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Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

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Page 1: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Money for Nothing:User-Generated Virtual

Goods

Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc.May 5, 2010

Web 2.0 Conference

Page 2: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

An online community where members use3D avatars to meet new people,

chat, create and have fun with friends

Page 3: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Agenda

• IMVU

• Virtual Goods

• Key Learning

Page 4: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Company Overview

• Founded in 2004

• Based in Palo Alto, CA

• 90 employees

• 3 institutional rounds

• $30M raised

Page 5: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Snapshot

• 3D avatars

• 50M+ registered users

• 10M+ uniques/month*

• User Generated Content

• 4 Million Items in Catalog

*Source: Quantcast, global

Cumulative Registrations

Millions

April ‘10Jan ‘06

Page 6: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

2009 Results

2009•Raised $10 million in January, led by Best

Buy Capital

•Doubled revenue to $22 million in calendar 2009

•Became profitable and cash flow positive

Page 7: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference
Page 8: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference
Page 9: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Attractive Demographics

70% Female

60% 18+ years old

60% USA

Page 10: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

User Generated Content

4 Million Virtual Items

April 2004

April 2010

Page 11: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

2010 Outlook

2010•Double revenue again to $44 million

•End year at $60 million annualized revenue run rate

• Invest profits into hiring… from 60 to 120 employees

•Extend reach beyond English- and PC-only

•Begin pivot… Virtual World to Social Entertainment

•“From Dress Up to Level Up”

•Game Mechanics

•2D and 3D Games

Page 12: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Virtual Goods

Page 13: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

13

Thanks to PlaySpan & VGMarket Survey (n=2,425; 7/09)

http://corp.playspan.com/pressroom.html

“Free to Play” Leads the Way - %

Page 14: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

14

Thanks to PlaySpan & VGMarket Survey (n=1,736; 7/09)

http://corp.playspan.com/pressroom.html

“Free to Play” Leads the Way - $

Page 15: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

What are Virtual Goods?

Page 16: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Digital Items with Contextual Meaning

Page 17: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

(A) Functional Virtual Goods

Page 18: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

(B) Decorative Virtual Goods

Page 19: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Why Virtual Goods?

Page 20: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

1. Enhance Game Play (kill more, run faster)

Page 21: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

2. Express Your Identity (dress up, decorate)

Page 22: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

3. Build Relationships (gifts)

Page 23: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

4. Shop (browse & buy)

Page 24: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

SOCIAL CONTEXT Provides Meaning & Emotion

Page 25: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Key Learning

Page 26: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

It’s all about community

Key Learning

Virtual goods are consumer products Payment options must be flexible UGC is hard

Patience is a virtue

Page 27: Money for Nothing: User-Generated Virtual Goods Cary Rosenzweig, CEO, IMVU Inc. May 5, 2010 Web 2.0 Conference

Q & A