Ilia Sedoshkin: Pioneering a New Era of Remote Presence with Wehead

In a world where remote work is increasingly common, Ilia Sedoshkin, an accomplished entrepreneur with a background spanning algorithmic trading and emerging technologies, is making waves. With his latest venture, Wehead, a spatial video communication device designed to deliver an in-person meeting experience remotely, he is reshaping the way we interact in the digital space.

After earning a Masters in Mathematics from Moscow State University, Sedoshkin applied his skills to the finance industry, establishing AIM Tech, a renowned proprietary trading firm that expanded into eight global markets and employed over 100 professionals by 2021.

However, Sedoshkin’s entrepreneurial spirit led him beyond finance to the realm of technological innovation. He co-founded Dragon Tree Labs in 2020 with the ambitious goal of creating an upper-body robotic avatar for various remote work and life applications. Eventually, the endeavor even earned the company a finalist spot in the ANA Avatar XPrize in 2022, showcasing Sedoshkin’s relentless drive for innovation.

Recognizing the commercial viability of Dragon Tree Labs’ technology, Sedoshkin chose to pivot the company’s focus. That choice led to the creation of Wehead, a product that represents a significant leap forward in spatial communication technology.

Wehead is a spatial video communication device that recreates the physical presence of a person. The system consists of multiple HD displays forming a head shape that embodies the full-size facial features of the remote user, allowing real-time eye contact and head movements that are controlled by the user via a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. With an equipped camera, microphone, and 2-axis motor, Wehead mimics the essential aspects of an “in-person” conversation, such as spatial speech and head gestures.

Pavel Rekunov, Head of Product at Wehead, commented, “By using Wehead, one can feel as if been teleported into the host’s environment, being able to look around and communicate freely with anyone.”

The immersive experience provided by Wehead can alleviate the isolation often felt by remote workers, giving them the sensation of a physical presence in a remote environment. Moreover, young content creators can leverage the device’s remote-controlled head and immersive views to captivate their audiences in innovative ways.

Wehead debuted at CES 2023 in Las Vegas and was nominated as Best of CES 2023 by various media outlets. Sedoshkin, however, envisions an even more significant role for the technology. He is on a mission to transform our approach to remote collaboration and interaction in a post-COVID world.

As Sedoshkin puts it, “The device is for tech enthusiasts who want to touch and experience a part of the future technology we are working on today.”

With two models currently available for purchase, the Wehead Founders Edition and Wehead Pro, Sedoshkin’s goal is to break down barriers in tech and redefine remote communication, a rapidly growing and essential aspect of modern life. His hope is to bring the world closer to a future where distance is no barrier to human connection. Wehead is the first taste of that, allowing people to be where they want to be, when they want to be there.