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Pumpkin spice latte with a side of NFTs 😉

Starbucks NFTs are here, Doodles' fundraise, and Gamestop's big loss :c

Author

Lili (QueenBao)
September 14, 2022

GM Baos. 

It's a massive news day. We have some big players launching NFT products which will touch millions! 

Merge is incoming, hold your bags close & stay safe y'all.

Today we cover: 

  • Starbucks NFTs are here!

  • Doodles fundraise 🔥

  • Gamestop's Head of Blockchain has resigned

Pumpkin spice latte with a side of NFTs

I must say, Starbucks has outdone themselves with their NFT loyalty program 👏 It’s better than anything I could have imagined!

Starbucks taps Polygon to build its web3 experience, Starbucks Odyssey. This is suppose to be a web3 extension of their already very successful rewards system. The main goal is to not only connect their Starbucks Rewards program members to Starbucks, but also to each other.

“By integrating into the Starbucks Rewards ecosystem and grounding the experience in coffee, connection and community, we are entering the Web3 space differently than any other brand, while deepening our members’ connection to Starbucks.” says Brady Brewer, Starbucks executive vice president and chief marketing officer.

Here’s what you can expect…

  • The opportunity to earn and purchase digital collectible assets (stamps)

  • Unlockable digital, physical and experiential benefits unique to Starbucks 💚

  • Fun games and challenges to deepen your knowledge of coffee and Starbucks ☕️

  • Invitations will be sent out to select waitlist members later this year 💌

The more stamps you own, the more points you have. Which Starbucks says can be redeemed for coffee experiences such as virtual classes, unique merchandise and invitations to exclusive events.

Their priority while building Starbucks Odyssey? To use technology that aligns with their sustainability aspirations and commitments. This explains why they are choosing to partner with Polygon.

“We took a very thoughtful and thorough approach when evaluating which blockchain to utilize and Polygon’s fast, low-cost, and carbon-neutral network is the perfect foundation for our first digital community,” said Ryan Butz, vp of loyalty, strategy and marketing for Starbucks

ETH’s merge (to PoS) this week will actually cancel out 99.91% of Polygon’s carbon emissions 🌎

Starbucks has taken NFT integrations to the next level. I’m going to be checking my email everyday waiting for the invitation 🥺

Doodles to the moon 🚀

Doodles did what?! Raised $54 million of funding led by 776 (Alexis Ohanian, Reddit Co-founder). With participation from Acrew Capital, FTX Ventures and 10T Holdings.

Why a funding round you ask? To build a world class team of course! They're hiring for engineers, creatives, marketers and business executives. As well as to fund product development, acquisitions, proprietary technology, media, and collector experiences — Doodles via Twitter 💬

The Doodles career page will go live next week. They’re hiring for 18 new full-time positions, bringing their team from just 11 members to 30.

To name a few roles…

  • Front/back end engineers 💻

  • Head of marketing

  • Product manager

  • Social media manager 📱

  • Designers/illustrators 🎨

Sooo... will you be applying?

GameStop head of blockchain moves on

Matt Finestone leaves GameStop to focus his attention on something else - the protocol/infrastructure level on the Ethereum blockchain. 

At least we know it’s not from any sort of bad blood. In his tweet he thanks the GameStop blockchain team for the experience. Also saying that the GameStop community is the most powerful and positive group of people he’s ever known.

GameStop’s marketplace has done just over $21 million volume since launching earlier in the year 📈. Finestone leaving the blockchain team leaves the community wondering what will happen next.

Last week, GameStop announced they are partnering with FTX US. Something intended to introduce GameStop customers to FTX’s digital assets marketplace. So I think it’s very unlikely GameStop will slow down any blockchain related developments.

People on Twitter are speculating this means GameStop is in a good place with web3. Saying Matt Finestone is a builder at heart. And now that the groundwork has been laid, continuing to manage the blockchain team probably isn’t as fulfilling for him as it used to be.

So, what are your thoughts? 🤔

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    Stay cool, Baos.

    –Lili