A Special Anniversary in Palermo
In the heart of Palermo, Buenos Aires, the offices of CamOn stand as a testament to the growth of a company that started as an ambitious idea and has now become a benchmark in Augmented Reality (AR). Over coffee and anecdotes, founders Damian Alcala and Pepe Marriot share how they got here and what motivates them to keep innovating.
Watch the interview for CamOn's 1Oth Anniversary
What is CamOn?
Damian explains that CamOn is much more than a tech company:
“CamOn is an Immersive Technologies company that provides solutions to create Augmented Reality and immersive content in a fast, agile, and efficient way. One of our key offerings is a proprietary platform called CamOn Studio, which streamlines the production process, generates reports, and provides metrics to measure project performance and effectiveness.”
Pepe shares his perspective on the company and its capabilities:
“We are 100% dedicated to the development of immersive technologies. We create tailor-made solutions for major clients and have developed our own tool that makes production processes much more efficient.”
Damian highlights CamOn’s dual business model:
“On one hand, our team of immersive technology experts develops custom solutions for leading brands and companies. On the other hand, our CamOn Studio platform can be accessed as a SaaS, enabling agencies, multimedia designers, and creatives to produce their own AR and VR content.”
For Pepe, the success of CamOn lies in its multidisciplinary team:
“We’re a group of creatives, designers, developers, sales, marketing, and business professionals. Every day, we build a virtuous workflow, enjoying the process of developing these technological concepts.”
How Do We Measure Impact?
Damian simplifies it:
- “AR helps improve metrics like engagement, brand recall, time spent, and conversion rates. These technologies also optimize marketing budgets, making campaigns more effective. It’s not just creativity; it’s measurable impact.”
The Support of Our Investors
When asked about investor support, Pepe and Damian agree that it was crucial for the company’s growth, albeit at different stages of their journey.
- Pepe Marriot: “Yes, we’ve been fortunate to count on it. Wayra (Telefónica’s investment fund) allowed us to professionalize every area of work. It was a turning point that set a new pace for growth. Years later, we gained support from Globant Ventures, which provided not just financial backing but also strategic guidance. They helped us explore new sales channels and expand our services. We’re very grateful for their support and the impact they’ve had on our evolution.”
- Damian Alcala: “Our investors were fundamental at different stages of the company. Wayra, our first investor, came on board within the company’s first year. It gave us a boost and a lot of confidence: we began working on Telefónica projects and reached new clients. It also professionalized us and improved our workflow. Later, Globant Ventures joined at a more mature stage. Their support allowed us to expand and take our solutions to other markets, leveraging their commercial team and technical know-how. Both investors have been essential to our growth.”
The Team Behind CamOn
Pepe is clear: “Our team is the heart of everything. Design, technology, marketing, and sales are deeply integrated, but what truly stands out is the human commitment everyone brings to each project.”
Damian adds: “We organize our team so that each member is a specialist in their area while fostering constant collaboration. This dynamic is what makes us so effective.”
How Did It All Start?
In 2014, Damian and Pepe ran a digital marketing agency, but they knew they could do something bigger.
“AR was expensive and complicated,” Damian recalls. “We saw an opportunity to simplify and scale, and that’s how CamOn was born.”
Pepe emphasizes the importance of those early steps:
“We began with strategic partnerships that helped us validate our solutions with real clients. It was a long process, but it allowed us to build a solid and reliable foundation.”
From CamOnApp to CamOn
The name change was a natural evolution, according to Damian:
“We moved from being a limited-functionality app to offering web-based, multiplatform solutions. This represents us much better and reflects where we’re heading.”
Pepe agrees: “CamOn symbolizes our vision for the future. It’s a name that encapsulates what we do today and what we aim to become tomorrow.”
Milestones and Achievements Over the Decade
When asked about the most significant moments over the past 10 years, Pepe and Damian highlight the technological evolution and recognitions that have put CamOn on the global map of immersive technologies.
- Pepe Marriot: “There have been many turning points, but I believe the first was developing our own tool, CamOn Studio. This allowed us to streamline content production and build a creative team that not only uses but also constantly enhances the platform.”
Pepe also points out how the platform’s growth has been organic:
“As production needs arise, new features and functionalities are developed, making our tool not only evolve but also adapt to the demands of our clients and markets.”
Damian, for his part, emphasizes the quality and global impact of the solutions they provide:
- “One of our greatest achievements has been developing products and solutions of excellence that are used worldwide. This has allowed us to work with renowned brands in key markets while building a team that brings these ideas to life, creating experiences that truly connect with users. With tools like CamOn Studio, we’ve been able to measure and optimize campaigns for major clients, taking innovation to another level.”
Damian also highlights a recent milestone:
“This year, in Los Angeles, winning the Auggie Award for Best Campaign at the Augmented World Expo, coinciding with our tenth anniversary, was an incredible recognition. It speaks to the effort, trajectory, and impact we’ve achieved in the industry.”
The Future We Envision
When asked what’s next for CamOn, both founders share a clear vision.
- Pepe Marriot: “Looking ahead, our goal is to continue strengthening our CamOn Studio tool. It’s a key that gives us great agility in production. This tool will continue to grow with the integration of different technological concepts, like AI. Technology is a living organism that evolves, and our focus is on capturing these technological shifts to keep advancing our tools and solutions.”
- Damian Alcala: “AR is already part of everyone’s daily life. The next step is the development of smart glasses and more realistic virtual environments. We’re ready to lead that transition.”
A Decade of Lessons and Anecdotes
Reflecting on the past ten years, Damian laughs as he says:
“I think I’ve said ‘Augmented Reality’ about 50,000 times, easily.”
Pepe quips: “For me, it’s closer to 150,000!”
Are we ready for a million more?
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