Sidequest
SideQuest operates a community-driven alternative app store for Meta Quest and Pico VR headsets, enabling indie and experimental VR game distribution through web and desktop installers. It monetizes via self-serve advertising, featured placements, and developer marketing campaigns.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBelfast, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Sidequest does
SideQuest, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Belfast, United Kingdom (legal entity SideQuestVR Ltd., registered in Delaware), operates a community-driven alternative app store for standalone VR headsets, primarily Meta Quest 2/3/3S/Pro and Pico devices. The platform addresses two underserved segments of the VR ecosystem: indie and experimental VR developers who face restrictive curation on official stores, and VR gamers seeking sideloaded, modded, early-access, and game-port content (such as Half-Life, Doom, and Minecraft ports) unavailable through Meta or Pico first-party channels. Its customers include both consumer VR gamers on the demand side and a long tail of indie developers and small studios (e.g., Team Beef, Sinn Studio, Rigged Games, QuestCraft) on the supply side.
The core technical product comprises two installation pathways — a browser-based Web Installer enabling in-headset sideloading without a PC, and a Desktop App (Advanced Installer) for Windows/Mac that manages APK/OBB files and streams content from headset to PC. Around this core, SideQuest has built an Apps & Games Catalog (web storefront with categories, ratings, and reviews), a Developer Portal for app submission and management, a Groups community forum, an Indie Alliance developer community program with beta access and giveaways, an Articles editorial hub, and a self-serve SideQuest Ad Manager offering bid-based placements and real-time performance tracking. A sub-brand called Bonto extends the platform into instant web app hosting positioned for "the AI era."
The business model is freemium for end users and developer-facing on the revenue side. Monetization comes from three streams: self-serve advertising through the Ad Manager (with bid-based pricing and a $300 credit for new advertisers), custom marketing campaigns across SideQuest's owned media, and featured app promotions scheduled through a sales channel. SideQuest has raised approximately $15.65 million in total venture funding, including a $3 million seed round in October 2021 led by PROfounders and a $12 million Series A in October 2022 led by GV (Google Ventures), with GV's M.G. Siegler joining the board. The company operates with an 11–50 person team led by co-founders Shane Harris (CEO) and Orla Harris (COO), with Max Myers as CTO.
Sidequest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sidequest
- Legal name
- SideQuestVR Ltd.
- Website
- https://sidequestvr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SideQuest operates a community-driven alternative app store for Meta Quest and Pico VR headsets, enabling indie and experimental VR game distribution through web and desktop installers. It monetizes via self-serve advertising, featured placements, and developer marketing campaigns.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sidequest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- VR Content Marketplace
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity) (MPAFAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE)
Keywords
Where Sidequest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belfast
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sidequest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Advertising: SideQuest offers self-serve ads through the Ad Manager platform and custom marketing campaigns across articles, emails, giveaways, and premium placements. Developers can promote their VR apps directly to the engaged VR gaming audience.
- Platform Commission / Marketplace: Revenue generated through the platform marketplace where developers list and distribute VR apps and games to the SideQuest user base.
- Featured App Promotions: Developers can schedule feature placements and promotional campaigns to increase visibility of their VR apps on the platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | SideQuest Access - Free for Users |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | SideQuest Ad Manager - Self-serve advertising |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Marketing Campaigns |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Indie Alliance - Free membership |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sidequest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SideQuest operates a community-driven alternative VR app store and sideloading platform for Meta Quest, Pico, and other standalone VR headsets. It enables independent and experimental VR developers to distribute games, mods, and ports to end users via two installer methods—a browser-based Web Installer for in-headset installation and a Desktop App for PC/Mac-based APK/OBB management—and monetizes those developers through a self-serve Ad Manager and featured promotional placements.
Product overview
SideQuest is a unified VR gaming platform and alternative app store for Meta Quest headsets, offering a sideloading mechanism for experimental and indie VR content alongside mainstream titles. The core product consists of two installation methods: the SideQuest VR App (Web Installer) for in-headset installation from a browser, and the SideQuest Desktop App (Advanced Installer) for PC-based file and APK management. The platform's central offering is its Apps & Games Catalog, which aggregates VR titles across indie, experimental, App Lab, and mainstream categories for Meta Quest, Pico, and other headsets. Supporting this are SideQuest Ads (a self-serve advertising platform for VR developers), the Developer Portal (for app submission and management), Groups (community forums), the Indie Alliance (developer community program with Discord access and playtesting opportunities), and an Articles content hub. A separate sub-brand called Bonto provides instant web app hosting for the AI era. The platform supports content discovery, community engagement, and monetization for VR developers while providing gamers access to sideloaded, early-access, and exclusive VR experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bonto: Build anything, instantly. Powered by SideQuest - an instant web app hosting platform built for the AI era.
- Indie Alliance
Products and services
- SideQuest VR App (Web Installer) Browser-based installation method that allows VR gamers to install SideQuest and compatible VR titles directly onto their headset from the headset's browser, without needing a PC. Targeted at VR gamers who own Meta Quest, Pico, or other supported standalone headsets.
- SideQuest Desktop App (Advanced Installer) Advanced desktop application for PC/Mac that enables file and app management on VR headsets, APK/OBB file installation, and headset-to-PC streaming (Windows only). Targeted at VR gamers and power users who need deeper control over sideloaded content.
- SideQuest Ads / Ad Manager Self-serve advertising platform enabling VR developers and publishers to reach millions of engaged VR players through bid-based placements, real-time performance tracking, custom promo campaigns, sponsored content, and premium placements across SideQuest's media channels. Targeted at VR developers and publishers seeking to promote their apps.
- Bonto Instant web app hosting platform powered by SideQuest, built for the AI era. Enables developers to build and deploy web applications instantly. Targeted at developers seeking rapid web app deployment infrastructure.
Companies that use Sidequest
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sidequest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sidequest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sidequest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sidequest social profiles
Digital presenceSidequest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sidequest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Sidequest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sidequest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sidequest
What does Sidequest do?
SideQuest operates a community-driven alternative VR app store and sideloading platform for Meta Quest, Pico, and other standalone VR headsets. It enables independent and experimental VR developers to distribute games, mods, and ports to end users via two installer methods—a browser-based Web Installer for in-headset installation and a Desktop App for PC/Mac-based APK/OBB management—and monetizes those developers through a self-serve Ad Manager and featured promotional placements.
Is Sidequest a public or private company?
Sidequest is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sidequest founded?
Sidequest was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sidequest based?
Sidequest is headquartered in Belfast, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sidequest make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are platform Commission / Marketplace and featured App Promotions.
Does Sidequest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sidequest.
What industry is Sidequest in?
Sidequest's product category is VR Content Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAIAJ, Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAE, VR/AR/XR Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 7990.