Raphael Thys
Example of a Genies avatar | Source: Genies
- Genies is now valued at $1 billion after its Series C
- Gen Z is going to lead the charge on metaverse and Web3 adoption, Genies’ CEO said
Web3 avatar technology company Genies has announced a $150 million Series C fundraise led by technology investment firm Silver Lake, bringing Genies’ valuation to $1 billion.
Other contributors to the round include investment firms BOND, NEA and Tamarack Global.
“We believe avatar ecosystems are going to shape Web3 the same way that mobile apps defined Web2,” Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies, said in a statement. “With every advancement of the internet, an expansive new region of entrepreneurial skill sets is born.
Genies, founded in 2017, is a platform for users to create and sell online characters, digital experiences and other goods. Creators have full ownership and commercialization rights of their Genie avatar creations to be used for personal use or monetization.
Avatar builders from Generation Z are going to be the leaders of innovation in Web3, Nigam said, and Genies will help bring their vision to life.
Genies recently entered a partnership with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group to become both companies’ “official avatar and digital goods NFT provider,” Genies said.
“Genies has established its leadership in Web3 with remarkable speed and focus, fueled by a long term vision and clarity of purpose that we have been watching closely and greatly admire,” Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake, said in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with and support Akash, his co-founder Evan, and the entire Genies team as they make it possible for people to build the avatar ecosystems that we believe will drive the next evolution of human expression, communication and creativity.”
The news comes as interest in the metaverse and Web3 applications continues to grow.
The developer of one of the world’s most popular games, Fortnite, announced a $2 billion raise on Monday from investors including Sony Group Corporation and KIRKBI, the family-owned investment company behind The LEGO Group.
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- Casey Wagner Casey Wagner is a New York-based business journalist covering regulation, legislation, digital asset investment firms, market structure, central banks and governments, and CBDCs. Prior to joining Blockworks, she reported on markets at Bloomberg News. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Media Studies. Contact Casey via email at casey@blockworks.co