Partner Ecosystem Heavyweight Champs
Being an excellent partner isn’t about a one-time campaign. It’s about adopting partnerships into the lifeblood of your organization. These companies have shown continued commitments to partnerships and it’s paying off in spades.
Google…If you can’t beat them, join them!
The tech giant has increasingly flexed its muscle and presence over the years. With many companies being unable to compete against them, this year has shown that sometimes it’s better to work together than against each other.
In May, Google signed a deal with SpaceX to bring secure data delivery to remote areas by deploying Starlink terminals at Google’s cloud data centers around the world. The very next week, Google announced a partnership with Shopify, allowing merchant products to show up in Google Search services including Maps, Images, and YouTube.
Microsoft Makes Millions on Millions
Microsoft has been on quite the roll this year, announcing their $2 trillion valuation at the end of last month. This came in just a few months after CEO Satya Nadella announced his plan for unlocking trillions in partner opportunities.
Microsoft has continued to demonstrate a commitment to their partner ecosystem, recently cutting marketplace fees from 20% to a mere 3%. Even sweeter, Krispy Kreme UK announced their Nexus doughnut Wednesday, which will be available in August to celebrate Xbox’s twentieth anniversary.
Partnerships in the Metaverse
Roblox has seen massive growth over the past 15 years, recently reaching an over $40 billion valuation shortly after their IPO in March. While the metaverse may look incredible now, it wasn’t an overnight success.
In 2021 alone, Roblox has inked some game-changing partnerships that have propelled them closer to creating the metaverse that may finally replace real life.
After the success of their virtual concert with Lil Nas X last year, Roblox expanded their partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, enabling a slew of commercial opportunities for Sony artists on the platform. Warner Brothers also partnered with Roblox to build digital experiences on the platform. Last month, Roblox hosted a virtual In The Heights block party. Maybe our next Partnership Leaders Connect event will happen in the metaverse!
IRL toymakers are also getting in on the fun. Roblox partnered up with Hasbro to deliver Nerf & Monopoly products with affiliated in-game experiences.
