work to global health leaders at UNICEF and the UN Foundation to name a few. I never imagined VR would put me in a position to be part of this work.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
NYT
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Lex Fridman Podcast.
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Why?
What award would mean the most to win?
The official Father and Husband of the Year award.
What makes zero sense to you?
The older I get, the list of known unknowns and unknown unknowns gets longer.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Delete them all.
What game are you changing?
Shifting the perception of VR and AR technology.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
We’re part of many local events throughout the year. Come find me and say hi.
Where can we follow you online?
Instagram: amircreates
X: virtual_amir
Tiktik: virtual_amir
rem5studios.com
simulacra.io
rem5forgood.com
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Surround yourself with people who keep it real with you.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Amir, for sharing your story!
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“We need more humanity built into the foundation of technology.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting rising leaders. The future is bold.
