A global convening reimagined for scale, inclusion, and youth empowerment.
Overview
S²Cities, an initiative led by the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB), is dedicated to improving urban safety and wellbeing for young people. With operations spanning Latin America and Southeast Asia, the programme needed a way to bring together cities, youth, and decision-makers across continents for a single event – without the environmental and logistical challenges of in-person gatherings.
Enter MootUp by Hyperspace, a virtual event platform designed for global accessibility and immersive experiences.
Take a quick look inside the branded S²Cities virtual lobby designed in MootUp by Hyperspace. This immersive entry point welcomed participants and set the tone for the entire metaverse experience.
Gib Foundation partnered with MootUp to deliver a global convening in the metaverse using a virtual event platform built for accessibility and scale. What began as a virtual alternative to a traditional event became a blueprint for inclusive, immersive, and sustainable collaboration.
Challenges
- Uniting stakeholders from six countries in real time
- Avoiding the carbon footprint of international travel
- Making the experience accessible to youth with varied devices, bandwidth, and languages
- Ensuring the event felt alive and interactive, not just another webinar
The Solution: A Cusomt Metaverse for the S²Cities Global Convening
Using MootUp’s web-based immersive platform, the S²Cities team launched a branded 3D environment accessible via VR headsets, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
Key features included:
- Fully branded environments: including a reception hall, open-sky auditorium, and interactive exhibition booths
- 360° city tours: letting participants explore the programme cities through video and immersive storytelling
- Life-like 3D full body avatars: complete with expressive gestures and movement to enable more human interaction
- Gamification: with scavenger hunts and photo booths to enhance participation
- Multilingual support: with live two-way translation powered by Interprefy (English, Spanish, Bahasa)
Results
Here’s a short recap video highlighting key moments from the convening. It offers a glimpse into the global collaboration, youth engagement, and immersive tech in action.
Video courtesy of the S²Cities programme.
- 575+ participants across government, civil society, academia, and youth
- 900+ metric tons of CO₂ saved by hosting the convening virtually
- 80% of attendees rated the event engaging and meaningful
- 66% reported they made new connections and exchanged ideas
- Increased cross-regional collaboration and awareness
- Stronger youth-government dialogue, especially in Southeast Asia
Why MootUp by Hyperspace Was the Right Virtual Event Platform
What Made It Work
MootUp by Hyperspace enabled:
- Seamless access across devices and internet speeds
- Consistent user experience in a single shared space (not fragmented rooms)
- Integration of storytelling, interactivity, and accessibility into one platform
- Fast collaboration with the GIB team for branding, training, and support
“It felt like we had a team of five working non-stop with us. It built trust and made us feel supported in something completely new.” — Emily Simpson, GIB Foundation
What’s Next: From One Event to an Evergreen Space
The success of the S²Cities convening opened up new possibilities. With the core metaverse still live, GIB and its partners are now exploring ways to use the space as a year-round destination:
- Scenario-based AI roleplay for youth to practice civic engagement
- Interactive onboarding journeys for new cities entering the programme
- AI-powered cultural exchanges and scavenger hunts between youth hubs
All of these are now made possible by new generative AI features embedded in MootUp’s immersive environments.
Conclusion
The S²Cities Global Convening proved that immersive virtual worlds aren’t just a workaround—they’re a strategic advantage. By using MootUp by Hyperspace, GIB created a space that didn’t just replicate a conference—it reshaped what global engagement can look like
Interested in creating your own immersive convening? Learn more about our platform here or explore our MootUp virtual event platform to learn more.
