BUSINESS
Sandbox VR expands to new locations globally with $37M Series B led by Andreessen Horowitz
Published
3 months agoon
By
Kate Winslet
After a challenging year for location-based virtual reality startups due to COVID-19, Sandbox VR, a location-based VR startup, is making a comeback with a plan to expand its operations further across the globe.
Sandbox VR aims to be an immersive social experience through a combination of full-body motion capture and VR technologies. It allows players to step into another world and go anywhere with their friends.
The San Francisco and Hong Kong-headquartered company announced it has raised $37 million in a Series B led by Andreessen Horowitz through its Growth Fund, which serves new companies at an inflection point, along with Alibaba and Craft.
The latest funding, which brings its total raised to approximately $119 million, comes on the heels of three new locations launched in July in Austin, Las Vegas and Shanghai.
Sandbox VR will use the proceeds to open 10 new retail locations across the globe, including Paramus, London and Toronto in 2022, as well as two corporate and two franchise locations.
It will scale its internal studio to increase content cadence and develop a software development kit (SDK) to open up the Sandbox platform for third-party development, CEO and co-founder Steve Zhao told TechCrunch. He also said that the company plans to build a wireless technology to remove the VR hardware backpack that weighs down the players.
Sandbox VR uses hardware like head-mounted VR headsets, backpack computers, motion capture sensors and haptic vests for players.
“With more stores on the way, we’ll be ramping up our internal studios as well as developing our SDK (software development kit) to open up publishing soon,” Zhao said.
Sandbox VR develops its own games and technology, unlike other competitors that operate with licensed games, Zhao noted. The company offers five VR games: Curse of Davy Jones, Amber Sky 2088, Star Trek Discovery: Away Mission, Deadwood Mansion and Unbound Fighting League (UFL).
The pandemic broke out right before closing the company’s planned Series B funding in early 2020, Zhao said. About 80% of its employees had to leave the company, which was forced to file bankruptcy during the COVID crisis, he added. Sandbox VR has emerged from COVID stronger than ever. Its revenue is now up 20x compared to the beginning of this year (after reopening the global offices in April of this year).
“The grit and determination exemplified by Steve and his team at the height of the pandemic was more than admirable — it’s led them to become what we believe to be the strongest, most technologically advanced location-based VR offering available today,” said Andrew Chen, a16z general partner and Sandbox VR board member.
The company has 35 employees globally as of October, Zhao said. Sandbox VR currently operates 12 retail locations in the U.S., Canada and Asia.
The global location-based virtual reality market is projected to reach $26.3 billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 32.9% from 2021 to 2028, based on a report by Verified Market Research.
Sandbox VR started with an idea of how it can create the most immersive experience possible, like things people see in science fiction. The VR is just a component, he said, adding that the company doesn’t want to limit its business in the VR sector.
With a mission to expand human interaction by using technology, Sandbox VR has an ambition to enter the metaverse industry down the road, which could take about 3-5 years more to get there, according to Zhao.
“As we continue to innovate in the VR industry, we’ll move towards the virtualization of our physical spaces. One day, it’ll be like stepping into a portal where players can embody their persistent virtual avatars,” Zhao said.
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BUSINESS
The Importance of Sustainable Design in Residential Real Estate Development
Published
3 days agoon
March 18, 2023By
admin
Regarding residential real estate development, it is crucial to consider sustainability. It can make your home more appealing to buyers and help to reduce your environmental footprint.
Sustainable design is an integral part of all new constructions, but older homes can also be retrofitted with sustainable features that will save money and energy in the long run.
Energy Efficiency
Energy costs can represent a substantial portion of the operating costs of multifamily properties, so lowering them can reduce overall expenses and make buildings more affordable. Moreover, improving building efficiency can increase property value and boost occupancy rates.
Studies have shown that highly rated energy-efficient buildings sell at a premium.
However, many energy efficiency upgrades require extensive money and time. This may discourage some owners from implementing them.
To overcome this challenge, cities and governments should find ways to encourage more collaboration among developers, regulators and finance companies. They should also develop policies to help drive demand and bring efficiency to scale.
Water Conservation
The sustainable design aims to reduce negative impacts on the environment, occupants’ health and comfort. It also seeks to improve building performance.
Water conservation is a crucial aspect of sustainable residential real estate development design. It entails implementing efficient water management practices and systems within properties to ensure sustainable water use throughout the lifecycle.
This can be done by limiting outdoor water usage, using toilets and shower heads with low-flow features and reducing irrigation.
In addition to achieving lower operational costs, water savings initiatives help mitigate future water supply risks as climate change and drought conditions worsen. This is especially true in cities that have water supplies in shorter supply.
Green Spaces
Sustainable design is a vital component of residential real estate development like those from Your Home Wichita. Using green building practices and incorporating energy-efficient features can help make a property more environmentally friendly, reduce operating costs and increase its market value.
Green spaces can benefit the health of occupants in a variety of ways. For example, they can reduce premature mortality, improve mental health, mitigate air pollution, lower stress, and promote well-being.
They can also improve the overall quality of life and reduce the environmental impact of a city, reducing heat island effects and enhancing habitats.
In addition, they can attract locals and promote social interaction. This can increase economic benefits for local governments and homeowners by encouraging people to live in the area and creating business opportunities.
Creating green spaces can help reduce income inequality, as people on higher incomes tend to have more access to nature than those on lower incomes. This is an essential consideration because those on the lowest incomes are often forced to live in urban environments where access to green space is much more limited.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is an essential component of sustainable design in residential real estate development. It encompasses the variety of species in an area and how they interact with each other. From a small garden pond to a rainforest, biodiversity is robust.
There are many ways that property developers can improve biodiversity in their buildings and landscapes. This can include planting trees, introducing wildlife such as bees and birds or using ecological corridors to connect two biodiversity reserves.
Currently, most UK property developers are required to achieve a net biodiversity gain in new developments. This is a positive step towards improving the environment, as it will help to reduce negative impacts from habitat loss, pollution and changing nutrient cycles in the soil.
However, this is only one step towards achieving true sustainability. The next step is to develop social norms for biodiversity in the real estate sector and beyond. These must help motivate stakeholders to preserve and enhance urban biodiversity.

Nostalgia marketing is an influential tool marketers have used for decades to evoke a sense of consumer longing for the past. By tapping into consumers’ emotions and memories, nostalgia marketing can help brands establish an emotional connection with their audience, increase engagement, and drive sales. Read more digital marketing tips on Adtheory, a new marketing and advertising blog – with an intersectional twist.
The Psychology of Nostalgia Marketing
Nostalgia is a complex and fascinating emotion that has captured the attention of scholars and researchers alike. It’s a unique blend of happiness, sadness, and longing often associated with cherished memories from the past. Whether it’s a favorite childhood toy, a beloved TV show, or a memorable vacation, nostalgia can transport us back in time and relive the positive emotions associated with those experiences.
But nostalgia is not just a personal experience. It’s also a powerful tool for brands to create a deep emotional connection with their audience. By tapping into their target market’s collective memories and experiences, brands can develop a sense of familiarity and comfort that can be hard to resist. Whether through vintage imagery, classic advertising slogans, or retro packaging designs, nostalgia marketing can evoke powerful emotions and positively associate with a brand’s product or service. Think retro Pepsi cans. Read more digital marketing tips on Adtheory, a new marketing and advertising blog – with an intersectional twist.
According to research by Wildschut et al. (2006), nostalgia can profoundly impact our behavior. When we experience nostalgia, we tend to feel more connected to others, be in a positive mood, and be more willing to spend money. This is why nostalgia marketing is becoming an increasingly popular strategy for businesses looking to increase sales and build brand loyalty. By evoking positive memories and feelings, brands can create a deep emotional connection with their audience to drive engagement and motivate them to purchase.
Why Is Nostalgia Marketing So Effective?
Nostalgia marketing is a highly effective strategy for connecting with customers on an emotional level. By tapping into our emotions and memories, nostalgia marketing creates a sense of familiarity and comfort with a brand. This can be especially important for brands trying to establish themselves in a crowded market, as it can help them stand out from the competition. Read more digital marketing tips on Adtheory, a new marketing and advertising blog – with an intersectional twist.
Moreover, nostalgia marketing can create a sense of community and connection with others who share nostalgic feelings. For example, a brand that uses images or slogans from a beloved childhood cartoon can create a bond between customers who grew up with that cartoon. This can lead to increased loyalty and engagement with the brand.
In addition, nostalgia marketing can be a powerful motivator for purchasing behavior. Feeling nostalgic makes us more apt to spend money on products and experiences that evoke those positive memories. So, for example, a company that sells retro-style clothing or decor can appeal to customers who long for the styles of their youth.
Another reason nostalgia marketing is so effective is that it can appeal to various demographics. Nostalgic feelings are not limited to a particular age group or demographic. People of all ages and backgrounds can experience nostalgia, meaning brands can use this strategy to connect with a broad audience.
How to Effectively Use Nostalgia Marketing in Your Campaigns
Nostalgia marketing is a powerful tool to help brands establish an emotional connection with their target consumers, increase engagement, and drive sales. By tapping into consumers’ emotions and memories, brands can create a feeling of familiarity and warmth with their audience and motivate them to make purchases.
Understand your audience.
To effectively use nostalgia marketing, you must know what periods or events your target audience may be nostalgic for. You can conduct surveys, focus groups, or analyze social media trends to understand better what your audience is nostalgic for. This makes it easier for you to develop campaigns that resonate more with your audience.
Use visuals and music.
Visuals and music can be powerful tools in nostalgia marketing. Consider using imagery and music associated with the period or event you’re trying to evoke. For example, if you’re targeting baby boomers, you might use images and music from the 1960s and 1970s. If you’re targeting millennials, you may use pictures and music from the 1990s and early 2000s. By using these visuals and music, you can create a sense of nostalgia for your audience and evoke positive emotions.
Be authentic.
Authenticity is key in nostalgia marketing. Ensure your nostalgia marketing campaigns are genuine and not overly sentimental or cheesy. Consumers can quickly spot inauthenticity, and it can damage your brand’s reputation. So instead, focus on creating content that is authentic and taps into your audience’s emotions in a meaningful way. For example, you can use real stories and personal experiences or showcase how your brand has evolved.
Nostalgia marketing is a timeless strategy that can continue to be effective for years. Remembering these tips, you can use nostalgia marketing to create campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive actual results. Start by understanding your audience, using visuals and music that evoke positive emotions, and being authentic in your campaigns.
The Future of Nostalgia Marketing.
As we move into the future, nostalgia marketing will remain a popular brand strategy. As our world becomes increasingly digital and fast-paced, consumers may crave the comfort and familiarity of the past more than ever.
In addition, new generations will continue to be exposed to the cultural touchpoints of the past, whether through streaming services, social media, or other forms of media. This means nostalgia marketing will continue to be relevant to a broad audience.
However, as with any marketing strategy, it’s essential to evolve and adapt over time. Brands that rely too heavily on nostalgia marketing may become stale or irrelevant. To stay ahead of the curve, brands should continue to innovate and experiment with new ways to evoke positive emotions and create an emotional connection with their audience.
Ultimately, nostalgia marketing is a powerful tool that can help brands create a sense of familiarity and comfort with their audience and motivate them to purchase. By understanding the psychology behind nostalgia and keeping up with the latest trends and innovations, brands can continue to use this strategy to connect with their audience and drive actual results.
BUSINESS
Mortgage Broker – Your Key to Financial Freedom
Published
5 days agoon
March 16, 2023By
admin
If you’re in the market for a new home or refinancing your current mortgage, a mortgage broker could save you a lot of time and money. A mortgage broker matches borrowers with lenders who offer loan programs that meet their unique needs and financial credentials. This can help you get a better deal on your mortgage or even avoid making a mistake.
Find the Right Loan
Buying a home can be one of the most important investments you’ll ever make. You’ll be paying it off for years, so finding the right loan that fits your needs is essential. Quickstart Mortgage brokers work with various lenders and loan officers, allowing them to provide you with multiple options. They also compare mortgage rates to help you find the best deal. A mortgage is a loan that will enable you to buy a house with a small down payment and pay it off over time. Your monthly fee includes the principal (the money you initially borrowed) and interest. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can save you thousands of dollars in interest and fees over the life of your loan. Collecting loan estimates from at least three lenders can help you get the most competitive rate.
Get Pre-Approved
Getting pre-approved is a crucial step to take in your home-buying process. It lets potential sellers know you are a serious buyer and have the money to purchase the home you want. A mortgage lender will verify your income, assets, and debts to make a preapproval decision. Depending on your circumstances, the lender may also ask for documentation, which can take time to complete. It’s essential to avoid any financial moves after you’ve received the preapproval that could make you appear riskier to lenders. For example, wait to apply for new credit, make large purchases or miss any loan and credit card payments. Lenders typically check your credit before issuing a preapproval letter, and they might have an expiration date (usually 30 to 60 days). So, it’s best to wait until you’re ready to get serious about house-hunting before you apply for a mortgage.
Find the Right Lender
Choosing the right lender is crucial for getting the most out of your mortgage. Whether buying your first home or looking to refinance, you should research to find lenders who meet your needs and goals. A suitable lender will help you understand the process and answer any questions. It will also recommend loan types based on your situation and financial goals. They can help you determine how much house you can afford and what down payment you should save. They can also advise you on income requirements for a loan and explain how credit affects your home-buying chances. A broker’s job is to guide you through the mortgage process and ensure you get approved for the best loan. They do this by comparing different products from several lenders and finding the one that fits your needs and budget.
Close the Loan
Closing the loan is the final step of the mortgage process. This involves the lender verifying all your loan details, including your income and assets. It may also include an appraisal and inspection of your home. During this process, your mortgage broker will help you through the paperwork and answer any questions. They will work with you to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that you get the keys to your new home as quickly as possible.

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