Ford & Disney Entering the Metaverse / NY Fashion Week Web3 Experience / Meta Accelerator Program

Here’s your weekly roundup of what’s happened this week in a simple, easily digestible email every Friday. Let’s get started.

“As terrifying and painful as reality can be, it’s also the only place where you can find true happiness.” - Ernest Cline, Ready Player One

Ford prepares to enter the metaverse by filing 19 trademark applications for future efforts in the metaverse and NFT spaces. The trademarks look to include iconic vehicles like the Mustang and F150. Ford isn’t the first automotive company to enter the metaverse space, it follows the likes of Nissan, Lamborghini and Cupra. 

—

Continuing its push to increase adoption of the metaverse, Meta has launched a series of startup accelerator programs in India in association with the ministry of IT. It’s looking to broaden innovation in VR and AR. Startups that are successful will receive a $25k grant. 

—

Disney plans to create its own metaverse, to allow users to experience a virtual version of the world's renowned theme parks. Different sets of rides will be available in virtual reality, and the metaverse will also include interactions with famous Disney characters. 

—

Some VR developers are accusing Meta of withholding the keys to metaverse success. Meta (formerly Facebook) invested in Oculus, a small VR company at the time. Since then they’ve grown to become the dominant player in the VR space with approximately 90% of all headset sales. 

—

The New York fashion week is launching its first metaverse experience. The designer brand Nolcha Shows will host a VR fashion show, that will include virtual avatars, NFT wearables, and augmented reality. 

—

In closing, we saw this clip on YouTube this week and had to share. Roblox CEO, David Baszucki talking to CNBC television about how their view of the metaverse is different to Meta’s.