The Beam Foundation has announced its plans to launch Beam Ventures in Abu Dhabi, a significant $150 million venture fund dedicated solely to the gaming industry. This move aims to accelerate the growth of promising founders and play a crucial role in transforming Abu Dhabi into a global gaming hub.

An Ambitious Vision for Gaming's Future

Beam Ventures strategically positions itself at the intersection of blockchain, gaming, and artificial intelligence. By stimulating innovation in these fields, it aims to redefine gaming experiences and drive growth within the industry. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, organizations like Beam Ventures hold the potential to bring about change by providing essential resources to game developers and early-stage startups.When asked about attractive categories, in addition to blockchain and AI in gaming, the fund expressed its interest in virtual reality and augmented reality within the gaming realm.Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is rapidly emerging as a hotspot for gamers and game developers. With a growing community of players and transformative initiatives such as the development of an esports island, the emirate is hosting a wide variety of gaming events, ranging from summits to tournaments of the biggest games worldwide. Beam Ventures is committed to building on this momentum and attracting top talent to the region, primarily through its accelerator program.HE Saeed Al Fazari, strategic affairs executive director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, stated in a statement, "Over the past three years, we have established a robust gaming infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, and establishing a dedicated gaming fund is a vital step in ensuring the continued growth of this ecosystem. This initiative aligns perfectly with our Abu Dhabi Gaming efforts, demonstrating our commitment to welcoming investments in the gaming industry and highlighting the trust and confidence investors have in our ecosystem."He further added, "We remain firmly committed to attracting and nurturing talent in Abu Dhabi, contributing to the knowledge-sharing economy, and driving the growth of the creative industries. This fund is another significant step forward in making Abu Dhabi a global hub for gaming excellence and innovation."Mark Borsten, chief strategy officer at Beam Ventures, said in a statement, "At Beam Ventures, innovation is our driving force. In whatever form it may take, innovation has always been our lifeblood and our guiding star – and that's why we are extremely excited to bring our pursuit of innovation to Abu Dhabi, a city that has repeatedly shown its alignment with our mindset."He continued, "We are convinced that Abu Dhabi is set to become the epicenter of the world's most exciting and pioneering tech and gaming innovation for years to come. At Beam Ventures, we have always sought the cutting edge – and we know that through this collaboration, we have found exactly that. We look forward to other cutting-edge creators and founders joining us on this remarkable journey."

Beam Ventures Accelerator Program

In line with its mission to cultivate and empower new talent, Beam Ventures will launch an accelerator program inspired by globally recognized models. This program is specifically designed to support early-stage startups focusing on web3 gaming and AI, offering a flexible combination of in-person and remote participation options. The aim is to create a fertile ground for successful startups that will have a significant impact on the gaming industry and beyond.Although the fund is not disclosing its limited partners at present and has not made any investments yet, the executive team of Beam, formerly from Merit Circle, has a strong background in the crypto space as venture capitalists and has built multiple successful startups in the past.