Listen to this articleWith TROPOS AR expanding into Asia through a strategic partnership with Innovation Quotient Global, Milan, our Editor in Chief, sat down with Sven Franken, Founder of TROPOS AR, and Shafraz Faleel, Deputy CEO of IQ Global, to talk about the future of Augmented Reality, cross-continental innovation, and how visionary leadership can redefine industries.
Q: Sven, TROPOS AR has just announced its expansion into Asia via a partnership with IQ Global. Why Asia, and why now?
Sven Franken: Asia is not just a growing market — it’s a cultural engine with deep storytelling traditions and an immense appetite for innovation. From immersive tourism to experiential marketing and education, the potential to use AR in culturally relevant ways is enormous. Our technology allows content to be anchored to the real world with GPS or visual markers, which opens a new canvas for creativity. Timing-wise, we’re at a convergence point: mobile-first generations, 5G infrastructure, XR-glasses in production and a demand for digital experiences that feel tangible.
Q: Shafraz, from IQ Global’s perspective, what attracted you to TROPOS AR and this collaboration?
Shafraz Faleel: IQ Global exists to connect Sri Lanka and Asia with world-class innovation. What impressed us about TROPOS AR was not just the tech — which is elegant and developer-friendly — but Sven’s vision. He’s not selling AR for AR’s sake; he’s building infrastructure for a new layer of digital storytelling. We see applications in tourism, cultural heritage, education, even mental wellness. Our partnership is about embedding that technology where it can make a societal impact.
Q: Sven, many startups build AR tools. What sets TROPOS AR apart technically and philosophically?
Sven Franken: We’re not just a toolkit — with our SDK we create a publishing platform for spatial stories. TROPOS AR simplifies the development process for agencies, marketers, and creators. Technically, we’re interoperable: GPS placement, image recognition, QR triggers — all in one SDK. Philosophically, we believe in decentralized creativity: empowering creators to build spatial content and even monetize it in future iterations using Web3 architecture. AR should not be locked behind corporate walls — it should live in the hands of the people.
Q: Let’s talk leadership. Sven, you’re described as both visionary and grounded. What drives your management style?
Sven Franken: I’m obsessed with clarity. Whether it’s in product design, team dynamics, or partnerships, I believe that clarity creates momentum. I also think in ecosystems, not empires. That’s why we partner instead of colonize. IQ Global isn’t just our distributor in Asia — they’re
co-creators in shaping how AR enters these markets. Leadership to me is about creating conditions where people can do the best work of their lives.
Q: Shafraz, how does this partnership represent the next chapter for innovation in Sri Lanka and beyond?
Shafraz Faleel: This is about exporting not just tech, but vision. By embedding TROPOS AR into education, tourism, and the creative economy in Asia, IQ is saying: “We can leapfrog.” We can deliver experiences that are immersive, sustainable, and locally relevant. And by working with leaders like Sven, we ensure that innovation isn’t extractive — it’s generative.
Q: Final question. In one sentence each — what does the future of AR look like in Asia?
Sven Franken: AR in Asia will be a canvas for culture — blending the ancient with the augmented.
Shafraz Faleel: The future is phygital — and IQ is ready to lead it in Asia.
