Overvaluations in the burgeoning metaverse and semiconductor sectors, according to the chairman of Shenzhen Capital Group, could be disastrous. He thinks the metaverse has a lot of potential, but to him, we have not invested enough in VR yet.
According to Ni Zewang, president of Shenzhen Capital Group, a major government-backed venture capital business in China, the influx of money into hyper sophisticated industries combining the metaverse and semiconductors has led to overvaluations. Which could be destructive in the long term.
“We perceive the metaverse as a future trend and a potential technology,”. “But it won’t be able to create value without a practical application scenario,” Ni said in a group interview at the Beyond Expo in Macau on Dec. 2.
“If the bubble bursts in a short period of time, it will not help the industry’s technology growth,” he warned. However, “if the valuation could progressively rise as technology advances, it would aid companies in developing in a more healthy manner.”
Shenzhen Capital, on the other hand, is one of China’s most active investors in the hard technology sector. According to the company, it has invested in 1,350 enterprises for a total of 75.5 billion yuan ($11.8 billion) since it was formed by the Shenzhen government in 1999. More than 200 of its portfolio firms have gone public.
A bet on the metaverse.
According to Ni, Shenzhen Capital is betting on the metaverse. Which is just one aspect of a larger trend toward digitalization and intellectualization of employment. The firm is also looking into smart manufacturing, healthcare, and new energy. “However, hard technology is not immune to overvaluation.”
Indeed, according to Ni, this is a problem in the semiconductor business, which has seen a surge in investment as a result of the global chip shortage. Unreasonably high startup valuations, as per Ni, may deter investors from engaging in later financings.
Favorable subsidies and policies have sparked interest in the chip business in China. Which is pushing for technological self-sufficiency in the face of U.S. sanctions that have cut off some domestic enterprises. From advanced semiconductors and related technologies. Imported chips continue to be a major source of revenue for the industry.
For MetaNews.