Casey Wagner

<div id="highlights-block_6255a9e2d6534" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>Genies is now valued at $1 billion after its Series C</li>
 <li>Gen Z is going to lead the charge on metaverse and Web3 adoption, Genies’ CEO said</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



Web3 avatar technology company Genies has announced a $150 million Series C fundraise led by technology investment firm Silver Lake, bringing Genies’ valuation to $1 billion.



Other contributors to the round include investment firms <a href="https://www.bondcap.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BOND</a>, NEA and Tamarack Global. 



“We believe avatar ecosystems are going to shape Web3 the same way that mobile apps defined Web2,&#8221; Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies, said in a statement. &#8220;With every advancement of the internet, an expansive new region of entrepreneurial skill sets is born.



Genies, founded in 2017, is a platform for users to <a href="https://genies.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">create and sell online characters</a>, digital experiences and other goods. Creators have full ownership and commercialization rights of their Genie avatar creations to be used for personal use or monetization.



Avatar builders from Generation Z are going to be the leaders of innovation in Web3, Nigam said, and Genies will help bring their vision to life.



Genies recently entered a partnership with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group to become both companies’ &#8220;official avatar and digital goods NFT provider,&#8221; Genies said.



&#8220;Genies has established its leadership in Web3 with remarkable speed and focus, fueled by a long term vision and clarity of purpose that we have been watching closely and greatly admire,&#8221; Egon Durban, Co-CEO of Silver Lake, said in a statement. &#8220;We&#8217;re excited to partner with and support Akash, his co-founder Evan, and the entire Genies team as they make it possible for people to build the avatar ecosystems that we believe will drive the next evolution of human expression, communication and creativity.&#8221;



The news comes as interest in the metaverse and Web3 applications continues to grow. 



The developer of one of the world’s most popular games, Fortnite, <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/fortnite-developer-epic-games-gets-2b-from-sony-kirkb-to-drive-metaverse-efforts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> a $2 billion raise on Monday from investors including Sony Group Corporation and KIRKBI, the family-owned investment company behind The LEGO Group.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thebreakdown">The Breakdown</a>: Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire">Empire</a>: Crypto news and analysis to start your day.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/forwardguidance">Forward Guidance</a>: The intersection of crypto, macro and policy.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/0xresearch">0xResearch</a>: Alpha directly in your inbox.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/lightspeed">Lightspeed</a>: All things Solana.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thedrop">The Drop</a>: Apps, games, memes and more.</li>



<li><a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/supplyshock">Supply Shock</a>: Bitcoin, bitcoin, bitcoin.</li>
</ul>