WELCOME TO THE CHICAGO CHAPTER OF THE GLOBAL ASSOCIATION FOR VR AND AR

Chicago is a world-class city that is home to multiple thriving industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, advertising, higher education, entertainment, construction, and retail.  It is the ideal backdrop for VR, AR, and immersive technology firms to create, refine and market their solutions.  All these potential customers are combining with the entrepreneurial spirit of Chicago’s tech community, and industry leading incubator 1871 to build Chicago into a powerful hub of VR/AR innovation and opportunity.

VRARA Chicago is committed to working with its members and representatives from outside industry to grow the VR/AR ecosystem in the city.  VRARA is an opportunity for members to network with peers and business leaders to gain access and visibility for the innovative VR/AR solutions they are building.  By building this local connection with the local business community, VRARA Chicago seeks to establish Chicago as a worldwide home for VR/AR thought leadership and technology. 

See all Membership benefits here

UPCOMING EVENTS

See all events here 

FEATURED EVENTS

NEWS

FEATURED MEMBERS

THE TEAM

Chapter President: Ed Haravon ed@thevrara.com

Ed Haravon is Co-Founder of Get Real, an advisory firm dedicated to helping businesses and not-for-profits imagine how VR, AR, and Immersive Storytelling technologies can foster greater productivity and increased connection among employees, customers, and key stakeholders.  

Ed is an entrepreneur and leader, with a passion for applying emerging technologies to solve real-world business problems.  Ed began his career in capital markets as a trader and joined Spot Trading in 2002.  During his career he has been a leading voice within the finance industry, participating as a moderator and a panelist for leading industry organizations including FIA, OIC, and SIFMA.  He has also lectured on the transformative effect of technology on financial markets to hundreds of future professionals via partnerships with Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and other Chicago-based institutions.  

While at Spot, Ed was integral in developing and driving an industry-leading education and development team that was the envy of its peers.  He also was the business liaison to Spot’s proprietary trading and infrastructure teams which built a network able to process nearly ten million market data messages per second.  

Ed’s interest in emerging technology led him to join Peak 6 Investments, where he helped to lead the building of Apex Crypto, a leader in providing backend cryptocurrency execution, clearing, and custody solutions to broker dealers for the benefit of their retail customers.  

Having successfully navigated the technological advances that drove the evolution of the financial markets, Ed sees great similarities today with the potential for AR/VR to transform businesses.   Get Real’s clients will have the benefit of over 20 years of experience in leveraging trends in technology and adapting them in a systematic, sustainable way.  

Outside of industry, Ed has been a three-year Co-Chair of the Midwest Committee of Hearts for Help for Children, a global foundation committed to the prevention and treatment of child abuse.  When not at work, Ed enjoys keeping up with the activities of his four children and going to see live music with his friends.