Q&A

Designing 3D graphics by hand is often time consuming, expensive and repetitive. Incorporating AI into the process makes it easier, cheaper and faster – and it ensures that the graphics are always unique and varied. Moreover, in both movies and video games, basic elements like rocks, hills, pathsand lakes are necessary components. Rather than having designers spend hours creating these elements, let an AI tool create them in minutes. Afterwards, the design team can focus on customizing and refining the AI-generated world.

Our primary target audience for auctoria consists of game developers and filmmakers, as well as architects and metaverse creators. This broad spectrum is aligned with the substantial market opportunity auctoria presents, in light of the growing demand for 3D modeling and visualization across various industries.

According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global 3D modeling market size is projected to reach $6.6 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 15.0% from 2020 to 2025. This growth indicates significant market potential for auctoria in this expanding sector.

Furthermore, the presence of around 25,000 game developer studios worldwide, as reported by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), showcases the extensive reach and relevance of auctoria in the gaming sector. Additionally, considering that the movies and games industry was valued at USD 300 billion this year, there is a vast and vibrant market for auctoria's offerings. This data underscores the potential for auctoria to capture a significant share of this burgeoning industry and deliver substantial value to our diverse target audience.

According to our calculations, the use of our AI tool, auctoria, has the potential to reduce game production costs by up to 30% by replacing a significant portion of the graphic designer's work. Currently, other companies are testing the pre-alpha version of auctoria and we are eagerly anticipating more information about the specific cost reductions achieved through its implementation.

By leveraging the capabilities of auctoria, game developers can automate and optimize certain graphic design tasks, leading to increased efficiency and potential cost savings. As more data and feedback become available from the ongoing testing phase, we will have a clearer understanding of the precise impact on production costs. This information will further validate the value proposition of auctoria in terms of cost reduction for our target audience.

At present, there is a lack of AI-based software that enables the creation of complete 3D world models. Existing solutions typically consist of 3D editors and plugins, but they offer only a fraction of auctoria's capabilities. Additionally, these solutions often require graphic designers to manually create the models, which can be a time-consuming process.

One of the key advantages of auctoria is that our team began developing the tool two years ago, allowing us to have a developed and ready-to-use product now. This gives us a significant edge over other AI startups in the market, as we have already invested substantial time and resources into creating a comprehensive and robust toolset.

auctoria offers a unique value proposition by automating and streamlining the 3D modeling process, reducing the reliance on manual work from graphic designers. This not only saves time but also opens up new possibilities and efficiencies for our target audience of game developers, filmmakers, architects, and metaverse users.

You have two distinct business models for auctoria:

  1. SAAS Model (Software as a Service): This model is designed for individuals and users who want to create single objects using AI. Under the SAAS model, users can access Auctoria on a subscription basis. It provides a user-friendly interface and functionality for individuals who wish to leverage AI in their 3D modeling process. This model aims to cater to a wide range of users, including hobbyists, independent creators, and small-scale projects.
  2. Enterprise Model: The enterprise model is tailored for companies and organizations. It offers an opportunity for companies to order customized modules of your software, which can be personalized according to their specific needs. This model recognizes that larger-scale projects and professional workflows often require more tailored solutions. By providing customizable modules, you can cater to the unique requirements of different companies, such as integrating Auctoria with their existing workflows, incorporating specific features, or providing additional support and services.

By offering both the SAAS model and the enterprise model, you are addressing the needs of both individual users and larger organizations, expanding your reach and accommodating a diverse range of customers.

 

The CEO of auctoria - Aleksander Caban - is also a co-founder of Carbon Studio, a successful Polish VR games developer established in 2015. With a proven track record of success in the game industry, Carbon Studio brings valuable expertise and industry knowledge to the auctoria team.

Our main programmer and CTO - Michał Bugała - is an experienced AI specialist with eight years of experience in developing AI software. He leads our team of senior and junior programmers who are focused on the development and implementation of deep learning architectures and training models using appropriate tools and techniques.

In addition to our technical team, we have a dedicated business development team responsible for identifying and cultivating partnerships and opportunities for the AI tool. They actively represent the company at global industry conferences, building relationships and exploring potential collaborations.

Heading the product management efforts is an experienced product manager who oversees the development of the AI tool from a product perspective. Working closely with the lead AI developer, she ensures that the product aligns with the needs of the target audience and meets the company's strategic goals.

Collectively, our team brings a diverse range of skills and expertise to ensure the successful development, implementation, and promotion of auctoria. With our strong foundation and industry experience, we are well-positioned to deliver a powerful and innovative AI tool to our target audience.

Additionally, we are currently in the process of expanding our team and are actively hiring talented professionals in various roles. We have open positions for graphic designers, machine learning engineers and programmers, as we continue to strengthen our development capabilities and enhance the functionality of auctoria.

To support our growth and maximize our market potential, we have also established collaborations with other companies that offer specialized services in areas such as HR and marketing. These partnerships enable us to access their expertise and resources, helping us build a strong foundation for scaling our operations and reaching a wider audience.

The first step is to identify customers beyond Carbon Studio's existing partners. While we are in discussions with companies interested in collaborating with us, we also aim to reach out to new customers who may benefit from auctoria.

After the beta launch, where interested individuals can purchase access to the beta version, we will initiate various marketing activities. One of our strategies involves hiring professional designers, concept artists and 3D artists who have a wide audience. They will create captivating content for social media and professional press, showcasing the remarkable possibilities that can be achieved with our AI tool.

By leveraging the talent and reach of these skilled artists, we can effectively demonstrate the capabilities of auctoria to the community. This approach aims to generate interest, attract potential customers and build a vibrant community around auctoria.

Additionally, our marketing activities will encompass other strategies to create awareness, such as targeted advertisements, industry partnerships, participation in relevant events and engaging with influencers. These efforts will help highlight the incredible potential of Auctoria and its value to the target audience of game developers, filmmakers, architects and metaverse users.

In addition to the mentioned marketing activities, it's worth noting that auctoria has already been showcased at international events within the IT and game development industry. These events have provided valuable exposure for auctoria, generating significant interest from other companies operating in related fields. The exposure gained from these events has helped establish auctoria as a promising and innovative solution within the 3D modeling and visualization landscape. This early interest and recognition from industry players serve as a strong foundation for further growth and adoption of auctoria among its target audience.

At the moment we are completing the first round of investment from angel investors, which provides us with the necessary resources to propel auctoria's development forward. As we continue to progress, we are actively preparing for the next round of funding to support our future growth and expansion.

Simultaneously, we are focused on setting up a robust cloud computing infrastructure. This infrastructure will enable us to scale up our operations effectively, accommodating a larger user base and ensuring a smooth user experience. Once this infrastructure is in place, we will be ready to launch the beta version of auctoria, granting users access to the tool and gathering valuable feedback to further refine and improve its functionality.

We are committed to delivering a high-quality and user-friendly experience with auctoria, and our ongoing efforts to establish a scalable infrastructure reflect our dedication to achieving this goal. With the support of our investors, the development of auctoria is progressing steadily and we are excited to soon introduce the beta version to users eager to explore the possibilities of AI-driven 3D modeling and visualization.

 

We are seeking a pre-seed round of $400k (SAFE with 15% discount) without restrictions. The investment will primarily be allocated to evolving our development team, creating a faster learning infrastructure in the cloud, marketing efforts and developing an application/website for easier usage of auctoria.

Before establishing the company, we had already raised and invested $1 million to develop and test the tool. The majority of the funding was obtained from the national fund for Research and Development (in 2021), while the remaining portion was raised by the co-founders themselves.

In June 2023 we raised $100k from angel investors (mostly friends and family).

 

The value of the company was determined to be $7,000,000 during the angel investment round. This valuation was based on several factors, including the stage of development of auctoria in comparison to other AI startups, its proven usability in Carbon Games, talent pool in our team and the potential collaborations and partnerships that are currently in progress. With new partnerships on the horizon, the company's value is expected to further increase.

 

One of the biggest challenges is finding experienced programmers in the field of AI, as many companies are actively seeking developers. However, our advantage lies in our connection to the games industry, which is considered part of the entertainment sector.

AI for 3D creation holds immense potential to revolutionize the design and creation of 3D models, but it also presents several risks and challenges that must be considered:

  1. Limited data: AI systems require substantial amounts of data to learn effectively. Insufficient data can result in inaccurate or non-representative models.
  2. Competition: The rise of AI has led to numerous startups developing AI-based tools. However, our early start, strong core, and proven technology give us a competitive edge.
  3. Ethical concerns: AI for 3D creation raises ethical questions regarding ownership and attribution. Determining intellectual property rights and attributing credit to human creators who trained the AI system can be challenging.

To mitigate these risks and challenges, several steps can be taken:

  1. Diversify data: Using a diverse range of data during AI training helps prevent bias and ensures more inclusive models.
  2. Maintain transparency: Design AI systems to be transparent, enabling humans to understand their decision-making process and the factors influencing their output.
  3. Incorporate human feedback: Including human feedback in the training process helps identify and correct errors and biases, ensuring accurate and useful 3D models.
  4. Consider ethical implications: It is vital to address ethical concerns surrounding AI for 3D creation, such as ownership and attribution. Clear guidelines and policies can help navigate intellectual property issues and exploring collaborative models between humans and AI systems is crucial.

By following these steps, we can responsibly develop and utilize AI for 3D creation while unlocking its transformative potential in the realm of 3D design and creation.

In the long term, we envision several potential scenarios for the future of our company.

We are actively seeking potential partners to establish cooperative relationships that could potentially lead to long-term mergers. While we are not necessarily looking to sell the entire company, having the support of a "bigger brother" could provide advantages such as cost-cutting measures, particularly in areas like cloud computing. Additionally, partnering with a larger company could open up new avenues for the development and growth of auctoria.

One of the scenarios involves a potential merger with another company. Given the current interest and investment in the AI market by industry giants, such as the examples of Chat GPT and OpenAI, such a merger could present significant opportunities.

We believe that exploring partnership and merger possibilities can position us for further success and advancement in the AI market, while allowing us to leverage the resources and expertise of a larger entity.

 

Right now we prioritize the development of a robust and user-friendly AI-powered software or platform that enables users to create realistic 3D rocks and landscapes with ease. Continuously improve the technology by incorporating user feedback and staying updated with the latest advancements in AI and 3D modeling. We focus on conducting thorough market research to understand the specific needs, preferences, and pain points of our target customers within each industry.

We proactively seek partnerships and collaborations with complementary software providers, 3D modeling communities, educational institutions, and industry influencers. By joining forces with key players in the industry, we aim to foster synergies, expand our reach and enhance our credibility within the target industries. We aim to leverage the expertise and networks of our partners, expand our customer base, and create mutually beneficial relationships that drive growth and market penetration. These collaborations also enable us to stay at the forefront of industry trends, gather market insights and align our product roadmap with the evolving needs of our customers.

Next steps are product positioning and determing a pricing strategy that aligns with the value our product delivers and the preferences of our target customers.

Our goal: staying at the forefront of AI and 3D technology advancements