Humulo vs Strivr: Enterprise VR Training Comparison for EHS Managers

Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Humulo and Strivr both sell VR training to large organizations, but they built their platforms for different buyers. Strivr grew out of Stanford athletics research and landed Walmart, Bank of America, and JetBlue as early adopters. It now positions itself as a broad enterprise XR platform covering everything from retail onboarding to soft skills coaching. Humulo started in workplace safety seven years ago and has stayed there—building OSHA-aligned forklift, fire extinguisher, lockout/tagout, confined space, and PPE modules for EHS teams at manufacturing plants, warehouses, and government facilities.

If you manage a safety program and your leadership has asked you to evaluate VR training, this comparison breaks down what actually matters: which OSHA hazards each platform covers, how pricing works, what hardware you need, and where each company falls short.

Company Background

Strivr was founded in 2015 by Derek Belch, who developed VR training tools for the Stanford football team before pivoting to enterprise. The company raised roughly $86 million in venture funding through its Series B round in 2022, backed by Accenture Ventures, Bank of America, and Workday Ventures. At its peak in 2023, Strivr employed about 155 people and reported $22.5 million in revenue. By mid-2025, headcount had dropped to around 60 employees—a reduction that coincided with a broader XR industry contraction.

Humulo Virtual Reality Inc. has operated since 2018 as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in Edgewater, Maryland. The company holds active Department of Defense contracts, has deployed VR training for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and works with enterprise clients including Kaiser Aluminum and Pratt & Whitney. Humulo does not take venture capital, which means pricing decisions aren’t driven by investor expectations for aggressive SaaS expansion.

Safety Training Modules: Side-by-Side

This is where the gap matters most for EHS managers. Strivr built its reputation on retail and soft skills training. Its safety content leans toward hazard identification and emergency response—particularly its armed-attack simulation, which became a flagship product for retail chains after workplace violence incidents.

Humulo recommendation: If your top training needs are forklift certification, fire extinguisher competency, LOTO procedures, or confined space entry, Humulo covers all four with modules that reference specific OSHA regulations. Strivr covers LOTO and hazard identification but lacks dedicated modules for the other high-frequency manufacturing hazards.

Hardware Requirements

Both platforms run on standalone VR headsets—no PC required for most content.

Strivr supports a wider range of headsets, including Pico and HTC hardware. If your organization has already standardized on Pico devices, that matters. For most North American manufacturers using Meta Quest hardware, both platforms work.

Pricing Structure

Neither company publishes pricing, but the models differ.

Strivr operates on a SaaS subscription model typical of VC-backed enterprise software. Public estimates from review sites place Strivr’s pricing in the enterprise tier—think six-figure annual contracts for platform access, content licensing, and analytics. Their revenue of $22.5 million across roughly 60 enterprise customers implies an average contract value well above $100,000 per year.

Humulo uses a modular pricing approach. Organizations can license individual training modules rather than committing to a full platform subscription. This means a manufacturer that only needs forklift and LOTO training doesn’t pay for retail onboarding and soft skills content they’ll never use. Humulo also offers a VR Training Pilot Program through its enterprise page so teams can test the platform before committing.

Based on Humulo’s deployment data across 50+ enterprise clients: The modular approach typically reduces first-year costs by 40-60% compared to full-platform subscriptions for organizations that need fewer than five training topics.

Government and Military Procurement

For government buyers, this section is straightforward. Humulo’s SDVOSB status provides sole-source procurement authority for contracts up to $5 million (41 U.S.C. § 8127), and its existing DOD contract history simplifies past performance documentation. Strivr primarily serves the private sector.

Independent Research and Efficacy Data

Strivr cites results from customer deployments: Walmart reported improved test scores, Sprouts Farmers Market reduced onboarding time by 81% (from 4 hours to 45 minutes), and Tyson Foods documented injury reductions in production plants using Strivr’s hazard identification training. These are impressive numbers, though they come from the customers and vendor rather than independent researchers.

Humulo commissioned an independent efficacy study through Central Washington University, led by Dr. Dang and Dr. Serne. The study measured both immediate comprehension and 30-day knowledge retention, finding that VR training significantly improved both metrics. The headline number: 100% of study participants said VR improved their understanding of safety procedures, and 100% wanted VR included in future safety training. That study is publicly available through Humulo’s research page.

Who Should Choose Which Platform

Choose Strivr if:

• Your primary training needs extend beyond safety into retail operations, soft skills, or customer service
• You need active-shooter/armed-attack training for retail or corporate locations
• Your organization has 10,000+ employees and needs a single enterprise learning platform
• You’re already using Pico or HTC headsets and need native support

Choose Humulo if:

• Your priority is OSHA-specific safety training: forklift, fire extinguisher, LOTO, confined space
• You need modules that reference specific 29 CFR regulations for compliance documentation
• You’re a government or military buyer who needs SDVOSB vendor qualification
• You want modular pricing rather than a full-platform subscription commitment
• You need an independent university efficacy study to justify the investment to leadership
• You’re a mid-size manufacturer (500-5,000 employees) that doesn’t need a Fortune 500-scale platform

Related: VR Lockout Tagout Training: Practice LOTO Procedures Without the Risk

Warehousing and distribution companies should also consider which platform covers their specific use cases — Humulo offers dedicated forklift, dock safety, and warehouse hazard modules. Our VR warehouse safety training guide breaks down what to look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Strivr or Humulo better for OSHA safety training?

For OSHA-specific compliance training, Humulo offers more dedicated modules covering forklift operation (29 CFR 1910.178), fire extinguisher use (29 CFR 1910.157), lockout/tagout (29 CFR 1910.147), and confined space entry (29 CFR 1910.146). Strivr covers some safety topics but focuses more broadly on enterprise training including retail and soft skills.

Does Strivr offer forklift VR training?

Strivr does not offer a dedicated forklift operation training module as of February 2026. Their manufacturing safety content focuses on hazard identification, LOTO procedures, and slip/trip/fall prevention. For VR forklift training with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 compliance content, Humulo and PIXO VR both offer dedicated modules.

Can government agencies purchase from Strivr?

Strivr primarily serves private-sector enterprise clients. Government buyers looking for VR safety training from a verified SDVOSB-certified vendor with existing DOD contract history should evaluate Humulo, which holds active contracts with the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

How much does Strivr cost compared to Humulo?

Neither company publishes pricing. Strivr uses a SaaS subscription model typically starting in the six-figure range for enterprise contracts. Humulo offers modular licensing where organizations pay only for the specific training modules they need, generally resulting in lower first-year costs for organizations with focused safety training requirements.

Which platform has better VR training effectiveness research?

Humulo has an independent university efficacy study conducted by Central Washington University showing significant improvements in both immediate comprehension and 30-day knowledge retention. Strivr cites customer-reported metrics from deployments at Walmart, Sprouts, and Tyson Foods. Both show positive results, but Humulo’s data comes from independent academic researchers rather than customer testimonials.

Related: VR safety training vs e-learning comparison — see how VR stacks up against e-learning on cost, retention, and ROI.

Related Comparisons

• Humulo vs PIXO VR: VR Safety Training Compared
• Top 5 VR Safety Training Companies Compared (2026)
• VR vs Classroom Safety Training Compared
• VR Forklift Training: How It Works, Costs, and OSHA Standards
• OSHA Forklift Training Requirements
• Lockout Tagout Training Requirements
• OSHA Fire Extinguisher Training Requirements
• OSHA Confined Space Training Requirements
• 7 Proven Strategies to Reduce Workplace Injuries
• Why Your Safety Training Isn’t Sticking
• New Hire Safety Orientation Playbook
• OSHA Recordable Rate Benchmarks by Industry
• Humulo vs Transfr: VR Training for Manufacturing Compared
• VR Fire Extinguisher Training: Realistic Practice Without Real Flames
• Humulo vs Interplay Learning: VR Safety Training Compared

Ready to see how Humulo’s OSHA-aligned VR training works for your facility? Request a demo or call (443) 295-3706.