Riz Virk

Riz Virk Email and Phone Number

Faculty Associate, Research Associate @ Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ, US
Riz Virk's Location
Tempe, Arizona, United States, United States
About Riz Virk

Futurist, Metaverse researcher/faculty, entrepreneur, investor, board member, bestselling author, video game pioneer and indie film producer. Author of The Simulation Hypothesis (2019), Startup Myths & Models:What You Won't Learn in Business School (2020), The Simulated Multiverse (2021), Treasure Hunt: Follow Your Inner Clues to Find True Success (2017), and Zen Entrepreneurship (2013). Creator of Play Labs @ MIT, venture partner at Griffin Gaming Partners, adjunct faculty at ASU, and founder, investor, advisor, board member in many startups including Tapjoy, TapFish (sold to DeNA), Funzio (sold to GREE), Discord, Disruptor Beam, Upland, Telltale Games, Moon Express, Tarform, Intelligize (sold to Lexis-Nexis), Sliver.tv/Theta Labs, North Bay Solutions, CambridgeDocs (sold to EMC), Service Metrics (sold to Exodus), etc.

Riz Virk's Current Company Details
Arizona State University

Arizona State University

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Faculty Associate, Research Associate
Tempe, AZ, US
Riz Virk Work Experience Details
  • Arizona State University
    Faculty Associate, Research Associate
    Arizona State University
    Tempe, Az, Us
  • Arizona State University
    Faculty Associate, Research Associate
    Arizona State University Jan 2022 - Present
    Tempe, Az, Us
    In parallel with working on my PhD in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology in the College of Global Futures, I am faculty associate at the Fulton School of Engineering where I designed and am teaching a course on the social and entrepreneurial dimensions of the Metaverse. I also help as a teaching assistant for entrepreneurship courses in the Technological Entrepreneurship and Management program. I am also a research associate at The Center for Science and the Imagination in researching how science fiction and imaginaries affect scientific and technological innovation.
  • Play Labs @ Mit
    Founder, Executive Director
    Play Labs @ Mit Jan 2017 - Present
    Cambridge, Ma, Us
    I started, raised money for, and ran this accelerator/incubator for playful technology startups on the MIT campus, in conjunction with the MIT Game Lab (located at the MIT Media Lab) during the summer. I ran all aspects of getting the accelerator off the ground, selecting speakers, selecting companies, making investments, and overseeing the program. We have had two batches thus far - summer, 2017, and summer, 2018. More info at https://www.playlabs.tv
  • Griffin Gaming Partners
    Venture Partner
    Griffin Gaming Partners Mar 2020 - Present
    Santa Monica, Us
    Helping out as a venture partner to this new fund dedicated to video gaming and related startups. It has become the largest dedicated fund in this space. As a venture partner I am on the lookout for interesting investment opportunities for the fund.
  • Nbc News, Venturebeat, Scientific American, Digital Trends
    Author, Freelance Writer
    Nbc News, Venturebeat, Scientific American, Digital Trends Mar 2019 - Present
    In addition to working on my books, I have been writing articles on on many areas, including video games/virtual reality, science, technology, consciousness, startups, venture capital, leadership and more. My articles have appeared on NBC News.com, TechCrunch, Venture Beat, Digital Trends, Variety, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Hackernoon, One Zero, Collective Evolution, Om Times, Startup Nation, ValueWalk, ExecuNet, Leadership Now, Leadercast, Young Upstarts, Smart Brief, etc.
  • Ridge Ventures
    Advisor
    Ridge Ventures Jul 2019 - Present
    San Francisco, California, Us
    Ridge Ventures (formerly IDG Ventures) specializes in enterprise software and b2b models. Over the years, I have been part of their extended team as a founder of multiple portfolio companies, as a co-investor and venture affiliate and advisor. In my latest capacity, I help them find VC investments in their areas of focus.
  • 500 Startups
    Entrepreneur-In-Residence
    500 Startups Jul 2020 - Present
    San Francisco, California, Us
    Doing my usual thing - helping out entrepreneurs at 500 startups.
  • Bayview Labs
    Co Founder, Managing Partner
    Bayview Labs Jan 2011 - Present
    Mountain View, Ca, Us
    Bayview Labs has helped launch many startups; Bayview Capital has invested in a large number of startups in media, gaming, advertising, VR, aerospace. Bayview Films is a division for producing documentaries and narrative full length features and TV shows. Some of our investments have included Tapjoy, PocketGems, Funzio, Apsalar, Discord, iddiction, Telltale Games, Disruptor Beam, Intelligize, LitIQ, Moon Express, Icon Aircraft, BitPagos, Sliver.tv, Free Range Games, etc. For more see http://www.bayviewlabs.com.
  • Mit $100K Entrepreneurship Competition
    Judge, Speaker, Mentor, Contestant
    Mit $100K Entrepreneurship Competition Jan 1992 - Present
    Cambridge, Ma, Us
    Over the 25+ years, I have played many roles in this world famous business plan competition, which started out as the $10k competition. I was originally a contestant/finalist (when I was a student at MIT), then was invited to be a speaker, then was invited to be a judge for several years, and was invited to mentor teams which had made it to the semi-finals. I've also been an advisor to startups coming out of the MIT Delta-V accelerator.
  • Northbay Solutions
    Board Of Directors
    Northbay Solutions 2016 - Present
    Andover, Ma, Us
    I originally helped launch and am on the board at North Bay Solutions, a firm delivering big data/cloud solutions for Fortune 1000 companies. North Bay is one of the top Amazon AWS partners on the East Coast.
  • 1 Billion Tech
    Board Of Directors
    1 Billion Tech Jan 2017 - Present
    San Jose, California, Us
  • Theta Labs, Inc.
    Founding Team, Vp Biz Dev, Advisor, Board Member
    Theta Labs, Inc. Sep 2016 - Mar 2020
    Cupertino, Ca, Us
    Offshoot from silver.tv, esports and virtual reality startup. Theta is a Decentralized video delivery network, powered by users and an innovative new blockchain. I was an initial investor, board member and in charge of business development for sliver.tv, and when Theta was started, helped with strategy, legal, white paper, recruit advisors, wrote content for, and headed up business development for this new token for video distribution, theta token, which has become a top 100 token. Since 2018 I have been an advisor.
  • Bitmovio
    Founding Team, Chairman
    Bitmovio Mar 2018 - Feb 2020
    Blockchain meets Hollywood - Bitmovio was an innovative platform for content creators to connect with consumers in many genres, including paranormal, sci fi/horror/fantasy, gaming.
  • Free Range Games
    Advisor
    Free Range Games Sep 2016 - Dec 2017
    Sausalito, Ca, Us
    Advisor to Free Range, a VR and mobile gaming company, which acquired the games we created at Midverse, including IP based games such as Penny Dreadful: Demimonde and Grimm: Cards of Fate
  • Midverse Studios
    Co-Founder And Ceo
    Midverse Studios Jan 2012 - Sep 2016
    Midverse Studios is a mobile gaming company, with a particular focus on Science Fiction/Horror/Fantasy IP based games. Our games have included Penny Dreadful: Demimonde, Grimm: Cards of Fate, Bingo Run, and others.
  • Disruptor Beam Inc.
    Board Member
    Disruptor Beam Inc. Aug 2014 - Jun 2016
    Framingham, Massachusetts, Us
  • Dena
    General Manager
    Dena Sep 2010 - Jan 2012
    Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo, Jp
    I ran the Gameview division of DeNA after they acquired us. Our hit mobile games games included Tap Fish, Tap Ranch, Titans vs. Olympians, Tap Birds.
  • Gameview Studios Pvt Ltd
    Ceo And Co-Founder
    Gameview Studios Pvt Ltd Jan 2010 - Dec 2010
    Lahore, Punjab, Pk
    I co-founded Gameview in 2010 with my long time friend and business partner, Mitch Liu. We made one of the top free-to-play games on mobile, Tap Fish, and sold the company to DeNA, a public Japanese company and pioneer in free to play mobile gaming.
  • Tapjoy
    Founding Team, Investor, Board Member
    Tapjoy Apr 2009 - Mar 2010
    San Francisco, California, Us
    I was the first angel investor and part of the founding team at Tapjoy, a mobile game and advertising company, and Offerpal, which was a leader in the Facebook/social gaming advertising market, which combined in 2010. The combined company, Tapjoy, went on to become one of the largest mobile advertising companies in the world. I was on the board, helped with business development, oversaw development of key features, and advised the founders on m&a and strategy.
  • Emc
    Director Of Technology, Xml
    Emc Feb 2002 - Jun 2008
    Round Rock, Texas, Us
    EMC Document Sciences, acquired my company, CambridgeDocs, which I co-founded and ran from 2002-2007. I was responsible for finding ways to integrate the Document Sciences XML products (the CambridgeDocs xDoc products) into the EMC Documentum product line and exploring business opportunities around XML with the various product lines. As cofounder of CambridgeDocs, I was responsible for leading the product, partnerships and negotiated the sale to Document Sciences.
  • Service Metrics
    Co-Founder
    Service Metrics 1998 - 1999
    I was part of the team which founded Service Metrics, which was funded by SoftBank and IDG Ventures, and which sold to Exodus in 1999.
  • Brainstorm Technologies
    Co Founder, President And Ceo
    Brainstorm Technologies Oct 1993 - Oct 1997
    American Fork, Ut, Us
    As co-founder and CEO I was responsible for all aspects of starting and growing Brainstorm from a 2 person to a 100 person company, including technical vision, architecture, recruiting management, raising venture capital financing, and overseeing sales and marketing of our products. Brainstorm's products, VB/Link and DataLink, were used by over 2000 enterprises to bridge the gap between their legacy systems and new collaborative platforms like Lotus Notes.
  • Lotus Development
    Application Programmer
    Lotus Development Mar 1993 - Oct 1993
    Us
    Lotus (later acquired by IBM) was one of the largest software companies in the world at the time. I worked on their ground breaking Lotus Notes platform for groupware, collaboration, and application development, developing apps using their VB-like tool, which later became Notes ViP.
  • Diva - Digital Video Applications
    Jack Of All Trades
    Diva - Digital Video Applications Sep 1992 - Feb 1993
    Shortly after graduation from MIT, I worked at DiVA, the developer of pioneering desktop digital video editing software - DiVA Videoshop - for consumers. The company was the first successful spin-out from the MIT Media Lab and was acquired by Avid Technology in 1993. I helped the CEO with various projects.

Riz Virk Skills

Start Ups Entrepreneurship Enterprise Software Business Development Xml Mobile Devices Integration Mobile Applications Management Strategic Partnerships Venture Capital New Media Product Management Architecture Software Development Online Advertising Recruiting Cms Agile Methodologies C# Architectures Mysql Ajax Databases Knowledge Management Enterprise Portals Software Engineering Php Digital Media Strategy Valuation Mergers And Acquisitions Leadership Due Diligence Writing Mobile Games Esports Innovation Management

Riz Virk Education Details

  • Arizona State University
    Arizona State University
    School For Future Of Innovation In Society
  • Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
    Computer Science And Engineering
  • Stanford University Graduate School Of Business
    Stanford University Graduate School Of Business
    Management

Frequently Asked Questions about Riz Virk

What company does Riz Virk work for?

Riz Virk works for Arizona State University

What is Riz Virk's role at the current company?

Riz Virk's current role is Faculty Associate, Research Associate.

What is Riz Virk's email address?

Riz Virk's email address is ri****@****ail.com

What is Riz Virk's direct phone number?

Riz Virk's direct phone number is +165045*****

What schools did Riz Virk attend?

Riz Virk attended Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Stanford University Graduate School Of Business.

What are some of Riz Virk's interests?

Riz Virk has interest in On Line Gaming, New Technology, Virtual Worlds, States Of Consciousness, Startups, Angel Investing, New Media, Independent Film.

What skills is Riz Virk known for?

Riz Virk has skills like Start Ups, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise Software, Business Development, Xml, Mobile Devices, Integration, Mobile Applications, Management, Strategic Partnerships, Venture Capital, New Media.

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