StageTime

What StageTime does

StageTime, developed and operated by UK-registered Virtuware Ltd. (company number 12528773) from Salford, is a consumer virtual reality social platform launched in January 2025 for Meta Quest headsets, with subsequent availability on Pico. The core product is a venue-based social VR experience where users join open activity-led rooms in under 15 seconds, interact through full-body customizable avatars with spatial audio, lip sync, and hand gestures, and participate in or watch live performances and events including improv, trivia, karaoke, rap battles, dancing, open mic comedy, and language meetups. The technology stack combines Unity-based VR client development on Meta and Pico platforms with a peer-to-peer desktop streaming layer (stream.stagetimevr.com) and a real-time AI voice moderation system layered with human moderators and host controls. Additional product surface includes mini-games (Fit Check, Fortune Step, Glass Bridge), user-created rooms, a 6-character age verification system gating 18+ content, and a recurring slate of professional live VR comedy showcases featuring Dom Hatton-Woods alongside comedians such as Daliso Chaponda and Tony Vino.

The business model is freemium: the app is free to download from Meta Quest and Pico stores, with revenue generated from non-refundable in-app purchases of a proprietary virtual currency (StageBucks) used to buy avatar cosmetics, a monthly VIP/Premium subscription purchased via StageBucks or direct payment, and merchandise sales through an official store. StageTime reaches users through self-serve app-store discovery, a Discord community, and event-driven marketing built around live comedy programming. Target users are VR social participants, performers and aspiring entertainers (comedians, singers, poets), language learners, and VR gamers — all consumer segments with no disclosed enterprise or B2B component. The platform has achieved a Meta Quest Top 50 App ranking with 1,000+ user ratings, operates with a small contributor team of approximately five named individuals, is independently financed with no disclosed venture funding or parent organization, and has released four major product updates within its first eighteen months.

Name

StageTime

Legal name

Virtuware Ltd.

Website

https://stagetimevr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

StageTime is a consumer VR social platform on Meta Quest and Pico that hosts live comedy, karaoke, trivia, and community events with full-body avatars, monetizing through freemium downloads, in-app StageBucks purchases, and a VIP subscription to individual VR users and aspiring performers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Virtual Reality Social Software

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Trade Shows & Expos (Digital Booths, Lead Capture) (MPAGAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual Awards Ceremonies & Competitions (Judging, Voting) (MPAGAOAN)

Keywords

• Virtual reality social
• VR social platform
• Live VR events
• VR entertainment
• Metaverse social experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Salford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. In-App Purchases (StageBucks): Users purchase StageBucks virtual currency to buy avatar cosmetics and other in-app items. StageBucks are non-refundable and can only be used within StageTime to purchase items from Virtuware Ltd. All purchases are final and non-refundable, except where required by law.
2. VIP/Premium Subscription: StageTime offers a VIP/Premium subscription tier as an in-app purchase option alongside cosmetic avatar items. This provides enhanced features and benefits for subscribers.
3. Merchandise Sales: Official StageTime merchandise including apparel, accessories, and more sold through the merch store to support the community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

StageTime is a virtual reality social platform built for Meta Quest and Pico headsets that enables users to participate in live community events (karaoke, improv, trivia, rap battles, comedy shows) and perform on stage using customizable full-body avatars with spatial audio, lip sync, and hand gestures. The platform monetizes through a freemium model offering free base access, an optional VIP/Premium subscription, and in-app purchases of StageBucks virtual currency for avatar cosmetics.

Product overview

StageTime is a single unified VR social platform built for Meta Quest headsets. The core product centers on live social VR experiences — users join venues to watch or perform (singing, comedy, improvisation, trivia, rap battles), interact via full-body avatars with spatial audio and hand tracking, and connect with community members. The platform operates on a freemium model with a free base experience supplemented by a VIP/Premium subscription tier and an internal virtual currency (StageBucks) for purchasing avatar cosmetics. Additional features include mini-games (Fit Check, Fortune Step, Glass Bridge), custom room creation in specific venues (Quip, mini-game rooms), and a comprehensive avatar customization system. An age verification system gates 18+ content and events. The platform hosts regular live comedy events featuring professional comedians from the UK circuit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• StageTime Core VR social platform for Meta Quest and Pico headsets that hosts daily community events (improv, trivia, karaoke, rap battles, comedy shows) and lets users perform on a virtual stage using full-body avatars with spatial audio, lip sync, and hand gestures.
• StageBucks Proprietary in-app virtual currency used by consumers to purchase avatar cosmetics and the VIP/Premium subscription within StageTime. StageBucks are non-refundable and cannot be redeemed for real-world currency or transferred outside the platform.
• VIP/Premium Subscription Recurring paid subscription tier offering enhanced features and benefits within StageTime, purchasable using StageBucks or direct in-app payment for individual VR users seeking premium experience.
• Fit Check Free VR fashion competition mini-game on Meta Quest and Pico where players create themed outfits and compete on a virtual runway, designed for VR gamers and fashion enthusiasts.
• Fortune Step Mini-Game A mini-game within StageTime launched as part of the Hands-on Update in June 2026, allowing users to create custom rooms for the game, available to individual VR players on Meta Quest.
• Glass Bridge Mini-Game A mini-game within StageTime launched as part of the Hands-on Update in June 2026 with user-created custom rooms, targeting individual VR players seeking competitive entertainment.
• Official StageTime Merchandise Official branded apparel, accessories, and merchandise sold through the StageTime merch store to individual fans and community members, with proceeds supporting the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Join others in VR in under 15 seconds
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Virtuware LtdcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVirtuware Ltd (company number 12528773) is the developer and publisher of StageTime. Registered at 6TH Floor Blue, Media City UK, Salford, England. All Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, in-app purchases, and StageBucks are operated by Virtuware Ltd.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Second Life: Long-running avatar-based virtual world with live entertainment, social venues, and virtual goods economy. Comparable to StageTime through its social venue structure, avatar identity, and in-world virtual currency.
• Roblox: Massive user-generated gaming and social platform with virtual currency (Robux), avatar customization, and live events. Comparable to StageTime's freemium social entertainment model and avatar/goods monetization, at vastly greater scale.
• Meta Horizon Worlds: Meta's first-party social VR platform built natively for Quest headsets. Direct competitive overlap with StageTime on social venues and live entertainment, but backed by Meta with no hardware/store fees and integrated distribution advantages StageTime cannot match.

Emerging players

• IMVU: Avatar-based social platform with heavy emphasis on customization, virtual goods (analogous to StageBucks), and creator monetization. Comparable through avatar customization systems, virtual currency, and social entertainment positioning.

Direct peers

• Bigscreen: VR social platform centered on shared viewing experiences and live events. Comparable to StageTime through its event-led social format, desktop streaming integration, and Quest-native distribution.
• AltspaceVR: VR social platform historically focused on live events, comedy shows, and community meetups (acquired by Microsoft, then wound down). Closest historical analog to StageTime's live-event-led social VR model.
• Rec Room: Cross-platform social VR platform with user-generated rooms, mini-games, and live events. Comparable to StageTime on social venues, mini-game mechanics (similar to Fit Check/Fortune Step), and live entertainment programming, with broader cross-platform reach.
• VRChat: The largest social VR platform, offering user-created worlds and avatars with live voice chat, performance spaces, and community events. Directly comparable to StageTime as both target social interaction, live entertainment, and avatar-based self-expression on PC VR and standalone headsets.
• Mozilla Hubs: Browser-based virtual social spaces for events and gatherings. Comparable to StageTime's venue model for live community interaction, though distributed via web rather than VR headsets.

Others

• Manticore Games (Core): Social platform for creating and playing user-generated games with creator monetization. Adjacent to StageTime's mini-game and creator-room directions (Fortune Step, Glass Bridge, custom room creation in Quip).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/stagetimevr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 StageTime