The Sandbox and Brinc announce the startups selected for the first cohort of their US$50M Open Metaverse Accelerator Program
TL;DR
- Selected from 800+ global applications, seven startups kick off the fall 2022 debut cohort of The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program.
- Each startup will receive up to US$250,000 in initial funding, as well as access to and support from the best network of Web3 mentors and experts. Top performers will also receive SAND and LAND grants, along with follow-on investment opportunities.
- Accelerated startups will be empowered to contribute to The Sandbox’s rapidly growing ecosystem and actively engage with its existing user base.
The Sandbox and Brinc, a leading global venture accelerator, are proud to welcome the seven startups selected for the first cohort of The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program.
The virtual program’s inaugural callout received applications from founders across 60+ countries including the United States, United Kingdom, France, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The Web3 categories eSports/gaming, DeFi, and art/collectibles were popular and the chosen startups varied from pre-seed to seed, founders’ capital, and initial coin offering (ICO) stages of business.
The seven startups selected for the fall 2022 debut cohort of The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program, commencing in October, are (in alphabetical order):
Aptero: Customized metaverse inside workplace platforms, such as Microsoft Teams or Slack, that can be used as a collaborative tool/virtual campus for company teams.
Kola Labs: Cutting-edge generative art and AI technologies are used to build a scalable solution for an immersive, interactive metaverse experience, so that everyone can own and enjoy personalized music as well as connect music NFTs deep within the Web3 ecosystem.
MetaGameHub DAO: The Homebase for aggregated open metaverse experiences, and builder of a platform of complementary tools and agnostic infrastructure such as an avatar module, a metaverse builder, and AI-based NFT valuations including a metaverse LAND Heatmap.
PZM-9: Empowering anyone to create stunning LANDs for The Sandbox in minutes, PZM-9 combines primitives from world-class designers with AI generation to turn a set of keywords into a fully-populated metaverse experience.
Smobler Studios: Singapore’s first and official The Sandbox-endorsed metaverse agency focused on integrated Web3, phygital strategy, and application. It is focused on co-creating a diverse ecosystem with a strong academy emphasis.
The Morpheus Project: An educational, virtual world that incorporates historical artifacts, immersive learning and NFTs to create virtual and augmented-reality lessons in a learn-to-earn setting.
uniqly.io: Uniqly.io enables creators, artists, and brands to bridge physical and digital experiences. They provide the platform to launch next-layer e-commerce stores through a fully automated, no-code solution where each physical product is sold through NFT with the possibility of redeeming to different metaverses.
Evaluated on traction, technical expertise, and ability to deliver unique experiences — as well as alignment to Brinc’s mandate to support founders who integrate sustainability, inclusion, and equitability into their business models — the seven selected startups received an initial investment of up to US$250,000 each. The cohort’s best performers could also receive further grants of up to US$150,000 in SAND and LAND from The Sandbox, while those that demonstrate meaningful post-program traction will be invited to apply for follow-on investment from The Sandbox and Brinc.
The core directive of The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program is to support the launch of new startups that can contribute to the growth and expansion of The Sandbox ecosystem by building unique experiences and populating the platform with fresh creativity and new content. Accelerated startups will be empowered to contribute to The Sandbox’s rapidly growing ecosystem and actively engage with its existing and growing user base.
The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program will support the open metaverse based on shared values and through open, transparent, decentralized governance. This will replace the current model of closed platforms thanks to powerful network effects, creating a more sustainable and digital future.
Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder of The Sandbox and President of the Blockchain Gamer Alliance, said: “It’s exciting to support the first cohort of metaverse entrepreneurs through our The Sandbox Metaverse Accelerator Program. Our goal with this $50M program was to provide opportunities for startups from underrepresented communities so their imagination and vision can come to life. With applicants from over 60 countries, we’re well positioned to open the doors to metaverse innovation for talented creators from around the world.”
Manav Gupta, founder and CEO of Brinc, said: “Brinc is delighted to play a role in shaping a Web3 future that’s open and decentralized, offering users the chance to create and explore business opportunities to develop online and on-chain. With the Web3 industry predicted to be valued at US$81.5 billion by 2030, we’re excited to accelerate startups that can further evolve The Sandbox metaverse space, and help develop their innovative approaches in ways that make them more inclusive and sustainable in a digital paradigm.”
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