Bandai Namco sets up 3 billion yen fund to invest in Web3.0, Metaverse and other companies
Invest in blockchain companies
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on the 12th that it has launched a venture capital fund "Bandai Namco 021 Fund".
The fund will invest in blockchain companies in Japan and overseas, as well as startups engaged in businesses related to Web 3.0 (distributed web) and Metaverse (virtual space). The investment scale is 1 billion yen per year and 3 billion yen for 3 years. The goal is to speed up decision-making to build funds to build IP (intellectual property) metaverses and create new entertainment.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment has been actively forming capital and business alliances with startups in various fields, looking forward to the popularization of Web3.0 and Metaverse. Through these efforts, he explained the background of the fund's establishment, expressing that he is strongly aware that he wants to create new entertainment with startups, with creativity and execution at the same time. ..
Through this fund, the company aims to combine the IP axis strategy and the know-how the company has cultivated so far with the strengths of a startup to build the IP metaverse and create new entertainment.
In the announcement, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment explained, "Due to the popularity of Metaverse, etc., it is expected that individual event areas will become more active in the virtual space." He said that through the fund, he will also invest in events , to make the connection between entertainment and people hotter and closer.
Related : US Citi "Metaverse Market May Hit 1,600 Trillion Yen"
Fund overview
In addition to the above, the fund's investments include companies that provide entertainment-related products and services that utilize technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality), AR (Augmented Reality), and AI (Artificial Intelligence). ..
The growth stage of the investee company is from pre-seed to late stage. The investment amount (nominal size) per transaction ranges from tens of millions to 500 million yen.
Initiatives of the BANDAI NAMCO Group
For Bandai Namco Group, the mid-term plan for April 2010 to March 2013 was announced in February this year. Positioning the Metaverse concept as one of the priority strategies for the digital business, it also announced a development plan to invest 15 billion yen.
RELATED : Bandai Namco Announces 15 Billion Yen Investment in Metaverse Development Plan
Last month, Namco Bandai announced that it would be participating in the gaming-specific blockchain "Oasys" as an initial validator. As part of the research on recreational applications of advanced technology, it announced that it will contribute to the stable operation and growth of the Oasys blockchain in the form of initial validators (PoS-based secondary).
Related : Bandai Namco Research Institute Participates in Game-Specific Blockchain 'Oasys'
