Why are you participating for Based India?

We are participating in Based India because we believe in the potential of the Indian tech ecosystem to drive innovation and creativity, especially in the fields of 3D modeling and augmented reality. By contributing to Based India, we aim to leverage the vibrant community of developers, artists, and entrepreneurs to enhance our project, The Grid. We seek to connect with like-minded individuals who share our passion for advancing the 3D creator space through blockchain technology.

Moreover, India has a rich cultural heritage and a growing pool of talented creators who can benefit from our platform, which provides free access to millions of 3D models and seamless integration with popular development tools. By participating in Based India, we hope to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and empower the next generation of creators in the country.

What challenges are you focusing on?

In our project, The Grid, we are focusing on several key challenges:

[1] Access to 3D Resources: Many creators face barriers in accessing high-quality 3D models due to licensing restrictions and high costs associated with platforms like Sketchfab. We aim to provide over 10 million free 3D models sourced from open databases, ensuring that creators have the resources they need without financial constraints.

[2] Integration with Development Tools: A significant challenge is the lack of seamless integration between 3D modeling tools and various development environments. Our SaaS model addresses this by offering custom extensions for popular tools like Blender, Unity, and Unreal Engine, allowing creators to easily import and manipulate 3D assets in their projects.

[3] Ownership and Intellectual Property: The traditional NFT space often raises concerns about ownership and transferability. By utilizing NFTs, we provide a unique solution that ensures creators retain ownership of their digital assets while preventing unauthorized transfers. This fosters a more secure and transparent environment for creators.

[4] Creating an Immersive AR Experience: Developing an engaging AR metaverse game poses challenges in terms of user interaction, gameplay mechanics, and the integration of blockchain for asset minting. We aim to create a mature, real-world AR experience that not only captures users' imagination but also empowers them to interact with 3D models in meaningful ways.

[5] Building a Community: Finally, fostering a vibrant community of 3D creators and users is essential for the platform's success. We are focused on creating tools and features that encourage collaboration, sharing, and support among users, thus enhancing the overall user experience and fostering creativity.

By addressing these challenges, we aim to revolutionize the way 3D creators access, utilize, and showcase their work while building a strong and inclusive community.

How does your submission address this challenge?

Our submission for The Grid directly tackles the identified challenges through the following innovative solutions:

[1] Access to 3D Resources: By creating a comprehensive marketplace that offers over 10 million free 3D models from reputable open-source databases, we remove financial barriers for creators. This vast library allows users to easily find and download high-quality assets without incurring costs, fostering creativity and experimentation.

[2] Integration with Development Tools: We are implementing a SaaS model that provides custom extensions for popular 3D creation tools like Blender, Unity, and Unreal Engine. This integration allows creators to import models seamlessly into their projects, streamlining their workflow and enhancing productivity. Our approach empowers creators to focus on their work rather than technical hurdles.

[3] Ownership and Intellectual Property: By utilizing NFTs, we ensure that creators maintain ownership of their digital assets without the risk of transferability. This unique feature guarantees that their intellectual property is protected, encouraging originality and creativity. It fosters a community where creators can share their work confidently, knowing their rights are secure.

[4] Creating an Immersive AR Experience: The AR metaverse game we are developing allows users to place, interact with, and mint 3D models in the real world. By incorporating blockchain technology for asset minting, we create a truly immersive experience that enhances user engagement. This game is designed to push the boundaries of traditional AR experiences, providing a platform for users to express their creativity in dynamic ways.

[5] Building a Community: We are committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative community of 3D creators. Through features that encourage sharing, feedback, and collaboration, we aim to create an inclusive environment where users can connect and inspire each other.

Challenges I ran into

In our project, The Grid, we are focusing on several key challenges:

[1] Access to 3D Resources: Many creators face barriers in accessing high-quality 3D models due to licensing restrictions and high costs associated with existing platforms. We aim to provide over 10 million free 3D models sourced from open databases, ensuring that creators have the resources they need without financial constraints.

[2] Integration with Development Tools: A significant challenge is the lack of seamless integration between 3D modeling tools and various development environments. Our SaaS model addresses this by offering custom extensions for popular tools like Blender, Unity, and Unreal Engine, allowing creators to easily import and manipulate 3D assets in their projects.

[3] Ownership and Intellectual Property: The traditional NFT space often raises concerns about ownership and transferability. By utilizing NFTs, we provide a unique solution that ensures creators retain ownership of their digital assets while preventing unauthorized transfers. This fosters a more secure and transparent environment for creators.

[4] AWS Costs: As our platform scales, we are facing significant costs associated with AWS services needed to host and manage our infrastructure. To sustain The Grid and continue providing valuable resources to creators, securing funding through this hackathon is crucial for us to keep the site running effectively.

[5] Creating an Immersive AR Experience: Developing an engaging AR metaverse game poses challenges in terms of user interaction and gameplay mechanics. We aim to create a mature, real-world AR experience that not only captures users' imagination but also empowers them to interact with 3D models in meaningful ways.

By addressing these challenges, we aim to revolutionize the way 3D creators access, utilize, and showcase their work while ensuring the sustainability of our platform.

Additional Features

During the Buildathon, we focused on several key enhancements to The Grid that significantly improved its functionality and user experience:

[1] Enhanced Marketplace Features: We added advanced search and filtering capabilities to the 3D model marketplace, making it easier for users to find specific models based on various criteria with different software.

[2] SaaS Integrations: We developed and integrated custom extensions for Blender and Unity, enabling seamless import and manipulation of 3D models directly within these popular tools. This integration enhances the workflow for creators and makes it more efficient to utilize the assets from our marketplace.

[3] AR Game Prototype: We built a prototype for our AR metaverse game, allowing users to place and interact with 3D models in real-world environments. This prototype showcases the potential of our concept and provides a foundation for further development.

[4] NFT Minting: We implemented a minting process for NFTs within the platform, allowing users to mint their 3D models as unique, non-transferable digital assets. This feature ensures secure ownership and adds a layer of authenticity to the digital creations.

[5] User Interface Improvements: We made significant improvements to the user interface, enhancing the overall user experience. The new design is more intuitive and visually appealing, making it easier for users to navigate the platform.