Tom Emrich

Tom Emrich is the Director of Product Management at Niantic, Inc., where he leads the product strategy and development for augmented reality (AR) platforms, including the 8th Wall platform and the Lightship Unity SDK. He has been with Niantic since March 2022, initially serving as the VP of Product for 8th Wall before his current role, which he assumed in July 2023.123

Background and Expertise

Emrich is recognized as a leading thought leader in the fields of augmented reality, virtual reality, and wearable technology. He has over a decade of experience in these areas, having previously founded We Are Wearables, a prominent community focused on wearable technology, and served as a founding partner of Super Ventures, a venture capital fund dedicated to AR.25 His work has significantly impacted the AR ecosystem, powering numerous web-based AR applications for major brands across various industries.5

In addition to his product management roles, Emrich has contributed to the AR community as a journalist and speaker, sharing insights on platforms like TEDx and at major conferences such as CES and SXSW. His expertise has been sought by media outlets like CNN and Forbes, and he has been recognized as a Top Voice on LinkedIn in the technology category.256

Education and Personal Life

Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and is known for his engaging presence in the tech community, often referred to as the "man from the future" due to his innovative contributions to technology.45 He is also an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in tech, as indicated by his use of the rainbow flag emoji in his professional profiles.4