Yennie Solheim

Recap of Consensus 2024: why does this event exist? TLDR Thx for the BBQ, Austin! And it was great to meet up with old and new friends including EJ Ayala, Michael Dershewitz, Max Kaufman ⚡️, Erica Hamilton, Ron Cao, Colleen Sullivan, Alex M., Paul Thind, Dante Reminick, Parker Heath, Kiernan Fitzsimons, Conrad Sain, George V., Rodrigo Etcheto, Kelly DiGregorio, and more! In all it was a great time meeting with incredible partners. It's clear that: - Cloud compute and distributed hosting x web3 gaming has a lot of potential - Gaming-focused chains are ready to rock and roll, esp. powered by Sequence - Investments are increasingly sophisticated and focused on sustainability - Traditional gaming is headed into the space in droves, with strong teams with incredible backgrounds who truly understand gamers, data, A/B testing and more But Consensus, as with many generalist crypto or web3 events, is obsolete. Events in new industries are important, but as the space matures and consolidates, I'm not sure that there's a need for several days devoted to basic underlying technology. It's like going to Servers 2024! We all get it, we know what servers are, what they do. How this gets applied, what benefits it brings to developers, players, users, that's what matters. I'd love to see Consensus get a bit more serious around specific tracks or reconsider its focus.

26

10 Comments

Over the past few weeks, we've been in the news. For good reasons. We've recently acquired several companies, the latest being Galleri5. This company stands out as a pioneer in AI-powered content solutions and influencer marketing technology. Before you accuse us of being hypnotised to the beats of the AI hype, I want to shed some light on our strategy. We've been expanding our family with exceptionally talented companies for a clear purpose. In recent months, we acquired Terribly Tiny Tales, a text-focused flash fiction platform, and in September 2023, we welcomed Under 25 Universe, India's largest tech-powered student community. Our joint venture with the M19 Collective aims to develop IPs across branded content, offline experiences, and both fiction and non-fiction formats for multiple platforms. Additionally, our Collective Creative Labs initiative assists brands in connecting with customers through pop culture, thereby building brand loyalty. Also, our partnership with Gruhas for to form GCCF focuses on investing in consumer-facing brands and products. When you consider these together built on top of our talent management core, a pattern emerges. We're investing heavily in technology to empower India's young, creative core and our talent ecosystem by providing them with a platform to flourish. Our goal is to drive more impactful, personalised storytelling and predict trends before they happen. Creativity and inspiration are at the heart of what our talent does, and technology will be a powerful tool to amplify their abilities. At Collective Artists Network, we're committed to identifying and supporting the best talent in the country. In this pursuit, technology will be a fundamental pillar of our company's future. Supremely proud to have Rahul Regulapati and his entire gang at galleri5 on board this journey to partner with us in our vision and here’s to building and building and building and scaling :-) The army grows . https://lnkd.in/dBGyQ6NH

97

7 Comments

What's old is new again. I have been predicting this since 2017 when premium subscription streaming was heralded as the future of the business. We are seeing streaming embrace traditional TV revenue models like windowing and advertising and now they will start to bundle services into their version of a "set top box" that will look (and cost) an awful lot like your old cable subscription. More cost effective longer seasons, more broadly appealing four quadrant shows, this is where creatives need to focus our energy. https://lnkd.in/gAKsgCnX

40

6 Comments

After one year of heads-down building mode at Artifact, we are now moving to execution mode! Over the next few weeks, we will be announcing a series of partnerships to help bring a free, user-focused, and private internet for everyone. This week, we kick-started this journey with an exciting partnership announcement with DSCVR. Imagine a social network where (1) users control the content, (2) users own and decide the future of the platform, (3) there's no CEO or organization putting its thumb on the scale of the algorithm, and (4) users own their data and are compensated if/when they watch ads. While at Artifact there's not much we can do to enable the third point (it was my personal flair here) we are enabling the last one - a way for users to own their data, in a privacy-centric manner, and earn from it. Imagine a Twitter that doesn't own your data - you own it - and if that data is used to serve an ad targeted to you, then you receive a revenue share. As I said, really excited about the possibilities that lie ahead with DSCVR! Dive deeper into our partnership on this Yahoo Finance article: https://lnkd.in/g-hJsDyD #AdTech #UserPrivacy #DataMonetization #DSCVR #NotYourKeysNotYourData Sony Joseph, Ameet Srivastava, Rick Porter, Steven D.

24

3 Comments

Loved the insights and marketing metaphors from the Solsten team Joe Schaeppi and Bastian Bergmann, interviewed by gaming impresario Michail Katkoff. Key takeway for me, was the 'fail fast' method only works in a blue ocean (eg dot com bubble, crypto bubble etc) and in mature markets you need to be more intentional. At DNi, we design games intentionally with focus on servicing a niche target market and grow expontentially from there.... https://lnkd.in/gBKZ8TEY

2

Big news for artists and the entertainment industry! Yesterday's Senate hearing on the NO FAKES Act was a game-changer. Warner Music’s CEO Robert Kyncl and artist FKA Twigs made a strong case for protecting artists from unauthorized digital replicas. Here’s why this matters: Artist Protection: The NO FAKES Act aims to stop others from misusing artists' images and voices without consent. Economic Impact*: Deepfakes are diverting earnings from original content on platforms like Spotify, impacting artists' revenue. Collaboration is Key: The act calls for platforms to work together to spot and take down fake content quickly. Mentaport Inc, we're all about protecting creators, helping them keep content legit and safe. This is the kind of law we stand behind! https://lnkd.in/gdiThN2U

9

Great breakdown on what's working and practical in today's AI landscape and a blueprint for the immediate impacts of AI on businesses. Great write-up Angela Strange and a16z

12

Many brands are eager to explore Roblox but are uncertain about what to expect. It's similar to when a new kid joins the class—there's an eagerness to connect, but also a natural hesitation as we gauge how to build a meaningful relationship. In Toya, we recommend starting small and gradually building up. Through numerous discussions and experiences, we've developed a model tailored to help brands successfully enter Roblox and position themselves for the future of e-commerce on the platform. Excited to see how this journey unfolds for our partners!  #Roblox #BrandStrategy #Ecommerce #Innovation

15

Deepna Devkar, Ph.D. what a treat having you on the podcast! If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building your personalised experience on Max, this is the episode for you. Tune in to hear from one of the minds leading the build of the platform experience!

52

1 Comment

After attending a couple events with bleeding edge Al practitioners (among many, Anthropic co-founders, Meta CPO, Director of Stanford AI Institute, Venture Partners from Gray Lock, Khosla, Forerunner, Base10, etc.). The top takeaways: Gen-AI technology is flipping the script on how we innovate, streamline operations, and personalize services. The big question now? Companies diving into Gen-AI will unlock new growth opportunities and leave the competition in the dust. But here’s the kicker: success hinges on a steady stream of QUALITY DATA. Robust data governance isn’t just a fancy add-on—it’s the secret sauce. As we push forward, keeping our data in check will be crucial. So, let’s charge ahead and lead this transformative journey! What are you trailblazers doing to up your game and sustain a high-quality data stream? #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #DigitalTransformation #DataGovernance #TechLeadership #FutureOfWork #Automation #BusinessStrategy #TechTrends #Leadership #CompetitiveEdge #BusinessInnovation #MachineLearning

26

4 Comments

Everyone in the games monetization industry should read Fernando Pernica's PocketGamer.biz article on monetization in a post-ATT world. His take: the problem isn’t the loss of device ID signals, it’s the industry has been so addicted to these signals that the change is way more painful and time-consuming than it should have been. In a recent games industry panel I said the same thing far less eloquently, and far more Kristanly: Third party data and advertising IDs have basically already disappeared. The head-buyring-in-the-sand masses of the advertising and monetization industries just haven't accepted it yet. Successful games companies will already be embracing this new world. Privacy is a feature, not something to work around.  https://lnkd.in/dQmdtTqr

18

1 Comment

❓❓❓ 12 Questions for the Streaming Revolution ❓❓❓ Based on my latest newsletter article: https://lnkd.in/dZ38Z_Tk After reading the New York Times article based on five months of interviews with media moguls and industry leaders, offering a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and opportunities facing the entertainment landscape, I decided to use it as the foundation for a set of questions that can define where we go from here. Let me know what you think in the comments. #streaming #ott

21

3 Comments

Excited to learn how AI games and movies creators intersect during the “AI on the Lot” event with industry experts including Katja Reitemeyer from NVIDIA, Andrew Wallenstein from Variety Intelligence Platform, Joanna Popper, Dana Harris-Bridson from IndieWire, Ed Ulbrich from Metaphysic.ai, Meagan Keane from Adobe, and @Gregory Schiff from Dell Technologies It was unreal to meet David Slade, Director of Bandersnatch, Black Mirror, Twilight Saga, Eclipse, Breaking Bad and others in person! Kathryn Brillhart Virtual Producer of Fallout and Rebel Moon on Netflix! Congratulations to Nem Perez and peers who worked on "T2 Remake," a pioneering AI parody of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." This project, produced entirely with AI tools, represents a bold step into the future of blending creativity and technology. Although somewhat similar with the process of creating games, I noticed how difficult is still for creatives in film to juggle AI tools and incorporate them in the filmmaking processes ! That gives a great sense of validation that CINEVVA engine with its latest state of the art generative AI tech can be applied in episodic narrative stories, 3D shorts, animations, lights, SFX, music and publishing in just one place. Happy to extend an invitation to any movie director interested in using app.cinevva.com for any creative projects. Our team will be happy to provide tech, custom AI and real time publishing support for the entire pipeline. #AILA #AIontheLot #artificialintelligence #entertainment #technology #gamedev #generativeAI #AIgames #genai #blackmirror #3D #Hollywood

16

1 Comment

Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

4

How AI can bring virtual pets to life. More to come here!

16

1 Comment

Music Business Association Music Biz 2024 coming up in May. Find out more about Reactional Music and what we are delivering across interactive music, music personalisation, in-game economies, generative composable music and the possibilities for creators, composers, artists and developers

14

2 Comments

Talk to the experts about your game project and how Companion Group can help.

5

1 Comment

Can't wait to get my hands on this book, which was written by the talented Adam Lee!

5