In this episode, Tong Pow, co-founder of Hologram (creator of Holoworld AI and Ava Studio), discusses the evolution of Holoworld AI from its early days as an NFT avatar experiment to a platform bridging AI and Web3. Tong explains how products like the Hologram Extension, Agent Creator, and Ava Studio have fueled the launch of HoloLaunch, a launchpad designed to help Web2 and Web3 IP enter the blockchain space. He discusses Hologram's differentiation in the competitive launchpad market, the role of the Holo and AVA tokens, and how AI-driven content creation can boost community engagement. Tong also shares insights on partnerships, ecosystem growth, and the upcoming HOLO Time Generative Advancement (TGE).
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The Origin of Holoworld AI and Tong's AI + Crypto Journey
Ehan: We're delighted to have Tong, CEO of Hologram, here with us today. Could you please briefly introduce yourself, your background, and how Holoworld came to be?
Tong: Hello everyone, I'm Tong, founder of Hologram. My background is in AI and technology development. I started out at a robotics company in San Francisco called Bright Machines, focusing on industrial robots, such as robotic arms. I was responsible for building AI models and software that allowed operators to automate the commands of the robotic arms through AI.
After that, I joined 0x Labs, the creators of the decentralized exchange Matcha. During that time, I participated in the design of the DEX, focusing on creating a better user experience for new users entering the crypto space. It was through this job that I officially entered the crypto industry. At that time, I also caught up with the NFT bull cycle and became deeply involved in it. My first NFT was Loot, which inspired me to start Hologram. My idea was simple: at the time, NFTs were just two-dimensional images, and I thought, why couldn't they be turned into live broadcast avatars? After all, many people were already using NFT JPEGs as brands and avatars on Discord and Twitter.
From this simple idea, Hologram was born. In 2022, we created a demo version, using Cool Cats' avatars for live streaming, which quickly became a viral sensation. Since then, we've collaborated with Fat Penguin, Milady, and over 25 other NFT IPs, as well as with Web2 brands like L'Oréal and Bilibili. This is the earliest prototype and development history of Hologram Labs.
The Natural Intersection of AI and Crypto: NFT Avatars and Virtual Personalities
Ehan: What experience or opportunity led you to focus on the intersection of AI and encryption?
Tong: When we first demonstrated Hologram in 2022, we were already using AI in the form of computer vision. We deployed a complete face tracking model directly in the browser, making it one of the earliest consumer-oriented AI+Crypto projects.
Later, the emergence of large language models (LLMs) and the popular Web2 platform Character AI gave us great inspiration and further clarified our long-term vision - allowing anyone to create their own virtual AI personality based on their own NFT, character, brand or IP.
The combination of AI and crypto is a natural fit. In the crypto industry, memes and IP play a crucial role, fostering highly engaged communities and ultimately driving token value. From a community perspective, AI can foster more engaging and memorable experiences and content, strengthening the cohesion of Web3 communities. From an on-chain perspective, it also allows communities to truly own their IP, which is precisely where blockchain is most suited.
The Evolution of Holoworld AI Products: Extension, Agent Creator, Ava Studio, and HoloLaunch
Ehan: Hologram has developed a comprehensive suite of products, including Hologram Extension, Agent Creator, Ava Studio, and the latest, HoloLaunch. Could you please review the development history and key milestones of these products? Let's start with Extension.
Tong: Hologram Extension is our earliest product. It allows any NFT holder to use their NFT as an avatar on video platforms like Google Meet and Zoom. The first version relied heavily on computer vision technology, tracking the user's facial movements through the laptop camera.
We then realized that many people who aspire to create content or market aren't extroverts themselves, lacking the personality to be content creators. In fact, most are introverts. So we upgraded our product to allow users to create AI-powered virtual IPs and characters. This allows them to automatically generate personalities and memories for their characters. For example, an introvert could create an introverted character to help them with marketing, brand building, and content creation. This is how Agent Creator was born.
Then there's Ava Studio. With advancements in AI film technology and the emergence of new models like V0.3, anyone can create cinematic content using only text. Ava Studio empowers existing IP and character communities to leverage their IP in entirely new ways. In the past, we needed to help brands create 3D models to ensure character consistency, but now AI can generate everything in minutes. For example, a Pudgy Penguin can be directly generated into a movie scene using text.
Finally, we launched HoloLaunch, our Launchpad. Through years of experience, we've built strong relationships with top Web3 and Web2 brands. Recently, we partnered with Mirai, a top Japanese virtual human IP, to help them bring their project to blockchain.
Tong: We've always positioned ourselves at the intersection of Web2 and Web3. Our Launchpad helps large Web2 IPs enter Web3 through tokenization and community building. We provide comprehensive support from narrative design and marketing to product launch. We also offer a one-stop service based on our AI technology stack to emerging Web3 teams, helping them launch their IP. This is the core positioning of HoloLaunch—supporting brands built on IP and content.
Current Strategy and Expansion into the Agentic IP Ecosystem
Ehan: What is your team's current strategic focus within these initiatives? Have product priorities changed recently?
Tong: Hologram's vision remains unchanged: to be the premier platform for creating virtual characters and virtual IPs. What's changing is our reach. We're now building an ecosystem and app store that enables anyone to create agentic IPs and applications, starting with our core products like Ava Studio and Ava IP.
Our recent collaboration with Mirai also demonstrates this direction. We hope that Hologram will become the first choice for anyone to create virtual IPs, supported by our complete product ecosystem, including Ava Studio, Hologram Extension and Agent Creator.
Why Holoworld AI created Launchpad and user-driven needs
Ehan: When did you decide to create a Launchpad? Was it based on user data feedback, or was it a general shift in strategy?
Tong: We decided to launch Launchpad after helping Mirai, Japan's leading virtual human studio. We supported them in completing the largest AI agent presale in the Web3 space, raising $13 million in approximately 24 hours. We even ended the presale early and refunded 50% of the funds to ensure the project launched with a reasonable market capitalization.
From that experience, we realized there was a strong demand from both Web2 IPs and new Web3 teams to launch projects in a more seamless way—leveraging AI for marketing, user growth, and community building. So, it can be said that the birth of Launchpad was primarily a response to user demand.
Launchpad's competitive landscape and HOLO's positioning
Ehan: There are already quite a few launchpads on the market, such as Pump.fun, Bonkfun, and Virtuals, that specialize in AI agents. Which one do you think is the most innovative? Who do you consider your closest competitors?
Tong: Different Launchpads actually serve different user groups within the ecosystem. For example, Pump.fun, one of the earliest, primarily targets meme coin creators; Bonkfun focuses more on developer-type creators; and Virtuals is more geared towards general-purpose AI agents.
HOLO's focus differs from theirs. We focus on Web2 companies and IPs looking to enter Web3, as well as Web3 companies hoping to use IP as a core differentiator. Our competitive advantage comes from our ecosystem and our already launched products. For example, Ava Studio provides a direct incentive mechanism that allows creators to continue producing content and bring more value to the projects they support.
Video is currently the biggest driver of marketing and demand growth—platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels far surpass Twitter in reach. HOLO is the only platform that allows new projects to tap into this traffic and attention directly through our technology. This is what sets us apart from other platforms in the ecosystem.
The development trend of AI + On-Chain Launchpad
Ehan: What do you think about the development and evolution of AI and on-chain Launchpad?
Tong: Launchpads are experiencing a similar evolution to other technologies: a gradual verticalization and a focus on specific user groups. For example, some focus on serving Web2 SaaS entrepreneurs and Web2 founders looking to raise capital through Web3. Their brand positioning is very clear and Web2-friendly.
I believe the biggest trend is greater verticalization and segmentation. The next generation of Launchpads will no longer be general-purpose or rely solely on memes to attract people, but will target different types of creators and communities, creating services that are specifically tailored to them.
Differentiation through technology, collaboration, and network effects
Ehan: How does HoloLaunch plan to differentiate itself in the competitive Launchpad market? Will it rely on technology, users, network, or ecosystem depth?
Tong: It's actually a combination of technology and network effects. From the beginning, HOLO has placed great emphasis on IP partnerships. We have accumulated a strong network of high-quality IP across Web2 and Web3, which are the core resources of our Launchpad strategy.
Our technology also enables community members and users to become creators themselves and become the most powerful promoters of the project. Through content creation and accumulated influence, they can directly increase the exposure of the project and ultimately affect the value of the token.
Therefore, the entire system is designed around an incentive mechanism, encouraging creators to continuously produce content that attracts attention. At the same time, this also provides a new way to on-chain for Web2 and Web3 IP, combining creative output with the growth of token value.
The role of HOLO Token in HololLaunch and the ecological flywheel
Ehan: What role will the HOLO token play in HoloLaunch? Will there be mechanisms such as buybacks or staking incentives to create a flywheel effect?
Tong: The HOLO token is the core of HoloLaunch. HoloLaunch serves as a launchpad, the starting point for incubating new projects within the Holoworld ecosystem. Think of Holoworld as an app store, where all the AI applications and IP are launched through HoloLaunch.
Within this system, we've built in multiple flywheel mechanisms, driven by Holoworld products like Ava Studio. For example, creators are incentivized to create content and share it on platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram Reels, driving buzz for projects launched through HoloLaunch. The more engagement their content receives, the higher their rewards. This incentive loop not only helps new projects quickly gain awareness and adoption, but also generates rewards for community creators. This is just one example of the flywheel mechanism built into HoloLaunch.
The difference between HOLO Token (ecosystem level) and AVA Token (application level)
Ehan: What are the differences between the HOLO and AVA tokens in terms of functionality or value to users and creators? Will they play different roles in different products?
Tong: Yes. The HOLO token is the core token that drives the growth of the Holoworld agentic app store ecosystem. You can think of it as an infrastructure token: it enables anyone to smoothly create agentic IP and applications, while also allowing new community members to participate in project launches and support the operation of the entire network.
AVA is the application-layer token. Our flagship product, Ava Studio, an AI video creation platform, uses AVA as its primary token. Creators are incentivized to create content using AVA, which in turn drives exposure and reach for new projects on HoloLaunch.
To summarize: the HOLO token is the ecosystem-level network currency, driving participation and growth across the entire ecosystem; the AVA token is Ava Studio's utility token, used to promote audio and video content creation and serve as a distribution flywheel, driving visibility and adoption for all projects released through HoloLaunch.
Ava Studio's advantages over Runway, Pika and other platforms
Ehan: Ava Studio's AI-powered video generation has even attracted the attention of some prominent figures. Compared to tools like Runway and Pika, what are Ava Studio's competitive advantages? What are its biggest barriers to entry?
Tong: The biggest difference between Ava Studio and video platforms like Runway and Pika is that it integrates the latest models. It's a one-stop platform where users can directly access all available models. In fact, the Runway and Pika models themselves have been integrated into Ava Studio.
Not only that, Ava Studio is also like an intelligent assistant, similar to Canva in Web2. It will help users select the most suitable model and combine different models such as images, videos, sounds, music, etc. into a complete production process, and finally output content that can be directly published.
For example, if you use Runway to create a video, you only get one clip, which you then have to export to tools like CapCut to add music and stitch together the scenes before you can complete it. With Ava Studio, you can create your video in one go, without having to jump to other platforms. Whether you're making your first TikTok or a short film, Ava Studio can help you get it done because it not only integrates all the models but also acts as a "proxy" to guide you in choosing the tool combination that best suits your creative vision.
Ava Studio Public Beta and Mobile-First Strategy
Ehan: Is Ava Studio currently invitation-only? Is this due to quality control, cost constraints, or infrastructure limitations? When do you plan to open it to the public?
Tong: Ava Studio has now entered its public beta phase and is no longer invitation-only. Our current focus is attracting as many creators with genuine creative needs as possible to join the platform. This allows them to provide feedback and help us refine the product for mass market adoption.
At the same time, Ava Studio also supports mobile devices, allowing creators from TikTok and Instagram to create content directly on their phones.
APIs and SDKs for professional creators
Ehan: Do you plan to provide an API or SDK for professional users and studios?
Tong: Yes, the API and SDK are on the Ava Studio roadmap. We plan to support a variety of custom workflows, allowing users to generate videos directly from their own data sources. For example, generating videos from Twitch streams, tweets, or even PDF files. Many of these specialized scenarios will be supported through the API.
New Creative Processes vs. Traditional Production Pipelines
Ehan: Would you consider integrating with existing production pipelines like Premiere, Resolve, or After Effects?
Tong: This isn't a core direction on our roadmap, as Ava Studio is essentially building a completely new workflow for a new generation of creators, not catering to traditional Premiere or Resolve users. We believe AI film and AI content represent a fundamentally different creative process, significantly lowering the barrier to entry and attracting a whole new class of creators beyond those who have spent years mastering traditional tools. We're not ruling out such integration in the future, but it's not a priority for us right now.
Combining Ava Studio and HoloLaunch: Creator-Driven Promotion
Ehan: How do you envision combining Ava Studio and HoloLaunch to allow creators to take full advantage of AI tools in their publishing plans?
Tong: Ava Studio is the core distribution channel for new projects after they launch on HoloLaunch, building awareness across various platforms. As you can imagine, each project launched through HoloLaunch will have its own IP, a mascot that connects with users and becomes the project's brand ambassador.
Ava Studio enables the community to create an infinite variety of content around this IP. At the same time, we've designed an incentive loop: if a creator's work goes viral, they earn revenue, which in turn increases the value of the project itself.
Agent Generation and Code-Free Launchpad Integration
Ehan: Can projects on Launchpad generate agents or promotional videos directly through Ava Studio? Will this become a no-code AI + Launchpad tool stack?
Tong: Holoworld already has a platform called Agent Creator, which allows anyone to create an agent and then bring it directly into Ava Studio as the main character of a project. So the answer is yes, we already have existing products to support this.
Aligning incentives for users, creators, developers, and investors
Ehan: HOLO has so many components — AI generation, Launchpad tokens, how do you plan to align incentives between users, creators, developers, and investors?
Tong: The HOLO token is the core of the entire incentive mechanism. For example, infrastructure providers can host MCP servers, bringing more practical functionality to intelligent entities in the Holoworld ecosystem. If new projects want to make their APIs accessible—whether for financial data, on-chain data, or off-chain data—they can stake HOLO tokens to open up their services. The number of API calls directly generates corresponding incentives.
Furthermore, staking HOLO allows new users to participate in the launch of the project. This is also beneficial to the project owners, as stakers are often long-term incentive holders who have greater confidence in the project and more steadfast support.
Collaboration with Fat Penguin and Upcoming New Partnerships
Ehan: Can you reveal some upcoming collaborations or ecosystem interactions at the content or infrastructure level?
Tong: One of our important partners is Pudgy. We recently worked with Pudgy owners on an Ava Studio campaign, where each Pudgy character can be generated into an AI agent for video creation.
We also have other collaborations underway. While they cannot be disclosed publicly for the time being, their level and influence are comparable to that of Fat Penguin, encompassing leading IPs from both Web2 and Web3. We will announce more information as progress progresses.
Ehan: Any final words you’d like to share with our listeners?
Tong: I'd like to highlight HOLO's upcoming Time-to-Growth (TGE). Currently, anyone who stakes AVA tokens is still eligible to participate in the HOLO airdrop. When HoloLaunch goes live, both content creators and token stakers will have the opportunity to participate in new program launches. So, please stay tuned for upcoming updates on new products for HoloLaunch and Ava Studio.
