Hong Kong-based VC firm Animoca Brands announced Monday that it has partnered with global venture accelerator Brinc to launch a ‘Guild Accelerator Program’ to encourage growth in the play-to-earn ecosystem.
With a combined investment of $30 million, the two companies will offer up to $500,000 for each early-stage guild chosen over the course of two years. Animoca Brands entrepreneur-in-residence Richard Robinson will lead the project.
Moreover, guilds that offer commitments to sustainability will be given top priority, including projects that “support and give back to player/scholar communities, place emphasis on energy-efficient proof-of-stake protocols and side chains, and have lower overall physical footprints.”
Apart from offering early-stage funding, the program will help the startups in several other ways, such as access to world-class mentors, helping in the expansion of user base and assets, and setting up management and operational systems.
“Web3-enabled guilds provide an on-ramp for the future of earning in a way that Web2 and traditional industries never could,” Manav Gupta, founder and CEO of Brinc, said in the announcement, adding:
“Guilds can help transform education, skill development, agriculture, R&D and almost any industry where access to tools and assets historically prevented anyone with time to innovate, up-skill and thus earn a living. We’re excited to meet founding teams that challenge the way we think about the applications and impact of guilds across all industries.”
