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From garden offices to a team of 28 with a global presence, we take a look at the first five years of tech start-up Target3D.
2017
MAY Target3D was launched by Allan Rankin and Ashley Keeler. Working from offices in their respective gardens, they purchased their first mocap demo system and were resellers for two mocap technologies; Optitrack and WorldViz.
JULY The co-founders took up hot desking spaces within a tech hub in Loughborough University at Here East in Stratford, becoming an affiliate of DETC.
AUGUST The start-up completed their first motion capture install, for the University of Manchester.
OCTOBER Target3D made their first trip to VR Days in Amsterdam and purchased their first VR backpack.
NOVEMBER Allan joined WorldViz at I/ITSEC 2017 in Florida, Target3D's first exhibition.
DECEMBER The company completed their first drone lab install, at Kingston University.
2018
MARCH
The first employee joined Target3D as a Games Design Intern via the Erasmus programme, taking the team to three.
APRIL A new Director, Rob Jeffries, was appointed to oversee Business Development.
MAY
Completion of the largest jobs to date; a 3-sided cave projection system using WorldViz at Derby University followed by the largest camera install so far, for Leeds University. JULY Moved into the company's first private office, under railways arches in Bermondsey, with space for six desks.
SEPTEMBER Target3D demonstrated motion capture to HRH The Prince of Cambridge at PROTO Emerging Technology Centre in Newcastle.
The company also managed their first mocap service work shoot, first 3D scanning job and first music video project.
OCTOBER Returned to VR Days in Amsterdam, this year as a team of five.
DECEMBER
The year ended with a shoot at Pinewood Studios and the companies' first LBVR client.
2019
JANUARY Target3D continued to expand and moved to their Hoxton base. With a larger office space, a boardroom and StudioT3D - Central London's largest mocap space. The first supplier showcase was held.
MARCH The company worked with AMRC for the first time, on a medical simulation install.
APRIL By now, Target3D employed five interns, bringing the staff count to ten. Worked with Alexander Whitley on a dance performance capture for Sadlers' Wells. Showcased at Tribeca Film Festival in the US, having worked on an immersive VR experience 'A Drop in the Ocean' with Conservation International and Vision3.
JUNE
The first Introduction to Motion Capture Performance Workshop, to train actors and performers, was hosted. Creative England named Target3D in their CE50 list as one of the Creative Leaders of 2019.
JULY Target3D tracked wheelchair and body movement for The Rockets Wheelchair Basketball club.
Completed an installation at the University of Primorska, Slovenia, the startups' first
international tender win.
Exhibited at Siggraph2019, Los Angeles with DynamiXyz.
OCTOBER Designed and installed a mocap system at Paul McCartney's former school, LIPA.
NOVEMBER Began Virtual Production tests and installed a green screen at StudioT3D.
Exhibited at Leaders in Sports, Twickenham, as part of a year long collaboration.
Returned to VR Days in Amsterdam, this year with a team of fifteen.
DECEMBER Target3D New Zealand is established, to offer mocap technologies, consultancy and training opportunities in the region. Shannon Dowsing appointed as Director.
2020
JANUARY
Target3D’s first Tech Day featured suppliers Manus, DynamiXyz and Moveshelf and hosted 60 clients in the Hoxton studio.
FEBRUARY The first four-person mocap shoot, for Guildhall School of Music and Drama, was captured.
MARCH
The global pandemic hit. The office and studio temporarily closed and staff worked from home.
The company launched The Mocap Factory, an online store selling smaller items including suits, markers and cables. Target3D began a YouTube series, ‘Lockdown Lessons’.
MAY The Motion Capture Talent Pool, showcasing mocap actors and performers to producers, was launched.
JULY The biggest install to date was completed at Liverpool City College.
AUGUST Romocap launched – this was the first Target3D-owned product, enabling remote mocap shoots via video conferencing.
SEPTEMBER Studio T3D carried out its first motion capture of a dog!
The team continued to expand with the appointment of two new Sales roles.
NOVEMBER
The company expanded into Europe with Target3D Iberia launching. Miguel Motos joins as Director of the Valencia office.
DECEMBER The company’s first install in Northern Ireland was completed.
2021
MARCH Target3D worked with pop star Liam Payne, using mocap to help power his avatar performance for the BAFTA’s.
APRIL
Liverpool University provided the biggest install so far; three labs within one building.
JUNE The first projection mapping event took place at Guildhall School of Music.
Captured cricketing superstars, turning them into living-room avatars for
The Hundred Cricket tournament.
JULY
Target3D were part of the collaboration that turned pop legends ABBA into avatars for their new virtual show, ABBA Voyage.
AUGUST Target3D and Digital Catapult combined forces and launched the UK’s first virtual production research and innovation studio. The Virtual Production Test Stage in
Guildford is home to the Institute of Virtual Production.
OCTOBER
The company’s first Metaverse shoot took place with Krafty Kuts and A Skillz delivered in Decentraland.
NOVEMBER
Together with circus group Hudlfugl, motion capture was used to track aerial performers in a company first.
Designed and created the system behind new location-based entertainment Clays bar, a virtual clay shooting venue in London.
2022
JANUARY
The team took two stages to demonstrate virtual production and live mocap to event specialists at the Anna Valley Inspiration Showcase at London’s Tobacco Dock.
FEBRUARY
Target3D’s first six-person performance capture takes place.
The company’s first Virtual Production Master Class was held, in partnership with Barking and Dagenham College.
MARCH Co-founder Allan featured in a live discussion panel on mocap at SXSW in Texas.
APRIL
Target3D and Digital Catapult hosted the first Virtual Production Open Day with guest speakers from Copper Candle and FinalPixel.
MAY
Target3D celebrated five years of business. With a team of 28 working from an office and studio in Hoxton, a Virtual Production Stage in Guildford, and offices in Spain and New Zealand.
More expansion news coming soon. Follow Target3D on LinkedIn to see what happens next.