Massive Metaverse Bet: Billionaire Acquires 5,000+ NFTs from Yuga Labs

Crypto billionaire and scrap-metal magnate Adam Weitsman has made a bold move in the NFT space, acquiring over 5,000 NFTs directly from Yuga Labs, the creators of Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside.

For an uninitiated, Adam Weitsman is a billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropisr, investor, and founder of Viridium LLC, a cryptocurrency mining company. Adam is best known for transforming a family scrap metal business into one of the largest privately owned recycling empires in the U.S. He’s now making waves in the crypto and NFT space. 

Key Highlights:

• NFTs Acquired: Otherdeeds, Mega Kodas, and Weapon Kodas from the Otherside metaverse collection.
• Deal Type: OTC (Over-the-Counter) transaction directly with Yuga Labs.
• Strategic Intent: Weitsman plans to lock the NFTs for years, signaling long-term commitment to the Otherside ecosystem.
• Market Impact: The Otherside collection’s floor price surged to 0.19 ETH, its highest in a month.
• Yuga Labs Shift: The company recently sold off IPs like CryptoPunks and Moonbirds to refocus on Otherside’s development.

Why It Matters:

Yuga Labs is betting big on gamified metaverse experiences, and Weitsman’s investment could be a turning point in reviving interest in Web3 gaming. The Otherside platform blends MMORPG mechanics with NFT ownership, aiming to create a “metaRPG” where players own the world.

On this NFT investment, Adam Weitsman said:

I’m making a long-term investment in Otherside… I’ve committed to making a series of acquisitions on the open market this year.

Greg Solano (Yuga Labs Co-founder), said “

Grateful to have Adam double down as a partner and builder for this next phase of Otherside.

Yuga Labs is a blockchain technology and digital asset company based in Miami, Florida. It’s best known for pioneering some of the most iconic NFT collections and pushing the boundaries of Web3 culture, including Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC), and Otherside, a gamified metaverse platform blending MMORPG elements with NFT ownership.

Nazara Publishing Launches Pokerverse VR

Pokerverse VR, an immersive multiplayer poker experience for Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro, is now available worldwide. Developed by Hyderabad-based studio YesGnome and published by Nazara Publishing, this marks Nazara’s debut in Virtual Reality / Metaverse gaming.

Pokerverse VR is a free to play game, designed to offer entertainment, social interaction, and skill-building. Featuring real-time multiplayer, natural VR controls, and AR/VR flexibility, it allows players to step into a futuristic poker lounge or bring the game into their real-world environment.

“With Pokerverse VR, we’re taking our first step into immersive gaming experiences at Nazara Publishing,” said Nitish Mittersain, Jt MD & CEO of Nazara Technologies. “As platforms like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest gain traction, we see exciting possibilities in this space. We’re actively exploring future titles with developers who want to build for the next era of gaming.”

“We wanted to reimagine poker as an immersive, social experience that felt tactile, intuitive, and global from day one,” said Sridhar Muppidi, Founder of YesGnome. “It’s been an exciting journey building Pokerverse VR, and we’re thrilled to partner with Nazara Publishing to bring this vision to players across platforms.”

Key Features of Pokerverse VR:

• Live Multiplayer Tables – Instantly sync with players across the world.
• AR/VR Modes – Choose between full virtual environments or augmented overlays in your real space.
• Smart AI Bots – Practice solo with challenging AI opponents.
• Natural VR Controls – Gesture-based interaction to check, call, or peek at your cards.
• Custom Raise Panel – Fine-tune betting strategy in real time.
• Floating Menu – In-game access to settings, audio, and VR/AR toggle.
• Progression System – Earn XP to unlock levels and track performance.
• Daily Rewards – Stay engaged with free chips every day.

Nazara Publishing is a game publishing division of Nazara Technologies, committed to supporting innovative Indian developers in emerging gaming platforms. It aims to support Indian and global game developers by providing resources, expertise, and a strong network to bring gaming experiences to a wider audience. While no additional VR titles have been announced yet, the company is actively scouting high-potential projects for future collaboration.

Pokerverse VR is now available on:

• Meta Quest Store
• Apple Vision Pro App Store

Mahakumbh in the Metaverse: ABP Network launches virtual experience centre to perform snan at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj

ABP Network, a leader in innovative digital experiences, proudly announces the launch of a metaverse version of the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, coinciding with the grand celebrations at Prayagraj. As one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, the Mahakumbh Mela will now be brought to a global audience through a dedicated Metaverse platform by ABPLIVE, the digital wing of ABP Network, transcending geographical boundaries.

ABPLIVE's Mahakumbh Metaverse is a pioneering step in virtual spirituality, accessible through www.abpverse.com

The Metaverse platform will offer virtual tours of the Triveni Sangam, live streaming of the Shahi Snan (Royal Bath), and interactive sessions with spiritual leaders and cultural performers. Devotees and visitors from around the world will be able to participate in the Mela's rituals and ceremonies in real time, fostering a sense of unity and connection. It presents an opportunity for devotees worldwide to engage in a virtual snan at the Triveni Sangam. This immersive platform allows visitors to delve into a detailed timeline of events surrounding the important Akharas, participate in virtual aarti and pooja ceremonies.

With meticulous attention to detail and reverence, the Mahakumbh metaverse is more than just a digital platform; it's an invitation to experience the essence of devotion and cultural heritage in a new and exciting way. This initiative reflects ABP Network's commitment to providing its audience with immersive and meaningful digital experiences.

Key Features:

• High Interactivity and Puja Options
• Details of Important Akharas and Snan Dates
• Opportunity to Brand and dedicated kiosks for partners
• Snan at Triveni Sangam Ghats
• Options to Download the snan video and share on Social Platforms
• Karma Coins - To Collect during the journey

The Kumbh Metaverse experiment is ABPLIVE’s fourth metaverse experiential project. Readers previously participated in the Ram Mandir, ABP Nadu Metaverse created to mark the second anniversary of the fast-growing Tamil platform. The Election Centre Metaverse launched as part of ABPLIVE’s ongoing election Metaverse has already received accolades and has been among the fastest growing destinations for online news readers.

ABP Network cordially invites everyone to join this virtual abode of Mahakumbh Mela, embarking on an enriching journey that blends the essence of devotion with the marvels of modern technology. The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, which has started from January 14 and will continue till February 26, 2025, at Prayagraj, is a once-in-a-lifetime event that attracts millions of devotees seeking spiritual purification and cultural enrichment. The introduction of the Metaverse platform is poised to enhance this experience, making it accessible to a wider audience and preserving the essence of this sacred gathering for future generations.

Join the metaverse now: https://www.abpverse.com

Pearl Academy and Tech Mahindra Launches Makers Lab in Bengaluru

Pearl Academy and Tech Mahindra have recently collaborated to establish the Makers Lab in Bengaluru. This innovation hub is focused on advancing Generative Al (GenAI), the Metaverse, and Gaming.

The Makers Lab will serve as a dynamic hub for research, experimentation, and collaboration, providing students and faculty with the tools and knowledge to build solutions that will impact industries, businesses, and communities. It will combine Pearl Academy’s strengths in design thinking and creativity with Tech Mahindra’s technological expertise to develop localised large language models (LLMs), digital twins, gaming solutions, and other innovations at the cutting edge of GenAI and the Metaverse.

It combines Pearl Academy's strengths in design thinking and creativity with Tech Mahindra's technological expertise.

Students, faculty, and industry professionals will have opportunities to work on pioneering projects in GenAl, the Metaverse, and gaming solutions.

Additionally, Pearl Academy faculty will collaborate with Tech Mahindra’s researchers to apply human-centred design principles to technology development. The institution’s design students will have opportunities to contribute their creative expertise to real-world technological challenges.

The collaboration has already delivered significant social impact through projects aimed at improving the lives of differently-abled individuals, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s.

This partnership aims to empower participants with AI, metaverse, and immersive gaming experiences, reshaping the creative landscape and driving innovation with real-world impact.

Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, remarked, “By blending our design innovation with Tech Mahindra’s technological prowess, we are shaping a future where creativity and technology seamlessly integrate to redefine industries. The Makers Lab will provide our students with invaluable hands-on experience in emerging technologies, empowering them to reshape the creative landscape.”

Industrial Metaverse, A Game-Changing Tech Helping Companies Cut Cost and Reduce Carbon Footprint

The industrial metaverse refers to the application of metaverse technologies in industrial settings. It's a blend of the digital and physical worlds that accelerates efficiency through engineering, manufacturing, and field service. The vision for the industrial metaverse is to enable real-time collaboration, connectivity, and spatially-aware context within industrial environments.

It's a transformative catalyst for innovation, redefining how people and machines collaborate to design, build, operate, and optimize physical systems using immersive technologies in the cloud. This includes process optimizations, modeling, digital analysis, and AI-based predictions to improve sustainability and efficiency.

Companies are using the industrial metaverse to transform their operations with digital twins and virtual collaboration, adding predictability and resiliency to the supply chain. For example, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and Mercedes-Benz are leveraging these technologies to empower their factory employees and drive process innovation through data insights.

The industrial metaverse is evolving and capturing the scope of every industry, including manufacturing, healthcare, retail, energy, and sustainability, enhancing visibility, flexibility, contingency planning, and risk management. It's a game-changer for operational technology, with digital twins being one of its key applications.

Reducing Carbon Emissions

The industrial metaverse can help in reducing carbon emissions in several ways, as following:

Remote Operations: By enabling remote monitoring and repair of facilities, the industrial metaverse reduces the need for emissions-intensive travel.

Efficiency in Manufacturing: It helps manufacturers prevent machine downtime, which cuts the emissions associated with building and operating backup machines¹.

Optimized Logistics: Transport companies can use the metaverse to model their networks more efficiently, keeping unnecessary trucks and planes from operating, thus reducing emissions¹.

System Modeling: Companies can map out their industrial systems in the metaverse to determine the most efficient ways to operate them, which can lead to significant energy savings and emission reductions¹.

These applications of the industrial metaverse contribute to sustainability by improving operational efficiency and productivity, which are closely linked to reducing environmental impact.

Companies Utilizing Industrial Metaverse

Here are some examples of how the Industrial Metaverse is being utilized:

1. Siemens: The German engineering firm is focusing on transport, infrastructure, and energy verticals within the metaverse. Siemens is leveraging digital twins for development, particularly in these industrial areas.

2. Ford: This leading automaker has been using the metaverse for R&D in vehicle design, safety testing, and manufacturing optimization. Ford employ virtual reality (VR) simulations to create virtual prototypes and conduct tests.

3. Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company: The beverage company is transforming its operations with the industrial metaverse, utilizing digital twins and virtual collaboration to add predictability and resiliency to their supply chain.

These examples illustrate the diverse applications of the Industrial Metaverse across different sectors, enhancing efficiency, innovation, and collaboration.

Key Players

Some of the key players in the industrial metaverse space include:

Siemens AG: A leader in industrial automation and digitalization, Siemens is actively involved in the development of the industrial metaverse.

Microsoft Corporation: Known for its Azure cloud computing platform and mixed reality technologies like HoloLens.

NVIDIA Corporation: The semiconductor giant specializes in AI and graphics processing, contributing to the metaverse with its powerful GPUs and AI platforms.

PTC Inc: Provides software solutions that aid in the creation of digital twins and immersive virtual environments.

Bentley Systems, Inc: Offers comprehensive software solutions for advancing infrastructure, including digital twin technologies.

Dassault Systèmes SE: Known for its 3D design software, 3D digital mock-up, and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions.

HTC Corporation: Develops virtual reality devices and platforms that can be used within the industrial metaverse.

Magic Leap, Inc: Focuses on proprietary wearable technology that enables users to interact with digital content in the real world.

These companies are at the forefront of integrating digital twin technology, AI, extended reality, and other advanced technologies to create the industrial metaverse.

How A Company Utilised Industrial Metaverse to Improve Its Operations

One example of a company using industrial metaverse technology to enhance their operations is Jakruv Heavy Equipment Inc.. They employed the industrial metaverse to address common challenges in their business. Here's how Jakruv did it:

Digital Twins: Jakruv created digital twins of their heavy machinery which allowed for real-time monitoring and simulation. This helped in predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and extending the life of their equipment.

Virtual Prototyping: Before building physical prototypes, Jakruv used the metaverse to test designs and functionalities in a virtual environment, saving time and resources.

Remote Collaboration: By leveraging AR and VR, engineers and technicians from different locations could collaborate in the metaverse, leading to improved problem-solving and innovation.

Training and Safety: The company developed virtual training programs for their employees, enhancing their skills in a safe and controlled environment.

These applications of the industrial metaverse enabled Jakruv to streamline their design processes, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs while also fostering a culture of continuous learning and safety.

The Industrial Metaverse is considered a game-changing technology because it represents a significant evolution in how industries operate and innovate. It merges the physical and digital worlds, enabling businesses to create, test, and manage products and processes in a virtual environment before they are implemented in the real world. This approach can lead to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved safety.

The Industrial Metaverse is still emerging, but its potential impacts on business efficiency, innovation, and sustainability make it a technology that could revolutionize various industries.

Siemens and NVIDIA Deepens Collaboration for Industrial Metaverse

• New product connects Siemens Xcelerator with NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs to build collaborative, real-time, physically based visualization driven by generative AI
• At NVIDIA GTC, Siemens and NVIDIA will join with HD Hyundai to highlight how integrated visualization helps offer greater understanding and insights

Siemens has just announced that it will deepen its collaboration with NVIDIA to help build the industrial metaverse. The industrial metaverse is the concept of a digital world to mirror and simulate real machines and factories, buildings and cities, grids and transportation systems. By seamlessly integrating technologies like cloud and edge computing, industrial AI and digital twins, the industrial metaverse can optimize processes and drive sustainable practices, ultimately shaping the future beyond simulation.

Siemens is bringing immersive visualization powered by new NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs to the Siemens Xcelerator platform, driving increased use of AI-driven digital twin technology. At the NVIDIA GTC, Siemens and NVIDIA demonstrated how generative AI can revolutionize the visualization of complex data, making photorealism possible, and showcased how sustainable shipbuilder HD Hyundai can use it to develop new products.

“We will revolutionize how products and experiences are designed, manufactured and serviced. On the path to the industrial metaverse, this next generation of industrial software enables customers to experience products as they would in the real world: in context, in stunning realism and – in the future – interact with them through natural language input,” said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG. “In collaboration with NVIDIA, we will bring accelerated computing, generative AI, and Omniverse integration across the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio.”

“Omniverse and generative AI are driving massive transformation for industrial enterprises,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Siemens is bringing NVIDIA platforms to their customers and opening new opportunities for industry leaders to build the next wave of AI-enabled digital twins at every scale.”

In the next phase of this collaboration, Siemens will release a new product later this year for Teamcenter® X, Siemens’ industry-leading cloud-based Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software, part of the Siemens Xcelerator platform. Powered by NVIDIA Omniverse technologies, it will provide engineering teams with the ability to create an Ultra-intuitive, photorealistic, real-time, and physics-based digital twin that eliminates workflow waste and errors.

Setting up and adjusting details in photorealistic renderings – such as material definitions and lighting environments, along with other supporting scenery assets – will be accelerated dramatically using generative AI. Tasks that previously took days can be completed in hours, with engineering data contextualized as it would appear in the real world. In addition to engineering, other stakeholders – from sales and marketing teams to decision-makers and customers – will benefit from the deeper insight and understanding of real-world product appearance, enabling more informed and quicker decision-making.

In collaboration with NVIDIA, Siemens demonstrated the creation of real-time, photorealistic visualization for HD Hyundai, a market leader in sustainable ship manufacturing. HD Hyundai has been developing ammonia- and hydrogen-powered ships, a complex process requiring oversight of ships that can contain over seven million discrete parts. HD Hyundai can use the new product to unify and visualize these massive engineering datasets interactively.

“We have long trusted Siemens Teamcenter for product lifecycle management. Based on this trust and through this new collaboration, we will be able to visualize and interact with the digital twin of ships while utilizing generative AI to create objects and HDR backgrounds for better understanding of projects in context. This will be beneficial in many ways, as it will reduce errors, improve customer experience, and also save time and cost,” said Taejin Lee, Chief Information Officer & Chief Digital Officer, HD Hyundai.

Sony Announces Metaverse Technologies and Hardware to Empower 3D Content Creators

Sony Corporation Announces Development of Spatial Content Creation System, Equipped with High-Quality XR Head-Mounted Display and Controllers Dedicated to Interaction with 3D Objects

Sony Corporation announced development of an immersive spatial content creation system, which includes an XR head-mounted display equipped with high-quality 4K OLED Microdisplays*² and video see-through function, and a pair of controllers optimized for intuitive interaction with 3D objects and precise pointing. The system is aimed at supporting creators in sophisticated 3D content creation. Sony plans to collaborate with developers of a variety of 3D production software, including in the entertainment and industrial design fields. At launch, Sony is exclusively partnering with Siemens, a leader in industrial technology, to introduce a new solution for immersive design and collaborative product engineering using software from the Siemens Xcelerator open digital business platform.

The system will be available later in 2024. Sony and its partners will announce further details including specs, launch date and regions, pricing, sales channels, and software compatibility.

This spatial content creation system, equipped with an XR head-mounted display with 4K OLED Microdisplays and Sony's proprietary rendering technology, enables real-time, high-definition and realistic rendering of textures of 3D objects and facial expressions of human characters. In addition to video see-through functionality and spatial recognition with six cameras and sensors in total, the system features a ring controller that allows users to intuitively manipulate objects in virtual space, as well as a pointing controller that enables precise pointing, allowing creators to craft in virtual space with controllers and keyboards, all while wearing the head-mounted display. Creators will not only be able to see real-scale 3D models in an Extended Reality (XR) environment with the high-definition display, but also create and modify 3D models in it. Through integration with third-party 3D creation applications, it also supports remote, real-time review between locations, making this an intuitive and immersive tool for the entire process of spatial content creation.

The device features Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 Platform, the latest XR processor by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The processor unlocks the power of the 4K OLED Microdisplays to deliver stunning image quality, as well as provides user and space tracking for seamless XR experiences, offering creators a high-performance platform for their creative Workflow.

Sony has released technologies that support workflow and quality of spatial content creation and facilitate use of 3D CG in various creative fields. Mobile motion capture system "mocopi™," with small and lightweight sensors and a dedicated smartphone app, enables full-body motion tracking, using Sony's proprietary technologies. Spatial Reality Displays provide highly realistic, three-dimensional content without the use of special glasses or Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, for spatial content creation and review process. By introducing this system and collaborating with 3D creation software developers, Sony aims to further empower spatial content creators to transcend boundaries between the physical and virtual realms for more immersive creative experiences.

System in use for 3D CG creation

System in use for film production with 3D technologies

Siemens partnering Sony 

"Siemens is partnering with Sony to enable immersive engineering, a critical building block for the industrial metaverse. Together, we are creating an environment where it will be possible to experience the realities of physics, without the bounds of time to profoundly improve how our customers work and collaborate," said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries.

"We designed our Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 to deliver 4K display resolution, cutting-edge graphics, and unparalleled performance to enable creators to build innovative spatial content that will transform all industries for the better," said Said Bakadir, Senior Director, Product Management of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "It's exciting to see Sony enter the enterprise space with their spatial content creation system and utilize Snapdragon XR technologies
to unleash more realistic, detailed, and precise Mixed Reality (MR)/VR experiences that will help developers and creators push forward an even more immersive future."

Main Features

High-Quality XR Experience for Creative Uses

The head-mounted display is equipped with large-size, high-definition 1.3-type OLED Microdisplays with 4K resolution and a wide color gamut that covers up to 96% of DCI-P³*³*⁴. Detailed and realistic rendering of textures of 3D objects and facial expressions of human characters allows creators to go through the whole process of modeling to review, all while wearing the head-mounted display.

By supporting split rendering*5, which distributes the rendering load between computers and the head-mounted display, the system is capable of stable and high-definition rendering of large-size 3D models.

Through our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Sony is among the first to adopt their latest Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform. The processor unlocks the power of the 4K OLED Microdisplays to deliver stunning image quality, while on-chip AI enables enhanced user and space tracking for seamless XR experiences, merging physical and digital spaces for easy navigation and intuitive interaction within the XR creative spaces.

Controllers that Provide Intuitive Spatial Content Creation Experiences

The system includes a ring controller that allows users to intuitively manipulate objects in virtual space. It also comes with a pointing controller that enables stable and accurate pointing in virtual spaces, with optimized shape and button layouts for efficient and precise operation. By holding the pointing controller in the dominant hand and attaching the ring controller to the fingers of the other hand, creators can model 3D objects using both controllers and a keyboard, while wearing the head-mounted display.

The pointing controller enables accurate pointing in virtual spaces

Intuitive manipulation of an object with the ring controller

Designed with Comfort, for Seamless XR Creative Experiences

The head-mounted display provides comfort and stability required for extended creative use, by fine-tuning the balance of the device's center of gravity, and the design and material for pads that come into direct contact with the user's head. Additionally, the flip-up mechanism of the display part allows creators to easily and seamlessly move between physical and virtual spaces, without having to recalibrate the device when removing and wearing the entire device.

Optimal balance for extended creative uses

Flip-up mechanism of display part

Immersive Creative Experience Through Integration with 3D Creation Software

Sony seeks to collaborate with various 3D production software developers, in both entertainment and industrial design fields. At launch, Sony will exclusively partner with Siemens to bring innovative immersive engineering capabilities to the manufacturing industry, through integration with the new NX™ Immersive Designer software, a product engineering solution from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software. The integration of powerful hardware and software will empower creators in industrial design and product engineering field, by providing a more immersive design, review, and collaboration tools. The video showing immersive spatial content creation experience, enabled through thise partnership, is are available on the following webpage. The link will be moved to official YouTube channel of Siemens Digital Industries Software.

*1: The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the final product.
*2: As capability of the device. Actual resolution varies depending on application and type of usage.
*3: DCI-P3: An RGB color space standard established by Digital Cinema Initiatives, an American consortium that works on standardizing digital cinema systems.
*4: Actual color space usable depends on application and type of usage.
*5: Only works with compatible applications, when used in tethered mode. (wired and wireless) Resolution, refresh rate and color space may differ depending on application.

Mahindra Lifespaces unveils India's first home buying experience on the Metaverse

500+ drones light up the night sky in Pune to launch Bastion at Mahindra Citadel

Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited (MLDL), the real estate and infrastructure development arm of the Mahindra Group, unveiled India's first home-buying experience on the Metaverse with the launch of Bastion at Mahindra Citadel, which is the Phase 2 of the project. This milestone was revealed via a first-of-its-kind drone show, which culminated in a QR code in the skies of Pune, which led the audience to the Metaverse experience.

We think this is an innovation that is ‘sky-high’ so that’s how we decided to launch it! Welcome to India’s 1st Home-buying experience on the Metaverse. Congratulations @amitsinha73 @C_P_Gurnani @mohitjoshi74 @life_spaces @tech_mahindra @anishshah21 @MahindraRise as we… pic.twitter.com/4a3oc9fplp

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 25, 2023

The project was unveiled at the project location in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where over 500+ lit drones presented a spectacular show including visuals of key features of the project like the ecotone design, the home automation features and unveiling of the Metaverse experience. The drones finally formed a QR code that could be scanned by the audience to enter the Metaverse experience of Mahindra Citadel. In a first-of-its-kind unique experience, users are transported to their future homes, even before they make their decision to purchase. Users can also interact with elements within the homes and design interiors to their liking.

Amit Kumar Sinha, MD and CEO, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd., said, "We are excited to launch Bastion at Mahindra Citadel in Pune, a focus market for Mahindra Lifespaces. Pune's dynamic real estate landscape and its receptiveness to innovation align perfectly with our vision. Our past successes in the city reflect the trust and demand for our brand. This immersive and interactive Metaverse experience not only sets a new industry standard but also provides our customers with a unique opportunity to truly envision their future homes. An experience like this, deserved a grand and scintillating unveiling using the drone show, marking a significant step in integrating technology into the real estate customer experience. As we move forward, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and ensuring the best customer experience."

The project was unveiled at the project location in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where over 500+ lit drones presented a spectacular show including visuals of key features of the project like the ecotone design, the home automation features and unveiling of the Metaverse experience. The drones finally formed a QR code that could be scanned by the audience to enter the Metaverse experience of Mahindra Citadel. In a first-of-its-kind unique experience, users are transported to their future homes, even before they make their decision to purchase. Users can also interact with elements within the homes and design interiors to their liking.

Building on the resounding success of Phase 1 launched in November 2022, Bastion at Mahindra Citadel which spans 9.66 acres, featuring a carefully crafted selection of premium, 3 & 4 BHK homes. The development offers a diverse range of amenities, thoughtfully designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social well-being of the residents, promoting a balanced and vibrant lifestyle. Homes at Mahindra Citadel are pre-certified IGBC gold rated and have various design and process interventions for energy efficiency, and waste management.

Strategically positioned along the bustling Mumbai-Pune highway, this development occupies a coveted residential location within Pimpri-Chinchwad. It offers proximity to the IT hub of Hinjewadi, and Sant Tukaram Nagar, Pimpri and PCMC metro stations. The area also offers a variety of malls, reputed schools, colleges, multi-speciality hospitals and various entertainment and restaurants options, which contribute to its accessibility and lifestyle. This locale is well-connected to key transit points, encompassing the Old Mumbai-Pune highway, Pune-Dhule-Nasik highway, railway stations like Kasarwadi and Pimpri, the Pimpri Chowk bus stop, and the Sant Tukaram Nagar metro station.

About Mahindra Lifespaces Developers Limited

Established in 1994, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd. (‘Mahindra Lifespaces’) brings the Mahindra Group’s philosophy of ‘Rise’ to India’s real estate and infrastructure industry through thriving residential communities and enabling business ecosystems. The Company’s development footprint spans 34.46 million sq. ft. of completed, ongoing, and forthcoming residential projects across seven Indian cities; and over 5000 acres of ongoing and forthcoming projects under development/management at its integrated developments/ industrial clusters across four locations.

Mahindra Lifespaces’ development portfolio comprises premium residential projects; value homes under the ‘Mahindra Happinest®’ brand; and integrated cities and industrial clusters under the ‘Mahindra World City’ and ‘Origins by Mahindra’ brands respectively. The Company leverages innovation, thoughtful design, and a deep commitment to sustainability to craft quality life and business growth.

PayPal Files Patents for NFT Marketplace, Omniverse and More

Fintech giant PayPal has filed multiple patent applications including the transfer and trading of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), both on and off-chain, within its network.

NFT Marketplace

According to one of the four patent applications, which were filed on March 21, 2022, but only made public on September 21, the system enables “off-chain transaction via an NFT marketplace,” and will allow users to transfer NFTs in their possession to other users on the PayPal.

According to the abstract included in the patent application, “A plurality of digital wallets associated with a service provider are provided with access to the NFT marketplace. The NFT marketplace corresponds to a decentralized blockchain associated with an entity that is different from the service provider.”

Going forward, a decentralized autonomous organization tied to the service provider might be leveraged to enhance NFT liquidity on a dedicated platform.

In addition, fractionalized NFT purchases could also be a possibility of PayPal's proposed NFT ecosystem described in the patent application.

Selection of Validators in  Decentralized Cryptographic Network

In an another patent, PayPal pending patent mentions how validators or miners should be selected during the process of adding transactions to the blockchain. The document states that the company’s disclosed techniques could “advantageously allow steering of blockchain requests to a desired subset of miners/validators.”

The pending patent application discuss techniques relating to selection of miners/ validators in a decentralized cryptographic network. It further says, "In some embodiments, a request to add a transaction to a blockchain includes a cryptographic signature associated with provision of a second transfer fee, in addition to a first transfer fee, to miners/validators who meet a set of one or more criteria. The techniques may advantageously allow steering of blockchain requests to a desired subset of miners/validators.

Omniverse 

The third patent filed by PayPal delves into the concept of a so-called omniverse, which in this context suggests a product that deals in multiple metaverses. PayPal says it developed an “online transaction processor” that would provide recommendations for which digital assets a user should buy based on the user’s blockchain preferences and which metaverses they interact with most.

In early August, PayPal also announced its new dollar-backed stablecoin, PayPal USD ($PYUSD), which marked the first time a major U.S. financial company created this type of digital asset.

Later in the same month, PayPal updated its terms and conditions to introduce its new ‘Cryptocurrencies Hub’ feature, which allows users to hold and interact with Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies through their PayPal account.

Online Transaction Processor

The fourth patent filed, and in pending stage, describes another conceptual online transaction processor. The patent application's abstract mentions, "An online transaction processor may provide operations for digital asset recommendations and processing in one or more metaverses. The online transaction processor may determine digital assets available to a user in one or more digital wallets, as well as interactions by the user in one or more metaverses."

This processor’s goal is to facilitate payments between users and merchants operating on different network layers (layer-1s and layer-2s) in a more efficient manner.

A layer 2 refers to any off-chain network, system, or technology built on top of a blockchain (commonly known as a layer-1 network) that helps extend the capabilities of the underlying base layer network.

These multiple patents filings by PayPal comes at time when a latest report suggested that 95% of people holding NFT collections are currently holding onto worthless investments.

China's Largest City To Generate $6.9 Bn By Infusing Tourism with Metaverse and Web3 Technologies

China’s largest city and the country’s financial capital — Shanghai, has recently released a plan to build out its culture and tourism metaverse projects into an industry generating an annual revenue of 50 billion yuan (US$6.9 billion) by the end of 2025.

Last year in July, Shanghai named metaverse technology as one of three “new tracks” in its economic development, along with intelligent terminals and low-carbon industries.

Shanghai plans to launch around three dozen metaverse projects in two years, leveraging web3 technology to promote tourism and cultural activities.

In a release it said – In order to thoroughly implement the "Shanghai City's Action Plan for Cultivating "Metaverse" New Competitions (2022-2025)", this plan is specially formulated to better stimulate the vitality of innovation, and help the main body of the cultural and tourism industry enter the new track of the Metaverse.

According to the plan by the city’s municipal administration of culture and tourism, Shanghai aims to build 30 culture and tourism metaverse projects by the end of 2025 to focus on what it calls smart tourism, as well as virtual performances, digital artwork, and others.

The metaverse technology will be integrated into the Shanghai’s real-world tourist attractions, enabling visitors to interact with the sites through augmented reality and have avatars as tourist guides.

As part of the plan, museums, art galleries, and commercial blocks in Shanghai city will be encouraged to apply virtual reality technologies such as Xtended Reality (XR), autostereoscopy, holographic projection, and smart sensing equipment to present immersive cultural and tourism experiences for visitors.

In addition to these, interactive tour routes featuring a mixture of virtual and real-life elements will be developed at historical conservation zones and blocks, the waterfront of the Suzhou Creek and Huangpu River, and smart tour guide services.

The city authorities will also promote the construction of AIoT (Artificial Intelligence Internet of Things) infrastructure in digital cultural venues, digital scenic spots, and digital hotels, and promote the deployment of intelligent vision, infrared and other sensing terminals.

By 2025, the brand of "Cultural Tourism Yuan Universe" in Shanghai will be launched initially, the level of development will be in the forefront of the country, the industrial scale will exceed 50 billion yuan, and 2-3 new content creation industry cluster development zones will be formed.

In order to accomplish all these infrastructure resources will be needed, and for the same Shanghai city authorities will encourage the deployment of new computing platforms with spatial computing and real-time cloud rendering capabilities, combined with high-speed networks to achieve ultra-low latency in the entire process of spatial recognition, content generation, rendering, interaction, and transmission, and build an on-demand cloud computing capability system for cultural tourism.

Construction of edge computing capabilities in public libraries, cultural centers, museums, Meihe Museum, scenic spots, hotels and other cultural and tourism venues will also be promoted by the authorities.

Several other Chinese cities and provinces, including Nanjing, Zhengzhou, and Hangzhou, have also released plans or policies this year for metaverse developments.

MetaStudios and AjnaLens Join Hands to Reinvent Learning with Extended Reality

AjnaLens, India’s premier Extended Reality Hardware manufacturing company and MetaStudios, one of the leading Metaverse and Gaming Studio today announced their partnership for building immersive experiences and training programs targeted at upskilling the global youth and adult fraternity, making them competent, capable and self-sustainable.

AjnaLens aims to solve the problem of unemployment at grassroot level in India through the world of AR & VR Technologies. With their new AjnaXR Glasses and immersive learning platform AjnaVidya, users can learn all kinds of skills inside the virtual space. They also allow every user to interact seamlessly with each other and provide leaderboards that measure learning performances and outcomes.

MetaStudios is a pioneer in building immersive experiences that delivers deeper engagement, and higher retention rates with the end users. By harnessing the principles of humanising virtual experiences, MetaStudios curates content that foster active participation, and enhances knowledge and learning. It is a part of the MetaEngine group - the team behind building the infrastructure layer for over 500+ games for the last 20 years (hosting over 30+ Million MMO users till now).

Together we make differences!

Currently, the world is plagued with high unemployment among the youth with an estimated 73 million people facing this obstacle. The new innovations in the digital age, including these immersive training programs produced from the MetaStudio and AjnaLens partnership will provide new avenues for development of a skilled and employed pool of individuals , irrespective of their economic situation

Pankaj Raut, CEO of AjnaLens commented, “Our vision is to make India a nation of creators instead of just consumers when it comes to immersive technologies. We are empowering India’s XR developers and creators to build immersive experiences from India, for the world. MetaStudios has a strong team with deep expertise and a focus on ROI for their customers. By combining their superior quality training experiences and our Made-in-India XR headsets, we are aiming to revolutionise learning and human development across industries.”

Kapil Dhiman, CEO of MetaStudios added, “Our Partnership with AjnaLens is a big step towards reshaping the way we imagine education and training. The world is changing faster than ever, and there is a strong need to upgrade the content and platform for providing skill based training to our youth - make them future ready. With the combined strength of AjnaLens’ hardware and MetaStudios’ immersive content, we are stepping on an ambition to build a skilled workforce from India, for the world.”

About MetaStudios:

MetaStudios is a cutting-edge Metaverse and game development studio focused on building innovative immersive experiences. With a team of experts in Art, design, programming, and AI, MetaStudios is on a journey to push the boundaries of what's possible in the industry to define the future of the Metaverse. Our state of the art Metaverse Studio is specialised in strategising, designing and developing immersive digital environments that aims to humanise the experience and create seamless integration between physical and virtual realities, allowing users to interact with each other real-time.

For more visit: https://www.metastudios.gg/

About AjnaLens:

Founded in 2014, AjnaLens is a pioneer of XR in India and a Human-First Organization, building AI-powered wearable technologies to upgrade the skill development ecosystem. The impact-driven startup is on a mission to create a skill-first world with equal economic opportunities by redefining learning and human development.

Over the years, AjnaLens has built state-of-the-art immersive learning solutions to help governments, education institutes and fortune 500 companies in their digital transformation journey. They have deployed the world’s largest Metaverse for Vocational Training across 300+ industrial training institutes in India, transforming the lives of 18000+ students every year.

Web3 and Metaverse Could Be $200 Bn Opportunity for India — Arthur D. Little Report

• The Metaverse is poised to become a US $13 trillion opportunity globally by 2030
• Indian Web3 and Metaverse market to reach US $200 billion by 2035
• The retail (37%) and financial services sector (15%) will drive the Web3 and Metaverse adoption in India

Arthur D. Little, a renowned strategy and management consulting organisation, today released its latest industry report, "WEB3 & METAVERSE — THE RISE OF THE NEW INTERNET & THE INDIA OPPORTUNITY". The report builds on an in-depth analysis of the Web3 and Metaverse possibilities for India with relevant use cases and delves into the potential impact in growth sectors. The report outlines the role of Web3 and Metaverse in building the next version of the Internet and leading the frontiers of the next wave of digital adoption for Indian industries. The report reveals that the Web3 and Metaverse market opportunity in India is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of nearly 40%, with the potential to become a US $200 billion industry by 2035.

Commenting on the report, Barnik Chitran Maitra, Managing Partner, Arthur D. Little India & South Asia said “The outlook for the Indian Web3 and Metaverse space is robust, with significant investments made in the sector. Content creators and gaming start-ups are leveraging Web3 to directly monetize users, bypassing intermediaries, and corporates are building metaverses to engage more meaningfully with their employees and customers. For India to realize its potential for a US $ 200 Bn Web3 and Metaverse industry by 2035, concerted action is needed by startups, investors, corporates, and the government.”

The report defines the Metaverse as ‘the future version of the Internet, blending the frontiers between reality and virtuality, at the convergence of immersive spaces, social and collaborative experiences, and the creator economy’. It is projected to become a US $13 trillion opportunity globally by 2030. It is estimated that about 8% of the $160 trillion global GDP by 2030 will come from Web3 and Metaverse.

The report also highlights how India's e-commerce penetration is set to grow, presenting an opportunity for Web3 and Metaverse technologies to enhance the retail and finance sectors. Furthermore, India's leadership in digital payments adoption could pave the way for the integration of fintech solutions in the Web3 ecosystem.

Investors, corporates, start-ups, and the government need to work together to help India realize the US $ 200 Bn potential in Web3 and Metaverse. The report highlights imperatives for all the relevant stakeholders to capture the Web3 and Metaverse opportunities. Notably, investors could set up dedicated teams in Web3 and Metaverse and establish accelerator programs. Similarly, corporates could launch Web3 and Metaverse sandboxes and partner with start-ups. Startups could evangelize use cases, focus on building enabling products for local e-commerce and global customers and work with corporates on their Metaverse and Web3 programs. Finally, regulators could enact proactive supportive policies, incentivize infrastructure investments, and consider hardware subsidies for AR/VR devices.

Arthur D. Little's report is a must-read for investors, corporates, and start-ups interested in understanding the potential of Web3 and Metaverse technologies in India's digital landscape.

About Arthur D. Little

Arthur D. Little has been at the forefront of innovation since 1886. We are an acknowledged thought leader in linking strategy, innovation, and transformation in technology-intensive and converging industries. We navigate our clients through changing business ecosystems to uncover new growth opportunities. We enable our clients to build innovation capabilities and transform their organizations.

Our consultants have strong practical industry experience combined with excellent knowledge of key trends and dynamics. ADL is present in the most important business centers around the world. We are proud to serve most of the Fortune 1000 companies, in addition to other leading firms and public sector organizations.

Adani SAKSHAM Becomes become the World’s 1st Skill Centre to Enter the Metaverse

Metaverse training module

Adani SAKSHAM Launches Skill Centre in Metaverse

The skill-development vertical of Adani Foundation marks the completion of 7 years with a new milestone

Adani Skill Development Centre (ASDC) was registered on May 16, 2016 as a not-for-profit company to skill India’s youth and contribute towards nation building. Marking the completion of seven years, it has become the world’s first skill centre to enter the Metaverse, beginning by introducing two courses. With this milestone, the skill-development vertical of the Adani Foundation is furthering its mission of using cutting-edge technology to train future-ready professionals.

With Metaverse, ASDC is stepping into an exciting phase where knowledge, skills, and technology converge to create an immersive educational experience through virtual classrooms. Recognizing the national urgency in healthcare and safety standards, ASDC has prioritized courses like General Duty Assistant (GDA) to support the healthcare and hospital industry, and Fire Safety in the Metaverse. In due course of time, more courses will be made available in a similar manner.

Imagine the thrill of learners, donning Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to enter a virtual classroom where they not only absorb theoretical knowledge effectively but also practice hands-on activities in metaverse. This is a game-changer, equipping trainees with a deep understanding of their chosen field, going well beyond the restrictions of a physical space. Learners at 40 Adani Skill Development Centres across 13 states in India will be able to enrol for these courses in metaverse.

As a pioneer in tech-enabled skilling, ASDC will also make these courses available to students worldwide. Anybody can enrol for these courses online and learn using a computer/laptop. They will be able to experience the virtual classroom on their screen, without the assistance of a VR headset.

Adani SAKSHAM continues to link industry needs with their course offerings. By imparting skill-development courses through advanced technologies such as augmented reality for welding and simulation-based software for crane operation, it is accelerating the development of India's youth, in alignment with the domain specific demands. The ground-breaking intervention of a Skill Centre in the Metaverse is a step forward in the same direction. In the brief span of seven years since its inception, Adani SAKSHAM has skilled 1.25 lakh people, with more than 56,000 of them gainfully employed or running their own entrepreneurial venture.

About Adani Foundation

The Adani Foundation, the community support and engagement arm of the Adani Group, is dedicated to making strategic social investments to achieve sustainable outcomes throughout India.

Since 1996, the Foundation has focused on core areas including education, health, sustainable livelihood, skill development and community infrastructure. With its strategies based on national priorities and global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Foundation is known for its innovative approach and focus on sustainability, which contributes to the well-being and wealth of communities surrounding the Adani Group's businesses and beyond. At present, it operates in 5,753 villages across 19 states, impacting the lives of 7.3 million people.

Metaverse Platform Mint Valley Partners BENNFT, a 3D NFT Project, for Art, Culture, and Conservation Initiatives

Mint Valley drives the amalgamation of Art, Culture, and Conservation with Blockchain Technology

Mint Valley partners with BENNFT for its multiple socio-cultural initiatives as the official minting partner

Mint Valley, a Metaverse platform for creating personalised digital interactions powered by MOI – worlds first context aware P2P layer 1 protocol, has partnered with BENNFT, a 3D NFT project, as the official minting partner to usher in a new era of blockchain use cases art and culture. Their unique perspective includes a fresh take on NFTs and their use in promoting wildlife conservation, local artisans and craftsmen, art, dance, food, and cinema along with increasing awareness around digital assets and blockchain technology.

In a step towards achieving their goal of seamless web3 adoption, Mint Valley and BENNFT have joined ‘The Prelude to the Greatest Migration’ project by Elephant Family USA and TREC. This event is a collaboration between indigenous craft/artisans; conservationists and environmental art. Presented by BENNFT, Mint Valley has been the official minting partner for this project aimed at showcasing the artworks based on real wild elephants documented as part of the Gudalur Elephant Monitoring project, conducted by The Shola Trust in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.

This project was showcased at the Ajio Luxe Weekend in Mumbai amongst global luxury brands Panerai, BMW, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, BVLGARI, and more. ‘The Prelude to the Greatest Migration’ added another layer of luxury and impact to the event by highlighting the importance of blockchain and digital assets in elephant conservation. The attendees further got the chance to enjoy futuristic ‘Proof of Charity’ tokens as a personalized souvenir.

Additionally, the project was also showcased at the India Art Fair, a leading international art fair in New Delhi which provides a platform for contemporary and modern art from India and the South Asian region.

“Mint Valley, powered by MOI (My Own Internet), has been focused on building a secure and sustainable ecosystem for the users and allowing them to access all features of the web3 sector in a seamless manner. Through our recent forays into diverse spaces such as cultural events, animal conservation, craftsmanship, food, cinema, etc, we aim to showcase the applicability and potential of web3 technology in enhancing the overall experience through attendance tokens or ‘Proof of Charity’ tokens, thus, making it more personalized and unique.” Anantha Krishnan, Founder, Mint Valley and MOI.

With these initiatives, Mint Valley and BENNFT have broken the barriers between web2 and web3 through culture, art, and class. beyond corporate structures. By incorporating technology into events of cultural significance and social importance, Mint Valley and BENNFT have proven the real world pertinence of digital assets and web3 technology, beyond corporate structures.

Metaverse Platform Trezi Raises Over $2 Mn in Funding Led By World V and YourNest Venture

Company raises over $2 mn to fund product development and market expansion

India’s leading metaverse platform that connects architects, designers and building construction engineers with product manufacturers, today announced a Series A fundraising of over $2 million led by World V and YourNest Venture Capital along with two other key investors – Auxano Capital and She Capital.

Trezi is India’s first immersive design communication and collaboration platform for the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry which allows users to leverage the power of immersive tech and metaverse. The company will utilise the funding to accelerate its platform development in the metaverse and accelerate its entry into high-potential new geographies. 

The platform with immersive capabilities which went to market in early 2019 has been created by two leading architects of the country, Tithi and Gautam Tewari. Trezi operates on a SaaS model and allows its clients to upload architectural models for viewing, editing and remote collaboration in real-time. In 2021, in its efforts to minimise the wastages associated with product selection in construction projects, Trezi has onboarded forward-thinking product manufacturers who have enriched the platform with their presence. Leading brands such as Schneider Electric, GMR, NCRTC, St Gobain, Orient Bell, The White Teak Company and Blue Star, among others, utilise Trezi’s comprehensive experience that helps the industry use digital twins for the design finalisation and product selection processes. This offering brings additional transaction-based revenues to the platform.

Tithi Tewari, Managing Director, Trezi, said, “As an architect who has spent nearly two decades in the industry, I truly appreciate the value of an intervention like Trezi in the AEC industry. Having started as purely a design communication enhancing product, Trezi’s offerings have expanded based on customer needs. This is what makes it a truly relevant product with a metaverse-based play for our industry. The kind of customers that use Trezi only strengthens this view further. We are excited about the next phase of growth.”

As per Anisha Singh, Managing Partner of She Capital, “We believe in Trezi's vision of revolutionizing the way architects, designers, and construction engineers collaborate with product manufacturers through their innovative metaverse-based platform. This investment reflects our commitment to supporting promising and forward-thinking women-led companies in the technology space, and we are excited to see what the future holds for Trezi.”

Shailesh Churiwala, Partner, World V said, “The offering by Trezi is simple, making it valuable”. The product can immediately demonstrate how future would look like on a decision taken today with regards to your building at large and interiors of your taste. The way this is done is not just in the form of 2D or 3D images or videos but with an immersive environment where one can virtually walk and take a tour. This in itself is very powerful and can emanate many other possibilities in the immediate future. This is just the start”

Sunil Goyal, Managing Director, YourNest and one of the earliest investors in Trezi said: “We are delighted to back Tithi, Gautam and their team. They have made significant progress in making Trezi a world-class product in the last couple of years. We remain excited to be a part of the high product-led growth that Trezi is about to experience.”

Brijesh Damodaran, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, of Auxano Capital, also shared his views on investment “Trezi is not just a software/platform, it's an ecosystem - The Treziverse - with its offerings across Showcase, Academy, Lens. One can experience a home, office, township or even an airport in real-time with all the furniture and fixtures even before the first brick is laid. One can roam around in the space and customise in real-time to suit their preference through the pick-and-drop functionalities. With Trezi the traditional paper mock-ups with stage-by-stage planning can be replaced with a day 0 immersive experience of the space in the metaverse. Having looked into each of the components of Treziverse we are excited to be a part of this revolution in the AEC industry.”

Its other investors include IAN Fund, Indian Angel Network (IAN), Rockstud Capital and Stanford Angels and entrepreneurs.

The transaction on account of Auxano Capital and She Capital was led by Adhiraj Mehra and Drishti Pahwa Managing Partners, AMDP Advisors.

About She Capital

She Capital is India’s most active early-stage diversity fund with a focus of investing in consumer tech startups led by women having high-growth potential addressing large market opportunities. It recently marked its first cash exit with its portfolio company Clovia, in which Reliance acquired a majority stake in one of India's largest all-cash deals in the fashion space.
https://www.shecapital.vc/

About World V

World V Technology Fund I was established in March 2019 and focused on investing in DeepTech ventures. World V Fund was established with the purpose of bolstering the capability of Indian entrepreneurs in expanding globally. It is the brainchild of IITians focused on exploring industries ranging from RetailTech, HealthTech, FinTech, Cloud, IoT and more. With an aim to be a stalwart investor in the Indian startup ecosystem, World V Fund seeks to recognise emerging trends early and identify cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to become thriving businesses globally.
https://world5.fund/

About YourNest

YourNest, established in 2011 as a technology-focused Pre-Series A fund house, has pioneered DeepTech investing and IP-led product innovation in enterprise-driven (B2B) startups (IoT, AI/ML, Robotics, Cloud, Automation, etc). Focused on emerging technologies to enhance the way mankind leverages the value of time, YourNest Innovative Products VC Fund III (which recorded its first close in Sept ’21 and has NIIF as its anchor investor) aims to create an opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs to scale into global markets. Many of YourNest’s portfolio companies across its three funds have secured patents and attracted Fortune 500 Companies as customers. In its first Fund, YourNest has provided a DPI of 1.46 with four exits. Its second Fund is fully invested with a maiden exit. And, at 45.23% net IRR as of Sept. 30 2022, it features amongst the best-performing AIFs, as per the latest CRISIL AIF Benchmark Report of March 2021.
https://www.yournest.in/

About Auxano

Incorporated in 2016, Auxano is the brainchild of experienced investment professionals Brijesh Damodaran and Ashish Padiyar. 'Auxano' signifies 'to initiate growth' in Greek mythology. The VC firm looks forward to investing in early to growth-stage across sectors like deep tech, enterprise SAAS, fintech, edtech, and healthcare. Intending to drive entrepreneurship, innovation and growth, the firm has a hands-on investment approach.

https://auxano.in/

About Trezi

Created in 2018,​ Trezi is a fully immersive platform that dramatically transforms design experience, communication, and remote collaboration in the AEC industry by bringing together all stakeholders in the design process to collaborate at full scale. Trezi advances the understanding, communication, and translation of architectural and interior design for all stakeholders in the design process. This results in reduced errors,​ faster and better decision-making, and ultimately greater business impact and profitability. With leading design firms and product manufacturers a part of the platform now, the Treziverse (as it has come to be known) will now support lead generation and transactions to support building product manufacturers.

https://trezi.com/

MG’s Metaverse Platform ‘MGverse’ Goes Live with Auto Expo 2023’s Digital Twin

• MG’s Auto Expo Pavilion is virtually available on the MGverse for visitors at:https://mgverse.metadome.ai/metadome-metaverse-web/links/main/3348/index.html
• A social, interactive digital twin of the MG Pavilion – first of its kind – is a living world built from the architectural files of the site and enriched with content and experiences
• Comes with a fully Integrated Explorer & Creator Zone with car booking, Avatar Shop, and MG Arena with all the products available
• 3D and photorealistic technology enabled in partnership with Metadome.ai for real effects

Committed to consistent innovation for new-age buyers, MG Motor India today announced that its MGverse, future-ready Metaverse Platform, was now live. From today, anyone can experience the magic of the MG Pavilion at the Auto Expo 2023 with friends and family from anywhere. MG has teamed up with Metadome to offer an enriching digital experience for remote visitors. MGverse sets a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity and expands the brands vision of ‘Enabling Exciting Experiences Every time’ into the virtual world of Metaverse. This 3D, virtual reality-based immersive can be experienced at Auto Expo virtually which goes live on Jan 11, 2023, the opening day of the Auto Expo.

The MGverse has been launched with an integrated ‘Explore & Creator’s center, a virtual experience zone with extended customer experience touchpoints, the MG Arena including an Avatar Shop, as well as other options, which enable customers and visitors to personalize, accessorize, build, and even buy their favourite MG vehicle in the Metaverse itself.

 

Commenting on the occasion of the MGverse going live, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Officer, MG Motor India, said, “With the automotive buying journey moving online and new-age customers demanding digital products and brand experiences more than ever, MGverse, the first of its kind is creating a new era of immersive customer experiences. It is indeed a matter of pride, as we have made it possible through technology, the advantages of even greater human interactivity.”

“MG Motor is one of the leading innovators in the automotive space, and their appetite for immersive technology is an exciting proposition for Metadome.ai. We look forward to a successful collaboration in empowering the brand’s ecosystem of immersive customer experiences with our proprietary 3D & XR platform for the automotive industry,” said Kanav Singla, Founder & CEO, Metadome.ai.

Customers can visit the MGverse to get a fully immersive, real-time experience of the Auto Expo 2023. People who log on to the platform will be able to not only take a virtual tour of the expo, which is mirrored here, but also be present, virtually, at the expo's MG Pavilion.

Customers can virtually view their realistic Avatar by entering MG's expo pavilion and experiencing interactive engagement features while conversing with other Avatars. Customers visiting the Auto Expo virtually in MGverse can also get themselves clicked at the MGverse booth and take a selfie.

The MGverse was announced earlier as a platform that would combine multiple virtual spaces into a single continuum to allow MG's stakeholders to work, play, engage, collaborate, co-create, socialise, and shop. The MGverse is intended to eventually provide five different experience zones, namely the Explore & Creator's Center, NFT Gallery, MG Car Club, Gaming Arena, and MG Knowledge Center. The Explore & Creator's Centre has already been launched as part of the MGverse, with the remaining zones expected to follow soon.

About MG Motor India

Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world-famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has thousands of loyal fans, making it one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic, and innovative brand over the last 98 years. MG Motor India’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat, has an annual production capacity of 1,25,000 vehicles and employs nearly 2,500 workers. Driven by its vision of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) mobility, the cutting-edge automaker has augmented across-the-board ‘experiences’ within the automobile segment today. It has introduced several ‘firsts’ in India, including India’s first Internet SUV – MG Hector, India’s first Pure Electric Internet SUV – MG ZS EV, India’s first Autonomous (Level 1) Premium SUV – MG Gloster and MG Astor- India’s first SUV with personal AI assistant and Autonomous (Level 2) technology.

About Metadome.ai

Metadome.ai is an immersive 3D & XR technology company that enables cloud-based photorealistic & captivating customer experiences.

The company’s technology adapts to a spectrum of use cases entailing automotive, home décor, fashion, cosmetics & accessories. Their flagship platform for the automotive industry – Autodome, enables unprecedented photorealistic, cloud-based immersive 3D & XR applications with omnichannel deployment across both in-store and digital and over a multitude of devices. These applications cover the entire pre-retail funnel, empowering brands to launch their products virtually and drive awareness, engagement, and bookings among modern automotive consumers.

With Autodome, the company has achieved stunning graphics quality & photorealism in 3D, cloud-based streaming that enables consistent experiences on the web, and a flexible project pipeline that gives control to the automaker in deciding their cloud service, how they want to develop the 3D content, animations, and the interface design. The platform is compatible with all file formats and is created to ensure maximum utilization of existing content on the client’s end while giving the expert services in creating it ourselves if the need be.

Cloud Computing, 5G, Metaverse, EVs Among the Most Important Areas of Technology in 2023, Says New IEEE Study

Chief information officers, chief technology officers and technology leaders globally surveyed on key technology trends, priorities and predictions for 2023 and beyond

IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today released the results of "The Impact of Technology in 2023 and Beyond: an IEEE Global Study," a new survey of global technology leaders from the U.S., U.K., China, India and Brazil. The study, which included 350 chief technology officers, chief information officers and IT directors, covers the most important technologies in 2023 and future technology trends. To learn more about the study and the impact of technology in 2023 and beyond, visit https://transmitter.ieee.org/impact-of-technology-2023.

A More Connected, Sustainable and Virtual World

Which areas of technology will be among five most important in 2023? Global technology leaders surveyed said cloud computing (40%), 5G (38%), metaverse (37%), electric vehicles (EVs) (35%), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) (33%) will be the five most important areas of technology next year.

The top industry sectors that will be most impacted by technology in 2023 are:

• (40%) telecommunications
• (39%) automotive and transportation
• (33%) energy
• (33%) banking and financial services

Currently in its nascent stages, the metaverse can be described as an immersive digital network of 3D interactive worlds. Global technologists surveyed said the following innovations will be very important for advancing the development of the metaverse in 2023:

• (71%) 5G and ubiquitous connectivity
• (58%) virtual reality (VR) headsets
• (58%) augmented reality (AR) glasses

Technologies that foster sustainability are growing in importance. A strong majority (94%) of those surveyed agree that they have prioritized sustainability goals for 2023 and beyond, and any technologies their company implements are required to be energy-efficient and help shrink their carbon footprint.

Metaverse-related technologies are also expected to be deployed in various ways: 91% of respondents agree, to bring employees together for corporate training across offices, conferences and hybrid meetings, their company is actively adopting metaverse technology strategies in 2023. In addition, over three-quarters (76%) of global technologists say 26%-75% of interactions with colleagues, customers and management at their company will be conducted virtually in 2023.

AI, Robotics, IIoT and Digital Twins

AI has become ubiquitous. So it is not surprising that 98% of survey respondents agree that in 2023 and beyond, AI-powered autonomous, collaborative software and mobile robots will automate processes and tasks, including data analysis, allowing humans to be more efficient and effective. In addition, when asked what percentage of jobs across the entire global economy will be augmented by AI-driven software in 2023, 24% of technologists surveyed said 1-25%; 40% of those surveyed said 26-50%; and 27% of respondents said 51-75%. Related to the IIoT, which optimizes smart industrial machines, sensors, processors and the real-time data they generate, 98% surveyed say using digital twin technology and virtual simulations in 2023 to more efficiently design, develop and safely test product prototypes and manufacturing processes will be important, including 68% who say it will be very important.

EVs, 5G and 6G

Because of its fast and high data throughput, 5G will impact vehicle connectivity and automation in 2023, 97% of survey respondents agree.

Respondents also said that 5G will benefit these areas the most in the next year:

• (56%) remote learning and education
• (54%) telemedicine, including remote surgery, health record transmissions
• (51%) entertainment, sports and live event streaming
• (49%) personal and professional day-to-day communications
• (29%) transportation and traffic control
• (25%) manufacturing/assembly
• (23%) carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency

A strong majority (95%) of global technologists agree that space satellites for remote mobile connectivity will be a game-changer in 2023 because they enable 5G device connections anywhere, 24/7, leapfrogging terrestrial infrastructure. Close to nine out of 10 of global technologists (88%) agree 6G will primarily be an evolving work in progress in 2023, but that in half a decade 6G will be standardized.

Cybersecurity Concerns Rise

The cybersecurity concerns most likely to be in technology leaders’ top three in 2023 – which rose as compared to levels of concern in 2022 – are issues related to:

• (51%) cloud vulnerability (up from 35% in 2022)
• (46%) the mobile and hybrid workforce, including employees using their own devices (up from 39% in 2022)
• (43%) data center vulnerability (up from 27% in 2022)

About the Survey

"The Impact of Technology in 2023 and Beyond: an IEEE Global Study" surveyed 350 CIOs, CTOs, IT directors and other technology leaders in the U.S., U.K., China, India and Brazil at organizations with more than 1,000 employees across multiple industry sectors including banking and financial services, consumer goods, education, electronics, engineering, energy, government, healthcare, insurance, retail, technology and telecommunications. The surveys were conducted September 14-16, 2022.

About IEEE

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more.