ZSpace (company)

zSpace, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Technology, Virtual reality, Augmented reality, Education technology
Predecessor	Infinite Z
Founded	2007 (2007)
Headquarters	San Jose , United States
Area served	Education sector (K-12, higher education, career and technical education)
Key people	Paul Kellenberger (CEO and president)
Products	AR/VR hardware and software for educational use (Inspire series, Imagine AR/VR laptop, software platforms)
Website	zspace.com

zSpace, Inc. is a technology company headquartered in San Jose, California, specializing in virtual and augmented reality solutions tailored for STEM, CTE, and career readiness educational initiatives. The firm emphasizes AR/VR systems that facilitate interactive learning experiences by utilizing simulated three-dimensional objects without the need for head-mounted devices. Its equipment incorporates head-tracking capabilities and a stylus, displaying 3D visuals through a polarized light mechanism on standard computer monitors. Early versions required glasses equipped with reflective markers for tracking purposes, whereas the latest models have eliminated the necessity for eyewear.

Established in 2007, zSpace primarily serves the education sector, focusing on institutions seeking to boost student involvement via immersive technology. The company's offerings enable interactive virtual settings designed to promote experiential learning.

Under the leadership of CEO and president Paul Kellenberger, zSpace drives its strategic direction and business expansion efforts. The enterprise is publicly listed on Nasdaq with the symbol ZSPC, reflecting its growing international presence and investment activities within the AR/VR domain.

History

Originally founded as Infinite Z in 2007, the company developed a virtual-holographic platform supported by funding from the CIA’s In-Q-Tel investment group, which backs emerging technology ventures. The rebranding to zSpace occurred in 2013.

By 2012, zSpace had launched an independent software development kit and partnered with the University of Tokyo to create a gesture recognition system employed by surgeons for preoperative visualization. In 2014, NASA evaluated zSpace’s interface technology for controlling robots within virtual environments.

While initially concentrating on enterprise clients, zSpace shifted its focus toward educational markets including K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and career and technical education (CTE). In 2015, a collaboration with Leopoly enabled users to create 3D printable objects, coinciding with the release of an updated integrated system featuring 250 STEAM-focused lesson plans.

The year 2016 saw zSpace introduce a VR web browser developed alongside Google Chrome’s WebGL team and launch VR Math in partnership with GeoGebra. Additionally, the company teamed up with Visible Body to provide Human Anatomy Atlas content and joined Google Expeditions Pioneer Program. That same year, zSpace conducted a nationwide Mobile Classroom tour aimed at promoting STEAM applications in schools.

In 2017, zSpace broadened its CTE portfolio through collaborations with Shenzhen GTA Education Tech Ltd. and Mimbus to support automotive training and welding simulations. In 2018, it integrated Autodesk Tinkercad designs and partnered with Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary services. At ISTE 2018, zSpace unveiled its inaugural Windows 10 laptop designed specifically for educational use. By 2019, enhancements to its VR/AR applications supported preparation for CTE certification exams.

In 2022, zSpace announced plans to merge with EdtechX Holdings Acquisition Corporation II, a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), intending to become publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ZSPX. The company completed its initial public offering on Nasdaq in December 2024 under the symbol "ZSPC."

In March 2025, zSpace expanded its portfolio by acquiring BlocksCAD, a browser-based platform focused on 3D design and coding for K–12 STEM education, thereby strengthening its computer science and design thinking curriculum offerings. The following month, it acquired Second Avenue Learning to enhance its catalog of standards-aligned interactive digital content for AR/VR educational applications.

Hardware

In January 2025, zSpace unveiled the Imagine AR/VR laptop, tailored specifically for elementary school use. This device offers an intuitive interface, a lightweight build, and comes preloaded with interactive educational software that aligns with academic standards.

The Inspire 2 and Inspire 2 Pro were launched by zSpace in December 2024 as enhanced iterations of the original Inspire series. These upgraded models deliver improved performance and greater portability, enabling AR/VR learning experiences without the need for headsets or glasses. They also incorporate face-tracking capabilities alongside a haptic stylus for precise interaction.

The first-generation Inspire and Inspire Pro arrived in January 2022, providing immersive AR/VR content without requiring head-mounted devices. Equipped with built-in face-tracking technology and a haptic-feedback stylus featuring position tracking, these systems run Windows 11 on a 15.6-inch Ultra HD screen and utilize NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics.

Prior offerings include the AIO and AIO Pro models introduced in 2015, designed for users engaged in resource-intensive tasks such as software development and design. These all-in-one units feature a 24-inch display, operate on Windows 10, are powered by Intel i3 or i7 processors, include a haptic-feedback stylus, and require tracked eyewear for operation.

The zSpace Laptop shared similar technological foundations with the AIO series but necessitated specialized eyewear along with a haptic stylus. It was driven by an AMD seventh-generation APU that integrates CPU cache and Radeon GPU into a single chip.

Recognition

From 2015 through 2019, zSpace’s innovations garnered Tech & Learning's "Best in Show" awards at ISTE and received the publication’s "Award of Excellence" from 2016 to 2018. In 2016, Inc. magazine recognized the company as one of America’s top five most innovative and rapidly expanding firms, placing it at number 143 on the Inc. 5000 list and securing second place in the Silicon Valley Business Journal rankings. By 2017, zSpace had advanced to position #305 on the Inc. 5000.

By 2019, zSpace’s solutions were deployed across more than 1,500 school districts, community colleges, and universities, impacting upwards of one million students. The company earned a spot on Fast Company’s "World’s Most Innovative Companies" list in Education that year. Its zSpace Laptop received the Edison Award in Edutech as well as the Cool Tool Award for Best VR/AR Solution from EdTech. Additionally, it won the Grand Prize in Tech & Learning's "Awards of Excellence" and was honored among Time magazine’s "100 Best Inventions of 2019."