John Penn is the founder of InspireVR, a mixed reality (VR/AR/XR) live-streaming video + content experience company. Partnered in 2017 with Samsung Emerging Product Division, and Next Computing, John led the design and launch of the first dedicated mobile mixed reality film production truck in the southeast US, capable of both onsite/remote mixed reality and 4K 2D/3D film production.
John leads a video production and post production team of professionals that have capture, produced, directed and delivered local, regional and national television, film and broadcast quality programming and has also served as producer, sound mixer, sound designer and composer for independent films, TV, advertising campaigns and audio books.
He has produced Top 20 Billboard charting hits for acts including KEM (Motown/Universal), Holy Hip Hop/EMI, U.N.V. (Maverick/Warner Brothers), Q-Bik Muz and many notable artists, along with sound-tracks for independent film and national commercial campaigns. As supervising producer and mastering engineer John was nominated for a Grammy in 2005 and a Stellar Award in 2006 for –Taking the Gospel to the Streets (Various Artists) compilations, distributed by EMI/Christian Music Group/Holy Hip-Hop.
John is also well-regarded as a tech entrepreneur, scientist, software architect with technical product leadership experience with large scale media platforms, cloud infrastructure, mobile, web, connected devices, medical devices, telepresence and satellite networks. His technical experience included responsibility for strategy, innovation and digital platform development integral to the launch of NBA-TV Direct-to-Consumer and Optimal Game Experiences, Front Court & Back Court. John has 15 years of product leadership experience with building mission critical platforms in medical telepresence, media, music and streaming industries with WarnerMedia, Undercurrent XR Labs, Intelsat, Cox, Olympus and others.
John holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Pre-med Chemistry from Alcorn State University and studied two years at Wayne State School of Medicine, towards a Doctorate of Medicine degree. As a Product Engineer, he led medical AV systems integration teams, at Olympus in the development, implementation and launch of Smart Operating Rooms in many of the largest healthcare networks in the US, including Northside, Wellstar, Mayo Clinic, University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC), Cleveland Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and many others.