Blackrhino VR

What Blackrhino VR does

BlackRhino VR is a Nairobi-based extended reality (XR) agency founded in 2015 by Brian Afande (CEO) and Michael Ilako (Co-founder). The firm produces 360-degree video, virtual reality, augmented reality, holography, and visual effects content for a client base spanning corporates, NGOs, development agencies, educational institutions, and government bodies. Disclosed engagements include work for Meta (Jamhuri Tech Summit 2022), Safaricom (360-degree video, 2017), Newcastle University, Henley Business School Africa, TradeMark Africa (EU Development Day 2022), GIZ Rwanda, Women for Women International, Electric South, and Leap Frog Projects, indicating a multi-vertical, multi-geography delivery model across East, West, and Southern Africa as well as Europe.

The company operates a project-based professional services model rather than a SaaS or product-led approach, with revenue generated through commissioned content production, immersive experience design, and XR-related consulting. Headcount is reported in the 1-10 range, though the management roster lists approximately 17 named individuals, implying a broader operational team. The firm maintains a portfolio of sub-brands and initiatives — XR without Borders, The Moran StoryLab, State of the ARt, and OUT Reality (launched 2022) — that double as branded product lines and ecosystem/community platforms within the African XR market.

BlackRhino VR has secured recognition at international festivals including Sheffield Doc/Fest, SXSW, Berlinale, and Cairo International Film Festival, providing reputational validation. In March 2025 the company joined the Spark Accelerator program, a non-equity engagement consistent with continued pursuit of growth capital and ecosystem support. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, or recurring revenue arrangements are disclosed in the available material.

Name

Blackrhino VR

Legal name

BlackRhino VR

Website

https://blackrhinovr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BlackRhino VR is a Nairobi-based XR agency founded in 2015 that produces 360-degree video, VR, AR, holography, and VFX content. It serves corporates, NGOs, educational institutions, and government agencies across Africa and Europe via project-based professional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Extended Reality (XR) Content Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Software Publishers (51321)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time) (MPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

VR/AR/XR Game Studios (MPAFAAAE), Virtual Field Trips & Experiential Learning Environments (Museums, Geography, History) (EDAFAJAG)

Keywords

• Virtual reality production
• Augmented reality development
• Immersive content creation
• Extended reality services
• 360 video production

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. XR Project Services: Project-based professional services creating custom XR content for clients including 360° videos, VR applications, AR experiences, and holographic content. Revenue is generated through fixed-price project engagements with organizations.
2. Equipment Rental: Hardware rental supporting a wide array of client needs from companies, individuals and institutions facilitating their transition to the digital and post-digital age. Provides creative and technical solutions for XR needs.
3. Training & Education Programs: The Moran StoryLab provides free VR and 360 video production training to women from film-centered ecosystems. While the program is free for participants, it generates value through skill development and community building.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BlackRhino VR is an extended reality (XR) technology agency that produces custom Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 360° video, holographic, VFX, animation, and metaverse world-building content for enterprise clients. The company operates as a project-based professional services firm, delivering end-to-end immersive content production for NGOs, government agencies, educational institutions, and corporations across Africa.

Product overview

BlackRhino VR is an eXtended Reality technology company specializing in Virtual and Augmented Reality content and solutions adaptable and relevant to the African market. Founded in 2015, the company offers a comprehensive suite of XR services including 360 Videos, 360 Live Streaming, Virtual Reality application development, Augmented Reality, Holograms (using HYPERVSN blades and Dreamoc displays), VFX & Animation, World Building for metaverse platforms, Experiential activations, and Equipment Hire. The company also operates social impact initiatives including XR without Borders (non-profit), The Moran StoryLab (VR Training Center for women), State of the ARt (Goethe Institut joint initiative), and OUT Reality (art-technology lab and exhibition space). Projects span 360-degree documentaries, VR films, AR experiences for corporate clients, and immersive metaverse environments built for platforms like Altspace VR and Neos VR.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XR without Borders: Non-profit organization bringing together XR professionals, artists, technologists, filmmakers, designers, and policy makers with a shared vision of transforming children's lives and underserved groups in Africa through XR.
• The Moran StoryLab
• State of the ARt
• OUT Reality

Products and services

• 360 Videos Full-service production of 360-degree VR video content incorporating traditional storytelling elements, including stitching, color correction/grading, 360 motion graphics, editorial work, sound mixing, and final delivery formats. Targeted at enterprise, NGO, and institutional clients.
• 360 Live Streaming End-to-end 360-degree live streaming solution for capturing and delivering live and on-demand virtual reality experiences with real-time multi-camera editing and multiple viewing perspectives for audiences.
• Virtual Reality Application Development Custom VR application development using a wide range of frameworks suitable for different head-mounted display units, including Metaverse world building with expressive avatars, spatial sound, and immersive virtual environments.
• Augmented Reality Application Development Custom AR app development focused on engaging on-the-go consumers with augmented reality applications, including triggered AR, non-triggered AR, and AR poster solutions for enterprise and brand clients.
• Holograms Holographic content production and display solutions using HYPERVSN blades, Dreamoc displays, and volumetric capture to create unique brand elevation experiences for clients.
• VFX & Animation Production pipeline for VFX, animation, and motion graphics using state-of-the-art software and hardware to bring creative visions to life for film, advertising, and immersive projects.
• World Building Creation of interactive virtual worlds for artists, creators, brands, and businesses exploring the Metaverse, including expressive avatars, spatial sound, and immersive virtual environments built on platforms such as Altspace VR and Neos VR.
• Experiential Creative showcase and distribution of immersive experiences and solutions working closely with organisations to deliver experiential activations, exhibitions, and live XR events.
• Equipment Hire Hardware rental of XR equipment supporting a wide array of client needs from companies, individuals, and institutions, providing creative and technical solutions for transitioning to the digital age.

Quantifiable outcome

• Le Lac VR film won Best Digital Narrative at Sheffield Doc/Fest
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• MetamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Meta requested BlackRhino VR to design and build a pragmatic use case of the Metaverse for the Jamhuri Tech and Innovation Summit 2022. BlackRhino created an avatar of President of Kenya in a simulated 3D environment where he engaged in a meeting with Meta representatives in the Metaverse. This demonstrates Meta's recognition of BlackRhino's XR capabilities.
• Women for Women InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Produced 360° video 'Women for Women' (2022) telling the story of Dada from Bauchi, Nigeria. The 8-minute immersive video shows how women are arming themselves with skills and knowledge to rebuild their lives and support their families.
• TradeMark AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TradeMark Africa (TMA) engaged BlackRhino VR to create non-triggered AR for European Development Day 2022 in Brussels. The AR tool facilitated an immersive customer experience journey for delegates at the expo showcasing the TLIP project.
• Henley Business School AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-created proposal with Henley Business School for Nedbank CIB Graduate Development programme. BlackRhino created a virtual immersion for students to meet key industry stakeholders in Kenya using VR HMDs in a simulated 3D environment (Altspace VR).
• GIZ RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020GIZ Rwanda (under DSSD - Digital Solutions for Sustainable Development) engaged BlackRhino VR to create AR posters with superimposed audio-visual information for International Gender Week 2020. The AR posters raised awareness around sexual harassment in the workplace.
• SafaricomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Safaricom, Kenya's largest telecommunications provider with over 42 million customers, engaged BlackRhino VR to create an immersive 360° video showcasing the future of Safaricom inspired by IOT, cashless payments, and EdTech. The 4-minute video was created in 2017.
• TradeMark AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTradeMark East Africa (now TradeMark Africa) commissioned a 360° film on the impact of Covid-19 on cross-border trade. The film documented how RECDTs and PPE delivery at the Busia One Stop Border Post improves trade operations.
• Electric SouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing co-production agreement with Electric South spanning multiple years. BlackRhino provided VR thought leadership at annual Electric South lab and co-produced 'Le Lac' which won Best Digital Narrative at Sheffield Doc/Fest. Electric South is described as regularly engaging the BlackRhino team at international festivals and conferences.
• Newcastle UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewcastle University engaged BlackRhino VR for VR productions in emergency camp contexts with refugee women. BlackRhino demonstrated 'exceptional intercultural sensitivity' and provided extra training to refugee women who have historically been excluded from technological training. Also led workshops at Kenyatta University.
• Leap Frog ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeap Frog Projects engaged BlackRhino VR to develop the 'Remote Ethnography' concept - allowing companies to conduct ethnography remotely through 360 video and VR technology. BlackRhino provided 360 video and VR services showcased in a final promo film.
• Goethe InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative 'State of the ARt' between Goethe Institut and BlackRhino VR. The project deploys AR/VR technologies in a learning and experimental context by exposing artists to new art formats resulting in an XR showcase exhibition.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Inition: London-based XR agency founded in 2001 offering VR, AR, holographic, and immersive experience services across enterprise, government, and creative agency clients. Highly comparable end-to-end XR production model.
• Magnopus: Los Angeles-based immersive content studio producing VR/AR experiences, virtual production, and metaverse environments for entertainment and enterprise clients.
• REWIND: UK-based immersive content studio specializing in VR, AR, and mixed reality experiences for major brands. Similar end-to-end XR production services and brand-focused client base.
• Emblematic Group: US-based VR content studio producing immersive journalism, documentary, and branded VR experiences. Comparable in social-impact-driven VR storytelling and documentary focus.
• Electric South: African XR content lab and co-production partner that has collaborated with BlackRhino on multiple award-winning projects. Directly comparable in African XR content production and immersive storytelling.
• Trigger XR: UK-based XR experience agency formerly known as Trigger, producing immersive VR/AR activations for brands and entertainment. Similar project-based services model for global brands.
• Deeplocal: Pittsburgh-based innovation studio building immersive brand experiences using AR, VR, and emerging technology. Similar mix of technology innovation and creative storytelling.
• Here Be Dragons: US-based VR/AR content studio (formerly VRse Works) producing award-winning immersive experiences and branded VR content. Comparable creative-led XR content agency.
• UNIT9: Global immersive experience agency producing interactive AR/VR installations, branded experiences, and experiential content for major brands. Similar services portfolio and creative agency model.
• Felix & Paul Studios: Montreal-based immersive content studio specializing in award-winning VR documentaries and 360° storytelling — extremely comparable to BlackRhino's VR documentary work like Le Lac.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackrhinovr
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackrhinovr
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackrhinovr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackrhino-vr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blackrhino VR