Scenegraph Studios - VR, AR, and AI-powered mental health solutions

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Today we're excited to meet Dr David Tully of Scenegraph Studios

So David, tell us more about Scenegraph Studios

Scenegraph Studios, based near Liverpool, UK, is an immersive R&D company creating VR, AR, and AI-powered software that reduces anxiety, builds confidence, and enables real-time avatar conversations to support education, health, and workforce development.

How did you come up with the business idea and what problem are you looking to solve?

I founded Scenegraph after years as an academic, lecturing in game development and immersive technologies. Eventually, I moved into industry, setting up shop to build software for clients using game development tools across a range of industries, from architectural visualisation to interview and soft skills training, to theatre and live events.

During the pandemic, while working within a mental health charity, it became clear to me and the leadership team that game technology could do far more than entertain, it could transform lives. That insight shifted Scenegraph from being a ‘code-for-hire’ studio into a mission-driven company creating immersive technology for well-being.

This began with SpiritVR, our Virtual Reality platform designed to reduce anxiety, and has since evolved into Pxl-Persona, our interactive, AI-powered avatars.

My goal, and our mission at Scenegraph is simple: to make HealthTech and EdTech engaging, immersive, and, frankly… not boring. We want to help people get back to work, back to life, and back to being the very best version of themselves.

What made you want to start your own business?

For myself, I was lecturing at a University and the admin was killing me. I loved teaching but hated what education became, so I left to follow a dream of building a company using Game Tech and 3D for commercial work helping clients grow their companies, and teaching them how 3D can help.

It has been hard as the skills are very different. I had experience running large projects for the University, but not running a business. The journey has been tough, long, but oh-my its been great.

What stage is your business currently at?

Currently seeking investment to grow and scale. Our priorities are to build more of our own IP through SpiritVR and Pxl-Persona, as well as share information through our Academy website (Scenegraph.Academy), ultimately building tech for good, and making cool shit!

What do you love most about being an entrepreneur?

It is a rollercoaster of emotions. The way I get through it is thinking of it like a Tycoon game. I was additcted to Rollercoaster Tycoon, and Theme Park growing up, but I did not make the connection with running a business is pretty much the same.

You go through ups and down. Bring staff on and see them grow as people, buy houses etc, and its great to build a team who like building cool things. The money is a love/hate relationship... it's not like you can put more SALT on your Software like you can in Rollercoaster Tycoon to get visitors to buy more sodas, bumping revenue up - haha!

We have worked hard over the years and we are seeing our hard work pay off. For example, a person who struggled to get out of bed was using our SpiritVR software and they gave great feedback saying how they can now process thoughts and get out of bed in the morning and go job hunting - this is amazing.

The same for when we deliver a project to a client and they are happy with the work. We love it, and love making others happy... plus we love making tech.

What is the number one business tip you've learned that you'd like to share with fellow budding entrepreneurs?

Here are some of my top tips...

Under promise, over deliver

It is better to have a hole than an asshole (i.e. don't work with assholes regardless of how good they are).

You are not Luke Skywalker, you are Yoda helping your client to become the hero.

Do what you do well, and hire someone better than you in other things... i.e. if your crap at accounting, don't do them, just pay the money, less thinking is good thinking.

Who is your Startup Hero?

Anyone who pays staff wages. It is extremely hard to pay staff and grow a business. So hats off to anyone on the journey.

This does not answer the question because I think Steve Jobs, Elon, Richard Branson, they all come from money and families who had alot already. Starting a business with no security is very hero-like, plus, the only way is up.

Is there a favourite podcast, book or series you'd like to share with the world?

Donald Miller - Storybrand. This changed my life and business. Podcasts are just affirmations, don't listen too much, get out their and fail. You learn more by failing than you do by listening to rich people telling you how to be rich.

Anything else you'd like to share with the world?

Eat healthy, have breaks, and plan.

Businesses are made by planning and execution. Ideas are worthless so don't hold them to yourself.

Tell people what you are doing and if its cool, people will want to help you, so this thing of 'I dont want to say my idea incase people steal it' this is all BS.

If they steal it... then good. It means its a good idea. If no one wants to steal it, then no one is going to buy it. This is called Building-in-public.

Where can people find you online?

Give me a shout on LinkedIn - looking forward to catching up soon!

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