Monaco Metaverse by Manila Di Giovanni

Manila, let our readers find out more about you!

My name is Manila di Giovanni and I'm the founder and the CEO of Dworld, a start-up based in the Principality of Monaco. The objective is to create a virtual world and economy of the Principality with the metaverse.  Basically, it is like recreating a smarter, greener version of the Principality and to recreate the mareterra district up to 2023-2025. Each enterprise can have their own space where they can conduct business within it and have access to new sales and markets in the metaverse.

Is it your own creation, your own design?

Yes, it's my idea! We, also, collaborated with smart cities departments of the Government in Monaco to create our prototype which consists of the upper part of Monaco city, The Oceanographic Museum. Now we are expanding it to Monte Carlo and blockchain integration, to bespoke villas, bespoke assets by local companies, nfts, as well.

How is the NFT market in Monaco?

In Monaco, it's the moment to create awareness because the age average is above 45 years old so it takes a bit more time comparing to other cities or countries like Dubai, Seoul, Singapore. Overall, the NFT market has been growing quite fast. In 2020, the evaluation of the NFT market was of 100 million dollars. In 2021 it was up to 40 billion.

To Monaco it's a global window display to promote itself and showcase its innovation in the metaverse.

You're nominated Forbes Under 30! Please let us know a little bit more about it!

Yes, I was nominated for Forbes Under 30 in December 2021 and for me it's only a nomination, but I think it's because of the fact that I'm one of the few young people living in the Principality who is trying to make a change, an impact

What would be your message to our readers?

Always be optimistic! Ideas that are groundbreaking, disrupting are not that easily accepted here. In order to make a change, you need to be, also, surrounded by the people who believe in your vision. Finding these people is, also, not that easy. You need to take this hard working journey everyday on a constant basis and just keep believing in your idea. It can take a little while but, eventually, if you persist, you will succeed. Persistence is the key!

I, also, believe that the Principality needs more young people to come and share their ideas. I am one of those young people who came to the Principality to make my idea come alive. You can, also, become one of those young people to make an impact in Monaco because Monaco is aiming to become one of the best smart cities in the world but it needs more innovative ideas. The Prince is aiming to have a carbon free country by 2050. We can all collaborate in making this vision come alive.

By Andra Oprea