Invesco, a global asset manager overseeing $1.6 trillion in assets, has introduced a new investment fund dedicated to the metaverse.
The Invesco Metaverse Fund is an actively-managed equity investment vehicle that focuses on what Invesco refers to as the “metaverse value chain.” The fund will be managed by Tony Roberts and James McDermottroe, members of Invesco’s UK-based Asia and emerging markets team.
Roberts noted that the decision to launch the fund was driven by optimistic projections regarding the metaverse’s growth. “It has been estimated that, by 2030, virtual and augmented reality could deliver a £1.4 trillion boost to the global economy,” he stated. “While the metaverse’s applications in entertainment are becoming more understood, its potential for transformative impact across various industries such as healthcare, logistics, education, and sports is significant. We aim to seize these opportunities with a highly selective, valuation-conscious approach.”
Thematic investments for the fund will be concentrated in seven areas, including operating and computer systems, hardware and devices that facilitate access to the metaverse, AI-developed immersive platforms, blockchain technologies, as well as services and assets aimed at digitizing the real economy.
Invesco joins several fund managers exploring the metaverse as an investment avenue, including Axa Investment Management, Fidelity, and HSBC, all of which have launched similar funds this year.