Starbucks’ Odyssey collaborates with Aku NFT collection to create new digital journey
Starbucks’ digital loyalty program, Odyssey, recently announced its new partnership with the Aku non-fungible token (NFT) collection. The collaboration, announced on Odyssey’s dedicated Discord channel, will feature a new digital collectible Stamp, “designed by Aku,” to its members as part of the forthcoming journey.
Spearheaded by MLB legend Micah Johnson
The Aku collection, spearheaded by former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Micah Johnson, has an ambitious vision to inspire children to dream big. The collection’s NFTs have garnered widespread recognition and have been purchased by celebrities like Trevor Noah, Pusha T, and Tyra Banks.
The Starbucks-Aku alliance will roll out a new journey, aptly named “Aku Adventure,” on July 17. This initiative offers Odyssey members an exclusive opportunity to “embark on a mission with Aku.” The novel Stamp and Journey will be accessible to members until August 13, 2023.
An integral part of the launch, Starbucks declared, is the coffee giant’s donation of $100,000 to Blessings in a Backpack. This non-profit organization has a mission to address food insecurity among children.
Previous iniatives from Starbucks Odyssey
Starbucks has consistently offered limited-edition NFTs to Odyssey members, an invitation-only loyalty program, for several months now. The program’s March release, “The Siren Collection,” offered 2,000 Stamps priced at $100 each. High demand led to technical glitches and longer wait times, drawing complaints from eager collectors.
However, in April, Starbucks successfully launched the “Starbucks First Store Collection”. The release, a collection of 5,000-edition Stamps priced at $99 each, experienced a smoother roll-out, quelling any concerns from the previous endeavor.
This new collaboration with Aku marks yet another progressive step forward in the Odyssey program, integrating unique, digitally artistic Stamps with socially impactful initiatives. If successful, other large companies may try to integrate NFTs in its customer loyalty programs.
