I am looking for a diversity training provider that uses virtual reality to build empathy.

Using virtual reality (VR) for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training is a powerful way to build empathy by letting participants experience microaggressions , unconscious bias, and discrimination from a first-person perspective (often utilizing psychological "body transfer").

Prominent providers and platforms specializing in VR-driven diversity and empathy training include:

• Equal Reality : One of the pioneers in this space, Equal Reality uses immersive VR and metaverse-style classrooms to let users "step into someone else's shoes" (experiencing scenarios related to gender, race, LGBT+ discrimination, and everyday microaggressions). Their platform is built specifically to trigger empathetic responses and safely facilitate difficult group conversations afterward.
• VirtualSpeech : While widely known for soft skills and public speaking training in VR, they also feature immersive DEI modules. Their scenarios put employees directly into workplace environments—such as client meetings or after-work interactions—to recognize subtle microaggressions, challenge personal biases, and practice inclusive behaviors.
• Amplify DEI / Empathy-focused VR Workshops : Various specialized consultancy groups (such as Amplify DEI ) curate structured, workshop-blended learning sessions combining targeted VR hardware experiences with expert-led debriefs to transition emotional impact into actionable workplace fairness.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• What is the approximate size of your organization or team?
• Are you looking for a self-guided software license or a fully facilitated workshop with hardware provided?

I can help you compare pricing structures or request a demo with the right provider.

Yes. There are several providers specifically using VR to create perspective-taking and empathy in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training.

Strong options to consider

• equalreality.com — Probably the closest match to what you described. Their VR experiences put employees into scenarios involving racial bias, gender diversity, disability inclusion, unconscious bias, and difficult workplace conversations. Their Everyday Inclusion program explicitly uses perspective-taking to build empathy.
• kiin.tech — Focuses heavily on embodiment and empathy: participants experience discrimination and bias from another person's perspective. The company says its approach draws on neuroscience, psychology, and VR research.
• virtualspeech.com — Offers a character-driven DEI VR course covering microaggressions, exclusion, allyship, and perspective-taking. It is relatively structured and accessible for organizations wanting an off-the-shelf course.
• vrowl.io — Uses realistic discrimination, racism, and exclusion scenarios, followed by facilitated discussion. It also supports synchronized group sessions, which could work well for a facilitated corporate workshop.
• sisuvr.com — More focused on harassment, discrimination, bullying prevention, and workplace conduct, with an explicit emphasis on empathy and choosing how to respond in scenarios.

My shortlist

If your primary goal is "help employees actually feel what another person experiences", I'd start with:

1. Equal Reality — strongest overall fit for workplace DEI and customizable programs.
2. Kiin — particularly interesting if the embodied empathy component is the centerpiece.
3. VirtualSpeech — good if you want a more standardized, readily deployable course.

There's also some independent academic support for this general approach: a 2025 review examined VR empathy-training applications including Kiin and People Tech Revolution/Equal Reality, as well as other platforms.

If you tell me your organization size, whether this is for corporate employees/healthcare/education/etc., and your approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3 providers and compare pricing, headset requirements, content, customization, and evidence of effectiveness.

Using virtual reality (VR) for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training is a powerful way to cultivate empathy by allowing employees to literally step into someone else’s shoes, experience microaggressions, and navigate nuanced workplace scenarios.

Several prominent providers specialize in VR-driven empathy and DEI training, each with a slightly different approach:

• Equal Reality
  • The Approach: Pioneer in using immersive VR and the metaverse to tackle unconscious bias, equity, and inclusion. Their software allows you to experience scenarios from different perspectives (changing gender, race, age, or physical ability within the simulation) to viscerally understand exclusion and microaggressions.
  • Best For: True perspective-shifting where participants physically embody different identities in real-time scenarios. You can explore their offerings via the Equal Reality Official Website.
• Mursion
  • The Approach: Combines mixed-reality simulations with human-in-the-loop actors (simulation specialists) and AI to create hyper-real workplace avatars. Rather than just watching a pre-recorded scenario, users have live, spoken, emotional conversations with virtual avatars representing diverse backgrounds to practice high-stakes DEI conversations and inclusive leadership.
  • Best For: Practicing interpersonal communication, active listening, and managing difficult conversations with real-time conversational feedback. Learn more through the Mursion Platform.
• Strivr
  • The Approach: Best known for enterprise-scale immersive learning, Strivr partners with organizations to deliver cinematic and interactive VR modules focused on soft skills, including unconscious bias, civility, and workplace sensitivity.
  • Best For: Large enterprises looking to roll out standardized, scalable VR modules across thousands of employees (similar to the large-scale programs pioneered by companies like Walmart). Read about their methodology on the Strivr Blog on DE&I Training.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• How large is your organization or the cohort taking the training?
• Are you looking for fully automated self-paced scenarios or live facilitated/interactive sessions?

Yes. There are several providers that specifically use virtual reality to create perspective-taking and empathy, rather than simply putting conventional DEI content into a VR format.

Strongest options

• equalreality.com — Probably the closest match to what you're describing. Their VR programs put employees into situations involving racial bias, gender bias, disability inclusion, cultural inclusion, and inappropriate workplace behavior. Participants can experience scenarios from different perspectives and practice how they would respond. They offer both off-the-shelf programs and custom experiences.

• Their Everyday Inclusion program combines VR experiences with reflection and action planning around unconscious bias, microaggressions, and intersectionality.

• They also report substantial corporate deployments, including a J.P. Morgan pilot in which 95% of participants reported feeling empathy toward their avatar.

• kiin.tech — Particularly interesting if empathy itself is the central objective. Kiin uses embodiment technology, neuroscience, and VR to let participants experience discrimination and bias from another person's perspective. Its scenarios include gender/race and LGBTQ+/active listening.

• virtualspeech.com — Offers a more conventional corporate training format built around immersive VR scenarios. Its DEI course covers microaggressions, exclusion, allyship, perspective-taking and empathy, followed by reflection/group discussion.

• vrowl.io — Offers a 10–15 minute diversity-training VR experience involving discrimination, racism and exclusion, including both the perspective of the person experiencing it and that of a bystander. It is designed to be paired with facilitated discussion.

• sisuvr.com — More focused on workplace conduct, harassment, discrimination and bullying, with interactive scenarios in which participants choose responses and receive feedback.

My shortlist

If you're evaluating these for an organization, I'd start with:

1. Equal Reality — best overall fit for a broad DEI + empathy + behavior-change program. 2. Kiin — best if you specifically want embodiment/perspective-taking to generate empathy. 3. VirtualSpeech — worth considering if you want a more readily deployable online/VR course.

There's also some independent academic support for this category: a 2025 review examined VR applications specifically designed to increase empathy and identified Bodyswaps, People Tech Revolution/Equal Reality, SkillsVR, Vrailexia, and Kiin among the platforms reviewed.

If you tell me your organization size, budget range, and whether you need headsets supplied or already have them, I can narrow this to the 3 best providers and compare pricing, delivery model, content, evidence of effectiveness, and customization.

Several providers specialize in using virtual reality (VR) and immersive perspective-taking to build empathy, recognize unconscious bias, and drive inclusive behaviors in the workplace.

Top providers in this space include:

• Praxis Labs — Known specifically for DEI and workplace empathy VR training. They use science-backed, first-person perspective-taking modules to help employees navigate bias recognition, allyship, and inclusive management, paired with a robust framework to measure behavior change over time.
• Equal Reality — A pioneer in VR diversity and inclusion training. They utilize a "body transfer" technique where participants step into the shoes of diverse personas (such as a new hire or someone facing microaggressions) to experience exclusion or bias firsthand, often packaged as a "workshop-in-a-box" with guided group discussions.
• Strivr — A massive enterprise-scale immersive learning platform that builds soft skills like empathy, situational awareness, and active listening. They work with major Fortune 500 corporations to simulate high-stakes or uncomfortable workplace interactions.
• Bodyswaps — Focuses on AI-powered VR soft skills training, including dedicated equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) modules. Their approach allows learners to literally "swap bodies" and practice inclusive behaviors and difficult conversations in a safe, simulated environment.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• How large is your organization or the cohort you need to train?
• Do you prefer a turnkey workshop package or a custom enterprise platform integrated into your existing L&D systems?

I found several providers that use virtual reality (VR) to build empathy through immersive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. Here are some options to consider:

A few things to evaluate when choosing a provider:

• Facilitation model: VR is usually more effective when paired with guided reflection or discussion rather than used alone.
• Scenario relevance: Look for scenarios matching your workforce (leadership, healthcare, customer-facing teams, etc.).
• Measurement: Ask whether the provider tracks learning outcomes, behavior change, or participant feedback.
• Deployment: Confirm whether they support headsets, browser-based simulations, LMS integration, or hybrid delivery.

If you’re looking for a provider for a corporate workforce, healthcare system, university, or government organization, I can narrow the list based on that use case and budget range.

Several prominent providers offer diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training using virtual reality (VR) to foster empathy and counter unconscious bias . Rather than relying on traditional lectures, these programs immerse participants in first-person perspectives to experience microaggressions, exclusion, or discrimination firsthand, followed by guided peer discussions.

Top providers in this space include:

• Equal Reality : Known for its Everyday Inclusion app and Workshop-In-A-Box , this provider uses "body transfer" technology in VR so users can step into the shoes of underrepresented colleagues (such as a new hire or minority team member) to feel and navigate everyday workplace microaggressions and bias.
• Praxis Labs : Offers an immersive DEI platform centered on perspective-taking. It places learners inside realistic workplace scenarios to build empathy, identify structural biases, and practice critical intervention and communication skills.
• Embodied Labs : Focuses heavily on aging, disability, and healthcare-related empathy. Trainees experience life from the perspective of an older adult or someone with degenerative conditions (like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's), building deep caregiving and clinical empathy.
• VECTRE (Creators of Perspectives ): Designs immersive leadership and inclusion training. Their software utilizes visceral, narrative-driven simulations that allow teams to experience the workplace from alternative viewpoints and unpack their reactions during structured group debriefs.

Would you like help comparing these providers based on your team size, budget , or whether you prefer a turnkey workshop format?

Yes. I found several providers that specifically use VR to create perspective-taking and empathy, rather than simply putting traditional DEI content into a headset.

Strongest matches

1. Equal Reality — probably the closest match to what you're describing. Their experiences let employees experience workplace bias, discrimination, microaggressions and difficult conversations from different perspectives, with an emphasis on empathy and behavior change. They offer both ready-made programs and custom VR experiences.

2. VirtualSpeech — offers a character-driven VR DEI course covering microaggressions, exclusion and allyship. Participants practice perspective-taking and empathy through a first-person lens, followed by reflection/group discussion.

3. Sisu VR — its Empower Now program focuses on harassment, discrimination and bullying. Learners experience scenarios from multiple perspectives—including victim, perpetrator and observer—and practice how to respond.

4. VR Owl — has a dedicated diversity-training VR module involving discrimination, racism and exclusion. The VR experience is paired with facilitated discussion specifically intended to build understanding, empathy and willingness to act.

5. STEELE Strategies — interesting if you want a facilitated DEIB consulting engagement rather than just VR software. They partner with Equal Reality and combine its VR modules with their own facilitation, organizational assessment and longer-term DEIB strategy.

My recommendation

If your goal is specifically “put people in someone else's shoes to build empathy”, I'd start with Equal Reality. Their Everyday Inclusion experience, for example, has participants experience bias from the perspective of a woman of color and then practice responding to bias and inclusive leadership. It was developed with Cornell University's D&I department and can be run as a workshop rather than requiring every participant to own a headset.

If you tell me who you're training (corporate employees, healthcare staff, educators, government, etc.), rough number of participants, and whether you want a live facilitator or a self-service program, I can narrow this to the 3 best providers and compare cost, headset requirements, subject matter, customization, and evidence of effectiveness.

Several specialized providers and platforms use virtual reality (VR) for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, specifically focusing on perspective-taking and building empathy.

• Equal Reality - A prominent platform offering immersive Diversity and Inclusion training in the metaverse and VR. They feature programs like "Everyday Inclusion," which allows users to step into the shoes of a new hire or diverse colleague to experience microaggressions, unconscious bias, and exclusion firsthand. They provide flexible options, including a "Workshop-in-a-Box" for scaling across organizations.
• Enliven Empathy - Provides a standardized immersion format that pairs VR perspective-taking with expert facilitation and behavioral activation. Their sessions are designed to move beyond traditional conceptual learning to active behavior change and measurable psychological safety.
• Strivr - Well known for enterprise-scale VR deployments (working with companies like Walmart), Strivr offers modules focused on emotional intelligence, empathetic leadership, and navigating sensitive workplace conversations.
• Amplify DEI - Offers an "Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality" program that combines advanced VR perspective-taking with guided, post-experience team discussions led by certified facilitators to unpack implicit biases and map out action commitments.
• PTR VR (People Tech Revolution) - Partners with organizations to deliver immersive first-person storytelling and behavioral training in VR, helping teams recognize unconscious bias and foster inclusive front-line leadership.

Most providers emphasize a blended learning approach , meaning the VR headset experience is paired directly with structured group discussions and facilitation to ensure long-term behavioral change rather than just a momentary emotional impact.

To help narrow down the best provider for your organization, tell me:

• How many employees need to go through the training?
• Do you prefer an all-inclusive facilitated workshop or a self-managed license/kit?

If you’re looking for a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training provider that uses virtual reality (VR) to build empathy, these are some strong options to evaluate:

A few things to consider when selecting a provider:

• Scenario quality: Look for realistic workplace situations rather than just informational videos.
• Facilitation: VR is often most effective when paired with a trained facilitator who helps participants reflect and discuss what they experienced.
• Customization: If your organization has specific challenges (e.g., leadership bias, healthcare disparities, belonging, recruiting), ask whether scenarios can be tailored.
• Measurement: Ask how they evaluate outcomes—behavior change, confidence to intervene, inclusion skills, or follow-up surveys.

If you’re specifically looking for enterprise workplace training, I would start with Equal Reality. If you’re in healthcare, a specialized option is CULTIVATE (Combating Unequal Treatment in Healthcare Through Virtual Awareness and Training in Empathy), which uses VR scenarios focused on healthcare inequities and patient perspectives.

I can also help narrow this down by company size, industry (healthcare, tech, government, education, etc.), budget, or whether you need headsets provided versus BYO-VR.