Snacking in the metaverse

Today we are covering…

🥨 Kellogg’s web3 trademark filings

🤖 Nvidia Omniverse

🪙 Coinbase’s expanded subscription services

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Kellogg’s metaverse intent with 12 trademark filings [Link]

US cereal giant Kellogg’s won’t be left behind in tapping into NFTs through its recent move to file 12 trademarks for its iconic snack brands.

On Twitter, trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis initially reveals the news from Kellogg’s, which may be on its way to utilizing its food products in “online virtual worlds” and explore NFTs featuring its popular cereals, breakfast bars, and snacks under notable brands such as Froot Loops, Special K, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies, Mini Wheats, Frosted Flakes, and Pringles.

Kellogg’s, however, won’t be alone in bringing snacking to the metaverse as they aspire for future growth and investment.

Mars, the company behind Snickers and M&Ms, has previously filed trademark applications for NFTs and virtual products, while Haribo, Fico, Fujitsu, and others are taking proactive steps to secure their IP in the web3 and NFT space through patents.

Nvidia Omniverse revolutionizing factories worldwide [Link]

Nvidia touts its Omniverse simulation and collaboration platform as a game changer in the factories of electronics makers worldwide.

The lowdown:

• The comprehensive reference workflow combines NVIDIA tech for generative AI, 3D collaboration, simulation and autonomous machines. This helps manufacturers plan, build, operate, and optimize their factories.

• The Nvidia Omniverse, akin to a metaverse for engineers, connects top computer-aided design apps, APIs, and cutting-edge frameworks for generative AI. It also simulates and tests robots, as well as uses intelligent video analytics to automate cities.

Why this matters: These industries are huge, multi-trillion-dollar in value and are in a race toward digitalization. Faster, cheaper, and safer simulation will get them to the finish line, whether they are in automotive, healthcare, telco, or retail.

Nanjing’s high-stakes metaverse R&D bid [Link]

Nanjing, China has launched a metaverse platform operated by Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) to further research in virtual worlds and blockchain.

This aligns with China's digital economy objectives and Nanjing's commitment to metaverse innovation, with city officials expressing confidence in the “technological wave.”

Chinese cities have been vying for the top spot in terms of metaverse development, with Shanghai and Beijing currently leading the pack:

• Shanghai bared its metaverse development plan through nearly 2 dozen use cases for virtual worlds in the hopes of creating over $49B in revenue before 2026.

• Beijing’s two-year metaverse plan will see it deploy the tech in its tourism sector in combination with AI, IoT, and 5G.

• In Henan, a state-owned investment group launched a $22M investment fund for entities building projects in the metaverse.

Coinbase’s expanded subscription service to 35+ countries [Link]

Coinbase One is expanding its services to the UK, Germany, and Ireland, with plans to reach over 35 countries.

This includes zero-fee trading, increased staking rewards, 24/7 customer support, pre-filed tax documents, and more.

The latest updates to Coinbase One include new partnerships, fee restructuring, and enhanced staking rewards to provide additional value to its subscribers.

Coinbase plans to introduce more perks, including retirement account benefits through Al to IRA, crypto conference discounts through Blockworks, free portfolio tracking for 6 months through CoinTracker, and personal insurance discounts through Lemonade.

Coinbase has a clear “why” for the latest move: Coinbase’s relationship with its users is deemed “very transactional,” even as growth marked the bull market 18 months to 2 years ago. Amid the persistent crypto winter and a string of controversies including FTX’s downfall, the platform is candid about forging “a longer, deeper relationship” with its customers.

Quick Hits

🎮 Gaming

• Nvidia’s Avatar Cloud Engine (ACE) is making games more lifelike, thanks to AI. (Link)

• US gamers are increasing in numbers, yet there’s a drop in consumer spending on video game products. (Link)

• Nakamoto Games forms ties with the Thai government and select universities to introduce blockchain gaming. (Link)

• Undeads Metaverse rolls out the zombie-filled game Undeads Runner. (Link)

• QWAN Foundation launches a universal gaming token for web3. (Link)

• The global metaverse in gaming market is estimated at $22.7B in 2023, projected to reach $119.2B by 2028. (Link)

🕶 Fashion

• From virtual fitting rooms to smart contracts, here are hot tech trends dominating the fashion startup world. (Link)

• Fueled by better AR and the rebound in in-person shopping, smart mirrors build engagement and informed buying decisions in fashion. (Link)

• Virtual fashion try-on firm Zyler launches a virtual try-on tool to be automatically integrated into any retailer website. (Link)

• Anonymous artist Str4ngeThing harnesses AI to create Renaissance-inspired surreal fashion in footwear. (Link)

• Meet Maya, Myntra’s first virtual fashion influencer of Walmart-owned e-commerce platform Myntra. (Link)

🏀 Sports

• Web3-based gaming forum Intella X tees up with the launch of its exclusive Crypto Golf Impact project. (Link)

• The new Color Cup WBA World Boxing Championship leverages on-site live broadcasting, exclusive NFT tokens, and more. (Link)

• From The Famous Group to Gamechanger, these might be the top sports tech companies to watch in 2023. (Link)

• How to enter the metaverse as a sports brand. (Link)

• How streaming that lets users earn crypto by viewing content is “flipping the whole idea of content consumption on its head.” (Link)

🎥 Media & Entertainment

• Amazon discontinues celebrity voices for Alexa, including Samuel L. Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Melissa McCarthy. (Link)

• Angelbaby’s just been signed by the mega talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). (Link)

• What’s (digitally) in store at the Media & Entertainment Summit 2023? (Link)

• A glance at Yahoo TV’s winning formula for selling its metaverse co-creation lab to brands. (Link)

• Johnnie Walker’s Walk Beyond campaign supports local subcultures through virtual concerts in the metaverse, documentary series with Vice, and more. (Link)

• TikTok is under fire from some of music’s most powerful players. (Link)

🖼 Art

• Leonardo da Vinci’s renowned Mona Lisa has been revitalized as a hologram, thanks to AI. (Link)

• Japan’s Air Nippon Airways (ANA) launches an aeronautical-themed NFTs marketplace. (Link)

• Artificial Paintings releases new AI Cases with improved image quality and opens a new store on Etsy. (Link)

• Brewing innovation: Starbucks delights customers with exclusive NFT airdrop. (Link)

• Animation metaverse Mittaria launches an NFT collection, securing an IP deal with a media giant and creating a virtual universe in Translucia Metaverse. (Link)

• How does Neal Stephenson, inventor of the metaverse via his seminal work Snow Crash, envision the metaverse’s future? (Link)

🤖 AI

• Nvidia overtakes Meta and Tesla by market cap as the firm captures AI hype. (Link)

• Saving money made easy: How AI and ChatGPT can financially empower parents. (Link)

• AI firm Stellaris makes a bid for a groundbreaking GPT model. (Link)

• AI and ML help improve copper recovery at Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine. (Link)

• AI Surrealism is yet another AI art exhibition in New York. (Link)

• Adobe Photoshop uses new generative AI to enhance photo editing. (Link)

💸 Funding & Partnerships

• Magic Eden partners with Roblox to launch a Buy now, Pay later feature for Solana NFTs. (Link)

• Web3 payments startup Transak raises $20M in series A funding. (Link)

• Cogito Protocol collaborates with Unicorn Ventures, a “community-backed” VC fund focusing on DeFi, the metaverse, and blockchain gaming. (Link)

• MetaZone secures $3M funding to expand the world’s first tokenized app platform for the metaverse. (Link)

• Jet.AI partners with Vegas Golden Knights and Cirrus Aviation to provide fans with by-the-seat private jet experience. (Link)

Snacking in the metaverse--

All content on this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not aim to serve as or replace expert investment advice.

📈 If you are a startup building in the metaverse / web3 ecosystem and are raising capital, please reach out to Sfermion. Sfermion is an investment firm focused on accelerating the emergence of the metaverse 📈

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