Alexa Fund, the enterprise capital arm of Amazon, has dished out $20 million within the newest spherical of funding to help Web3-centric studio Superplastic. The funding brings the corporate’s whole funding to $58 million, with the likes of Galaxy Digital, Google Ventures, Sony Japan, Craft Ventures, Animoca Brands, and lots of others concerned within the newest spherical.
Superplastic is a 3D character studio that makes a speciality of creating vinyl toys. It has additionally closely invested in Web3, having launched NFT collections on Ethereum and partnered with prime manufacturers like Gucci and Fortnite by Epic Games.
Following the investment, Superplastic has promised to prioritize Amazon Studios with any tv collection or movie pitches that characteristic its characters. Currently, there may be already one present in manufacturing that includes two of Superplastic’s digital characters. It’s dubbed “The Janky & Guggimon Show.” The masterpiece encompasses a cat and a fanged rabbit which are in sizzling pursuit of fame and riches by any means.
Today, we announce a collaboration with Amazon that spans funding and a first-look cope with Amazon Studios. The Alexa Fund leads our $20 million Series A-4 funding spherical & THE @JANKY & @GUGGIMON SHOW has been put into growth at Amazon Studios. https://t.co/xV7NN3TcZB pic.twitter.com/iCJxKlFFpX
— SUPERPLASTIC (@SUPERPLASTIC) February 15, 2023
The workforce behind the present describes the 2 characters as “lazy and spectacularly incompetent best friends,” with Janky being a “loveable idiot who spends his spare time scamming celebrities,” whereas Guggimon is a “fashion icon and master manipulator who is too narcissistic to care.”
Amazon’s Investment In Superplastic Is Part Of Its Plan To Expand Its Reach With New Technologies
Superplastic’s digital celebrities are fairly widespread, boasting hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Its one facet that proved fairly interesting to Amazon’s head honchos as they contemplated the deal. Paul Bernard, director of the Alexa Fund, acknowledges this truth. In a press release, he says the truth that Superplastic’s characters “meet their customers where they are,” both on social media or in video video games like Fortnite, is a giant a part of why they’re so interesting.
He continues, “We see them as a new class of IP that will become increasingly relevant to younger generations.”
Amazon’s funding in Superplastic additionally seems to be a part of its intention to increase its attain in relation to future applied sciences.
According to Bernard, “This includes technologies such as synthetics, virtualization, generative AI, Web3, and more.” Thus, the corporate “wants to place strategic bets on these areas alongside our continued investment in startups furthering voice use cases, as it’s a part of our company’s core values to look towards the future at long-term investments that will position us well, even if it takes some time for these technologies to fully come to fruition in our day-to-day lives.”
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Basil is an avid fan of blockchain know-how and all its improvements, and he’s captivated with sharing this narrative together with his viewers. He has spent over 5 years within the crypto area, specializing in analysis and creating Web3 content material for varied media shops across the globe.
