Metaverse

AI and Web3 are leading the next wave of gaming innovation

Gaming investment rallied in 2024. Here’s how emerging tech is making gaming more immersive, responsive, and secure.

Research Brief

Analyzing a16z’s AI investment strategy: Where the firm sees opportunity amid the genAI rush

In 2024 so far, Andreessen Horowitz’s leading AI priorities are multimedia generation and AI-fueled agents & copilots.

Research Brief
August 23, 2024

Analyzing Nike’s growth strategy: How the sportswear brand is prioritizing loyalty amid a return to wholesale

We mined Nike's acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities.

Research Brief
February 16, 2024

Amazon’s bet on physical stores hasn’t paid off. What’s the tech giant’s next move in retail?

We mined Amazon's acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities in retail.

Research Brief
January 30, 2023

Analyzing Chipotle’s growth strategy: How the fast-casual restaurant giant is boosting profits through robotics, gaming, and more

We mined Chipotle’s investments and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities.

Research Brief
January 17, 2023

Analyzing Microsoft’s metaverse strategy: How the tech giant is building a gaming empire

We mined Microsoft’s acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities for the metaverse.

Research Brief
November 22, 2022

100+ Web3 companies building the future of the internet

Investors are pouring money into buzzy Web3 tech. But how does Web3 work, and who's building it? From decentralized finance to play-to-earn games, we break down what Web3 is today and what it could mean for consumers and creators.

Research Brief
November 11, 2022

How restaurant chains can use the metaverse to create a new digital channel for orders

We dive into how technology is shaping the future of fast food by helping the likes of Wendy’s and Chipotle leverage virtual worlds to deliver real meals.

Report
November 10, 2022

The Ultimate Metaverse Panel Webinar: Everything You Need to Know

Webinar
October 18, 2022 2 PM EDT

Get the recording

95+ early-stage companies using AI to create and edit digital content

From automating the creation of personalized videos to enabling new virtual customer experiences, these startups are using AI to help brands and retailers create highly engaging digital content at scale.

Research Brief
October 5, 2022

Unbundling TikTok: How influencer marketing and the creator economy are getting disrupted

TikTok’s rise as a popular social media platform among younger consumers and content creators has implications for where and how brands and retailers should allocate their digital marketing budget. From NFTs to digital avatars, here’s how tech companies are disrupting the creator economy and influencer marketing.

Research Brief
September 8, 2022

Analyzing Qualcomm’s growth strategy: How the semiconductor giant is building for the metaverse and next-gen digital technologies

We mined Qualcomm's acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities.

Research Brief
September 7, 2022

What is Web3? How a decentralized internet could upend the digital economy

Web3 is generating a lot of hype — but what exactly is it? From the metaverse to decentralized finance to NFTs and beyond, we break down what Web3 is today and what it could mean for the future of the internet.

Report
August 29, 2022

The Big Tech in Retail Report: How Meta, Amazon, and Google are transforming retail

The way we shop is evolving, both online and in the real world, enabling new opportunities to engage with consumers and influence their decisions. We look at how big tech is developing new tools, investing in startups, and using partnerships to expand its reach across the customer journey.

Report
August 2, 2022

The virtual fitting room: How Amazon, Walmart, Alibaba, and others are using AI and AR to transform shopping

We assess how leading fashion brands and retailers are increasing engagement and driving e-commerce conversions with virtual try-on tech.

Research Brief
June 15, 2022

Metaverse of madness: 13 big industries the rise of virtual worlds could disrupt

The eventual shape of the metaverse is far from certain, but underlying trends in how consumers value their digital identities and spend money online are already creating far-reaching opportunities and challenges. From retail to banking to advertising, we look at the industries poised to be reshaped by the metaverse. Get the report.

Report
May 18, 2022

Analyzing Coinbase’s growth strategy: How the crypto exchange is investing in the future of digital assets

We mined Coinbase’s acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities.

Research Brief
May 17, 2022

The Future of E-Commerce: How AI advisors, crypto wallets, and the metaverse will enable shopping in 2030

We dive into the evolution of e-commerce and how tech will transform online shopping, from virtual advisors to next-gen digital content.

Report
May 10, 2022

Analyzing Kering’s growth strategy: How the luxury giant behind Gucci and Balenciaga is innovating across sustainability, the metaverse, and more

We mined Kering’s investments and partnerships to discern the group's strategic priorities.

Research Brief
May 2, 2022

The metaverse could be tech’s next trillion-dollar opportunity: These are the companies making it a reality

The metaverse is one of the hottest buzzwords in tech, and this far-reaching vision of a next-gen internet will rely upon an entire ecosystem of companies to make it a reality. We cut through the noise to explain what the metaverse is, how it's being built, and who's building it.

Report
April 13, 2022

The Future of Fashion: From design to merchandising, how tech is reshaping the industry

A look at the evolution of the fashion industry and where technology is taking it next, from AR/VR dressing rooms to temperature-changing smart fabrics to virtual goods in the metaverse.

Report
March 22, 2022

These 95+ AR/VR companies hint at what the metaverse has in store

Market Map

From VR-based therapeutics to omni-directional treadmills for immersive gaming, these startups are ushering in the next wave of AR/VR experiences and solutions.

Research Brief
February 9, 2022

Unbundling Nike: How Direct-To-Consumer Retail Is Being Disrupted

Traditional retailers are shifting more focus to direct-to-consumer channels, and Nike has been no exception. From demand planning to metaverses, here's how brands are unbundling the sportswear giant.

Research Brief
December 20, 2021

Analyzing Meta’s Growth Strategy: How The Tech Giant Formerly Known As Facebook Is Building The Metaverse

We mined Meta’s acquisitions and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities in the metaverse.

Research Brief
December 16, 2021

Content Moderation Tech Is Not Just For Social Media. Here’s Why Brands And Retailers Need It

As brands and retailers invest more in digital content and social features, they need to adopt tech solutions that protect their reputation and their customers from toxic or unlawful behaviors.

Research Brief
October 27, 2021