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Ryan Andal
President & Co-Founder of Secret Location | Partner at Illuminarium at the Distillery District | EntTech | Entrepreneur | Speaker | 2-Time Emmy Winner | I/O Board Member
Ryan Andal is a prominent entrepreneur and partner at Illuminarium at The Distillery District, which is a permanent immersive entertainment venue located in Toronto, Ontario. He has been in this role since August 2023, marking a significant step in his career focused on blending entertainment and technology.1
Professional Background
Andal's career spans over 20 years, during which he has worked extensively in the fields of entertainment and technology. Prior to his current position, he co-founded Secret Location, a company recognized for its innovative work in virtual reality (VR) and interactive storytelling. Under his leadership, Secret Location gained acclaim, including winning the first-ever VR Primetime Emmy Award in 2015 for Sleepy Hollow: VR Experience .2 He served in various roles within the company, including President and Executive Vice President at Entertainment One, where he expanded the business into immersive entertainment and digital preschool apps.1
Contributions and Roles
In addition to his role at Illuminarium, Ryan Andal is actively involved in the interactive and gaming industry as a board member of Interactive Ontario since October 2021. He also contributes to education as an advisor on program advisory committees at both Sheridan College and Seneca College.1
Vision and Impact
Andal emphasizes the importance of storytelling in immersive experiences, asserting that technology serves as a conduit for delivering compelling narratives. His work aims to push the boundaries of traditional media by integrating emerging technologies with creative storytelling.2
Through his various roles, Ryan Andal continues to shape the future of interactive entertainment, making significant contributions to both industry innovation and education.