Metropolis World

Metropolis World is developing a metaverse platform that integrates commerce, gaming, art, and social experiences. The company was co-founded in December 2021 by Rashid Ajami, who serves as CEO, and Rania Ajami, the Chief Creative Officer. The founding team's background is rooted in creative industries; Rashid Ajami is a music producer with a history of releasing tracks on prominent labels and founding a B2B2C community platform called Connectt, while Rania is an award-winning filmmaker.

The platform is designed as a creator-driven virtual world where users interact through customizable avatars. These avatars act as a key to unlock digital and physical products, content, and experiences from a network of over 400 creators and brands, including notable names like Steve Aoki and Time Out magazine. The business model involves a revenue split with creators for items sold through the platform, creating a new digital economy. The company's approach emphasizes accessibility, aiming for a "Web2.5" experience that doesn't require users to have deep knowledge of blockchain technology or own VR goggles to participate.

The core of Metropolis World consists of virtual cities, with the first being named Celeste, which features hand-drawn, non-generative art for its buildings and objects, each existing as a unique NFT with its own story. The company's initial release saw all 500 properties in its Genesis City sell out. The platform's native token, $CLAY, is used for transactions within the ecosystem, including buying and selling digital and physical items. A key feature is interoperability, with partnerships like the one with Flare enabling users to move assets between different metaverse ecosystems like Decentraland and The Sandbox. The company has raised $1.2 million in funding from investors including Protocol Labs, London Real Ventures, and Primal Capital.

Future developments outlined in the company's roadmap include the introduction of an immersive art exhibition with contemporary galleries and the expansion of its 3D virtual gaming world. The platform is also developing commerce hubs in partnership with a Web3-enabled platform and allowing property owners to create their own 3D immersive brand hubs. These initiatives aim to seamlessly connect digital and real-world products and experiences, positioning Metropolis World at the intersection of gaming, e-commerce, and the creator economy.

Keywords: metaverse platform, creator economy, digital identity, virtual world, NFT properties, gamified commerce, avatar membership, interoperability, Web3, digital collectibles, virtual events, social commerce, creator-driven quests, 3D immersive experiences, digital real estate, crypto gaming, CLAY token, Rania Ajami, Rashid Ajami, Steve Aoki