Matthew Klimpke
Exploring how technology drives human progress
Berlin-based | Scaling 3D experiences for fashion & footwear @ vyking.io | Exploring how emerging technology can help us learn, heal & grow
Intro
Welcome! I’m Matthew Klimpke, co-founder and CEO of Vyking, where we’re transforming how footwear and fashion come to life through 3D and immersive media. For over a decade now my team and I have worked with leading companies and visionary partners to reshape how products are discovered and experienced both online and in-store.
Working at the intersection of hardware, software and creativity has shown me how powerful technology can be when it’s used to redefine how we experience products through 3D and AR. I’m fortunate to collaborate with people who share a curiosity for what’s next and use emerging technologies to bring digital experiences closer to how we naturally see, feel and connect with the world around us.
That same curiosity extends beyond 3D and AR. I’m fascinated by how emerging technologies are expanding human potential in sustainability, education and health, from AI and immersive learning to breakthroughs in life sciences and ecological design.
This site is where I share the work we’re doing at Vyking and the ideas that keep me moving forward.
About Me
Roots
I was born in England and grew up in a village in Surrey with mixed European heritage. From an early age I knew my grandparents fought on opposite sides of WW2. That quiet reality shaped how I saw the world. Even as a child I sensed how borders are lines on a map but blood runs deeper, a current shared by all of us.
In part, these early perspectives led me to study Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge focusing on German and French alongside philosophy, history and literature. That mix of ideas sparked a curiosity that has guided me ever since.
Journey to Berlin
After graduating I worked in the City of London first in investor relations and then in investment banking but quickly realised those worlds were too rigid for me. Being told that nobody takes holiday in their first year and that wearing a tie is a sign of respect confirmed it wasn’t the right environment for me! I was drawn instead to creativity, unpredictability and the energy of building something of your own.
During my Masters at ESCP Europe I spent time in Berlin and fell in love with the city and its creative, entrepreneurial and free spirited people. Since 2012 I have divided my time between London and Berlin, a connection that feels like a continuation of my family history made possible through peace.
Away from work I am raising two daughters with my husband. Family keeps me grounded and reminds me that the future is not just about technology but about the kind of world we are building and who we are building it for.
Path to Vyking
My “start-up career” began in mobile media, intrigued by how quickly it was reshaping the way people discovered and engaged with products. Mobile was not just changing how content was consumed, it was changing when and where commerce happened. Early on I worked with people and companies creating new ways to connect brands with people through more personalised and location aware experiences. It was a front row seat to the moment when media and mobile commerce began to merge.
The real turning point came when Snap introduced Augmented Reality Lenses for brands, a format that delivered incredible engagement. It was a glimpse into the potential of immersive media and with the experience we had as the founding team of Vyking we decided to take the leap. What began as an experiment soon became our focus: developing virtual try-on technology for footwear.
An example of the Vyking's TurboScan 3D model outputBuilding Vyking
We are self-funded, growing sustainably and proving that it is possible to build innovative technology without venture backing.
At Vyking we have developed a full suite of 3D, AR and virtual try-on software, alongside scalable 3D scanning and a creative studio that delivers the complete range of 3D content services. The competition around us keeps us sharp and motivated to keep raising the bar for what immersive media can do.
iOS App Integration with Vyking's AR try-on for footwearScaling 3D Shopping
Ten years in, Vyking continues to help brands bring their products to life in 3D across online stores, mobile apps and in store AR mirrors. Now, with 3D scanning studios in London, Paris and Berlin we continue to evolve with a team that shares a deep belief in the future of immersive media. Our work has always been about more than solving technical problems, it has been about exploring how media evolves and shaping what comes next. We’ve got a really interesting project currently in R&D for clothing visualisation, launching in 2026 so keep an eye out for more launches!
In-store AR Mirror using Vyking’s MacOS SDKWhat I’m exploring away from Vyking
Building Vyking has shown me how powerful technology can be when it connects people and expands what’s possible. The same belief drives my wider interests in sustainability, health and education. All areas where technology can make life more regenerative and human.
Sustainability: Technology for Regeneration
Energy & Ecology
Over the coming years I’ll be working on a project that explores how renewable energy, water systems, soil regeneration and local digital infrastructure can help revitalise rural areas. We import fruit from thousands of miles away, drink water flown in from Fiji and call 70-hour weeks “hustle.” It says everything about how far we’ve drifted from balance. Smarter systems and circular design can help us rebuild that balance, cleaner and stronger than before.
Soil & Systems Thinking
Healthy soil underpins everything. With the right tools and mindset even a small piece of land can work for us. I’m not an industrial farmer but I believe that if we reconnect with the land and apply the right mix of technology and care, we can restore what sustains us. Real change doesn’t start globally, it starts locally where people can see and replicate what works.
Design for Living
The same creativity that powers digital worlds can reshape how we live in the physical one. Smarter building systems, natural materials and local energy networks can make homes more efficient and self-sustaining. Solar can provide both heating and cooling, water can be captured and reused, and waste can be designed out entirely. It’s about relearning what previous generations understood instinctively, how to live in rhythm with nature rather than apart from it and using technology to protect the resources that keep us alive.
Healing: New Frontiers in Health
Gene Therapy & CRISPR
Gene therapy and CRISPR are redefining what medicine can do. We’re moving from managing symptoms to working with the body’s own code to restore function and possibility. It’s not about saying something is wrong but about helping people regain capabilities that illness or genetics have taken away. Like restoring hearing or sight, these breakthroughs can renew quality of life and bring hope to those living with conditions medicine still can’t reach or sometimes unintentionally harms.
Sound in Neurology
Who would have thought it but music heals! We’ve known it for centuries and now science is catching up. Research into rhythmic stimulation and frequency-based therapy shows how sound can support the brain’s natural healing processes. From Parkinson’s to stroke recovery, sound is proving to be a bridge between neuroscience and everyday wellbeing, proof that the simplest tools can have the deepest impact.
Psychedelics & Neuroplasticity
Psychedelics are once again showing real potential in therapy and healing. Decades ago research into their medical use was cut short, but science is finally picking up where it left off. These compounds promote neuroplasticity, open new pathways in the brain and support recovery from trauma, depression and addiction. This isn’t about recreational escapism, these are powerful medicines that deserve respect for their healing and teaching properties! They work best with guidance, intention and care. I dream of the day when a GP can offer therapies that go beyond suppressing symptoms and help people reach the root of what’s really going on. Nature has always held the answers and now we just need the will to listen.
Learning: Technology as a Catalyst
AI as the Great Equaliser
People love to talk about AI like it’s a threat or get angry about the fact that it’s being applied to almost every industry. Somewhere along the way it became cool to be sceptical about it. Nobody wants to be a Luddite, smashing the weaving machines like in the 1800s, but it has almost become fashionable to doubt progress.
My truth is that AI isn’t a menace, it’s a tool and one of the most powerful levelling forces we’ve ever built. For the first time, knowledge and capability aren’t limited by where you were born, how much money you have or what school you went to. The question isn’t whether AI will replace us but how we use it to lift more people up.
AR & VR in Education
Immersive technologies are transforming how people learn, turning abstract concepts into lived experiences. They make lessons easier to grasp and harder to forget, especially for neurodivergent learners who think and process information in more visual or spatial ways.
If education is meant to prepare us for the future, why does it still look like the past? We still cling to Victorian ideas of education with rows of desks, memorising and one-size-fits-all teaching. These systems were built for factory workers, not for a world of creativity, critical thinking and diverse minds. AR and VR can help rebuild learning around experience and curiosity. It isn’t about replacing teachers or human connection but about using technology to enhance how we learn.
Beyond Borders
For me, technology should open doors not close them. Whether in commerce, education or health its purpose should be to expand possibility. My work in 3D has given me a close look at how new tools can change the way industries think and create.
What excites me now are the borderless fields shaping our future: spatial computing, AI, sustainable living and life sciences like CRISPR. These tools hold the promise of helping people learn faster, heal better and unlock their potential no matter where they are. My hope is that technology will increasingly be built on openness and access instead of being controlled by the few so that opportunity is shared more equally for all humanity.
Contact Me
I’m always open to conversations, whether about 3D and immersive e-commerce, new applications of AR and VR or the bigger questions about technology’s role in society.
The best way to get in touch is either through the contact form here, LinkedIn or by email at matthew.klimpke[at]vyking.io.
To learn more about Vyking and our work in 3D visit vyking.io.
1D, 2D, 3D and 4D. Thank you, Mother Nature and thank you, Great Architect.