Although global media paint a rather grim future for the Metaverse, eleven daring projects are kicking-off into intensive preparation for potential integration with corporations.

Rare expertise and access to computing powers make the Metaverse development expensive and risky. So, it was surprising that 30% of applicants already had strong working technology. Due to high competition during the selection process, a number of products with similar technologies got rejected. The geography of applicants was quite diverse, with thirty-seven countries including global Metaverse leaders such as the UAE, China, Singapore, as well as Australia, USA, Turkey, Argentina.

One of the major quality marks for startups was suitability for the corporate environment. The majority of the selected startups provide B2B and B2C services in the Metaverse space and are driven by an AI engine:

• Up to 90% automated creation of high-quality content for media, social networks, blogs, and metaverses with the help of a wholly AI-powered marketing team.
• Next generation maps with a computer vision and machine learning core to take advantage of the AR experience and navigate in the distant regions where GPS is unavailable.
• A ready-made solution for game dev built with generative AI: textures, objects, avatars. Received a grant from OpenAI on implementing ChatGPT.
• A Wix for metaworlds – everyone can create their own metaworld with a set of plugins, space design and gamification instruments.
• A voice-powered management solution for games and extended reality exhibition stands to better engage with the audience.
• Creator of hyperreal virtual 3D models in the Metaverse with several snapshots.

Joseph Tesfaye, Accelerator Manager at Intema and startup scout, said: “User experience, valued by millions of people – this is the key to taking Metaverse to the masses. And it’s a super hard task to create such an experience. So, it’s really too early to speak of the mass adoption of the Metaverse, however there are plenty of targeted successful practical cases with various audiences. The main question is who will take the steering wheel and drive the Metaverse development: a Metaverse friendly gaming industry, big tech corporations or rapid and flexible startups? We’ll find out in the next couple of years.”

Mentors of the programme concluded that some technologies appear too early and the world isn’t ready. In the previous century it happened to the Internet, today's favourite AI, and this is a highly probable scenario for the Metaverse. It will develop in small, targeted projects, with people gradually growing the knowledge base until a major breakthrough finds a place for the Metaverse solutions.