The XR industry might have its major strongholds on the West Coast, but if you look towards the East, the MIT Reality Hack hackathon is creating quite the buzz among XR developers and entrepreneurs. Now in its eighth year, this event has grown to not only include a hackathon but also the EXPERIENTIAL Conference, offering fresh avenues for industry conversations and networking. Executive Director Maria Rice takes us through this year’s highlights and introduces us to the winners.
One of the standout aspects of this year’s MIT Reality Hack was the impressive assortment of new hardware kits introduced, showcasing technologies like AR lenses from Maradin, a haptic exoskeleton by Haptikos, and a variety of neurosensing devices from OpenBCI, including the Galea biosensing headset. These tools were all part of the participants’ arsenal as they pushed their hacking skills to the max over the course of five exhilarating days, culminating in the creation of 78 cutting-edge solutions in XR and related tech.
The event was powered by an array of international sponsors, bringing together key players from XR, AI, and deeptech sectors. Industries supplied resources like the Meta Quest 3, Snap Spectacles, Qualcomm’s RB3g2 robotics kits, ShapesXR, Cognitive 3D, and STYLY, with AI enhancements from Lambda Labs. It wasn’t just the equipment that was new. This year saw the introduction of pioneering projects like YEIGO, an AR tool for ensuring proper posture with mobility aids, CAREGIVR, aimed at preparing families for end-of-life care through an immersive platform, and Tac-Man, a haptic device for VR sculpting. You can explore all the 2025 winners across the different hardware and software categories to see the breadth of innovation that was on display.
Running in parallel, the EXPERIENTIAL Innovation Conference provided attendees with a dedicated space for meaningful dialogue and connections within the industry. Envisioned as a ‘Davos for the spatial tech world,’ this one-day conference explored emerging research and applications in deeptech, channeling discussions around learning innovation, specialized applications, and global growth.
Sponsored by prominent entities like IEEE Spectrum, Qualcomm, and Distance Technologies, the conference also gave companies a stage to launch groundbreaking products. Among the highlights were Limit Labs’ introduction of RoomSeed, a cutting-edge genAI tool birthed from thorough research, and Haptikos’ unveiling of a hand exoskeleton that offers an unprecedented level of precision in XR applications at an affordable price. Other startups made their mark as well, with intriguing demos from MIT spinout Three Space Lab and products from AUR+A and Meta Intelligence from Taiwan.
At the heart of the conference was the mission to stretch the influence of inclusive technology beyond just hacking. By delving into academic research and the business marketplace, EXPERIENTIAL aimed to foster a broader creator economy. Kicking off in style, the conference featured a fireside chat with industry veterans Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies and Anshel Sag of Moor Insights & Strategy, guided by AR innovator Dan Cui. Bajarin, who also had his first judging experience at the Hackathon, shared his reflections on Forbes, declaring it as one of the highlights of his prolific tech career.
Qualcomm’s Ziad Asghar, a senior VP & GM of XR, delivered the keynote, shedding light on the expanding intersection of AI and XR, and emphasized the significance of events like MIT Reality Hack in nurturing ideas and talent essential for dynamic industry growth.
Later, another pivotal discussion, moderated by MIT’s Ken Zolot, featured notable voices from the United Nations, The World Bank Group, Inclusive AI Lab, and tech visionary Alvin Wang Graylin from HTC. The panelists examined how experiential technology and hackathons are empowering creative communities, fostering economic development, and facilitating inclusive new human experiences across the globe.
Ori Inbar, co-founder of AWE and a partner in Reality Hack, encapsulated the event’s spirit best, noting, “XR is heading into the mainstream, but to truly get there, we need experienced XR creators and fresh voices developing meaningful spatial experiences that resonate with people worldwide. That’s the driving force behind reaching mainstream status!”
For those eager to be involved in the 2026 MIT Reality Hack and EXPERIENTIAL Innovation Conference, there’s a perfect opening to join this burgeoning community and be part of the cutting-edge discussions and innovations that are transforming the XR landscape. Connect with us to learn how you can become a part of this exciting journey.
