NeoPangea, an experiential media design and production studio, has been acquired by Exploring, Inc., a leading platform of companies delivering immersive environments and fabrication solutions.
The deal was agreed at IAAPA Expo, highlighting the strategic alignment between the companies and their shared focus on the future of immersive environments, and marks a major milestone for NeoPangea as it celebrates its 21st anniversary.
For years, NeoPangea has worked with Exploring's bespoke fabrication division, ID3 Group, on complex experiential projects for museums, themed environments, brand activations, and corporate spaces.
This acquisition formalises this relationship and means that NeoPangea's capabilities in concept development, media, and interactive design can be incorporated early in the project planning process.
Brett Bagenstose, NeoPangea founder, says: "I've seen too many projects wrangled by multiple external vendors become harder than they needed to be. Decisions get separated, timing gets delayed, and before you know it, you are fixing issues instead of building something great.
"Being part of Exploring changes that. The work and process will be smarter, and the end result is stronger for clients. That's the difference. And I am grateful to Matt Kelly [CEO of Exploring, Inc.] and the team at Exploring for setting up these distinct but collaborative units for success. Very excited for what's on the horizon!"
21 years of creative evolution
From its beginnings in early 2005 in Bagenstose's spare bedroom, NeoPangea has become a trusted creative and production partner for brands, cultural institutions, and entertainment platforms aiming to engage audiences through narrative-driven experiences at scale.
For over 21 years, the studio has worked at the juncture of content and environment, creating projects that span physical spaces, digital platforms, and emerging technologies.
NeoPangea's experiential portfolio includes large-scale installations and travelling exhibitions, such as Imagine’s Harry Potter: The Exhibition (also fabricated by ID3), and story-driven environments, like National Geographic’s Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition by Imagine Exhibitions
The studio's work consistently combines design, technology, and narrative to transport audiences into participatory, not passive, worlds.
Furthermore, NeoPangea has built a significant body of acclaimed entertainment marketing work, collaborating with studios and streaming platforms to transform popular IP into experiences that activate fandom and enhance cultural connection.
As a long-time creative partner to Paramount+, NeoPangea has worked with the platform throughout its evolution, supporting campaigns that range from experiential activations to digital storytelling and large-scale public installations.
A key example is the Star Trek: Picard Times Square takeover, which blended cinematic execution with fan engagement at an urban scale and received industry recognition, including Clio Awards.
The studio's entertainment work has included contributing to campaigns tied to franchises like Star Trek across numerous series, the Sheridanverse, including Yellowstone, 1883, and Mayor of Kingstown.
This work also extends to entertainment IP brands, including Transformers, PAW Patrol, Archer, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Curse of Oak Island, and Brain Games.
More recently, NeoPangea has returned to worldbuilding as a key creative focus, crafting vast narrative systems that enable stories to unfold across platforms and time.
The studio's work on Mars for National Geographic reinforces this focus, creating cohesive narrative environments that reward exploration and sustained visitor interaction.
Shared success
With this acquisition, NeoPangea will continue to operate as an independent brand and studio, alongside ID3Group, Brumark, and the wider Exploring family of companies.
Within this family, each entity maintains its own leadership and identity. Teams collaborate through shared planning and coordinated project leadership to better serve clients across the complete lifecycle of an experience.
Kelly says: "In everyone's life there are moments of profound impact that shape the direction of what comes next.
"For me, one of those moments was meeting Brett Bagenstose. His talent, confidence, andcreative vision were immediately evident. What stood out most, however, was his openness to collaboration and shared success.
"He invited our team to explore what we could build together, and we recognized the opportunity immediately. I am grateful for the trust, generosity, and partnership that followed."
Paramount’s Star Trek: Picard at the Marriott Marquis, New York, NY
In addition, NeoPangea has continued to invest in leadership and organisational growth.
Longtime collaborator Aaron Beaucher has been appointed as partner, Jen Wallace from National Geographic joined to lead sales and marketing, and Emily Rhinehart has advanced to further strengthen accounting and client management operations.
Teresa Van Wagner has been promoted to VP Creative, and Laura Rush to VP Creative Strategy.
NeoPangea has undergone restructuring to support focused departmental growth, integrated logistics and back-end operations, and established leadership development initiatives in partnership with Exploring.
"We started with a belief that technology and storytelling could do more together than either could alone," says Bagenstose.
"Twenty-one years later, that belief still drives how we work. We are fortunate to collaborate with partners who trust us to build ambitious experiences and to grow alongside them as the industry changes."
Together, Exploring and NeoPangea are ideally placed to provide fully integrated experiences that blend imagination, technology, and craftsmanship at scale.
As audience expectations evolve, the combined entity is developing new work that expands how stories are experienced, both physically and digitally.
Recently, NeoPangea introduced a mix of playful interactivity and cinematic storytelling to the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD), a new cultural centre in Washington, D.C.
