In a bid to bolster the gaming landscape in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Born Ready, the venture arm of the metaverse platform Futureverse, has announced the launch of a new $10 million ecosystem fund. This initiative, developed in partnership with Catalyze Research, seeks to inject resources into sectors including web3, metaverse, gaming, AI, and content creation. 

"We're excited to partner with Catalyze on the Catalyze Futureverse Ecosystem Fund to accelerate startups building on The Root Network in the Asia-Pacific region. Together, we'll continue to shape our digital future," said Aaron McDonald and Shara Senderoff, Co-Founders of Born Ready.

Futureverse $54M Funding

The collaboration between Futureverse and Catalyze Research marks a strategic move to propel ecosystem growth on The Root Network, a platform facilitating web3 interactions. Futureverse and Outlier Ventures only recently unveiled the Futureverse Base Camp Accelerator Program. This announcement comes just a week after Futureverse secured $54 million to create an open metaverse ecosystem, led by 10T Holdings.

The Futureverse Base Camp Accelerator Program is designed to support early-stage startups building on The Root Network, a public decentralized blockchain network tailored for metaverse apps and experiences. Selected teams will benefit from a 12-week virtual program packed with mentorship, education, and $100,000 in funding. 

Futureverse is described as an "AI and Metaverse" company that focuses on building an open Metaverse technology infrastructure. It collaborated with Warner Bros., Ready Player One, FIFA, Mastercard, Authentic Brand Group, Reebok, Muhammad Ali, etc. Recently, it launched Readyverse Studio, which exclusively releases the Ready Player One franchise in the metaverse. 

Web3 Gaming In APAC

Catalyze Research, based in Korea, specializes in web3 and blockchain consulting, supporting businesses in navigating the digital realm. With a track record spanning back to 2017, Catalyze has invested in notable projects like Polygon, Biconomy, and Numbers Protocol, while offering expertise in go-to-market (GTM) strategy, marketing, and business development.

Beyond financial investment, Futureverse and Catalyze Research aim to provide comprehensive strategic growth support to selected projects. McDonald and Senderoff expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership in a statement, highlighting their joint efforts to accelerate startups building on The Root Network in the APAC region.

Hyunje Lee, co-CEO of Catalyze, commented: “With the creation of this ecosystem fund, startups will have the opportunity to secure innovation and improve services by utilizing The Root Network’s mainnet, Futureverse platform, and AI solutions.”

Final Thoughts

This investment aligns with Futureverse's strategy to drive exponential growth on The Root Network, with a particular emphasis on unlocking opportunities for startups in Korea and across the broader APAC region. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, initiatives like the Catalyze Futureverse Ecosystem Fund signal a concerted effort to nurture innovation and foster a thriving gaming ecosystem in Asia-Pacific.