Aleph Zero’s Post

Announcing our $4.5m round led by Fabric Ventures, and including leading web3 ecosystems and organizations The Arbitrum Foundation, Circle Ventures, RippleX, NEAR Foundation, Gnosis , Aleph Zero, RADIX DLT and the Tezos Foundation. This round also marks the creation of the idOS Consortium—a collaborative initiative among leading web3 ecosystems and organizations. The Consortium aims to develop the identity layer of web3 and promote the adoption of decentralized identity throughout the web3 space. idOS is a decentralized data storage and access management protocol. It enables ecosystems to provide an identity layer for dApps to solve compliant user onboarding and significantly reduce friction. For users, idOS provides control over their data and the ability to decide with whom they share it. A cross-chain, composable and compliant identity layer is a crucial element for web3 to achieve mainstream adoption. Our goal is to bring DeFi into the real world by enabling everyday use cases that leverage decentralized, permissionless, and more efficient web3 infrastructure. We call this OpenFi. To make this a reality, we are working together with our Consortium Partners and teams such as Safe, Celo, Fractal ID, Kwil, Monerium, Mento, Outlier Ventures, GnosisPay, Zeal and many others. Monolithic identity systems and closed standards have been major obstacles to the adoption of decentralized identity. This is a call for all identity builders, ecosystems and OpenFi infrastructure providers and dApps to join us in our mission. Let's come together to finally build an open identity system the way it is supposed to be! Read the full announcement blog here: https://lnkd.in/d9dhCysG

Weekly research for RegTech Analyst Global RegTech seed deals on track to set new record in 2023, increasing 42% YoY RegTech is seeing continued innovation and growth with seed deals increasing in activity during 2023. The global number of seed deals in RegTech sector is poised to hit 134 in 2023, marking a significant 10.7% year-over-year growth. RegTech deal activity in H1 2023 remained similar to H1 2022 levels with one less deal. Global RegTech seed funding is expected to reach $314m in 2023, reflecting a 5% rise compared to the previous year. Chaos Labs, a company specialising in automated on-chain economic security, had the largest global RegTech seed deal in H1 2023 after raising $20m from 32 investors. The investment round was led by Galaxy Venture Capital (GVC) and PayPal Ventures. Chaos Labs will use the funding to expand its offerings and build out its suite of risk and security products. During its inaugural year in operation, Chaos Labs forged strategic alliances with prominent DeFi clients, such as Aave, Chainlink, Uniswap, BENQI, and Osmosis. These collaborations were aimed at fortifying and enhancing the security of their protocols, guarding against manipulation and unexpected market upheavals. In addition to this, Chaos Labs provided valuable insights and recommendations for optimizing capital utilization. Chaos Labs CEO and founder Omer Goldberg said, “As the world moves from the opacities of traditional finance to a more open DeFi system, financial risk management must advance accordingly. At Chaos Labs, we believe that every DeFi protocol must regularly conduct robust risk testing to verify and validate that their economic system is secure against hackers and unanticipated volatility. We’ve built a team of expert security and infrastructure engineers, and we’re working to solve for this by bringing world-class security and risk practices in running simulations of millions of economic scenarios on-chain.” The USA was the most active RegTech seed deal country with 32 deals, a 47% share of total deals. The UK was second, securing four deals which represented a 6% share. Singapore, The Netherlands, and India jointly ranked third with three deals each.

🔭 🥏 We're thrilled to announce Serena Data Ventures II, our €100 Million Fund to invest in the building blocks of next-generation software! 🛰️ In 2017, our fund Serena Data Ventures I pioneered the investment in tech infrastructure. 80% of our Data Ventures I companies are now active in the US, with several reporting over €20 million in ARR and exponential growth. Through Serena Data Ventures II, we're doubling down with an oversubscribed fund, backed by investors such as Bpifrance and the European Investment Fund (EIF) and led by Bertrand Diard, Floriane de Maupeou, and Matthieu Lavergne. Serena Data Ventures II is dedicated to advancing the following areas: 📊🤖 Modern Data Stack and AI to revolutionize software architecture with real-time performance, flexibility, and automation. ⛓️ Blockchain to enhance data management and trust through decentralized solutions. 🧮 Quantum Computing to tackle complex challenges like cryptography, drug discovery, optimization, and climate modeling. So far, we have backed Defer, Koyeb, Fipto, and Quandela through Serena Data Ventures II. Technology infrastructure, often unseen, is the backbone of breakthrough technologies. We’re thrilled to invest in this critical area of the tech ecosystem, often overlooked by traditional VCs! Bryan FRIMIN Charly Poly Bastien Chatelard Edouard Bonlieu Yann Léger Bertrand GODIN Patrick Mollard Gregoire Andrieu-Guitrancourt Niccolo Somaschi Pascale Senellart Valerian Giesz

In an age where decentralized networks redefine our world, the way we evaluate startups is undergoing a radical shift. 🌐💡 Traditional startup valuation metrics become irrelevant. In the #Web3 universe, it's all about deep-rooted understanding, beyond surface-level numbers. How do you assess the worth of a protocol that's decentralizing finance or a game-changing the very way we view entertainment? The answer is here 🔗 https://bit.ly/44cGBjE InnMind

Effortlessly Navigate Your Web3 Startup: Save time and money while eliminating errors with Blubird. Peace of mind: Blubird transforms the way Web3 startups handle tokenomics, ensuring proficiency and eliminating errors. Our system is robust and foolproof, providing peace of mind with its accuracy and reliability. There's no need to second-guess the integrity of your tokenomics model when using Blubird. Automate your pipeline: Automated onboarding, Automated KYC, Automated SAFT, and Automated Commission Tracking. This is just the beginning of how Blubird can eliminate administrative time burn. Experience unparalleled data interoperability: Set up your tokenomics to seamlessly integrate with the Web3 Cap Table Module and Deployment Module. This creates a compounding workflow where each completed module enhances overall automation and streamlines your process, making Blubird an indispensable tool for your business. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/et8XvM-s

🚀 Navigating Web3: Insights from Outlier Ventures In 2023, Outlier Ventures delved into the heart of Web3, reviewing nearly 5000 applications and collaborating with close to 100 Web3 startups. As the unparalleled leader in working with global Web3 projects, our extensive engagement provides a unique lens on emergent trends, setting the stage for 2024. Key Insights and Unique Perspective: With no parallel in global Web3 collaboration, our unique perspective unveils key trends, challenges, innovations, and opportunities for the upcoming year. Drawing from our team's expertise and insights from industry leaders, we've outlined focal areas, including Regulation, Gaming, Bitcoin, DePINs (decentralized physical infrastructure networks), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Real World Assets (RWAs). Part Two: The Outlier's Outlook for 2024: In the second part of our report, we unveil "The Outlier's Outlook for 2024," featuring uncommon predictions identified by our Token Economies team. As we forge ahead, these insights will shape the narrative of Web3, guiding startups and enthusiasts toward a dynamic and transformative future. Stay tuned as we navigate the evolving landscape of Web3, uncovering opportunities that redefine the digital frontier. 🌐🔮 #Web3 #OutlierVentures #InnovationFrontiers #DigitalTransformation

New Post: A strong foundation can help raise early-stage capital - As valuations come down, now more than ever, founders “need to prove their company is built to last with long-term profitability and scalability in mind,” writes Russ Heddleston, CEO of DocSend at Dropbox. Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members.Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription. According to DocSend data, investors aren’t scouring pitch decks as earnestly as they were in the past. There’s still a market for early-stage deals, though. “For founders now, perfecting the pitch, having an efficient sales strategy, and scoping the product with urgency will create a strong foundation for success that attracts investors.” Thanks for reading and happy holidays! Karyne Ask Sophie: Is it easier yet for AI founders to get green cards? Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch Dear Sophie, I’m interested in the Biden administration’s efforts to retain AI talent in the United States. How is the administration making it easier for AI companies to sponsor employees for permanent residence? Will the number of green cards earmarked for individuals in the AI field increase? — All About AI Get the TechCrunch+ Roundup newsletter in your inbox! To receive the TechCrunch+ Roundup as an email each Tuesday and Friday, scroll down to find the “sign up for newsletters” section on this page, select “TechCrunch+ Roundup,” enter your email, and click “subscribe.” Click here to subscribe Crypto valuations ‘came back to earth’ in 2023, but VCs expect them to rise again in 2024 Image Credits: Getty Images This year hasn’t been great for crypto firms, but change might be on the horizon. Experts told Jacquelyn Melinek that crypto activity is likely to pick back up again in 2024. “The drier funding climate of 2023 only served to weed out the weaker businesses that had managed to secure capital in 2021,” she writes. Seed to Series A: Strategic insights for tech founders in the 2024 venture landscape Image Credits: Getty Images A new report from Forum Ventures offers a good look at the current state of early-stage B2B SaaS investments. The data might be discouraging, “but the silver lining is that rounds are still getting done and companies that find product-market fit should benefit from scaling into what will likely be the next bull market over the coming years,” writes Forum Ventures CEO and managing partner Mike Cardamone. #strong #foundation #raise #earlystage #capitalhttps://lnkd.in/dmSDRHZz

Scalable Capital Raises €60 Million to extend his Series E. Munich-based #fintech startup, Scalable Capital, is making waves with its latest funding round, securing a substantial €60 million ($65 million) in equity. Led by Balderton Capital and supported by HV Capital and other undisclosed existing backers, this injection of capital propels Scalable Capital's valuation to a flat $1.4 billion. From its origins as a digital wealth management platform, Scalable Capital has evolved into a full-service brokerage, offering a diverse range of financial products. With 1.2 million customers and nearly €17 billion under management, the platform provides access to investments in stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, cryptocurrencies, derivatives, and loans. The startup has become a go-to destination for users looking to invest in 8,000 stocks, 2,500 ETFs, and 3,500 funds, emphasizing the popularity of ETFs among its user base. The new funds will fuel Scalable Capital's expansion across six European countries where it's already active: Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Despite the financial challenges faced by startups in the current market environment, Scalable Capital's co-CEO, Erik Podzuweit, is confident that this round will enable the company to be more aggressive in its approach, including marketing efforts and top talent acquisition. Scalable Capital's latest funding round comes at a time of heightened competition in the neobroker space. Recent entries like Robinhood expanding into Europe and Trade Republic securing a full banking license highlight the dynamic landscape. While acknowledging the competitive market, Scalable Capital is holding steady and focusing on building products and exploring new markets, without an immediate pursuit of a banking license. Balderton general partner Rana Yared joins Scalable Capital's board with this round, expressing confidence in the startup's vision. Scalable Capital's commitment to providing top-class financial products in a digital-first approach makes it unparalleled in the market, according to Yared. This is a wonderful news for the European fintech market, once believed to be saturated. I strongly believe that good product will always find their place in this industry. The news on TechCrunch in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/bI4JY  - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

Validate, create, impress: last week, we launched the Idea Board initiative within UA Tech Network with a mission to drive the synergy between product and service businesses within our ecosystem💡 🔧 How does it work? Within the Idea Board, we unite a diverse expert pool from IT consulting, VCs, startups, associations, and more. Members from UTN-affiliated companies can submit their product ideas for Board validation, and get feedback, tips, and assistance to drive these projects forward. 🔍 Why is it important? Strong tech education and experience of our engineers working in certain business domains enable them to identify gaps in various verticals and develop successful products that address common problems. And sometimes, early-stage validation is all it takes to boost an idea or avoid costly mistakes. At Sigma Software Group we have already proven this venture lab model with two successful products: – clean.io (now HUMAN), named Startup of the Year in Baltimore in 2019, anti-malvertising solution co-founded, co-invested, and co-authored by Sigma Software Group, and recently acquired by US leader – HUMAN Security. – Global Ledger – IdeaSoft.io venture lab product combating cybercrime and money laundering, allowing banks to securely engage with cryptocurrencies. It recently announced a collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. We believe that even more such stories will appear thanks to collaborations and knowledge exchange. Huge thanks to all Idea Board members for sharing expertise with brave tech innovators Valery Krasovsky, Galyna Isakiv 🇺🇦, Vitaliy Fish, Dmytro Kuzmenko, Donets Yevhen, Victoria Dubrovska, Vitalii Savchuk. Special thanks to Anatoliy Klepach for driving this within the UTN community 🇺🇦

What a great break down of why #evalify is so crucial for all #VCs! Having the ability to properly do your due diligence. As the old saying goes, time is money, so the earlier in the process you can can check for these important parts, the more confident you can be!