On April 22, 2025, the seventh GameDev & XR Meetup Thüringen took place – this time in collaboration with the Founders’ Roundtable (Gründungsstammtisch) of Ernst Abbe University Jena. The venue: the historic Haus auf der Mauer, filled with energy, curiosity, and a shared passion for innovation at the intersection of XR and entrepreneurship.
Keynote by Markus Leicht – The PERCEPTEC Journey
The evening began with an inspiring keynote by Dr. Markus Leicht, CEO of PERCEPTEC GmbH, a young, interdisciplinary startup developing cutting-edge VR-based solutions for vision testing. Markus shared the story behind the company’s founding – from the original idea to the challenges of building a tech-driven business in a highly regulated field.
What made the talk especially engaging was its mix of personal insights and practical startup advice: how to navigate the healthcare market, the importance of prototyping and validation, and the power of a dedicated four-person team with diverse skills. Attendees gained a first-hand look at how a bold idea can evolve into a real-world innovation with the potential for broad impact.
Q&A and Open Mic
Following the keynote, participants had the chance to ask questions in an open Q&A session with spectatcle wearers endorsing the innovation.
An Open Mic segment allowed attendees to introduce themselves and their projects, sparking new connections and spontaneous collaboration ideas – all in the spirit of our growing startup community.
Networking with Flavor
No meetup is complete without networking – and this one didn’t disappoint. Over delicious food and informal chats, business cards were exchanged, game and XR ideas discussed, and new partnerships explored.
The event once again showed how much potential the Thuringian startup and XR scene has to offer when minds from tech, design, and business come together.
Looking Ahead
We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Markus Leicht for sharing his journey, and to André Kabeck from the EAH Jena’s startup support team for making this collaborative event possible.
Stay tuned – the next meetup is already being planned. Whether you’re building the next big game, exploring immersive tech, or launching your own startup: there’s always a place for you at the GameDev & XR Meetup Thüringen.
