ObEN nabs $7.7M Series A as it looks to build a more human VR avatar

When you're in virtual reality and start associating your limb and head movements with your onscreen avatar, that digital recreation really becomes an extension of who you are. ObEN is a startup launching out of HTC's new Vive X accelerator that is hoping to craft a more complete digital version of its users so that they can be drawn deeper into VR immersive experiences. The startup uses AI to recreate a user's face photo-realistically in 3D based on nothing more than a selfie, while also capturing the tone and intonation of a user's voice based on just a little voice recording. Today, the company is announcing $7.7 million in Series A funding led by CrestValue Capital and other Chinese investing partners. ObEN is looking to use the funds to build its team and scale its product a bit. A big problem with avatars in VR and video games more broadly relates to a problem called the "uncanny valley," a term that refers to when a digital human avatar ends up appearing really unsettling because its realistic, but just not quite familiar enough.