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

Several innovative providers specialize in using virtual reality (VR) and immersive simulation to build empathy, tackle unconscious bias, and drive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training.

Top providers in this space include:

• Equal Reality — This platform focuses specifically on diversity, inclusion, and equity training in the metaverse and VR . Their software allows participants to literally "walk a mile in someone else's shoes" by experiencing situations from the perspective of different genders, races, or backgrounds, helping teams recognize microaggressions, build empathy, and practice real-time inclusive decision-making. You can explore their approach on the Equal Reality Website.
• Mursion — Mursion combines human-in-the-loop simulation with virtual reality and avatars to mimic high-stakes workplace interactions. They provide targeted workplace scenarios explicitly designed for diversity, equity, and inclusion, enabling leaders and teams to practice difficult conversations, reduce bias, and foster a culture of belonging. Learn more via the Mursion Platform.
• Strivr — Well-known for large-scale enterprise deployments (such as with Walmart), Strivr uses spatial and virtual reality to place employees in hyper-realistic workplace scenarios. Their modules help teams build situational awareness, detect non-inclusive behaviors or microaggressions, and cultivate empathy through experiential learning. Check out their resources on the Strivr Blog.

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

• Your company size or budget framework
• Whether you prefer fully self-paced VR headsets or live-facilitated avatar simulations

I can help recommend the best fit for your team.

Yes—there are several providers that specifically use VR to create perspective-taking and empathy, rather than treating diversity training as a conventional lecture.

Strongest options

• Equal Reality — Probably the closest match to what you described. Its VR experiences put learners into situations involving racial bias, gender, disability, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, microaggressions and exclusion. Its Everyday Inclusion program explicitly uses perspective-taking to build empathy and includes reflection and behavior-change exercises.
• Kiin — Particularly interesting if embodied empathy is your priority. Participants experience discrimination and bias from another person's perspective using VR embodiment technology. The company says its approach combines VR, psychology and neuroscience.
• Bodyswaps — Offers immersive soft-skills training with modules covering race, bias, microaggressions, sexual harassment and other DEI topics. An academic review of VR empathy-training applications specifically evaluated Bodyswaps and its perspective-taking approach.
• VR Owl — Its diversity module combines VR scenarios involving discrimination, racism and exclusion with facilitated group discussion, making it attractive if you want VR to be the catalyst for a broader workshop rather than standalone e-learning.
• SkillsVR — Has a dedicated Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging experience designed around experiencing different perspectives, recognizing biases and practicing empathy.

My recommendation

If your goal is specifically “use VR to help employees genuinely understand what exclusion or bias feels like”, I'd start with Equal Reality and Kiin. Equal Reality looks particularly well suited to an enterprise DEI program because it offers off-the-shelf experiences, facilitated workshops, analytics and custom VR development.

If you tell me your organization size, location, approximate budget, and whether you need the provider to facilitate the sessions, I can narrow this to the 3 best providers and compare pricing, hardware requirements, topics covered, and evidence of effectiveness.

Using virtual reality (VR) for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training is a powerful way to build empathy by letting participants literally step into another person’s shoes, experience microaggressions from a first-person perspective, and practice high-stakes conversations in a safe environment.

A few prominent providers specialize in VR-driven empathy and inclusive workplace training:

• Equal Reality : Specializes in virtual reality diversity and inclusion training in the metaverse. Their platform allows users to experience scenarios from different perspectives (changing gender, race, age, or physical ability) to actively feel and recognize unconscious bias and microaggressions firsthand. You can explore their approach on the Equal Reality Official Website.
• Mursion : Combines simulated virtual environments with live human role-players (avatars) and AI to replicate difficult managerial and interpersonal scenarios. Their platform is heavily used for leadership development and managing diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations, helping teams build empathy and reduce bias in real time. Learn more via the Mursion Platform.
• Strivr : A major enterprise VR provider that builds immersive soft skills training, including modules focused on inclusive behaviors, situational awareness, active listening, and navigating uncomfortable workplace dynamics. They work with large Fortune 500 enterprises to operationalize empathy and civility training. Read about their methodology on the Strivr Blog.
• Amplify DEI : Offers specialized immersive programs such as "Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality," combining targeted VR experiences with guided group discussions to foster a fairer and more inclusive workplace culture. More details are available through Amplify DEI.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your company size or approximate number of learners
• Whether you prefer fully automated headset modules or live-facilitated/avatar simulations

I can help you narrow down which provider fits your organizational goals and budget best.

Yes. There are several providers specifically using virtual reality to build empathy around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A few stand out:

• Equal Reality — Probably the closest match to your description. Its VR experiences let employees experience workplace bias, discrimination, microaggressions, and exclusion from different perspectives, then practice responding to those situations. It covers racial bias, gender, disability, LGBTQIA+, cultural inclusion, unconscious bias, and bystander intervention.
• Kiin — Focuses particularly strongly on perspective-taking and embodied empathy. Participants experience discrimination and bias from another person's perspective using VR and embodiment technology. Its scenarios include gender/race and LGBTQ+ experiences.
• VirtualSpeech — Offers a DEI course with immersive scenarios covering microaggressions, exclusion, allyship, and perspective-taking. It is designed for senior leadership and includes reflection/group discussion.
• SkillsVR — Has a Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging module designed to help learners recognize different perspectives, examine their reactions and biases, and practice empathy.
• Sisu VR — Its Empower Now program uses first-person VR scenarios involving harassment, discrimination, and bullying, allowing participants to experience situations from multiple perspectives and practice appropriate responses.

My recommendation

If your goal is specifically “help employees develop empathy by experiencing what another person encounters”, I'd start with Equal Reality and Kiin. Equal Reality appears particularly well suited to a broader corporate DEI program, while Kiin has a particularly strong emphasis on embodiment, empathy, and perspective-taking. There is also published academic research reviewing VR empathy-training applications that includes both Kiin and other relevant platforms.

If you tell me your organization size, location, budget range, and whether you want a one-time workshop or an ongoing training program, I can narrow this down to the 3 best providers and compare pricing, headset requirements, topics, customization, and facilitation.

Equal Reality and Strivr are leading diversity training providers that utilize virtual reality (VR) to build empathy and address workplace bias.

Immersive VR training allows participants to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes," experiencing microaggressions, exclusion, or discrimination from alternative perspectives rather than just reading about them in a manual.

Top VR Diversity & Empathy Training Providers

• Equal Reality : Focuses entirely on diversity, inclusion, and equity training in immersive environments/metaverse spaces. Their platform uses a "body transfer" illusion so you experience everyday workplace scenarios, microaggressions, or LGBT+ discrimination from different physical and social viewpoints. It also lets teams run multiplayer sessions to safely practice difficult conversations.
• Strivr : A massive enterprise VR training provider that incorporates DE&I modules (such as addressing unconscious bias, cultural competency, and civility) into corporate training infrastructure. They scale immersive soft-skills programs for major global organizations like Walmart.

Watch these videos to see how virtual reality simulates workplace microaggressions and builds real empathy through immersive scenarios:

Would you like information on pricing and enterprise scaling , or are you looking for custom scenario development for a specific workplace challenge?

Yes. There are several providers that specifically use VR to create perspective-taking and empathy, rather than delivering conventional DEI lectures.

Strong options

• Equal Reality — Probably the closest match to what you described. Its VR experiences put employees into scenarios involving unconscious bias, microaggressions, exclusion and difficult workplace conversations. It offers both ready-made programs and custom VR experiences.
• VirtualSpeech — Offers a DEI course with six immersive scenarios involving microaggressions, exclusion and allyship. Participants experience situations from a first-person perspective and explicitly practice perspective-taking and empathy.
• Kiin — Particularly interesting if you want active-bystander and perspective-taking training. Participants experience workplace situations from different perspectives and then replay them to practice creating a fairer outcome.
• SkillsVR — Has a dedicated Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging module built around emotionally engaging scenarios, multiple perspectives and reflection.
• Amplify DEI — Offers a facilitated “Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality” workshop rather than simply giving employees self-directed VR. Their format combines VR with facilitation and discussion, which could be particularly useful for a team or leadership program.

My shortlist

If you're buying this for an organization, I'd start with Equal Reality, Kiin, and Amplify DEI.

There is also some independent research comparing VR empathy-training applications, including SkillsVR, Bodyswaps and Kiin, which may be useful if you need to justify the approach internally.

If you tell me your organization size, target audience (employees, managers, executives, healthcare, etc.), and approximate budget, I can narrow this down to the 3 best providers and compare pricing, format, hardware requirements, customization, and evidence of effectiveness.

Equal Reality is a leading diversity training provider that uses virtual reality to build empathy and combat unconscious bias.

• Equal Reality : Uses a concept called "body transfer" inside immersive VR simulations (like the Oculus Quest) to let participants physically embody different identities, experience microaggressions, and practice inclusive behaviors.
• Vantage Point : An enterprise training platform founded by Morgan Mercer that delivers distributed VR experiences focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, racial discrimination, and gender inequality for major companies.
• Amplify DEI : Offers structured "Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality" workshops combining short immersive VR modules with guided group discussions.

If you'd like, let me know:

• Your team size
• Whether you prefer onsite facilitated workshops or mailed headset kits for remote teams

I can help you narrow down which provider fits your logistics and budget.

Yes. There are several providers that specifically use VR/immersive learning to build empathy around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A few stand out:

• equalreality.com — Probably the closest match to your description. Its VR programs let employees experience workplace situations from different perspectives, including race, gender, disability, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, unconscious bias, and bystander intervention. It offers both off-the-shelf workshops and custom VR experiences.
• virtualspeech.com — Offers a character-driven VR DEI course focused on microaggressions, exclusion, allyship, perspective-taking, and empathy. It is designed as a relatively short, structured training experience.
• enlivenempathy.com — Built specifically around VR empathy training for inclusive workplaces, combining VR experiences with mobile learning and ongoing DEI activities.
• amplifydei.com — Its “Amplify Empathy with Virtual Reality” program has participants step into other people's perspectives and then participate in facilitated discussion and reflection. The program is explicitly aimed at workplace DEI.
• vrowl.io — Provides a short VR diversity intervention in which participants experience discrimination and exclusion both as the person affected and as a bystander, followed by guided dialogue.

My shortlist

If you're evaluating providers for an organization-wide corporate program, I'd start with Equal Reality, Enliven, and Amplify DEI. If you want a ready-to-deploy course rather than a customized consulting engagement, VirtualSpeech may be easier to pilot.

There is also some emerging research supporting the underlying approach: a 2025 study of nursing leaders found that a VR intervention was designed to increase interracial empathy and upstander behaviors, using mechanisms including embodiment and behavioral rehearsal.

If you tell me your approximate number of employees, industry, budget, and whether you need headsets supplied, I can narrow this to the 3 best providers and compare pricing, delivery model, VR equipment, topics covered, and evidence of effectiveness.

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.