Upland, a Web3 Metaverse SuperApp, recently announced a collaboration with KABOOM!, a national nonprofit committed to ending all forms of playspace inequity. The partnership was inspired by UCC Dak, an Upland gamer and host of “Perpetual Good in the Metaverse” on Twitter. UCC Dak supports using Web3 technology and user-generated content to positively affect the physical world.
These efforts are meant to generate new income streams, open up markets, and introduce new generations to organizations with a mission-driven focus. Aligning with UCC Dak’s approach to Web3, Upland and KABOOM! are partnering to provide a sale of five non-fungible token map assets, inspired by KABOOM’s playgrounds located across the nation.
Playground-Inspired NFTs To Help Generate Social Impact
Interestingly, the Toss-Shak, a 3D design studio found within Upland, designed unique user-generated 3D map assets that are inspired by KABOOM! Playgrounds.
Three dynamic Upland players, TossHed, Shaktikyn, and Fadi04, have joined forces to craft one-of-a-kind, playground-inspired creations. Their inaugural creation, known as KABOOM! Dino stands as a versatile play apparatus fostering both imaginative and physical growth. Boasting climbing zones and slides, this structure not only provides entertainment but also encourages social interaction among children.
Moving beyond the KABOOM! Dino, the design studio also breathed some life into other classic playground structures. Among them are the KABOOM! Swings, which is an iconic playground feature that has excited many generations of children.
Furthermore, Monkey bars, which is another playground staple, have already been reimagined in three variations: the classic KABOOM! Monkey Bars, the KABOOM! Loop Monkey Bars provides a more challenging layout and the KABOOM! Crescent Monkey Bars also adds a new twist to the traditional play structure.
KABOOM! Senior Fellow James Siegal expressed lots of excitement about the partnership:
“We at KABOOM! are mission-driven builders…That is why we are so excited to be collaborating with the Upland community. And what better way to start than by bringing virtual playgrounds to Upland’s world as a way to accelerate our work. Together, we can literally put playgrounds on the map and build a better, more joyful world for every kid.”
Real-World Impact
As part of this partnership, KABOOM! will open an office in Upland’s Chicago location, modeled as a factory and showroom. The Upland Chicago addresses have a direct correlation with real-world KABOOM! locations.
For instance, the KABOOM! Showroom at 6727 South California Avenue in Upland, Chicago, has the same address with a real-world playground built in partnership with Catalyst Schools 10 years ago.
Danny Brown Wolf, the Upland Chief, commented on the aligned missions of the two organizations, saying:
“Together, we will leverage our collective expertise to create inclusive, cutting-edge play environments.”
UCC Dak, the person whose vision resulted in the partnership, insisted on his alignment with the collaboration:
“I’m a big kid at heart and supporting the mission of KABOOM! to create playspaces for kids where they can do the most good, well – it aligns with my core values and the kid in me.”
Notably, the playground-inspired Map Assets will be accessible through App Stores, Google Play, and on the web.
Two Innovators In Different Spaces: Upland And KABOOM!
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Upland has expanded its footprint with branches in Las Vegas, Ukraine, and Brazil. In 2021, Upland garnered acclaim as one of Fast Company’s “Next Big Things in Tech” and was featured among the “22 San Francisco Startups To Watch in 2022” by Built In SF.
Upland serves as an open Web3 platform dedicated to creating a real-world mapped metaverse, with the overarching goal of nurturing a thriving maker community. It is an ‘entrepreneur economy’ that empowers creators, gamers, brands, and developers to create experiences, generate lots of revenue from assets, and offer utility and enjoyment to other users.
Since 1996, KABOOM! has partnered with children and local communities to create or refurbish over 17,000 playspaces, guaranteeing that almost 12 million children benefit from equitable access to critical recreational areas. In 2022, KABOOM! rolled out its 25 in 5 Initiative to End Playspace Inequity, which strives to accelerate the organization’s mission by focusing on 25 critical locations over five years.
