Tokyo, Japan, March 5, 2023, Chainwire
- More participants expected before registration closes at 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, March 6
- Participating startups will be mentored by senior executives from Sony, Astar Network, Microsoft, AWS, Dragonfly, and Blockdaemon
Astar Network, the smart contract platform for multi-channel, is delighted to announce that the Web3 incubation program it co-hosts with Sony Network Communications, Inc., a Sony Group operating company, has received an overwhelming response from developers around the world.
The Incubator Program has received over 150 registrations since it began accepting applications on February 17, 2023. Registrations are due to close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, March 6. Interested developers can still submit their applications before the deadline of the next page.
The Web3 incubation program powered by Sony Network Communications and Astar will run from mid-March to mid-June. Sony Network Communications and Astar Foundation will review all applications and decide on 10-15 cohorts. Sony and Astar will work with Startale Labs, a Singapore-based company founded by Astar Network CEO Sota Watanabe, to organize the incubation program.
Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Labs and Astar Network, said, “I’m amazed to see our community of developers growing so quickly and welcoming new projects joining our Web3 incubation program with Sony Network Communications. I’m ready to begin the next stage of our program, when our incubated projects begin working with an elite group of mentors from AWS, Polychain, Microsoft, and more..”
Sony Network Communications explores how blockchain technology can solve various problems in its industry. This Incubation program with Astar Network allows them to quickly find relevant Web3 solutions. They will combine their resources and expertise to jointly nurture Web3 projects focused on the utility of NFTs and DAOs.
The program invites participants from all over the world, regardless of their Web3 start-up phase. It will include learning sessions with global venture capital firms such as Dragonfly, Fenbushi Capital and Alchemy Ventures; and Web3, as well as business and technology strategy workshops. Mentoring sessions will feature senior executives and industry veterans, including:
- Ryohei Suzuki, Director at Sony Network Communications Singapore
- Teemu Pohjola, general director of the Sony R&D Center Brussels laboratory (deputy director)
- Sota Watanabe, Founder of Astar Network, CEO of Startale Labs
- Maarten Henskens, Director of Growth at Astar Network
- Andrew Vranjes, Vice President of Sales and General Manager for APAC at Blockdaemon
- Ben Perszyk, Partner at Polychain
- Bill Laboon, Head of Education and Grants at Web3 Foundation
- Dmitry Lapidus, Investment Associate at Dragonfly
- Wei Shi Khai, General Partner and COO at LongHash Ventures
- Yuki Yuminaga, investor and researcher at Fenbushi Capital
- Michael Smith Jr., General Manager, Microsoft for APAC Startups
- Lillian So, Web3 Manager at AWS Singapore
- Roy, partner at HashKey Capital
- Santiago Balaguer, head of Parity BD
In mid-June, an offline demo day will be held at Sony Group headquarters in Tokyo during Japan Blockchain Week. Promising companies will be considered for investment from Sony Network Communications.
About Sony Network Communications
The Sony Group operates a variety of businesses such as games and network services, music, images, entertainment technologies and services, imaging and sensing solutions and financial services. As a commercial company of Sony Group, Sony Network Communications is involved in communication business, IoT, AI and solution services, and promotes new businesses using assets within Sony Group. In April 2022, Sony Network Communications established Sony Network Communications Singapore Pte. ltd. in Singapore to engage in NFT-related outsourcing and development consultancy business.
About Astar Network
Astar Network supports building dApps with EVM and WASM smart contracts and offers developers true interoperability with Cross Consensus Messaging (XCM) and Cross Virtual Machine (XVM). Astar’s unique Build2Earn model allows developers to get paid through a dApp staking mechanism for their code and the dApps they build.
One of the first parachains to come to the Polkadot ecosystem, Astar is a dynamic network that is backed by all major exchanges and Tier 1 VCs. Astar offers the flexibility of all Ethereum and WASM tools for developers to start create their dApps. To accelerate growth on the Polkadot and Kusama networks, Astar SpaceLabs offers an incubation hub for the best TVL dApps.
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Contact
Martin Henskens
press@astar.network
