Latest news with #VeVe
Techday NZ
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Techday NZ
VeVe unveils new Star Wars digital collectibles using AR technology
VeVe, a digital collectibles platform, has announced a new partnership with Lucasfilm to launch an officially licensed Star Wars digital collection, coinciding with the annual fan celebration of May the 4th. The new range of digital items includes a first-ever look inside the iconic Stormtrooper helmet, augmented reality (AR) enabled Podracers, and exclusive digital comics. The immersive experience aims to blend storytelling with emerging technology to offer fans a fresh way to engage with the Star Wars universe. The collection, released on 4 May, is the result of close collaboration between VeVe and Lucasfilm. According to the company, the launch is part of a broader effort to help the long-running franchise connect with new audiences through innovative tools like AR and blockchain. "Collaborating with Lucasfilm to bring these legendary pieces of the Star Wars galaxy to life has been incredibly exciting," said Dan Crothers, Co-Founder of VeVe. "This collection exemplifies exactly what we love doing at VeVe; using new technology to bring fresh energy to beloved franchises, making these experiences accessible and attainable for fans everywhere." The new drop includes several digital items designed to appeal to long-time Star Wars fans as well as newcomers. Among the highlights is Troopers Series 1 , a 3D digital collectible range that showcases Imperial soldiers such as the battle-worn Mimban Trooper and the elusive Shadow Trooper. According to VeVe, each item has been designed with attention to detail, reflecting the legacy of these characters across the Star Wars narrative. Another feature of the release is the AR-enabled Podracers, inspired by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace . Using VeVe's platform, fans can bring the high-speed vehicles into their real-world environments for interactive, up-close experiences. The release also includes digital dioramas and characters from The Mandalorian , along with an exclusive digital version of The Mandalorian #1 comic. This edition will be available in limited quantities with variant digital covers, offering multiple levels of rarity for collectors. VeVe plans to continue unveiling additional digital collectibles throughout the month of May, with surprise drops designed to keep fans engaged. The ongoing releases build on VeVe's existing Star Wars portfolio, which already includes more than 100 digital items spanning various characters, scenes, and storylines from the franchise. Crothers said the company is also focused on accessibility, with pricing designed to accommodate a broad range of fans. "We wanted to ensure fans from all backgrounds could participate in this global celebration," he said. "Accessibility is key for us, we want to make official fan experiences available to everyone." Collectibles in the new Star Wars collection start at US$10, with VeVe also offering a $10 credit to new users who join the platform. With more than 10 million 3D digital collectibles sold to date, VeVe says it is helping to redefine how fans connect with legacy franchises. Through its use of AR and blockchain-based ownership, the company aims to enhance storytelling in ways that are both modern and interactive. The Star Wars digital collection is now available exclusively on VeVe, with additional releases planned throughout May.
Forbes
26-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meet The New Zealand Start-Up Leading The Digital Collectibles Market
VeVe CEO Ben Rose Collectibles are big business. Spanning comics, artworks, figurines and other items linked to superhero franchises and popular culture, the sector attracts interest from collectors of all ages. Once upon a time, that meant buying new items in the shops or browsing second-hand stores and markets to find interesting items; but today, there is also a huge volume of digital material available to collectors who might live anywhere in the world. New Zealand-based start-up VeVe exists to service that market. 'We're now the number one platform for licensed digital collectibles and comics,' explains CEO Ben Rose. The platform sells original works, courtesy of licensing deals from the major studios and brands, and operates a marketplace through which people can buy and sell collectibles. Its latest issue, for example, is a new range of digital Beauty and the Beast collectibles launched this week with Disney. 'We've got users in 180 countries who have collectively bought more than $1 billion worth of merchandise through us,' Rose adds. That merchandise also now includes comics, with VeVe launching VeVe Comics a year ago this month. Publishers such as Marvel, Ablaze, Humanoids and Dynamite make premium digital comics available through the site, releasing them on the same day as their print equivalents. Over the past 12 months, VeVe Comics has racked up more than 10 million digital comic transactions, and now hosts around 8,500 titles. VeVe was launched in 2017 by David Yu, an entrepreneur with a lifelong interest in collectibles, and Dan Crothers, who ran a digital marketing agency. The co-founders started out by trying to build a website but rapidly recognised that blockchain technologies, providing transparency and traceability, represented an opportunity to develop something more imaginative. Harnessing its functionality, they could provide collectors with access to authentic and verifiable content – providing reassurance to both individual collectors and global brands that are determined to protect their intellectual property. 'David and Dan had first-mover advantage,' explains Rose, who joined the company as CEO last year having previously been the CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance in Australia and New Zealand. 'They built something in an industry that didn't previously exist; nobody else was trying to achieve what they wanted to do.' That helped when the founders went knocking on the doors of the big studios; a small start-up based in New Zealand might be expected to get short shrift from huge multinational entertainment companies. But when Yu and Crothers pitched the idea of digital collectibles to studio executives, they struck a chord – and there weren't any competitors with the same vision or expertise. VeVe started with a limited-edition digital collectible from the Batman Black & White series but has gone on to offer more than 1,200 similar items from Disney, Marvel and other producers. While many collectors are also keen on physical merchandise, Rose says that digital collectibles have certain advantages. 'They're accessible to everyone, no matter where people live, and they're often more affordable,' he explains. 'They're easier to look after, plus they're more interactive – you can do more with them, like adding music and other sounds.' Over time, VeVe has attracted 'a community of passionate people', Rose adds. The company's next challenge is to provide new types of experience to this community. One big focus is the 'VeVeVerse', a metaverse that the company launched last year, where users can interact, create their own content, and share their collections with other fans. 'We see it as the place where the world is going to come together to collect,' adds Rose. It's a massive opportunity. Estimates of the size of the global collectibles market vary according to how you define it, but one recent study from Grand View research suggested that at current rates of growth, it will be worth $422 billion by 2030. VeVe's business model is well-placed to benefit, with the company netting fees from sales of new collectibles, as well as a commission when users trade their merchandise on its marketplace. The evolving metaverse activity provides further scope to generate revenues, with VeVe planning a premium version of the VeVeVerse that will offer additional features in addition to the current free version. Yu and Crothers, VeVe's founders, continue to be closely involved with the business, focusing on working with licensees and evolving the user experience, while Rose runs the company day-to-day. 'David and Dan wanted someone to come in to help them scale the business,' he explains. 'There is no shortage of opportunities to expand into new sectors and to broaden our appeal in markets worldwide.'
