What LIGHTSHAPE does

LIGHTSHAPE is a Stuttgart-based digital agency founded in 2007 that builds custom Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, WebGL, and CGI 3D visualization solutions for enterprise clients. The company's core technology stack spans VR/AR application development, browser-based 3D Internet experiences, photorealistic CGI product visualization, and proprietary VR collaboration software called HCC (Holodeck Control Center), which enables multi-user, multi-location design reviews and virtual meetings with features such as spatial audio, object slicing, variant switching, and an SDK for client-specific customization. LIGHTSHAPE delivers end-to-end project engagements covering concept development, CAD data processing, 3D modeling, rendering, software implementation, and deployment for installations such as Audi's Engineering Holodeck, VR training environments, AR marketing apps, and digital twin simulations.

The company operates a professional services and licensing model, generating revenue from custom VR/AR/3D project fees, HCC software licensing for enterprise installations, and one-time AR application licenses (e.g., EUR 4,280 net for a basic native AR app). GTM is sales-led with direct enterprise engagement across the DACH region. Primary customer verticals are automotive (Porsche, Audi, Daimler Truck, Mercedes-Benz, IAV) and mechanical engineering / industrial manufacturing (Siemens, John Deere, Groz-Beckert, Harro Höfliger, Braunform), with secondary exposure to tourism, public sector, education, and medical technology. The customer base includes both commercial enterprises and government entities (e.g., Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, Stadt Wien).

LIGHTSHAPE is structured as a private partnership (Lightshape GmbH & Co. KG) with 11-50 employees, self-funded since founding with no disclosed venture capital or institutional investors. The company holds multiple industry recognitions including the Deutscher Digital Award, Red Dot Award (2016), Automotive Brand Contest Best of the Best (2016), and World Media Festival Intermedia Globe Silver (2017), and maintains partnerships with Deutsche Telekom (TechBoost), Fraunhofer IAO, IBA'27 Stuttgart, and Bitkom.

Name

LIGHTSHAPE

Legal name

Lightshape GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://lightshape.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LIGHTSHAPE is a Stuttgart-based agency founded in 2007 that develops custom VR, AR, WebGL, and CGI 3D visualization solutions for enterprise clients in automotive, industrial manufacturing, tourism, and public sectors, anchored by proprietary HCC VR collaboration software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom VR/AR/3D Visualization Projects: Project-based custom development of VR applications, AR experiences, and 3D visualizations for enterprise clients. Engagements include concept development, content creation, software development, and implementation services.
2. Software Licensing and Platform Access: Licensing of proprietary VR software HCC (Holodeck Control Center) for enterprise installations, including hardware setup and ongoing support.
3. AR Application Development: Development of AR applications for marketing, sales support, and employee training, with base pricing for standard configurations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LIGHTSHAPE is a digital agency that designs, develops, and delivers custom Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and 3D Visualization (CGI / WebGL) experiences for enterprise clients. Offerings include proprietary VR collaboration software (HCC – Holodeck Control Center) for multi-user design reviews, VR training and recruiting applications, AR marketing and tourism apps, photorealistic 3D product visualizations, and integrated Digital Showroom solutions linking VR, AR, and WebGL.

Product overview

LIGHTSHAPE is a Stuttgart-based agency founded in 2007 specializing in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and 3D Visualization (CGI). The company operates its proprietary Holodeck Control Center (HCC) software for VR collaboration and design reviews. Their Digital Product Experience offering combines VR, AR, 3D Internet (WebGL), and CGI visualization into integrated solutions. Service portfolio includes VR training, VR recruiting, AR marketing applications, 3D visualization, WebGL experiences, and digital showrooms for industries including Automotive, mechanical engineering, medical technology, tourism, and public projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Holodeck Control Center (HCC) LIGHTSHAPE's proprietary VR collaboration software enabling multi-user, multi-location design reviews, virtual meetings, and events. Features include 3D spatial audio, avatars, flashlight, laserpointer, documentation and comments, object slicer, variant switching, and group teleportation for teams; SDK enabled for customized functions. Licensed for enterprise installations with hardware setup and ongoing support.
• VR Training Solutions Virtual reality training solutions that prepare people for dangerous situations, emergencies, and critical work environments, with gamification for faster and better learning outcomes. Used for firefighter training, machine maintenance, assembly, and caregiver training.
• AR Applications Augmented reality applications for sales, marketing, city/tourism experiences, and employee training. Includes native iOS/Android AR apps with branding, product 3D models, marker-based or free object placement, standard menu, AR screenshot, and social sharing; priced from 4,280 EUR net plus model preparation.
• 3D Visualization / CGI Computer-generated imagery and 3D product visualization services for websites, print media, posters, animations, and AR/VR applications. Complete CGI pipeline from CAD data processing through 3D modeling, shading, lighting, rendering, and compositing for photorealistic product visualization.
• WebGL / 3D Internet Browser-based 3D experiences using WebGL technology, allowing interactive product showcases without requiring app downloads or plugins. Used for browser-based configurators, product showcases, and interactive digital experiences.
• Digital Showroom Digital product experiences combining real and digital space for comprehensive product portfolio presentation, powered by cross-media connection of VR, AR, and 3D technologies (WebGL/CGI). Enables immersive product experiences accessible across devices.
• Virtual Reality (VR) Applications Full-service VR solutions including VR applications for internal/external communication, VR training, marketing experiences, design reviews, virtual events, and mixed reality applications, including Engineering Holodeck installations for collaborative design review and multi-user VR collaboration.
• VR Recruiting VR-based recruitment solutions allowing applicants to experience workplaces, teams, and company culture before joining, creating memorable experiences for talent acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost reduction: Multi-user VR meeting at 30,000 EUR initial (hardware for 3 users) replaces 200,000 EUR annual business travel for 5 engineers attending 20 meetings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IBA'27 (Internationale Bauausstellung 2027 StadtRegion Stuttgart)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIGHTSHAPE is part of the IBA'27 network, which is the International Building Exhibition 2027 for the Stuttgart region. LIGHTSHAPE created a virtual exhibition for the Backnang West quarter competition and is building a future XR platform for the organization.
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation (IAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for the Exohaptik project developing VR multi-user training for caregivers with exoskeleton force feedback. Fraunhofer IAO provides research expertise and academic validation for the training solution.
• C4 BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the virtual time machine project at Museumsinsel Schloss Gottorf. C4 Berlin contributed to the development of the 360-degree panorama-based experience.
• LavalabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the ITFS Wall of Animation project. Lavalabs developed, modeled, and textured 3D assets while LIGHTSHAPE developed the AR application.
• United Digital Group (UDG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Porsche 911 Web Special project. UDG provided the concept and digital strategy while LIGHTSHAPE delivered the WebGL implementation.
• BHS Corrugated / ÜBZOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create a digital twin of the BHS Corrugated assembly hall in VR for training purposes at the ÜBZO training center.
• RaumweltenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped virtual get-together platform with exhibition for the Raumwelten annual event, creating a digital version of their Lichtwolke pavilion.
• ITS (Infoturm Stuttgart)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for InfoTurm Stuttgart exhibition project, providing CAVE VR installation for visualizing the Stuttgart 21 railway project.
• BitkomminorOthersLIGHTSHAPE is a member of Bitkom (German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media). The association advocates for digitalization of economy, society and administration and represents over 2700 companies in the digital economy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Innoactive: Munich-based XR platform provider for enterprise training and collaboration. Comparable enterprise VR/AR training offering, overlapping customer profile in industrial and automotive.
• Holo-Light: German XR software company focused on industrial AR/VR visualization and engineering workflows. Direct comparable: proprietary XR tooling (Holo-Light's engineering clients overlap with LIGHTSHAPE's mechanical engineering/industrial manufacturing segment).
• Xtend: Israeli XR software company focused on industrial and defense applications. Comparable enterprise VR/AR training and operations solutions for industrial customers.
• VRdirect: Munich-based VR platform company offering self-service VR creation for enterprise training and marketing. Comparable enterprise VR use cases and DACH market.
• The Boundary: UK-based premium CGI and real-time 3D visualization studio serving automotive and luxury brands. Comparable high-end CGI/3D visualization service offering for enterprise marketing and product experience.
• Reactive Reality: Austrian/German 3D and AR company specializing in photorealistic 3D visualization for retail, fashion, and product marketing. Comparable CGI/3D-to-AR pipeline and enterprise marketing use cases.
• TriCAT: German VR/AR training and simulation software company with strong footprint in defense, public safety, and industrial training. Directly comparable VR training use cases and DACH-region enterprise focus.

Broad incumbents

• Mackevision (now part of Accenture Song): Stuttgart-based CGI and 3D visualization studio (acquired by Accenture) with a comparable automotive client base (Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes). Directly comparable CGI/3D product visualization services, but operating as part of a global consulting powerhouse with vastly greater resources.
• Dassault Systèmes (3DEXCITE): Enterprise 3D/VR marketing and configuration suite from Dassault Systèmes, serving automotive marketing and product experience at global scale. Comparable CGI-based product visualization and digital showroom capability.

Emerging players

• Spatial: US-based immersive collaboration platform for multi-user VR/AR meetings. Adjacent competitor to LIGHTSHAPE's HCC multi-user VR collaboration offering; more venture-funded but broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lightshapegmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 LIGHTSHAPE