Sandbox VR drives innovation and job creation in Central Hessen and beyond
Virtual reality startup Sandbox VR is opening more locations across Germany, promising job growth and investment.
US-based Sandbox VR offers full-body virtual reality (VR) gaming experiences in retail locations. For its first EU location the company has chosen Alsfeld in Central Hessen. In October 2022 the first entertaining gaming-hall Sandbox VR was opened in Germany. Since 2022 it has attracted more than 10,000 visitors, including international startups and corporations, to its immersive virtual reality experiences, indicating a growing interest in this future-oriented technology.
The company has already invested EUR 1.5 million in Germany, with nearly EUR 1 million going to Alsfeld and another EUR 500,000 to a second location that opened last year in Wiesbaden – the capital of the federal state Hessen.
Over the next three years, Sandbox VR aims to open ten new locations, starting from its base in Alsfeld, with a planned investment of approximately EUR 750,000 per site. In this initial phase of the expansion, the company is searching specifically for 600+ square meters of space in inner-city areas also in South Hessen. This expansion is expected to create around 300 new jobs over all planned new locations.
Sandbox VR’s success is also a testament to the effective use of EU funds, having received substantial support through the LEADER program, which has contributed to its development and regional economic impact. This investment highlights the potential of rural areas to initiate innovative business models and the strategic importance of fostering technology-driven enterprises to boost the local and regional economy.