#news Virtual Reality Time Travel App Timelooper Makes History In Queensland

A virtual reality time travel app has become the first international start-up to take advantage of an initiative aimed at enticing overseas businesses to Queensland.

By using a smartphone and a cardboard headset, travellers can witness historical events in 360 degree vision, such as the great fire of London and the blitz during World War II.

Now the location-based app is making a home in Queensland through the state government’s Hotdesq initiative with a $50,000 grant to extend its operations.

It will take up residence in Queensland University of technology’s creative enterprise Australia (cea) incubator.
Timelooper co-founder Andrew Feinberg said the program was an amazing opportunity for overseas start-ups to get a foothold in the Asia pacific market.

“as a tourism-focused platform, Queensland, and its robust tourism ecosystem, is an ideal starting point for us in scaling up our global expansion,’’ Mr Feinberg said.

The new York-based start-up has raised $US2 million since it launched in February last year.
Mr Feinberg said the team would use their time in the sunshine state to scope out heritage sites as potential “virtual reality” experiences.

“As avid tourists ourselves, we often feel visiting famous global landmarks lacks in communicating the intangible heritage of what it felt like to be at those locations when history was made – such as witnessing the sheer terror of the great fire of London or being present during a gladiator battle at Rome’s colosseum,” Mr Feinberg said.

“We founded Timelooper to help bring these moments back to life through an immersive, time travel experience.”
Hotdesq aims to attract established start-ups from overseas and interstate to come to Queensland and develop ideas.