Visible light communication in free space has been identified as a promising approach for next generation communication. While there are a number of technical advantages, including privacy, low energy consumption, and the opportunity for new communication topographies, the low switching speed of LEDs, risk of interference, and lack of spectrally selective low-cost detectors has limited the opportunities for broad deployment of such systems. NextGenVLC aims to develop short wavelength high switching speed LEDs, new spectrally selective photodetectors, and demonstrate both an integrated communication system and the resistance to interference in three practical environments (indoors, outdoors, and space).