Popla Media: How ACE IT helped us develop ground-breaking solutions

Popla Media are idea generators and content creators that help clients to tell their story, raise awareness and change behaviours. Founded by Rob Vincent and Claire Vincent, Popla Media love to come up with ideas that harness the storytelling and emotional power of film. photography and immersive media.

Alexandra Rodriguez-Cifre (University of the Arts London) spoke to the founders about their journey through the ACE IT project.

‍Hi Rob and Claire! Can you tell us more about Popla Media?

We work with agencies, global brands, artists, charities, and clients in the public sector, and we love to come up with ideas that humanise mission statements, bring values to life and enable our clients to explain themselves in ways that are memorable, thoughtful and engaging.

We’re particularly interested working with people and organisations who make an impact in the public sphere, make a difference to people’s lives, and are a force for good.

Why did you decide to join ACE IT? What sort of support were you looking for?

We started to work with immersive media a few years ago when we made an award-winning 360 film, The Winter Garden, with Turner Prize-winning artists, Assemble. We wanted to build on this success, so started to explore other ways of using immersive technology creatively – ACE IT was able to offer us expert training and support in this area.

Popla Media's award winning 360° film, Winter Garden.

We particularly needed technical help around understanding how to bring our creative ideas to life using immersive technology, as well as help with getting our projects to a prototype stage.

As we’re based in London, it’s been very beneficial to have the ACE IT team on our doorstep. We’ve also been able to meet and make connections with other creative SMEs working in the capital.

"The team are very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable"

‍What has your experience of working on ACE IT been like so far?

We’ve really enjoyed our journey with ACE IT - the team are very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. We’ve attended a number of training days that have given us great insight into the industry, as well as advice on how to get funding so we can get our project up and running.

We've also met so many wonderful, creative people, and have been able to discuss and explore our ideas.

‍How has ACE IT been able to help Popla Media so far?

ACE IT has provided us with very useful training in understanding the immersive tech industry, and will be providing us with technical support too.

The team have helped us to realise the potential of our ideas, enabling us to focus and produce a solid plan for our project. They’re now working with us to produce our prototype and explore areas of immersive technology that we haven’t worked with before.

‍How do you think your business has benefitted from working with ACE IT?

ACE IT has a huge amount of resources, as well as creative and technical people who can help us explore the possibilities of working creatively in the creative tech area.

This kind of collaboration has been really important to us because it’s helped us to develop and expand our creativity, as well as the services we can offer. It also helps to make our business more sustainable for the future, which is so beneficial for SMEs.

‍Would you encourage other start-ups and SMEs to join the project?

Yes – especially if you’re a creative company who wants to explore what’s possible within the field of immersive tech.

‍Get involved

If you represent a London-based start-up, micro-enterprise or SME, you could be eligible to join the ACE IT project and receive free, expert support to make your immersive tech ideas a reality. Found out more about the upcoming ACE IT cohort here.