Starbucks launched the beta test of its Web3 ‘Odyssey’ Loyalty Program and NFT community

On December 8, Starbucks launched the beta test of its eagerly awaited Odyssey program. This program combines customer loyalty rewards with non-fungible token collecting and other gamified elements.

The Web3 extension of its Starbucks Rewards program is currently accessible to only a “small group of waitlist members,” such as Starbuck’s staff members and customers. This program allows them to participate in interactive “Journeys” and collect “Journey Stamps” in the form of Polygon-based NFTs. Users also receive “Odyssey Points” that grant access to future new benefits and experiences like virtual classes for preparing espresso martinis, exclusive events, and trips to Starbucks roasteries and coffee farms.

To access Starbucks Odyssey after receiving an invitation, users must have an existing Starbucks Rewards account, as this program is linked to the company’s larger loyalty scheme.

The firm describes Starbucks Odyssey as “an experience, surrounded by a digital community, where members can come together, interact, and share their love of coffee.”

Users invited to the beta launch will also have access to the Starbucks Odyssey marketplace which is powered by Nifty Gateway and launched in 2023. That means they can buy and sell their digital collectible Stamps on the Odyssey marketplace. Starbucks revealed Odyssey members don’t need to use cryptocurrency or a crypto wallet to buy Stamps; they can do so straight with a credit card.

The Odyssey project has been built by Forum3 which was founded by former Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman and Seattle-based VC and ex-Microsoft exec Andy Sack. Both are now Forum3’s Cofounders and Co-CEOs.
Adam Brotman has been most recognized for the the creation of Starbucks’ loyalty mobile app which boasts over 50 million registered.
According to Andy Sack, the idea of Odyssey was sparked by a desire to “delight the consumer with unique digital experiences.”

Sack claimed that Starbucks’ interim CEO Howard Schultz contacted him and Brotman first. In addition, Brady Brewer, Starbucks’ chief marketing officer and Brotman’s close friend, also played a crucial role in making the concept a reality.

According to Brewer, Starbucks didn’t want to treat its investment as a “stunt” side project, but rather wanted to use the tech to expand its existing loyalty program. Thus, the company had been investigating blockchain technologies for a couple of years, but it has only been involved in this particular project for around six months.

On December 8, Starbucks sent the first invites to a small group of waitlist members. It will begin sending monthly invitations to a larger group of waitlist members in January 2023.

For Polygon’s this has added to a successful year of the blockchain network when it has been trusted by many well-known consumer-focused brands such as Nike, Starbucks, Reddit to create their web3 experience. 

This event has also contributed to a successful year for Polygon after it has been chosen by many well-known consumer-focused brands, such as Reddit, Starbucks, Nike and Robinhood, to create their web3 experiences.
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TechBiz gathers information from Techcrunch and Coindesk