MatchboxDAO

MatchboxDAO operates as a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) and developer community focused on fostering the creation of on-chain games. Founded in 2022 by Yonatan Ben-Shimon, the organization aims to build and provide infrastructure for game developers, with a specific emphasis on the StarkNet ecosystem, an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution. Ben-Shimon, an Israeli crypto entrepreneur with a background in securities analysis and previous ventures like Matchpool, transitioned into the crypto space in 2013 and established MatchboxDAO to accelerate the next generation of gaming.

The organization's strategy is centered on becoming the on-chain equivalent of a game engine like Unreal Engine, enabling developers to build and launch games rapidly. To achieve this, MatchboxDAO is developing two primary products. The first, Matchbox Spark, is an incubator program that provides funding, mentorship, and support to game development teams building on StarkNet. The second, Matchbox Studios, focuses on creating a suite of tools and core games to speed up the development process. By fostering a community where smart contracts and gaming primitives can be shared, MatchboxDAO aims to allow developers to create titles by reusing existing foundational elements.

A significant milestone was achieved in August 2022, when MatchboxDAO raised $7.5 million in a seed funding round at a $50 million valuation. The round saw participation from notable investors including StarkWare, Delphi Ventures, and ReadyPlayerDAO. This capital is being used to develop its core products and provide grants to development teams within its ecosystem. The business model serves on-chain game developers by providing them with the necessary tools, funding, and community support. The organization hosts hackathons, educational workshops, and competitive events like '0xMonaco: The Battle of Titans' to engage the developer community and spur creation on its platform. By building on StarkNet, MatchboxDAO leverages ZK-rollup technology to ensure transactions are fast and cost-effective while maintaining the security of the Ethereum mainnet.

Keywords: on-chain gaming, MatchboxDAO, StarkNet, developer community, DAO, blockchain gaming, game development infrastructure, Web3 gaming, Yonatan Ben-Shimon, Matchbox Spark, Matchbox Studios, Ethereum scaling, ZK-rollup, gaming incubator, decentralized autonomous organization, crypto gaming, game primitives, developer tools, StarkWare, blockchain entertainment