Ep. 108: Designing the Test Flight of VR—with Orla Harris of SideQuest

The Boost VC Podcast

Orla Harris is the Cofounder and COO of SideQuest VR, an early-access testing platform for virtual reality with headquarters in Northern Ireland. Orla and her team provide tools that enable developers to grow a community around their app and solicit feedback from users in the early stages of development. Prior to SideQuest, Orla spent eight years working as a project manager in the construction industry and dabbling in virtual reality as a hobby.

On this episode of Boost VC, Orla joins us to share the origin story of SideQuest VR, explaining how it evolved from side project to startup and when she finally realized it was a business. She describes what it’s like to found a tech company in Ireland, discussing how SideQuest built a network of VCs beyond the borders of her home country and why she’s optimistic about the startup’s continued growth. Listen in for insight on the openness unique to the virtual reality developer community and get Orla’s perspective on what is special about the industry at this particular moment in time!

Topics Covered

The idea behind SideQuest VR

• Enables developers to test product with consumers
• Third-party app store for Quest, other VR devices

The origin story of SideQuest VR

• Developed app, declined by Oculus (no reason given)
• Create place for users to sideload and give feedback

Orla’s take on the VR developer community

• Unique in willingness to help each other out
• Openness feels different from other experiences

What’s driving the success of SideQuest VR

• Still in honeymoon phase (growing every day)
• Positive results, can’t help but be optimistic

How Orla thinks about where VR is as an industry

• 2020 = transformative year
• Informed by release of Quest 2 and pandemic

What it’s like to build a tech startup in Ireland

• Daunting to look for investors beyond home country
• Part of accelerator in Ireland that propelled to Boost

Orla’s advice for founders on networking with VCs

• Find person with connections, ask for introductions
• One connection can change everything

When Orla realized SideQuest was an actual business

• Cofounder proposed quitting jobs
• Decision based on site analytics, talking to VCs

What is special about VR right now

• Small developer pool but large user pool
• Users starved for content

Orla’s insight on the growth of SideQuest VR

• Apps submitted to platform every day
• Android mobile developers pivoting to VR

Orla’s definition of success

• Wake up every morning feeling content
• Clarity of mind, no stress or worry

Connect with Orla

SideQuest VR https://sidequestvr.com/

SideQuest on Twitter https://twitter.com/SideQuestVR

SideQuest on Discord https://discord.com/invite/r38T5rR

SideQuest on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/sidequest

SideQuest on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/SideQuestVR

SideQuest on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidequestvr/

Orla on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlaharris/

Resources

Oculus Quest https://www.oculus.com/quest/

Oculus Quest 2 https://www.oculus.com/quest-2/

Facebook’s Developer Revenue Update https://uploadvr.com/oculus-quest-revenue-update/

Steam https://store.steampowered.com/vr/

Doodle Jump https://doodlejumpgame.com/

Connect with Boost VC

Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/

Topics Covered

The idea behind SideQuest VR

• Enables developers to test product with consumers
• Third-party app store for Quest, other VR devices

The origin story of SideQuest VR

• Developed app, declined by Oculus (no reason given)
• Create place for users to sideload and give feedback

Orla’s take on the VR developer community

• Unique in willingness to help each other out
• Openness feels different from other experiences

What’s driving the success of SideQuest VR

• Still in honeymoon phase (growing every day)
• Positive results, can’t help but be optimistic

How Orla thinks about where VR is as an industry

• 2020 = transformative year
• Informed by release of Quest 2 and pandemic

What it’s like to build a tech startup in Ireland

• Daunting to look for investors beyond home country
• Part of accelerator in Ireland that propelled to Boost

Orla’s advice for founders on networking with VCs

• Find person with connections, ask for introductions
• One connection can change everything

When Orla realized SideQuest was an actual business

• Cofounder proposed quitting jobs
• Decision based on site analytics, talking to VCs

What is special about VR right now

• Small developer pool but large user pool
• Users starved for content

Orla’s insight on the growth of SideQuest VR

• Apps submitted to platform every day
• Android mobile developers pivoting to VR

Orla’s definition of success

• Wake up every morning feeling content
• Clarity of mind, no stress or worry