Launched in January this year, ARC was founded by sons of Singapore business tycoons Kiat Lim and Elroy Cheo, to leverage the rise of Web3.
It is Asia’s first app-based tokenised community with an NFT membership that bridges the Web2 and Web3 world, bringing together innovators, creatives and thought leaders to connect, collaborate and co-create.
When like-minded people come together at ARC, it can spark infinite possibilities. Apart from the ARC app, members have access to ARC Playgrounds, which are a network of IRL spaces where they can relax, play and connect with each other.
Its utility NFT membership will also give members opportunities to collaborate with a diverse community of talents, and co-create unique content and experiences.
As a testament to ARC’s commitment to bring together like-minded individuals across the Web2 and Web3 worlds, ARC’s diverse community spans various geographies and industries. This includes Irene Kim, Korean-American fashion entrepreneur and founder of fashion label IRENEISGOOD; Jiawen Ngeow, COO of Mintable; Deeps de Silva, founder of Samadhi Ventures; Darius Sit, co-founder of QCP Capital; and Joseph Kahn, multi-Grammy award-winning American director.
Ahead of its mint, ARC announced today (May 31) several partnerships and collaborations with “world-class partners”.
“Co-creation” is a big part of ARC’s vision
The first collaboration is a multi-faceted co-creation partnership with Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR), the global brand of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited that owns, manages and operates over 145 hotels across 80 locations.
The partnership with MHR gives ARC members the opportunity to co-create bespoke experiences across the hospitality group’s global footprint and its latest addition, M Social Decentraland.
Earlier this month, MHR became the world’s first hospitality group to operate a hotel in the metaverse, adding a virtual dimension to its real-world experiences.
“It is absolutely crucial for ARC that we have unrivalled partnerships with the best brands in the world to deliver on the ARC experience — the opportunity to connect, play and grow in a community across Web2 experiences and Web3 opportunities,” said Kiat Lim, founder of ARC.
“At the heart of the partnership with Millennium Hotels and Resorts is the focus on co-creation, so it’s a dynamic relationship between ARC members and the Millennium Group to develop bespoke experiences and even collaborate on projects.”
Additionally, lifestyle destination group Zouk Group also joined as another co-creation partner with ARC to generate new ideas.
“As a global lifestyle leader with establishments that span nightlife, entertainment and dining sectors, it’s part of the Zouk DNA to continue looking forward in how we grow and connect with not only guests, but also communities,” said Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group.
“This co-creation partnership with ARC will change how we think about experiences. Together, we will be pushing the boundaries of the art of possible. Co-creation at ARC goes far beyond lifestyle and entertainment opportunities and experiences.”
One of the world’s largest crypto trading firms, QCP Capital, will support ARC’s co-creation journey by offering Web3 insights and crypto knowledge.
With ARC’s mission of bridging Web2 and Web3 communities, QCP Capital’s partnership will enable members to identify opportunities for collaboration especially on Web3 projects.
A short film that captures the spirit of ARC
Another first is ARC’s collaboration with Kahn — who is best known for his music videos for the likes of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre — on a film depicting the community’s spirit of collaboration, co-creation and fun.
Titled ‘Community Rediscovered’, it embodies Kahn’s interpretation of ARC’s vision. It is also the first short film project by any tokenised community in Asia, and marks Kahn’s first foray into the NFT space. He was drawn to the ARC community when it was first announced and became involved in bringing the community vision to life on film.
“A borderless community where people can bring different ideas, make ambitious plans and work together on them — that’s the power of ARC, that’s the power of real collaboration. The best ideas happen when you put different people and different perspectives together. That’s what’s inspiring about ARC and it’s exactly what happened with this film,” said Kahn, commenting on his first ARC collaboration.
“The crypto world is so ephemeral but the representation of what I’m doing here is all solid — all the sets are real and the transitions are real. It’s the opposite of what you’d expect in a crypto world. I’m using old technology to tell a story about new technology. The idea here is to inspire people, not necessarily explain to people.”
Elroy Cheo, co-founder of ARC, expressed his pride in launching this first collaboration with Kahn, who he feels has accurately “captured the spirit of ARC” in his creative vision.
“We wanted to make a statement about who we are, and we felt we should do it with our community. ‘Community Rediscovered’ is a reflection of that — it showcases ARC’s purpose, the ethos of its community, and its vision to become Asia’s most collaborative tokenised community,” he elaborated.
Fellow co-founder Kiat Lim chimed in that the collaboration with Kahn is the first of many to come.
“As the Web3 movement gains momentum in the region, ARC is the bridge for the many crypto-curious creatives and brand owners in the Web2 space looking to be a part of the Web3 world. ARC is working with many in the Web2 space to play a part in co-creating the future of Web3 in Asia,” he said.
“ARC has been steadily growing its powerhouse of creative and entrepreneurial talent and we will soon be announcing another co-founder to the community who has been a part of our journey, who will augment this to a completely different level. We are excited to bring more collaborators to our community as we double down on bridging Web2 and Web3 worlds.”
Featured Image Credit: ARC