At the age of nine, Aggelos Ahuja battled a rare autoimmune disease, enduring painful hospital treatments. His father, Sonal Ahuja, introduced him to virtual reality (VR) as a distraction, which helped him cope and inspired him to create his own VR experiences. This led the father-son duo to co-found VRAcademi, a research lab focused on using VR as a creative and educational tool.

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More Than Just a Gaming Institute

While VRAcademi teaches skills like art, game design, and film development, Sonal Ahuja emphasizes that it’s a research lab, not just a gaming institute. It focuses on the “why” behind game mechanics and offers courses in a combination of art, technology, and design. The academy’s curriculum, which was partly designed by Aggelos, is inclusive and caters to a wide range of students, from young children to an 82-year-old and even professionals like architects.

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Inclusivity and the Future of Tech

VRAcademi’s mission extends to providing inclusive learning opportunities, with special programs for children on the Autism spectrum. The founders see VR and AI as dual-use technologies, much like fire, that can be used for immense good if taught and used correctly. For the Ahuja family, the academy is not just a business, but a way to help others find hope and creativity in the digital era.