Pocket Worlds GTM brain

category

market profile

• text: Pocket Worlds operates Highrise, Everskies and Hotel Hideaway on shared infrastructure for content, growth and safety.
• text: Virtual-world creators can earn from player purchases and engagement; Highrise Studio supports Unity-based world creation.
• text: Highrise competes for players and creators with other avatar and user-generated worlds such as IMVU, ZEPETO and Roblox.

personas

• title: Social game founder or studio owner
  pains:

  • Maintaining live operations and player safety in an established world
  • Finding a long-term owner who can support a loyal community
• title: Virtual world creator or indie game developer
  pains:

  • Building and distributing playable experiences to an audience
  • Finding sustainable revenue from player engagement and virtual items
• title: Avatar fashion and social game player
  pains:

  • Finding active social spaces and friends who return
  • Expressing identity through avatars, fashion and shared experiences

icp

• text: Independent social games and virtual worlds with established, passionate communities are potential acquisition targets.
• text: Individual creators and small studios seeking tools and an existing audience for virtual worlds, games or fashion items.
• text: Mobile-first consumers who enjoy avatar customization, social interaction and community events, including young adults.

message pillars

• text: Provide enduring homes for established social communities.
• text: Improve each world through shared technology.
• text: Help creators launch games and events quickly.
• text: Build around lasting communities.

objections

• objection: Will an acquired game lose the identity that its community values?
  response: Discuss the stewardship plan, community involvement and title-specific roadmap before a transaction.
• objection: Can creators earn meaningful returns?
  response: Review current creator exchange thresholds, platform fees and engagement payout terms against the creator's expected audience.
• objection: How are online communities kept safe?
  response: Evaluate current moderation practices and policies for the specific world and audience.

competitors

• name: Roblox
  why: Competes for creators and players of social user-generated worlds and games.
• name: IMVU
  why: Competes in avatar fashion and social virtual spaces.
• name: ZEPETO
  why: Competes for mobile avatar creation, fashion and social play.

influencers

• name: Anton Bernstein
  url: https://gamingonphone.com/interviews/highrise-creator-anton-bernstein-interview/
  why: Pocket Worlds co-founder and CEO who discusses creators and community safety.

keywords

• social virtual worlds
• avatar creator games
• virtual world creator platform
• social game acquisition
• user generated games
• avatar fashion community
• Unity social game creation

voice

• Community-centered
• Optimistic and direct
• Creator-focused

signals

• text: A studio operates a social game with a loyal community but wants a long-term acquirer or help with live operations.
• text: A creator is building Unity experiences or virtual fashion and wants access to an existing audience and monetization.

stack

• Unity
• iOS
• Android

pricing

motion

channels

• mobile app stores
• creator communities
• TikTok
• press
• acquisition outreach

confidence

Founders

• name: Anton Bernstein
  title: Founder/CEO
  role: CEO
  bio: I'm founder and CEO of Pocket Worlds, the social-first gaming company. Before Pocket Worlds, I founded LuxuryEscapes.com where I ran product and marketing. Before that, I was an analyst at Insight Venture Partners and associate at Redpoint. I love new ideas and products that entertain and delight. YC Badge: 0x9dd12e8a18fe70a889c7d27ac49623c2942c5b00
• name: Jimmy Xu
  title: Founder/CTO
  role: CTO
  bio: I'm the CTO and cofounder of Pocket Worlds, and I've spent the last 9 years working to make the virtual world mainstream and the metaverse a reality.