Animoca Brands and Brinc launch NFT accelerator Launchpad Luna

Global blockchain and NFT startups will benefit from funding of up to US$500,000 and end-to-end support

Animoca Brands and global venture accelerator Brinc have launched Launchpad Luna, a new accelerator program to identify, mentor, and invest in promising blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFT) startups that are shaping the future of the Web and driving digitalisation. Launchpad Luna will also accept high-potential startups seeking to adopt blockchain and NFTs into their core business.

Applications are now open at https://www.launchpadluna.com

Launchpad Luna accelerator will identify and foster NFT innovation in the fields of culture, art, entertainment, media, gaming, streaming, collectibles, insurance, finance, and data management; DeFi and additional verticals will be added in the future.

High-potential early-stage projects and startups around the globe that are accepted into the acceleration program will receive training, a launchpad, and monetary investment of up to USD$500,000 (or equivalent) in exchange for equity and tokens.

As reported by Reuters, the burgeoning global NFT market surged to US$2.5 billion in sales in the first half of 2021, up from $13.7 million in the first half of 2020. According to a recent report by Nonfungible.com, the NFT ecosystem is now growing faster, appeals to increasing numbers of new users, and supports the highest average asset prices yet.

Sebastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox and chairman of the Blockchain Gamer Alliance, commented: “As a pioneer in this industry, I believe in the network effect benefits of growing an even stronger ecosystem. I look forward to contributing through the Launchpad Luna accelerator and supporting the entrepreneurs who are pushing further innovation and decentralisation within the open NFT Metaverse.”

The new accelerator has extensive support from various mentors and corporate partners working towards the advancement of the NFT space, including AppWorks, Blockparty, Dapper Labs (the company behind CryptoKitties, NBA Top Shot, and FLOW), EllioTrades, Featured by Binance, Gabby Dizon (co-founder of Yield Guild Games), Harmony (ONE), Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR), Mai Fujimoto (Miss Bitcoin), Mateen Soudagar (DCLBlogger), Metakovan (Metapurse), Mindfund, Sebastien Borget (co-founder of The Sandbox and chairman of the Blockchain Gamer Alliance), Virtually Human Studio (creators of ZED RUN), WhaleShark, and various others.

Christian Hasker, chief marketing officer of Hedera Hashgraph, commented: “As the greenest public distributed ledger network in the market today, Hedera has seen strong interest in non-fungible tokens via the Hedera Token Service. For NFTs to go mainstream it’s important to develop a thriving ecosystem around this emerging market and we are excited to be part of Launchpad Luna powered by Animoca Brands and Brinc, and believe that this approach will accelerate NFT development and adoption.”

Launchpad Luna aims to shape the blockchain industry to embrace awareness of environmental concerns such as climate change. Admission to the program will be prioritised for climate-conscious projects that drive digitalisation, that place emphasis on proof-of-stake protocols and sidechains instead of proof-of-work, and that have lower overall physical footprints. Accepted entrants will receive training in optimising a blockchain business to minimize energy use and carbon emissions. This is in line with Brinc’s plan to invest and support the development of more than 1,000 climate conscious startups in the next five years.

Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “Launchpad Luna is an initiative that furthers our mission to enable a more inclusive digital economy and we are honored at the level of enthusiasm and support we have received from the global NFT community. We are thrilled to be doing this with Brinc, the number one accelerator in the region. Brinc’s presence and network significantly increase our pathways into Europe, the Middle East, and China, and we look forward to establishing a new ecosystem of accelerators and startups at the epicentre of regional start-up activity that will allow us to contribute to the shape of the future.”

Startups accepted into the Launchpad Luna program will benefit from a unique combination of technical resources on product development, token design, fundraising, marketing, research, analytics support, and data management. Startups will also receive support to help them scale all aspects of their businesses, including access to world-class mentors in the crypto world along with key exchanges, chains, marketers, and investors within the networks of Animoca Brands and Brinc.

Manav Gupta, founder and CEO of Brinc, said: “As we bring Launchpad Luna to market, we could not think of a better partner than Animoca Brands, which has proven successes with projects like REVV Motorsport and The Sandbox. Given the rapid evolution of this market, startups need a support system to navigate the shifting landscape of platforms, chains, and go-to-market strategies, while investors need confidence that the projects they are backing have solid foundations and are ready for growth and scale.”

In early 2021, Brinc took over management of the investments into 50 AI-focused companies from Zeroth.ai, Animoca Brands’ accelerator for artificial intelligence startups. This collaboration laid the foundation for the new accelerator program as both organizations recognized a broader opportunity to scale value creation by leveraging each other’s expertise.

Brinc and Animoca Brands bring together market-leading expertise in their respective fields. Brinc has made over 160 investments and is one of the world’s leading venture accelerators. Animoca Brands has invested in more than 60 businesses that are built around the use and/or trade of NFTs, and has launched various blockchain projects including The Sandbox metaverse and the REVV Motorsport token and platform.

Launchpad Luna is now accepting applications at http://www.launchlpadluna.com

Revision, 7 October: In 2022, the Brinc x Animoca Brands Launchpad Luna program was rebranded ZK Advancer to echo the continued evolution of, and its role within, the Web3 space. The program still seeks innovative ways to utilize Web3 to approach everyday challenges and enhance artistic and regulatory startups with training and connections, thereby building a more inclusive, open, and sustainable future.

About Brinc

Brinc is one of the world’s leading global venture accelerators, operating 17 comprehensive multidisciplinary accelerator programs in 6 countries. Brinc accelerates startups focused on Internet of Things (IoT), connected hardware, drones, robotics, clean energy and food technology startups. Brinc has a portfolio of over 200 companies with 160+ investments made through its accelerator programs supporting founders from over 35 countries.

Core to Brinc’s business is the belief that some of the world’s biggest challenges can be solved by entrepreneurs, who it calls GAME CHANGERS. Brinc believes that deep technology-focused startups that have the right backing can fundamentally improve how we move, what we eat, how we feel, and the places where we live.

Learn more at www.brinc.io and Brinc’s commitment to developing sustainable systems.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands, ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification. Animoca Brands develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Formula 1®, Marvel, WWE, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Doraemon. Animoca Brands’ portfolio of blockchain investments and partnerships includes Sky Mavis (Axie Infinity), Dapper Labs (CryptoKitties and NBA Top Shot), OpenSea, Harmony, Bitski, and Alien Worlds. Its subsidiaries include The Sandbox, Quidd, Gamee, nWay, Pixowl, and Lympo. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or get updates by following Animoca Brands on Facebook or Twitter.​

Contacts

Brinc global contact: press@brinc.io

Animoca Brands global contact: press@animocabrands.com

Animoca Brands North America: Marla@thoroughbred-communications.com