CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Karan Keswani, CEO, BharatBox
- BharatBox is a joint venture between US-Based The Sandbox and Brinc. What role do these two play for the company? What was the initial investment made into the company by them, and how has it been utilized?
The Sandbox and Brinc came together, bringing their expertise to establish BharatBox as a cultural hub in the metaverse. The Sandbox provides the platform and virtual infrastructure, while Brinc leverages its extensive network to onboard Indian creators, IPs, and brands.
An initial investment of $1 million was made into the company, followed by an additional $200,000 at the end of last year. These funds have been used to secure prime virtual real estate, onboard renowned Indian brands, and develop immersive cultural experiences.Our recent successes include the sold-out “Jab We Met” Geet avatar collection alongside the launch of three India XPs in The Sandbox’s biggest annual gaming season -Alpha Season 4 with over INR 20Cr reward pool.
- BharatBox has partnered with multiple brands since its inception. What do you look for in potential partners/brands?
We are looking to work with partners who share our commitment to empowering the creator economy in India while celebrating the Indian culture. Our ideal collaborators are those with compelling IPs, a strong cultural footprint, and a willingness to experiment with new-age technologies like the metaverse.
The Sandbox’s no-code game maker tools and play-to-earn models have revolutionized creator participation, allowing brands and IP owners to build immersive gaming experiences without requiring extensive technical knowledge. Moreover, by giving creators 100% IP rights, we ensure they retain full control over their work, which is critical for fostering creativity and innovation.
We prioritize partners who can leverage this creator-centric model to not only extend their reach but also create sustainable monetization avenues, empowering creators, gamers, and fans alike.
- What is the objective behind any collaboration, and how does entering into a partnership with BharatBox benefit all the parties involved?
The goal of collaborating with BharatBox is to deliver relevance, reach, and revenue for IPs by integrating them into The Sandbox’s global metaverse ecosystem and BharatBox’s vibrant Indian creator economy. For IPs, this means engaging both India’s vast audience base and The Sandbox’s global community of over 6 million users. This dual approach—serving both domestic and global audiences—positions partners to achieve both cultural relevance and global recognition.
BharatBox enables IPs to tap into multiple revenue streams, including exclusive digital collectibles, gamified campaigns, and marketplace royalties. Recent successes, like the “Jab We Met” Geet avatar collection sold out 3333 units in 45 days, highlight the platform’s monetization potential.
- How big is BharatBox’s metaverse community (users, creators, brands, etc.), and how much growth has it seen this year?
BharatBox has seen exponential growth in 2023:
- Users: The Indian user base has grown from 150,000 to more than 400,000, with a global presence now exceeding 6 million users.
- Creators: India leads with 70,000 creators, making it the largest creator community within The Sandbox ecosystem.
- Brands: Multiple high-profile Indian brands and IPs have joined, with collaborations like Shemaroo and it’s the sold-out “Jab We Met” Geet avatar collection, Hungama, Growfitter and more.
- What is the current state of the India metaverse industry? What are some of the opportunities and challenges it provides?
The Indian metaverse industry is in a nascent yet dynamic stage, expected to see massive growth as tech infrastructure and adoption improve. The Indian metaverse market is expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2024, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40% through 2030.
This growth is fueled by easily available and affordable internet, India’s large pool of tech talent, and rising investments in blockchain, AR/VR technologies, and gaming ecosystems. Following this, platforms like The Sandbox have been instrumental in democratizing access to the metaverse by offering no-code tools and “play-to-earn” models, enabling brands and creators to engage millions of users and unlock new revenue streams.
However, challenges remain, particularly around regulatory clarity for digital assets and limited public awareness about metaverse applications outside crypto and gaming enthusiasts. Despite this, BharatBox continues to capitalize on India’s strengths—its digitally native population, cultural IPs, and massive user base—to position the country as a leader in global metaverse innovation.
- BharatBox’s community is around 410K right now. How much growth do you expect to see by the end of 2025?
As of now, BharatBox has a thriving community of nearly 400,000 users and over 66,000 creators in India alone. With upcoming launches, deeper brand integrations, and expanding creator support, we anticipate this community to grow 3x-5x by the end of 2025, establishing BharatBox as a dominant force in the Indian metaverse space.
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