Andy Ku

Summary

Andy Ku is a metaverse developer, mobile gaming pioneer and tech entrepreneur, founder of software companies BlueArk, Nurien Software and, more recently, Altava group.

History

Andy Ku, who undertook BS in Architecture from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, currently holds the position of Founder CEO of Altava Group, a Singapore-based luxury fashion metaverse that enables users to discover, interact, and express themselves through an avatar. The company operates ‘World of You’, a metaverse that provides Omni-platform experiential solutions which seamlessly connect consumers to the real-world and virtual world in the space of luxury fashion brands. What’s more, it also has successful collaborations with luxury fashion brands including Thom Browne, Prada, Diesel, Chloe, Bulgari and Balmain.

“We digitized every item in our WOY (Worlds of You) metaverse application for ALTAVA, with final approval coming from the brands themselves. In our upcoming version, only approved brands and creators will be able to produce items like, say, the NFT jacket from Balmain and trade/sell these items in our market, which has built-in security,” Andy Ku tells Forbes.

Andy Ku has a fascinating journey. After he completed graduation, he got involved in startups since 2002, working with some of the world’s most recognisable names in media and gaming. He is also a pioneer in social gaming, having created MStar, a 3D-avatar-based fashion app.

Being involved in gaming companies throughout his career, it didn’t come as a surprise when he became CEO of Netmarble Corp. a Korea-based mobile gaming company, in 2011.  As the chief executive of the company, Andy was involved in developing games like Marvel Future Fight, Seven Knights, Raven and Everybody’s Marble, among others.

That’s not all! He founded BlueArk in 2014 to develop and publish games and digital education platforms by converting famous IP such as SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Toonix, and American Idol into digital formats, working with Viacom, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, XIX Entertainment, BlueArk Global to launch these games and platforms in more than 137 countries.

Today, Andy has over twenty years of gaming experience from working with top global IP holders – representing their world-famous IPs into the game worlds: SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer from Nickelodeon Viacom, Toonix from Cartoon Network, Creator of Grand Theft Auto, Simon Fuller (American Idol).

Currently, he is the news as the Founder CEO of Altava Group, a Singapore-based company with offices in Seoul, Tokyo, London, and Paris; the company aims to bring luxury brands into the metaverse… positioning itself at the intersection of technology and fashion, bridging the real and virtual worlds. It brings luxury fashion brands into the metaverse, offering them virtual spaces to share stories — a place where they can feature their digitised collections in a branded, customisable environment.

“We are thankful that the institutional investors, as well as retail investors, continue to have faith in our vision of helping brands to connect and explore the opportunity between the IRL and the Web3. Our recent pop-up shop for our Bored Ape Golf Club NFT collection with Hyundai Department Store,” said Andy Ku told GlobeNewswire.

Of late, Altava Group collaborated with Sandbox to launch an exclusive NFT collection. It’s an exciting time for digitalisation as the collaboration will provide those who purchase the NFT collection the access to use it in both The Sandbox and Altava ‘Worlds of You’ metaverse, and will undoubtedly amplify Altava to become the most coveted fashion metaverse. The NFT collection will also leverage Altava’s experience of digitizing and tokenising assets for high-end luxury brands including Balmain and Prada to create the most coveted PFP and avatars in The Sandbox metaverse for the lucky owners!!

Vision

Andy Ku aims to bring luxury brands into the metaverse… positioning it at the intersection of technology and fashion, bridging the real and virtual worlds. He brings luxury fashion brands into the metaverse, offering them virtual spaces to share stories — a place where they can feature their digitised collections in a branded, customisable environment.

Andy Ku’s vision is to create a future where technology and creativity intersect, enabling innovation that is both meaningful and transformative. With a deep-rooted belief in the power of technology to shape fashion, Andy envisions a fashion industry where digital tools are used not just for efficiency but for enhancing experiences, fostering creativity, and driving change. He is passionate about developing products and solutions that solve problems while empowering individuals and communities. At the core of his vision is the idea that technology should be accessible and inclusive, allowing everyone to harness its potential regardless of their background or skill level.

In addition to accessibility, Andy Ku’s vision emphasises sustainability and ethical innovation. He sees technology as a tool that can be used responsibly to address global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and resource scarcity. By promoting sustainable design and practices, Andy aims to create products and systems that have a long-term positive impact on the environment and society. His vision extends beyond simply creating cutting-edge technology—it is about ensuring that innovation is driven by purpose, with a focus on improving lives and building a better, more sustainable future for all.

Mission Statement

Andy Ku’s mission is to bring culture-defining fashion brands into the metaverse, creating a bridge between the physical world of fashion and the limitless possibilities of digital spaces. He is committed to helping fashion brands expand their influence and presence in the virtual world, where they can connect with global audiences in new, immersive ways. Through the integration of fashion into the metaverse, Andy aims to redefine how people experience and interact with fashion, making it more interactive, customizable, and inclusive. By leveraging cutting-edge technology such as virtual reality, blockchain, and digital wearables, his mission is to empower fashion brands to innovate and thrive in the digital age, reaching consumers in ways that were previously unimaginable.

At the heart of Andy Ku’s mission is the desire to shape the future of fashion by merging creativity with technology. He believes that by bringing iconic fashion brands into the metaverse, he can help them stay ahead of the curve, fostering new forms of creative expression and engagement with audiences. His mission is not just about making fashion available in virtual environments, but about creating meaningful experiences that resonate with consumers on a cultural level. Through partnerships with fashion brands, Andy aims to unlock the full potential of the metaverse as a space for fashion innovation, where the boundaries of creativity can be pushed and new cultural movements can emerge.

Products and Services

Andy Ku’s products and services are centered around bringing fashion brands into the metaverse, offering a suite of innovative digital solutions that help fashion labels expand their presence in the virtual world. His services enable brands to create and sell digital clothing, accessories, and virtual experiences, allowing consumers to engage with fashion in a fully immersive and interactive way. Through advanced technology such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and blockchain, Andy provides fashion brands with the tools to offer virtual fashion shows, digital storefronts, and even NFT-based collectibles. These digital products give brands the ability to reach new, tech-savvy audiences and allow consumers to express their style in virtual environments such as gaming platforms, social media, and other metaverse spaces.

In addition to creating digital fashion items, Andy Ku’s services focus on enhancing brand storytelling and consumer engagement in the metaverse. He helps fashion brands build virtual spaces where customers can explore collections, customize avatars with digital wearables, and participate in interactive experiences like virtual runway shows or exclusive events. His offerings extend beyond just creating digital garments, enabling fashion houses to build entire virtual ecosystems that reflect their brand identity and ethos. By facilitating these cutting-edge experiences, Andy Ku positions fashion brands at the forefront of the digital revolution, allowing them to remain culturally relevant while exploring new revenue streams in the expanding world of virtual fashion.

References

• Official website Andy ku
• ALTAVA Group and bemyfriends Sign Strategic Partnership Yahoo Finance
• LinkedIn profile of Andy Ku LinkedIn
• Altava Mirror
• Facebook profile of Andy Ku Facebook
• Metaverse And NFTs Provide Improved Intellectual Property Protections For Brands Forbes
• TBWA Asia goes deep into the metaverse with Altava Group win
• Youtube profile of Andy Ku Youtube
• ALTAVA Group Partners with the Sandbox to Launch Exclusive NFT Collection ACN Newswire
• Twitter profile of Andy Ku Twitter
• The Sandbox and ALTAVA announce ALTAVA Club House Sandbox
• ALTAVA, Announces Three New Features Globe Newswire