GoMeta

American software company

GoMeta is an American software company headquartered in San Diego. The company was founded by Dmitry Shapiro, Sean Thielen, and Jonathan Miller in September 2016.

GoMeta's Koji platform (sold to Linktree) lets non-technical individuals create and publish mini apps, progressive web applications that run on all devices and operating systems, and embed inside of social networks and messengers.

Previously, GoMeta created Metaverse Studio, a drag and drop editor for creating Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. The company suspended support for Metaverse Studio in 2019.

## Overview

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GoMeta's Koji platform is a browser-based low-code development platform for creating web applications.[1] Independent developers publish templates for apps and games and users remix those templates to create new applications. Alongside the underlying application code, users have access to low-code visual abstractions, including tools that allow easy manipulation of 3D models, sounds, and images. These visual abstractions are defined by the template creator in the original application bundle.[2]

Koji applications are full-stack web applications, and often include complex functionality like leaderboards, databases, realtime multiplayer, and calls to third-party APIs.[3]

GoMeta’s earlier platform, Metaverse Studio, is a web application that allows users to create interactive Augmented Reality experiences without any coding.[4][5] Using Metaverse Studio, users can build AR experiences that incorporate technologies such as GPS, iBeacons, 3D objects, 360-degree video, photo filters, and digital coupons, in addition to commonly used features of programming like logic, probability, collection of user input, and session management.[6][7]

## History

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GoMeta came to media attention in 2016 with a series of Augmented Reality scavenger hunts created in Metaverse Studio. Participants followed clues in the Metaverse App that were tied to real-world locations, and the winners of the scavenger hunts received cash prizes.[8][9]

In 2016, GoMeta raised $3 million in seed funding from 23 angel investors including Mike Jones, former CEO of Myspace, Michael Eisner, former CEO of Disney, Art Bilger of Akamai, Loïc Le Meur, founder of LeWeb, Richard Gingras, head of Google News, Don Dodge, and Scott Kurnit.[10][11]

In 2019, GoMeta raised an additional $3.1 million from BITKRAFT Esports Ventures, MTGx, Next 10 Ventures, and Moonshots Capital.[12][13][14]

In 2020, GoMeta raised $10 million, led by Galaxy Interactive, to continue development of its Koji platform.[15][16][17][18]

In January 2022, GoMeta raised a $20 million Series B, led by Jump Capital.[19]

## References

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1. ^ Meiling, Brittany (2019-09-27). "Backed by tech billionaires, this ex-MySpace exec has big ideas for San Diego startup". San Diego Union Tribute. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
2. ^ Takahashi, Dean (2019-04-23). "GoMeta raises $6 million and launches Koji web app development platform". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
3. ^ Provider, LANARS-Painless Innovations (2020-02-24). "Choosing a Tech Stack for Full-Cycle Web Application Development". Frontend Weekly. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
4. ^ Roettgers, Janko (2016-12-21). "Inside GoMeta's Plan to Build a Thousand Pokemon Gos". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
5. ^ "The democratisation of location-powered AR for developers and marketers is underway". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
6. ^ "'Metaverse' is a 'Pokemon GO' Style App Where We Build The Experience". UploadVR. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
7. ^ "Pokémon GO Shows us that the Phenomenon of AR is Very Real". thecmoclub.com. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
8. ^ Romero, Dennis (2016-10-07). "Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt Offers $1,000". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
9. ^ "Startup's 'Hidden Money' Scavenger Hunt Coming to San Diego". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
10. ^ "Ex-Googler Debuts An AR App That Lets You Build Your Own Pokémon Go". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
11. ^ "GoMeta Gets $2M For Augmented Reality Universe Tools". Socaltech.com. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
12. ^ Duran, H.B. (2019-04-23). "BITKRAFT Leads $6M GoMeta Funding Round". The Esports Observer. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
13. ^ Takahashi, Dean (2019-07-17). "MTG invested $11 million in 7 startups in the first half of 2019". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
14. ^ Weiss, Geoff (2019-02-16). "Next 10 Ventures Makes Seed Investments In GoMeta, SuperBam, Other Creator-Focused Firms". TubeFilter. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
15. ^ Pierce, David (30 June 2020). "The startup taking on Apple and Snapchat in a mini-app war". Protocol. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
16. ^ Ifeanyi, K. C. (30 June 2020). "Koji wants to do for games, memes, and selfies what TikTok did for music". Fast Company. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
17. ^ Takahashi, Dean (30 June 2020). "Koji raises $10 million so you can remix games and interactive content for social media". VentureBeat. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
18. ^ Freeman, Mike (30 June 2020). "Startup Koji raises $10M to help non-techies create games, memes and other content for social media". The San Diego Union Tribute. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
19. ^ Yurieff, Kaya. "Koji, the Creator Economy's App Store, Raises $20 Million from Jump Capital". The Information. Retrieved 26 January 2022.