Web & VR Experiences
Bringing VR to the web
Project overview
In an attempt to capitalize on the explosion of AI, I left my full-time position at DealMaker to try creating my own startup. I built Holopage, a no-code VR website builder.
Over the course of a year, I designed the product, built it, and iterated with help from online VR communities.
I grew the product to over 100 users; however, I wasn’t able to justify continuing full-time based on how little revenue it was generating.
Challenge
Most VR websites followed the “digital twin” trend—replicating physical spaces like stores in 3D. These experiences were often clunky and worse than traditional sites.
With VR hardware advancing quickly, I saw an opportunity to build tools that leveraged spatial design to create something better—not just different.
Objective
Build a tool for creating VR websites that feel like a true step forward—not a gimmick.
Constraints
Web-based VR needs to support a wide range of devices, input methods, and browser limitations—on top of the usual complexity of VR development.
Process
This was a year-long solo build. Much of the early work focused on research and technical prototypes to validate feasibility.
Discover
I explored the landscape of VR websites, built early concepts, and gathered feedback through online communities and one-on-one interviews.
Define
Rather than copying the “VR store” trend, I focused on a new format: traditional websites enhanced by 3D space. This meant rethinking layouts in a way that felt intuitive yet unique.
Develop
The platform was designed to feel familiar to users of tools like WordPress or Framer. As the sole designer and developer, I had to make practical trade-offs to keep things shippable.
Deliver
Once the first version was live, I shared it widely, collected user feedback, and refined the roadmap to prioritize the most requested features and fixes.
Solution
While building the product, I had to balance the feature set with usability, development complexity, and performance. As I learned more about the underlying technologies, I adjusted my designs to take advantage of new opportunities and overcome limitations.
Results
Although Holopage didn’t become the billion-dollar “WordPress of VR” I hoped for, it was a great learning experience. I'm proud it saw real use—and perhaps its best days are still ahead.
Scaled to 100 users
I got over 100 users to try the product by sharing my work and participating in VR communities.
Hands-on learning
Although I’ve been programming for over 15 years, I typically avoided web development. This was my first major web app—and I learned a lot from it.
Validating interest
Not all positive feedback converts into paying customers. This project sharpened my instincts for reading between the lines and spotting true market fit.