Metaversum

About Metaversum

Metaversum GmbH was a Berlin-based startup established in July 2006 by a team that included CEO Jochen Hummel, CMO Mirko Caspar, and CTO Christian von Hardenberg. The firm's primary venture was the creation of Twinity, a 3D virtual world that aimed to build realistic, to-scale replicas of major international cities. Before founding Metaversum, Jochen Hummel had a significant background in software development, having founded TRADOS, a company that became a leader in translation memory software. This experience in software and entrepreneurship was foundational to his role at Metaversum.

The company's flagship product, Twinity, allowed users, referred to as "Twinizens," to create personalized avatars, explore virtual versions of cities like Berlin, Singapore, London, Miami, and New York, and interact with others. A notable feature was the ability for users to upload a photo to generate an avatar head that resembled them, enhancing the connection between the real and virtual worlds. The platform operated on a freemium model; users could access the world via a free client software, and the company generated revenue through the sale of virtual goods such as furniture and clothing, as well as services. Metaversum secured financial backing from international venture capitalists, including a significant investment from Balderton Capital. At its peak in 2010, the company employed approximately 80 people with offices in Berlin, Kyiv, and Singapore.

Technologically, Twinity utilized the BigWorld engine to deliver high-quality graphics and based its virtual cities on 3D cartography data from Tele Atlas. The platform also featured a natural day-night cycle synchronized with real-world time zones to increase realism. Besides Twinity, Metaversum also developed Yumondo, an urban style-sharing social network. Despite reaching over 500,000 registered users at one point, Twinity faced challenges, including declining usage. In 2012, after facing difficulties, Metaversum GmbH was acquired by the internet company ExitReality.