Michael Ronen is an award-winning immersive director, tech entrepreneur, and the visionary behind the Play Economy—a framework that merges play, simulations, and advanced technology to transform consumer engagement and drive business innovation.

Michael’s journey began in theater, where he earned the prestigious Nestroy Prize as a lead actor in Vienna. He later transitioned into the tech world, founding Viorama, the company behind Splash, a VR app Winner at SXSW 2016. As part of Viorama, Michael also developed Spilly, a neural net for real-time human detection, which allowed for interactive visual effects—technology that Giphy later acquired.

In addition to his work with Viorama, Michael co-founded Shaderverse, which focuses on 3D procedural asset and avatar creation for virtual worlds and the metaverse.

As the founder of Wonderland Immersive Design, Michael has led immersive projects with Mastercard in the metaverse, collaborated on experience design with the Burning Man Organization, and partnered with Columbia University on immersive educational projects. Recently, Wonderland has worked with startups on innovative educational products through play and with brands on AI-powered personalized e-commerce.

Through the Play Economy Hub and his book, "The Guide to the Play Economy", Michael continues to lead a movement that encourages businesses to embrace AI, XR, and play as essential tools for growth and customer loyalty. His expertise is sought by companies looking to integrate these technologies into their strategies, creating more engaging, emotional connections with their audiences.