February 2, 2007
GMO VenturePartners and paperboy&co.
Establish Second Life Fund Project
Support for business and creative projects inside Second Life and virtual currency investment fund.
- GMO VenturePartners
- GMO Pepabo, Inc.
Tokyo-February 2, 2007-- GMO VenturePartners (GMO-VP), the GMO Internet Group company that supports venture business, has established a Second Life fund. The fund aims to support creative activity inside Second Life, the online 3D virtual world operated by Linden Lab.
The first stage of this project is the Second Life Business Design Contest being held on Paperboy Island in Second Life. The contest is being held in conjunction with group company paperboy&co, a company that operates Internet services for creators and individual users. We are looking for original business plans and Second Life creations that employ unique designs or API. Submissions will be accepted from February 14.
Second Life
Second Life, by US company Linden Lab, is an online virtual 3D space that large numbers of people can use simultaneously. It is fast gaining recognition as a world being created in cooperation with its users. At the end of January there were 3 million users participating from all over the world. Transactions totaling one hundred million yen a day are taking place within Second Life every day. Participation is free and the virtual currency (Linden dollars) earned through economic activity inside Second Life can be exchanged for real American dollars. These are just some of the reasons why it is rapidly growing in popularity.
There is already plenty of activity going on inside Second Life, Harvard University is holding lectures, major CGM (Consumer Generated Media) and CG companies are establishing branches inside Second Life and car makers are distributing products. One user has already announced earning over one million dollars through real estate transactions. More and more businesses are recognizing the variety of opportunities opened up by the freedom offered in this world.
Linden Lab has announced that a Japanese service will be available in the coming months and the number of Japanese participating in Second Life can be expected to increase.
*Exchange Rate: L$100 = approx. US$0.37 = approx. ￥44.68 (02/02)
Second Life Fund Project
GMO-VP and paperboy&co. understand that Second Life differs from other online games in that anyone can demonstrate their own unique creativity by becoming a creator and that this means the world will grow rapidly. This applies not only to Second Life; we expect to see growing activity in online virtual worlds and the expansion of next generation CGM and CGS (Consumer Generated Society). We are paying close attention to these developments.
GMO-VP supports business through investment activity and paperboy&co is a company committed to providing support for creators. Together the two companies have launched this project in an effort to support entrepreneurs, engineers and creators inside the rapidly growing Second Life world.
The first stage of the project is the Second Life Business Contest that kicks off on February 14. Following that we will be looking to offer our vision and invest Linden dollars in new and original ideas in the Second Life world.
Second Life Business Design Contest
Kazuma Ieiri, chairperson of the judging committee and paperboy&co. CEO, is looking for superior design and development and for business plans that are not constrained by prevailing ideas.
Submissions
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Submissions
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We are accepting submissions in 2 categories.
Business Plan Category
Creative Category
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Organizers
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GMO VenturePartners Inc. / paperboy&co. Inc.
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Eligibility
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Any individual or group that holds a legitimate Second Life account is eligible to enter.
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Submission Period
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February 14, 2007 (Wednesday) to February 28, 2007 (Wednesday)
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Contest Location
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paperboy Island, Second Life
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Announcement of Winners
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Winners will be announced on Paperboy Island and over the Internet on March 14, 2007.
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Prizes
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Winner: L$150,000 (1 in each category)
Runners up: L$50,000 (2 in each category)
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Evaluation Criteria
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Business Plan Category Award
An idea that enlivens the Second Life world and makes it more enjoyable.
A unique and extraordinary idea that can’t be found in real society.
A concrete idea for turning the plan into a reality.
A reflection of the applicant’s character and style.
Creative Category Award
Something that closely reflects a real object or is better than the real object.
A design that brings to Second Life a new use, form of entertainment or value.
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Details
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Details regarding application and judging methods.
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All links are to Japanese language sites unless otherwise indicated.
Through this project, GMO-VP and paperboy&co. continue to provide new ways users to enjoy the Internet and to contribute to the development of individual imagination and creativity.
Inquiries Regarding the Contest
Second Life Fund Project Office
E-mail: [email protected]
Media Inquiries
GMO VenturePartners Inc.
E-mail: [email protected]
Paperboy&co. Inc. Corporate Planning Division
E-mail: [email protected]
GMO Internet Inc. Group PR Team
E-mail: [email protected]
The GMO Internet Group
The GMO Internet Group is a leading force in the Internet industry offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of Internet services in Japan. We provide web hosting, e-commerce tools, domain registration, Internet advertising, online securities trading and a host of other services to over 22 million individual and 550 000 corporate customers. Striving to redefine the industry and foster a vibrant Internet culture, the GMO Internet Group is continuously working to inspire enthusiasm in our customers and put smiles on their faces.
GMO VenturePartners Inc.
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Company Name
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GMO VenturePartners Inc. http://www.gmo-vp.com
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Address
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Cerulean Tower, 26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
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CEO
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Masatoshi Kumagai
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Business Description
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■Investment, business expansion and joint venture support for IT Venture companies that are publicly listed in Japan or abroad and for private companies.
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Capital
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￥210, 000,000
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paperboy&co. Inc.
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Company Name
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Address
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Cerulean Tower, 26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
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CEO
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Kazuma Ieiri
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Business Description
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■Web hosting
■Domain registration
■Blog Media
■E-commerce support
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Capital
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￥74,450,000
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GMO Internet Inc.
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Company Name
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Address
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Cerulean Tower, 26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
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CEO
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Masatoshi Kumagai
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Business Description
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■Internet Use Support (Infrastructure)
■Internet Advertising Support (Media)
■Internet Finance
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Capital
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￥7,148,290,000
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