Orpheus Self-Care Entertainment startup wants to make VR that can heal

Last year, Job Stauffer came to the attention of many people in the virtual reality space as the man who “lost 50 pounds using VR.” He’s actually lost quite a bit more than that since then, but Stauffer — a veteran of the games industry — seems much more focused these days on the perspective and passion he’s gained. Stauffer is the cofounder and chief creative officer of a new company called Orpheus Self-Care Entertainment, which is a startup publisher for games that can improve your wellness. The health-and-wellness industry is a massive market worth almost $400 billion worldwide, according to some estimates. But Stauffer’s motivation runs deeper than spotting an opportunity — he is driven by the desire to empower people to help themselves.

“Games for change” is an idea that is growing in popularity, but this is the first time any company has built such a focused business around the concept in the VR space.