"BUD" co -founder Risa: Breaking the Yuan universe, then assembled like Lego

3D yuan cosmic social interaction requires tide and cool.

Text ｜ BEN

Cover Source ｜ Corporate Photo Conferring

The Yuan universe has always been accompanied by various disputes on the day of its birth. To this day, the Yuan universe lacks figuration. To explain the project.

Now, BUD disassembles the Yuan universe, and reasses it again: Yuan Cosmic+Non -Code+3D+Mobile Editor+UGC+Social Software, including but may not be limited to this.

Because in the BUD, each user can build his own Yuan universe with your heart like playing, and share it with friends. 10,000 users can create 10,000 possibilities.

BUD mobile editor

Earlier, 36 氪 has continued to pay attention to BUD, but I have to admit that the BUD is really mysterious and it is difficult to define it in one sentence or several labels.

Whether it is domestic or overseas, it is impossible to find a clear benchmark for BUD, which makes people can't help but have some doubts. It is the threshold of the Yuan universe too high, or the segmentation track selected by BUD is too narrow?

However, since the launch of BUD, users have grown rapidly globally. In 38 countries and regions, they have entered the TOP10 list of social applications. The registered users exceeded 10 million, the original UGC works exceeded 20 million, the total transaction of 3D materials exceeded 2.5 100 million times, such results should not be accidental.

Moreover, in the first half of 2022, which was very cautious in capital, BUD had two rounds of large financing within four months, with a total of over 50 million US dollars. This is really impressive for a startup with a large scale. The list of managers not only covers head capital, such as Sequoia, Tongming, Northern Lights, GGV, Qiming, Source Code, Yunjiu, etc., and there are old -fashioned technology giants such as NetEase. The lineup is strong, which makes people curious about the future of BUD.

Japanese -style courtyard created by BUD users

In 2019, when BUD clarified the direction of entrepreneurship, there was no exact Yuan universe. Even if ROBLOX defined the eight dimensions of the Yuan universe in the prospectus in 2021, Roblox users still face the not simple code threshold. It is difficult to say Roblox is UGC or PGC.

It is true that PGC can bring a better experience to pure players, but the fun and sense of accomplishment in PGC belong to only a few people. The balance point from PGC to UGC is both subtle and precious.

At the moment when the mobile Internet dividends have faded, the effective logic of products, platforms, users, growth, etc. faces thorough change. The PLG in the SaaS field has been speaking for a year, and the products and user experience are accelerating. In the C -end market, traditional social software will sooner or later face the challenges of new forces.

For social software, the demand has changed too quickly, and the needs of young people can only be obtained and retained by the needs of young people. It is a huge test for any social media.

However, there will be opportunities for changes. If the pointer of time is adjusted back to five or six years ago, how many people can foresee the future of Musical.ly.

Street view in BUD

In the next -generation Internet new media led by the Yuan Universe and Web 3, 3D space is compatible with rich media forms such as compatible pictures, text, videos, and sounds. AIGC has unlimited imagination space.

And a good UGC space may become a place where countless young people release their creativity.

With the above many questions and curiosity, 36 氪 and BUD co -founder and CEO RISA conducted an open and in -depth interview.

The following is an interview with 36 氪 vs Bud CEO RISA (excerpts)

36 氪: As an early UGC platform, how to maintain a high growth rate in the world?

RISA: BUD's growth rate this year should be said to exceed expectations. On the one hand, the core driving force for growth comes from the natural communication between core users and players. During the use of users and creators A lot of content spreads in other social media. Users spontaneously spread to form a closed -loop of growth and have also become a very effective way to grow.

On the other hand, the editor of BUD is constantly strong, the picture is better, the overall image of the characters is more beautiful, and the process and works of user creation are more attractive.

36 氪: How to balance the use of users and the transmission efficiency of other social media?

Risa: The social platforms of BUD and other media are very different in terms of product form and core. The platforms of many games and videos can coexist naturally, and these platforms themselves also need more and updated high -quality content.

Back to our creative tools, the long -term goal of BUD is to constantly polish the editor so that it can become more and more powerful. Users can already use BUD editors to make increasingly interesting, more and richer content in order to in order To make better content, users will greatly improve their use time.

BUD user -created court dance 36 氪: Is there a mature case that can be used to learn or reference?

RISA: BUD is a completely code -free mobile terminal native 3D UGC application. It has not fully used similar applications or competitive products worldwide. We will actually study a lot of hard -core game engines. Graphic and video applications. BUD iteration upgrades are more concerned about feedback given by users. Whether it is positive or negative feedback, we will attach great importance to it, and then iterates based on feedback.

36 氪: The time rhythm of the BUD in the future?

RISA: Our ideas have always been similar to the idea of ​​Internet C -end application. The update frequency basically reaches such a very fast iteration per week or even twice a week, and there will be a lot of update content for each iteration.

Similar to some well -known business engines worldwide, it has a history of more than ten years or even twenty years. It is still constantly updating the tool set and constantly breaking through the content ceiling that can be achieved. The update of BUD editor is also a very long -term thing. In the future, it will always be committed to this.

36 氪: Will BUD output differentiated apps for different ages and gender users?

RISA: In the short term, we will focus very much in the main line business and will not use the idea of ​​the APP matrix. We hope to make our platform well. As far as products are concerned, we do not produce content ourselves. We provide underlying production tools. The tools do not define the type of content, and the style of output content is not defined.

The content and expression of BUD are defined by users and creators. Whether it is to expand different regions or users of different ages, it is more to polish products and ecology to continuously improve the editor's ceiling.

As for how the editor is used, it depends on the creator ecology. YouTube or Tiktok, the platform does not determine who the user is, the creator ecology is always dynamic two -way choice.

BUD user space 36 氪: What is the correlation between 3D UGC platform and VR/AR?

RISA: 2D media such as pictures and videos such as pictures and videos have never been applied to super cross -platform. In terms of medium, such as wanting to quickly migrate Weibo or other applications to the XR platform, you need to do it. However, for the original 3D immersive media platform, whether it is the underlying editor, or the underlying engineering infrastructure, or the upper user experience, it is a cross -platform, so the 3D media has the first -mover advantage. As a developer of C -end products and applications, different times will definitely face different hardware. When the new hardware platform becomes a real application carrier, we will definitely actively lay out, and it is already in the long -term strategic planning of BUD.

In the 3D UGC space, the character image and aesthetic image of different styles can be carried in it. Now the character image in the BUD is the Q version. In the future, it is very likely to expand the Avatar image with different body ratios and different aesthetics.

36 氪: How can we maintain a relatively high level in creativity and aesthetics?

RISA: In terms of two parts, on the one hand, the founding team must have persistence, and it must be enough to persist in the design of the design of the entire character, as small as a UI, light and shadow. During the process, aesthetics remained at a high level.

On the other hand, BUD is very concerned about how users use tools, how to use tools to make better visual effects, and then weerate based on user feedback. So many times we have a close feedback from users, and users will give us very intimate companionship.

36 氪: The possibility of commercialization of BUD, the way to monetize UGC digital assets?

Risa: There is no commercial entrance in our product side. It is temporarily impossible to recharge or realize it in the end, but it will definitely achieve the creator economy in the future.

In the previous era, whether it was a video medium or a graphic medium, it created a lot of imagination space, and many content platforms are based on advertising revenue, but 3D media have more new imaginations, and digital assets have many new ones. Can be explored. BUD is exploring the possibility of commercialization in a new way.

First of all, for the video, most of the content and advertisements of the video medium are one -time. It is not a form of content that can be experienced or retained for a long time. In addition, the content of the advertisement is more interference for users. And whether it is video or graphic, the advertisement gives users a relatively negative feedback to a certain extent.

And the 3D medium's advertising content is strong, which can give users more immersive experiences. It does not become interference for users. Therefore, we are looking forward to the media in the web3 era that can bring a new new form of interaction forms. Commercial path.

BUD user space -astronaut 36 氪: Will BUD face the pressure of profit expectations?

Risa: All C -terminal platforms will encounter similar problems in the early stage, because the early days are very important to polish products, attract users, and accumulate users. After having traffic, consider how to use the number of users and traffic. When we really start commercialization, whether it is function or strategy, it must be a focus on thinking.

36 氪: How does the 3D UGC platform deal with regional differences at the same time?

RISA: BUD is now a global platform, so users of different countries and different races, how to weigh their needs and content preferences of products, will involve many issues. However, as far as global content is generally universal, 3D medium is much higher than the 2D medium. The 2D content is based on text and language, which has also increased regional barriers. The 3D experience, whether it is American users, Philippine users, or South American users, can also escape in the same room, which can be very universal. Of course, there will still be preferences and preferences of different countries. In the end, it still depends on algorithms to split different dimensions, and then automated recommendations based on these dimensions.

36 氪: What is the feasibility of 3D UGC platform in China?

Risa: The product form of 3D UGC is actually greater than the difference. After BUD is launched worldwide, we observe that as long as it is a young user group, it will not be unfamiliar with the new media. Regional users are fast -moving and spreading fast.

36 氪: Does Snap ’s work experience help for the current work?

Risa: It must be quite helpful. Snap is a company with a history of nearly ten years, but now it looks very young. Compared with the mature technology companies, such as Facebook, the youthfulness of Snap, headquartered in San Francisco, is not only reflected in the company's tone, but also through the concept of products. There are many places to learn from.

As a platform -level application, how to keep users be young at the perception level, a very important means are product innovation. From the earliest form of incineration after reading, Snapchat continuously joined the virtual image, and then to do the AR experience through acquisitions and other methods, it also reflects its products that have been constantly innovating.

Whether it is from zero to one in the early stage, or to expand the global market from one to one hundred, it is an important thing to continuously promote product innovation from users' feedback.

BUD user space -survival game 36 氪: How to be compatible with the application of the web3 era?

RISA: Every decade, C -end applications have completely innovation. It provides a lot of opportunities for a new UGC platform such as BUD. For the application of the mobile Internet era, they still have the advantages of application scenarios. For new users, facing media switching will actually bring new opportunities. As long as you choose to do this, no matter how the outside world changes, you will always face such challenges.

Even if BUD has become the mainstream UGC social platform in the next ten years, it will face new challenges of that era, and constantly make product innovation in order to continue to retain new young people.

36 氪: How does BUD deal with competition from traditional giants?

RISA: Back to the topic of competition, now it is just a very early stage in the Metaverse or Web3 era, and it is also a very blue ocean stage.

Different applications and customer acquisition methods are completely different, and now everyone is exploring together. When the new media and new technology arrive, you need to quickly find the entry point and establish the ecology.

From the construction to the operating ecology, the UGC platform is relatively long and difficult in the early stages, but once it starts, ecological operations will also become a very strong barrier.

Metaverse and Web3 are also new things for technology giants. They can be applied without mature experience. The accumulation of past operating capabilities does not mean that it can be reused in a new field.

36 氪: How much is the editor in the XR application ecosystem?

Risa: BUD is very concerned about the birth of AR/VR or new intelligent hardware, but it is still in an early observation period. For the 3D UGC medium, whether it is underlying infrastructure or the upper user experience, it has cross -platform attributes. When the popularization rate of intelligent hardware reaches enough, we are looking forward to long -term planning can become a reality.

There is a big difference between AR and VR, and the creation tools are too early to talk about the details. Different platforms will have different application scenarios and editor functions.

36 氪: What layouts do BUD will be completed in the next one to two years?

Risa: We face great opportunities and challenges. For one to two years, it is very important to iterate the bottom layer of creative tools. In fact, from users from all over the world, a large number of positive feedback on the application has been obtained. From North America to Southeast Asia, we have given us great confidence. Let us believe that BUD can really become a global platform.

Therefore, the global layout and the operation of the ecology of global creators are very important things in the next one to two years. The third point is that we are very optimistic about cross -border cooperation, such as the landing and expansion of brand cooperation, and the operation of online activities.

BUD user space -street view 36 氪: How does BUD layout in artificial intelligence algorithms, and what are the imagination space?

Risa: UGC and AIGC already have a lot of room for cooperation. The core focus is that after introducing AI in the scene, it can further reduce the user's creative threshold. BUD is looking forward to cooperating with mature technology companies.

For example, terrain generation, now our users need to build the entire scene by themselves. If the terrain automation of AIGC is added, it can further reduce the use threshold of UGC. In addition Personality and character attributes. 36 氪: Is it possible for commercial engines such as Unity to further reduce the threshold of UGC?

Risa: Engines such as Unity provide the bottom tool chain, and UGC directly faces C -end applications. We are more integrated based on the current technology. It lies in product creativity.

Unlike business engines, the technology stack involved in 3D UGC must be more cross -border. It is necessary to put the mobile Internet technology stack, including recommendations, platforms, community operations, etc., plus the technology stack of traditional games, including CG, rendering, engines, and Online, etc., are all integrated.

36 氪: Are there any technical and applications between business engines and application layers?

RISA: I think it is, and I am quite optimistic about Mateverse. There are a lot of entry points. In terms of complete ecology, whether it is TOB and TODEVELOPER, China Taiwan can make development easier. This is also an important landing scenario of artificial intelligence. For example Completely apply ecology. Compared with competitive relationships, ecology can allow more entrepreneurs to avoid many pits.

36 氪: Can 3D UGC applications compatible with multimedia content and other multimedia content of early Internet?

Risa: In terms of the compatibility of the media itself, 3D has the potential to perfectly compatible with the integration of sound, music, videos, text, and pictures. The web3 and Yuan universe are accelerating the establishment of the entire platform ecology. If 3D can use the traffic password of the mobile Internet platform well, it can get rapid growth in the early days.

Moreover, before becoming a mainstream media, 3D can learn from many videos and short video media in terms of successful experience in products, technology, ecology, and operations.

BUD user space -dating 36 氪: How do BUD think of possible changes in the server side?

RISA: In terms of two floors, the development of the server on the Internet is relatively mature, but there is still much room for improvement in the server back end of many people and physical engines. For a long -term factory, in order to do the infrastructure in this field, it will also bring itself an incomparable growth space for itself.

36 氪: Will the computing power requirements on the server side and the transmission cost cause pressure to BUD?

RISA: Compared with the pressure of cost growth, user growth brings more power to BUD, and the growth of Internet companies will continue to decrease at the same time. For example, for example, there are clear ceilings in the online number industry while multi -person online, but whether it is the client's computing power or server computing power, it is actually increasing, and the upgrade speed of mobile phones is generally synchronized.

Of course, multiplayer online 3D UGC will increase the needs of computing power. In order to optimize the user experience requires technical breakthroughs, we have not encountered the bottleneck of the product layer, but at the same time as the user -side product innovation Breakthrough point. In this regard, cloud computing providers such as AWS will provide collaborative cloud computing technology.

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