Event Details
Pitch Videos & Investor Packages
The recorded pitch videos, company presentations and investor packages, including more details on the team, financials and other documents are available HERE to VANTEC members (must be logged in to view).
WATCH Presentation: Opportunities in the Metaverse (free access and free to share)
Geoffrey Hansen, Partner at Garibaldi Capital Advisors explained the terminology, market potential, business models and investment dynamics of the metaverse, and why it promises to be the next big wave of investment and innovation. Next, James Hursthouse, CEO and Founder of Departure Lounge discussed the pathway of commercialization for these innovations.
The promise of a 3D interactive world is not something new, nor is the term metaverse which was originally coined in the 1990's. Today's metaverse market opportunity is the convergence of a range of technology innovations (visualization, AI, bandwidth, processors, cloud, blockchain, etc) to provide substantial and financially impactful change in digital experiences and digital marketplaces.
The global Metaverse market was valued at USD 43.4 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 814.2 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 44.3% from 2021 to 2028.
Large amounts of venture capital and BigTech company investments in the space are seeing rapid advancement in next generation solutions. We are seeing the transformative effects initially in games (like Fortnite, Pokemon Go) and digital media (NFTs, virtual concerts, new fan experiences) but these changes will impact education, the workplace, commerce, marketing and communications in ways we are only beginning to understand.
This event will explain the terminology, the market potential, business models and investment dynamics in this field that promises to be the next big wave of investment and innovation over the next decade. We'll then dive into an understanding of the commercialization pathway for these innovations by interviewing a seasoned entrepreneur at the leading edge: James Hursthouse.
This informational session that precedes the Investor pitches and networking will provide valuable context for engaging with the promising seed stage companies that are part of this metaverse revolution.
A G E N D A
Registration & Networking 2:30pm
Random networking between founders and investors.
Presentation: Opportunities in the Metaverse 3:00pm
Market Background
Business Models
Recent Trends in Investment and Acquisition
Commercialization Models
Tips for Investors
Insight from James Hursthouse
Presenter: Geoffrey Hansen, Partner at Garibaldi Capital Advisors | geoff@garibaldicapital.com
A seasoned tech entrepreneur with multiple successful exits in communications, e-commerce, mobility and biotech. After years as a venture capitalist, spent 15 years as a growth advisor to hundreds of technology companies. Also an active angel investor and an analyst behind BC's Ready to Rocket list. Garibaldi is Canada's leading tech-focused investment bank helping tech companies with capital raising and exit transactions.
Featured Guest: James Hursthouse, CEO and Founder of Departure Lounge Inc.
James Hursthouse is a twenty-year veteran of the global games and digital media sector. He has proven success across content development and publishing, infrastructure and technology for ‘games as a service’, and with technologies such as mixed reality, blockchain and artificial intelligence. He was a contributing author to ‘The Metaverse Roadmap’ whitepaper as far back as 2007 and has been developing initiatives that could be considered precursors to the current ‘Metaverse boom’ for over fifteen years.
After spending the first half of his career focused on early-day massively multiplayer online games in Asia and Silicon Valley, James moved to Vancouver, BC in 2010 to co-found and be the CEO of Roadhouse Interactive, a gaming studio that grew to 180 people at its peak. Between 2016 and 2018, James served as the Executive Director of DigiBC where he continues to serve on the board. He also currently sits on the board of Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster.
James co-founded Cooper’s New Reality Garage, an augmented reality mobile game studio in 2017. CNRG was acquired by Truly Social Games in 2018, which in turn was acquired by LEAF Mobile in 2021. He also co-founded PlayChannel Inc., a mobile game developer and publisher focused on prizing-supercharged mobile game experiences, in 2019.
James is now leading Departure Lounge Inc. as founder and CEO. Departure Lounge was formally incorporated in June 2021 to explore a range of Metaverse-focused technology and content opportunities, including a joint venture with 4D holographic capture pioneers, Metastage Inc. to bring their world-leading holographic capture platform to Canada.
Departure Lounge Inc. was acquired by AMPD Ventures in December 2021.
Investor Meeting 4:00pm
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community partners are invited to announce their upcoming events to the investors in the room and subscribers to our newsletter. Simply email us at info@vantec.ca.
Western Pacific Trust Company specializes in facilitating investment in early stage private companies through investors’ self-administered registered plans RRSPs, TFSAs, LIRAs etc. , thereby expanding the pool of capital available to entrepreneurs.
Contact: Alison Alfer | self-administered@westernpacifictrust.com | (604) 683-0455
Archangel | founded in 2020, an overarching angel stage investment fund made up of a consortium of superangels and venture capitalists from the Toronto and Waterloo Innovation Corridor. Contact: phoenixfire@archangelnetwork.ca
Go Recruitment | Trusted, Designated and Licensed advisors to the most innovative companies in BC’s technology sector. Contact: questions@gorecruitment.com | 604.871.4166
We are looking for an Administrative Assistant for the VANTEC Startup Visa Program and for a VANTEC Community Manager. More information on the Jobs page
INVESTOR EVENTS
Keiretsu Tax Academy Friday, February 4
Keiretsu Forum Vancouver Chapter Meeting Tuesday, February 8
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Spring Annual Day 2022 Wednesday, February 2
The Forum Pitch Semi-Final Thursday, February 3
Natural Products Canada: Alternative Protein Virtual Pitch Event Tuesday-Tuesday, February 1-8
VEF: The Next Generation of Company Building and Financing Tuesday, February 15
Foresight: Fireside Chat - Capital Raising 101 Tuesday, February 15
Angels for Climate Solutions 2022 Pitch Night Tuesday, February 15
Company Presentations 4:15pm
Companies can apply to pitch here and are recommended to attend one or more of the pitch circuit events to practice their pitch. The presenting companies will be announced 2 weeks prior to the meeting.
UPDATES (90 seconds)
Hidden Bands | Media and Entertainment | Gust | Pokemon GO for music. We put bands on the map and reward users for finding and sharing exclusive new music.
PREVIEWS (90 seconds)
Immersive Tech | Gaming | Gust | We are the worlds 1st location-based Metaverse VR platform, interconnecting our network of 300+ VR Arcades, 325+ VR games & hyper-immersive VR attractions.
Traxe Technologies | Food and Beverage | Gust | Traxe is developing an NFT-based product tagging and tokenization solution for brands to enable them to market and sell their products on web3 and Metaverse.
Holdr | Internet / Web Services | Gust | Holdr is a blockchain fan engagement and artist discovery platform that allows fans to take part in their favourite artists' careers and receive VIP perks.
Silver Dice Games Inc. | Gaming | Gust | Silver Dice Games develops VR games with engaging stories and creative imaginary worlds for players.
Repose | Fintech | Gust | NFT-gated social clubs for fashion and beauty creators.
FULL PRESENTATIONS (5 minutes)
GameDriver, Inc. | Software | Gust | GameDriver's patent-pending approach is the first cross-platform plug-and-play automated testing framework for Augmented and Virtual Reality and Video Games.
ĒMAGEN | Education | Gust | ĒMAGEN is a real-time holographic content provider and distribution platform for academic institutions.
Univoice Corporation | Software | Gust | We're teaching the world languages through music.
Sonical.ly | Education | Gust | Sonical.ly makes blockchain games that educate music creators.
DEEP DIVES on Feb 9 (60 minutes online)
You can sign up for the following investor deep dives by emailing the founders for an invitation.
GameDriver | rob@gamedriver.io
Univoice Corporation | sami.halabi@univoice.app
Investor Decks
The company presentations and investor packages, including more details on the team, financials, and other documents are available to VANTEC members on the Gust platform. Email us at info@vantec.ca if you have any questions.
Founder & Investor Networking 5:30pm-6:00pm
General networking in the common room. Dedicated Q&A breakout rooms with full presentation founders, their investor sponsor, and investors in 2 x 10-minute cycles, followed by 5-minute cycles of random founder & investor networking until the end of the VANTEC meeting.
NOTE: In our effort to share the pitches and presentations beyond our venue for a bigger impact we will record some of our events and make them available online.
By attending this event, you consent to the use of photography/video/audio in all forms of media, for any and all promotional purposes including advertising, display, audiovisual, exhibition or editorial use by VANTEC Angel Network without payment or other compensation.
When
Location
- Online
