Minds is a decentralized social network that leverages blockchain technology to give users an open-source, encrypted alternative to traditional social platforms. The platform positions itself as anti-surveillance, anti-censorship and anti–big tech, aiming to prevent any single party from controlling users' online presence. Minds says it has seen meaningful user movement, including an enormous uptick of hundreds of thousands of new Vietnamese users in June 2018 after new local cybersecurity laws. The founders originally crowdfunded the product and describe the company as pursuing a hybrid fundraising model that combines token sales with venture capital. Minds emphasizes user safety, fair economies, and global freedom of expression as core goals. The company recently closed a $6M Series A and is pursuing broader mainstream use of blockchain in social media. Minds is an open-source social network built to decentralize user data and return control to users, emphasizing privacy, transparency, and free speech within the law. Founded in 2011 and based in New York, the platform includes encrypted messaging, optional anonymity, and an entirely open-source codebase. Minds monetizes through "boosting," a paid feature that elevates content in users' feeds, and the company is exploring an initial coin offering (ICO). The team cited includes founder Bill Ottman and CTO Mark Harding, and the company positions itself as nonpartisan and community-owned. Operating metrics reported in the article include over 1 million registered users and more than 105,000 monthly active users. Financially, Minds disclosed prior financings consisting of a $350K raise in 2013 and a little over $1M from a Reg CF equity crowdfunding round.

Total raised

$6M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Oct 2018