Avatar Tech Company Genies Launches $1 Million Developer Engagement Fund
Genies, the leading avatar tech company, has recently announced the establishment of a $1 million developer engagement fund. The purpose of this fund is to support developers in building augmented reality (AR) experiences for an interoperable avatar social network that is set to launch in the fall. Initially, a set of experiences will be available, followed by more in the subsequent months. In addition to financial support, developers will have the opportunity to unlock further funding based on performance benchmarks.
“Avatars are now prerequisites for any interactive and social experiences for the future of hardware that is now upon us,” said Genies CEO Akash Nigam. “We’ve been dreaming about this moment for years and we’re excited to help power and create the use cases for this new reality.”
New AR Avatar Tools and Standards
Alongside the funding, developers will gain access to a development kit that allows for a variety of avatars. They will also have access to an AI generative gameplay bot to assist in crafting interoperable experiences, as well as XR compatibility for high performance. These tools and standards provided by Genies aim to enable developers to create a diverse range of experiences, including mini games and social worlds, that utilize augmented reality.
The first developers to have access to either the development kit or the fund will be selected through the Genies Developer Incubator application process. Through this incubator and fund, Genies aims to empower and support the next generation of developers by providing mentorship, industry experts’ guidance, and a network of connections. The incubator is set to launch this summer, and interested applicants can apply now. Evaluation of applicants will be based on entrepreneurial prowess, previous experience with Unity or gaming/XR projects, and creativity in leveraging Genies’ avatars and tools to enhance the AR experience.
The recent announcement of Apple’s Vision Pro has further highlighted the growing interest in augmented reality.