Anima: AR NFT Platform Backed by Coinbase

The Convergence of Augmented Reality and NFTs

The pairing of augmented reality (AR) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is generating considerable discussion. While NFTs experienced significant attention in 2021, questions regarding their practical applications are becoming increasingly prevalent as initial speculation subsides.

Anima's Approach to Digital Art in AR

Anima, a crypto startup founded by the team behind the Ultravisual app (acquired by Flipboard in 2014), is exploring the use of AR to redefine how NFT art and collectibles are experienced and distributed.

Their current project aims to empower artists by providing a platform to showcase their digital work and contribute to the evolving landscape of NFTs within augmented reality environments.

Seed Funding and Future Vision

The startup has successfully secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding from investors including Coinbase Ventures, Divergence Ventures, Flamingo DAO, Lyle Owerko, and Andrew Unger.

Co-founder Alex Herrity notes that a shift away from purely speculative NFT markets is beneficial, as it aligns with Anima’s goal of creating more accessible and engaging experiences.

Bridging the Digital and Physical Worlds

Anima’s overarching goal is to facilitate interactions between digital assets and the physical world. This concept has been a central focus within the AR community for several years.

However, AR development has seen a period of relative calm as creators await further advancements from companies like Apple and Facebook.

Both the AR and NFT sectors are still in their nascent stages, but Anima’s founders believe they have reached a level of maturity where superficial applications are becoming more apparent.

Tactile Experiences vs. Gimmicks

Neil Voss, co-founder, explains to TechCrunch that AR can provide a tangible connection to digital collectibles, transforming them into lifestyle accessories rather than fleeting, experimental novelties.

Marketplace Launch and Partnerships

The Anima team has already collaborated with several artists to experiment with integrating digital art into AR.

They are preparing to launch a marketplace next month, built on ConsenSys’s Palm platform, to highlight their ongoing collaborations and future projects.

This platform will serve as a showcase for the potential of NFTs in augmented reality.