Welp MagazineWhether for a fun day out or for the business of amusement, the parks and arcades have long been a great way for people to spend time. They are also the best places for livening up a dull weekend. In the first half of the 20th century, the era of modern themeparks began in the United States, when the first theme park opened. Over the course of the past 70 years, the arcades have evolved from traditional one-way attractions to more complex themes and interactive entertainment. Today, progress in technology and demands for more entertainment have made amusement parks and arcades great destinations for families and friends, as well as profitable entertainment businesses.
By 2020, the global market for the amusement and theme park industry is expected to have reached US$200 billion. Worldwide, there are more than 5,000 amusement and theme parks in the industry. The world’s second-largest amusement and theme park company by attendance is Walibi Switzerland, with approximately 3.4 million visitors in 2011. According to Merritt Research Services, the global arcade industry generates more than US$12 billion in revenue each year.
The combination of unique child-friendly entertainment, an industry whose origins date back before the dawn of the 20th century, and the growing popularity of gaming makes amusement parks and arcades an excellent space for startups. Through the streamlined gameplay, easy-to-understand narratives and interactive experiences, amusement parks and arcades have appealed to children and families for decades, and will continue to do so well into the present and future.
In this guide, we’ve collected some of the top amusement and theme park and arcade startups right now. We’ve included some of the most popular companies in the space, providing an introduction to the existing companies that are a must to be aware of right now. We have also included some of the more creative startups, which are bringing new ideas to the amusement and theme park and arcade industry.
1. Surrogate.tv
The idea behind this startup: The remote control online gaming company.
Headquarters: Espoo, Southern Finland, Finland
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Casual Games, Gaming, Online Games, Robotics, Video Games, Video Streaming, Virtual Reality
Founders: Esko Vähämäki, Severi Tikkala, Shane Henrik Allen, Stanislav Dmitriev
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2. Immotion Group plc
The idea behind this startup: Immotion combine award-winning content & multi-directional motion platforms to deliver immersive VR solutions for high-traffic destinations.
Headquarters: Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Animation, Digital Entertainment, Education, Edutainment, Leisure, Media and Entertainment, Simulation, Virtual Reality
Founders: David Marks, Martin Higginson
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3. Redeam
The idea behind this startup: The leading global SaaS solution and connectivity stack for the Experiences Marketplace
Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Developer APIs, Internet, Mobile Devices, Museums and Historical Sites, SaaS, Software, Tour Operator, Tourism
Founders: Alex Kremer, Kevin Mclaughlin, Leith Stevens, Nathan Probst
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4. ARena Space
The idea behind this startup: ARena Space is a chain of entertainment digital parks based on interactive technologies.
Headquarters: Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Augmented Reality, Content Delivery Network, Developer Platform, Gaming, Virtual Reality
Founders: Vasily Ryzhonkov
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5. Oxygen Freejumping
The idea behind this startup: Oxygen Freejumping Trampoline Parks – the UK’s No.1 trampoline park operator!
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade
Founders: Unknown
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6. Perceptoscope, A Public Benefit Corporation
The idea behind this startup: Perceptoscope brings immersive storytelling to everyday people through augmented reality “coin-operated” binoculars.
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Architecture, Augmented Reality, Museums and Historical Sites, Virtual Reality
Founders: Ben Sax
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7. Enversed
The idea behind this startup: Enversed is a VR company that builds VR Centers and multiplayer VR experiences for gaming, training and education.
Headquarters: Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Augmented Reality, Video Games, Virtual Reality
Founders: Jurgen Van der Vlist
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8. Innovation Station
The idea behind this startup: An awe-inspiring, immersive Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) attraction for visitors of all ages.
Headquarters: Valley Springs, California, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Events, Media and Entertainment, STEM Education
Founders: Brian Fitzgerald, Trisha Fitzgerald
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9. Veridea SA
The idea behind this startup: We help startups in the USA to hire talent in Poland. We handle recruiting, administration, and help companies to get employment grants.
Headquarters: Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Digital Entertainment, Gaming, PC Games, Video Games, Virtual Reality
Founders: Adam Olejniczak
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10. Wawa Games
The idea behind this startup: Indonesia’s first live gaming arcade app, positioned to disrupt the family entertainment industry with a revolutionary IoT-enabled platform.
Headquarters: Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Casual Games, Digital Entertainment, Internet of Things, Online Games, Video Streaming
Founders: Andrew Lindungan, Andryan Gouw
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11. Virtualities
The idea behind this startup: Virtualities is a virtual reality arcade and cinema located with locations in Salt Lake City and Layton UT.
Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Video Games, Virtual Reality
Founders: Ryan Burningham
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12. Arcis Golf
The idea behind this startup: Arcis Golf owns and operates golf facilities.
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Leisure, Media and Entertainment, Recreation, Sports
Founders: Unknown
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13. Faundit
The idea behind this startup: Reuniting Hospitality guests with lost properties
Headquarters: Aarhus, Midtjylland, Denmark
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Hospitality, Rental Property, Resorts, Vacation Rental
Founders: Unknown
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14. Los Virtuality – Virtual Reality Gaming Center
The idea behind this startup: VR arcade and VR rental service. Talk to us about your conference, exhibit, team building, birthday party or personal needs.
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Corporate Training, Events, Family, Gaming, Hardware, Media and Entertainment, Rental, Video Games, Virtual Reality
Founders: Unknown
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15. MiroWin studios
The idea behind this startup: VR developing studio
Headquarters: Dnipropetrovsk, Dnipropetrovs’ka Oblast’, Ukraine
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Gaming, Video Games, Virtual Reality
Founders: Vladimir Kozinyi
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16. Virtual World Arcade, LLC
The idea behind this startup: Virtual World Arcades bring a variety of virtual reality experiences together for your enjoyment with friends
Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Gaming, Virtual Reality
Founders: Jeremy Lam
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17. Urban Planet
The idea behind this startup: Urban Planet builds custom-made leisure and adventure parks.
Headquarters: Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Industries: Adventure Travel, Amusement Park and Arcade
Founders: Unknown
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18. Boxblaster VR
The idea behind this startup: Virtual Reality Attraction – Thrilling Family Fun
Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Media and Entertainment, Virtual Reality
Founders: Unknown
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19. Emotional Ideas
The idea behind this startup: Amusement technology company with a mission to create innovative ideas and amusement technology concepts that enhance a customers experience
Headquarters: Unknown
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Augmented Reality, eSports, Gamification, Hardware, Software, Virtual Reality
Founders: Joshua Nelson
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20. Once Upon A Time Theme Park
The idea behind this startup: Once Upon a Time Theme Park is where children not only have a fun place to explore and see but one where they can learn.
Headquarters: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Recreation, Virtual World
Founders: Unknown
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21. Park Adventures Group Corp.
The idea behind this startup: Develop and manage location based venues under our own IP branding. Adventure park developers.
Headquarters: Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade
Founders: Unknown
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22. Ventura Park
The idea behind this startup: Cancun’s Newest Oceanfront Amusement Park! Ventura Park is a family amusement park with fun for everyone.
Headquarters: Unknown
Industries: Amusement Park and Arcade, Parks, Tourism, Travel
Founders: Unknown
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