David Nussbaum Beaming People Together, One Hologram at a Time

In 2018, David Nussbaum was tinkering in his Saugus living room, fueled by a mix of entrepreneurial spirit and inspiration from pop culture classics like Back to the Future and The Time Machine. The result? Proto Hologram—the world’s first fully self-contained, AI-enabled, 4K hologram communication platform. Today, Proto connects classrooms, clinics, boardrooms, and entertainment stages worldwide, all without requiring anyone to hop on a plane.
Nussbaum’s roots in TV and radio gave him a knack for storytelling and connecting with audiences—skills that proved invaluable when shifting from “entertainment holograms” to technology with real-world applications. His “aha” moment came when he realized Proto could bring people together, rather than just resurrect the past. “Instead of selling tickets to recoup costs, I could create real, human connections,” he says.
From Ventura to the global stage, Proto’s journey hasn’t been without detours. The final prototype was completed in 2019, just before COVID-19 forced a change in launch plans. Since then, the company has grown steadily, winning accolades like a spot on Time’s Health100 list for its life-changing medical applications—such as beaming top oncologists into rural clinics for in-person consultations with patients hundreds of miles away.
And while Proto has plenty of celebrity sparkle—beaming Jon Bon Jovi to the Grammys and William Shatner 7,000 miles for a keynote—its mission is grounded in making the world smaller, smarter, and more connected. “We’ve never paid for a celebrity endorsement,” Nussbaum notes. “When people see authentic reactions, it’s the best feeling ever.”
Despite a calendar that includes meetings in London and Dubai, Nussbaum is home in time for school pickups. He credits his wife, Charla—whom he met on his podcast—for keeping the family running smoothly. Their three children have even joined the Proto story, creating hologram moments that have gone viral online.
Living in Saugus keeps Nussbaum grounded. “This place keeps me human,” he says. “My neighbors are TV executives, police officers, scientists, and congressmen. It’s where I unplug and remember why I’m doing this.”
Looking ahead, he envisions Proto in schools, hospitals, airports—and eventually, living rooms—breaking down barriers of distance and language. With advanced translation capabilities, Proto can now allow anyone to speak to anyone else, anywhere, in real time.
His advice for aspiring innovators? “Start. Don’t wait until it’s perfect or until someone gives you permission. Just start and don’t stop.”
And when history looks back on his work, Nussbaum hopes the verdict will be simple: “That I created a technology used for good—and that it brought people together.” 

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