PlaYce, an Israeli startup and a TechCrunch 50 finalist that created ultra-realist immersive 3D in-browser destination site and platform for gaming developers is making significant headway. Today, the company was featured in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Globes, which said that PlaYce expects to see revenue in 2009 and be profitable by 2011.
PlaYce is basing a significant portion of its projected revenue stream not solely on ads (smart move) but on virtual goods sales--a $1.2 bilion dollars industry today (estimated to hit $6 billion in 2010). Virtual goods is one of the few business models that expect to see growth despite recessionary environment with $1 and $2 spendings multiple times throughout hours of play. Last month plaYce opened up its platform to independent design
developers, who can save up to 50-70% of their development costs. plaYce is currently taking beta requests here.
plaYce was founded in 2007 by Yoram Avidan and Carmel Gerber. It secured an impressive $1 million angel funding in July 2007.
Disclaimer: I occasionally advise plaYce.
