Solutions are to be found ahead - not behind.
Leaving the corporate world behind, Laura and Julius came together with a joint vision: to combine the advances in Artificial Intelligence with the unique benefits of virtual learning environments. Both are driven by the desire to create value and build something useful. This is being fueled by two unique skill sets and endless passion.
Laura Karim (LinkedIn)
​
To me, diversity and inclusion aren't just buzzwords – they're the key to unlocking a team's true potential. As a proud mother of three wonderful children, whose appearances and personalities reflect my husband's Afghan roots, I have witnessed firsthand the beauty and strength that diversity brings to our lives. Our family and our colourful circle of friends enrich our daily experiences and reinforce my belief in the importance of inclusion.
In my career, I have often been the only woman in technical teams and have frequently faced underestimation. These personal experiences, combined with my role as a mother, have deepened my understanding of how essential it is to foster a respectful environment where everyone feels valued.
As a psychologist with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, I'm well-versed in the human tendency to judge things or people that are different from us, often subconsciously. These biases can hinder productive collaboration in diverse teams. That's why effective Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) training for companies is crucial and holds the key to success for such teams.
My experience at Google highlighted that traditional training methods can often be tedious or extremely time-consuming. At XIVR, we address these challenges by creating immersive and interactive VR experiences that engage your employees while imparting valuable skills.
With my academic background, I understand the power of VR to create more emotional and lasting learning experiences. VR leverages the principles of experiential learning, boosting selective attention, curiosity, and personalization. This translates to a more impactful training experience for your diverse workforce.
Julius Schröder (LinkedIn)
​
I worked at Google for 10 years, during which I advised large international companies in the field of User Experience (UX). Most recently, I was responsible for the business development of the app sector in Central Europe, which provided me with deep insights into the challenges faced by heterogeneous teams in an international environment.
I was co-responsible for the market launch of the first purely AI-driven advertising product, which is now considered the foundation for many AI solutions.
​
Due to my involvement in anti-racism initiatives and trainings, I recognized early on that conventional training methods often do not achieve the desired effect. Often “prescribed political correctness” led to a lack of understanding and polarization instead of genuine sensitization.
​
These insights, along with my strong belief that true inclusion can only be achieved through fundamental empathy in diverse teams, motivated me to develop innovative training formats. My goal is to sustainably improve collaboration among heterogeneous groups, rather than merely conducting superficial compliance exercises.
​
My expertise in tech sales, coupled with my deep understanding of AI and digital innovations, is the strength that I bring to XIVR. With that experience we are going to develop innovative training methods in the field of DEI and anti-racism and successfully position them in the market.
This Is How We Started
2023
Idea created
2024
Left our corporate jobs
2024
Built the first AI+VR MVP
2024
Hamburg AI Ideation Program