As Experiential Technologies Take Center Stage, Helios Interactive Marks Second Year by Nearly Doubling Revenue, Boosting

October 5, 2010

Tools

Launched in Throes of Recession, Company Thrives with Marquee Projects Showcasing Eye-Popping Display Technologies That Engage, Educate, Entertain

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For a company that’s as old as the recession, times are actually pretty good.

Helios Interactive Technologies (www.heliosinteractive.com), the emerging leader in “experience design,” today announced that on the eve of its second anniversary the company nearly doubled its revenue over the same period last year and increased staffing levels by 50 percent.

Founded in 2008, Helios is a full-service display technology provider that harnesses an eclectic mix of interactive platforms, from augmented reality and gesture recognition to touch displays, multi-touch applications, autostereoscopy, mobile applications and more.

For the company, countering the recession is a sign of the times – times that are increasingly receptive to the emerging world of experiential technologies. At a technology forum in May, Avatar director James Cameron predicted that 3D would eventually replace 2D as the standard, mainstream format for film, television and online content. While Helios is far more than 3D, the trend is having an undeniable impact on popular culture and on the company.

“We have not only weathered a down economy but thrived because there’s power in delivering branded experiences that consumers remember,” said Mike Schaiman, Helios Managing Partner and co-founder. “The emerging ‘3D economy’ is resilient, and while major challenges remain for businesses in the diverse sectors we serve, this has also been a time of immense opportunity. What this tells us is that true engagement appears to be recession-proof.

“The entertainment and consumer electronic sectors have clearly whetted appetites, with their embrace of experiential, immersive technologies,” Schaiman said. “They’ve shaped the adoption curve, as consumers move from ‘surprise and delight’ to expectation. That’s already showing up in everything from ads on iPads to movie posters on bus shelters. Helios is bringing to market the tools brands can use to deliver memorable experiences wherever consumers congregate.”

Helios provides interactive displays in the exhibit, retail, entertainment and digital out-of-home markets. It’s been a truly global year, with the company leveraging its international experience on behalf of the nation of Colombia, for its pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. That followed a successful engagement in Canada, at the Fancouver exhibit, with Total Immersion, for Yahoo!. Other highlights: the multi-city 2010 “Best Buy Live” tour, shadowing the NASCAR circuit, and – closer to home – the Outsidelands Music Festival, in August. During the next 12 months, the company anticipates fortifying its network of high-profile clients and partners.

“We’ve seen the future – our mission now is to help others see it, and experience it,” said Schaiman. “To be effective, display technologies must be unique, intuitive, and easy to grasp. That’s what marketers require to truly interact with their consumers and fully immerse them in their brands. And that’s a recipe for success in the 3D economy.”

About Helios Interactive Technologies

Helios Interactive Technologies (www.heliosinteractive.com) is a full-service display technology company that harnesses cutting-edge tools and platforms to attract, surprise and delight consumers with consistently engaging experiences. Helios specializes in “experience design,” providing interactive displays that grab attention and engage consumers in memorable experiences, for such clients as Best Buy, HBO, the CW Television Network, Mercedes-Benz, AstraZeneca International, and Sprint, among others. Founded in 2008, Helios is based in San Francisco.