Futureverse, the company behind the popular sci-fi game series Born Ready, has announced the launch of a new venture fund and studio that will focus on creating immersive and innovative experiences for the metaverse. The fund, which has raised $50 million from a group of strategic partners, will invest in promising startups and projects that are building the next generation of virtual worlds and platforms. The studio, which will operate as a separate entity from Futureverse, will develop its own original IP and collaborate with other creators and developers to bring their visions to life.
The co-founders of Futureverse, Shara Senderroff and Aaron Mcdonald, said that they were inspired by the success of Born Ready, which has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has a loyal fan base of millions of players. Born Ready is a futuristic action-adventure game that lets players explore a vast and diverse galaxy, customize their own spaceships and weapons, and engage in epic battles and missions. The game is known for its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and rich storytelling.
Shara Senderroff and Aaron Mcdonald said that they wanted to use their expertise and passion for sci-fi and gaming to create more opportunities for innovation and creativity in the metaverse. They said that they believe that the metaverse is the future of entertainment, socialization, and education, and that they want to help shape it with their fund and studio.
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“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new venture fund and studio, which is a natural extension of our vision for Futureverse. We have always been fascinated by the potential of the metaverse, and we want to support and collaborate with the talented creators and developers who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in this space. We believe that the metaverse will be a place where people can express themselves, connect with others, learn new skills, and have fun in ways that are not possible in the physical world. We want to be part of this exciting journey and contribute to the growth and development of this emerging industry,”.
They added that they were looking for projects and startups that share their vision and values, and that have a clear product-market fit, a strong team, and a scalable business model. She said that they were interested in investing in various sectors and verticals within the metaverse, such as gaming, social media, education, e-commerce, art, music, fashion, sports, health, wellness, and more.
“We are not limiting ourselves to any specific genre or category. We are open to any idea or project that can create value and impact in the metaverse. We are looking for passionate and visionary entrepreneurs who have a clear vision of what they want to build and why. We are also looking for projects that can leverage the power of blockchain technology, NFTs, AI, VR/AR/MR, 5G, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies that can enhance the user experience and enable new forms of interaction and monetization in the metaverse”.
The fund and studio will operate from Futureverse’s headquarters in San Francisco but will also have a global presence and reach. Lee and Park said that they were planning to hire more staff for both entities in the coming months, as well as establish partnerships with other investors, accelerators, incubators, platforms, publishers, media outlets, influencers, communities, and organizations that are active in the metaverse space.
They also said that they were excited to announce their first investment from the fund: a $5 million seed round for MetaMindz, a startup that is developing an AI-powered learning platform for the metaverse. MetaMindz aims to provide personalized and adaptive learning experiences for users of all ages and backgrounds, using gamification, social interaction, VR/AR/MR technology, NFTs, blockchain technology, and data analytics.
“We are very impressed by MetaMindz’s team, product vision, traction, and potential. We believe that MetaMindz is solving a real problem in the education sector: how to make learning more engaging, effective, accessible, affordable, and fun for everyone. We think that MetaMindz has a unique opportunity to become a leader in the edtech space in the metaverse”.
They were also working on their first project from the studio: a spin-off game from Born Ready that will explore a different aspect of the game’s universe. The game will be released as an NFT-based metaverse experience that will allow players to own their own digital assets and participate in the game’s economy.
“We are very excited to share more details about our new game soon. It will be a completely different experience from Born Ready: more immersive, interactive, social, customizable, and rewarding. It will also be one of the first games to launch as an NFT-based metaverse experience: players will be able to buy, sell, trade, and collect their own digital assets and use them across different platforms and games in the metaverse. We think that this will create a new level of engagement and loyalty for our fans and players”.
Shara Senderroff and Aaron Mcdonald concluded by saying that they were looking forward to launching their fund and studio, and that they were eager to hear from anyone who is interested in joining or collaborating with them. “We are very grateful for the support and feedback that we have received from our partners, investors, advisors, mentors, peers, fans, and players. We are also very humbled by the success and recognition that we have achieved with Futureverse and Born Ready. We are determined to use our resources, skills, experience, and network to create more value and impact in the metaverse.
We invite anyone who shares our vision and passion to reach out to us and join us on this exciting adventure,” they said. Lee, who left Futureverse in 2022 after 10 years of leading the company’s creative vision, said that he was inspired by the rapid evolution of the gaming industry and the opportunities for new and diverse voices to emerge.
“I’ve always been passionate about pushing the boundaries of what games can do and how they can connect with people,” Lee said in a press release. “With Born Ready, I want to empower the next wave of game creators who share that vision and who are not afraid to experiment and innovate.” Lee added that he was looking for game developers who had a clear and compelling vision for their games, as well as a strong sense of identity and purpose.
“I’m not interested in chasing trends or copying what’s already out there,” he said. “I’m looking for originality, authenticity, and passion. I want to work with people who are born ready to make their mark on the gaming industry.”
Born Ready has already made its first investment in a stealth-mode game studio based in Los Angeles, which is led by a veteran team of game developers who have worked on some of the biggest franchises in the industry. The studio is currently working on a sci-fi action-adventure game that will be revealed later this year.
Lee said that he was excited to partner with the studio and help them realize their vision. “They are an incredibly talented and experienced team who have a bold and ambitious idea for their game,” he said. “They are exactly the kind of partners we are looking for at Born Ready.”
Born Ready is based in San Francisco and is currently hiring for various roles across its fund and studio operations. Lee said that he was looking for people who had a passion for games and a desire to make a positive impact on the industry and the world. “We are building a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence at Born Ready,” he said. “We are looking for people who want to join us on this journey and help us shape the future of gaming.”