It feels strange to put this in writing, but here goes - I am no longer in an operational role at Occipital, but remain on the board.

I’m incredibly sad about this, especially because I’m not there to help guide the company through these times - a company I started and built with my friend Jeff into a leading computer vision and spatial computing contender.

I still believe in the amazing team at Occipital. We’ve worked to refocus the company on a mission of putting an accurate 3D model of your home in your pocket while continuing our Structure 3D scanning platform that’s been transformative in industries like orthotics and prosthetics. Jeff is also moving on, and we’re actively recruiting a new CEO. This CEO is going to get to work with one of the best computer vision and spatial computing teams assembled - a team that knows how to combine groundbreaking technology with intuitive consumer applications and make money doing it.

I feel very privileged to have the opportunity I did over the last 10 years - not many do. I got to work with some amazing people over the years, including my co-founder. Jeff has had my back through it all, even after the time I forgot a line in our elevator pitch and said “Fuck” in front of over hundred Silicon Valley VCs and angel investors. He’s one of the most original thinkers I’ve met, and somehow manages to ask the right questions about a technical approach, marketing, or product direction.

I also had the amazing support of my wife Elaine and a great network of family and friends to lean on in hard times. Elaine has been with me every step of the way, starting from when we were working out of a little windowless basement office back in 2009. She has also helped keep me grounded by calling me on my bullshit, which is probably something a lot of us entrepreneurs could benefit from.

I’m proud that I never quit on the team or myself, always did what I thought was best for the company and team even when it wasn’t convenient, and left everything I had out on the field. I learned tons of painful lessons of what not to do and made lifelong friends with fellow founders and team members. I experienced incredible lows like the crushing emotional pain of losing key team members and highs like eBay acquiring RedLaser and the Structure Sensor launch.

Through it all I can say I was never bored for even one single minute.

Structure Sensor launch video

As I reflected on the last 10 years of adventure, I found myself reading this short letter I wrote with Jeff for new hires.

There are people that things happen to. There is a much smaller group of people that make things happen.

You’re joining a team at Occipital that’s firmly in the latter camp. We work hard. We are incredibly passionate about our work. And we are genuinely nice people who strive to do the right thing.

20 years from now, you’ll look back and be able to point to something you worked on that mattered at Occipital. You’ll have made life long friends - people that you laughed with, argued passionately with, and did the best work of your life with.

It’s going to be a wild ride.

Welcome to Occipital.

For the first time in 10 years, I don’t know what I’ll be doing next. But I do know it’s going to be a wild ride.

- Vikas

P.S. As I figure out what to do next, I’m re-connecting with friends and family, working on Feed the Frontlines Boulder and helping other entrepreneurs. You can email me at v@vikasreddy.io or sign up below for updates - I would love to hear from you!