Participated · Equity · Feb 2024

Validation Cloud delivers performance-focused infrastructure for the Web3 ecosystem, supplying staking, node, and data-as-a-service solutions that are SOC2 Type 2 compliant. Its staking platform secures more than $1 billion in assets, reflecting 400% year-over-year growth, and its Node API ranks as the top performer globally on CompareNodes. Customers such as Chainlink, Aptos, Consensys, Stellar, and Hedera rely on the company for high-throughput, low-latency access to blockchain data. With the newly raised capital, the team plans to expand its AI product suite to give networks and applications easier access to Web3 data and improved user experiences. The company positions itself at the intersection of data infrastructure and artificial intelligence, aiming to serve both established enterprises and emerging decentralized applications. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Validation Cloud emphasizes scalability and regulatory-grade compliance to attract large-scale clients.

Participated · Seed · Feb 2023

Fierce is building a finance super app that aggregates banking, investing, and other financial products into a single customer experience. Its offerings include the Fierce Cash FDIC-insured checking account with up to a 4.25% APY, a debit card with access to over 55,000 fee-free ATMs, and fractional-share and ETF trading. The app provides 24/7 support, educational resources, market insights, account linking, and a Fully Paid Securities Lending program that lets users earn income on lent stock holdings. Fierce generates revenue from its investing products and assets under management. The company launched on iOS with an Android release planned later this year, and it is developing a Fierce Rewards credit card and regulated crypto trading. Fierce was founded in 2021, is based in New York, and has a team of 18 employees as it scales product and customer acquisition.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2021

Avanti Financial Group provides a regulated bridge to the U.S. dollar payments system and custody services for digital assets designed to meet institutional custody standards. The company intends to use recent funding to meet required regulatory capital for launch and to fund engineering build and other operating expenses. Avanti has raised a total of $44M since inception, including a $37M Series A disclosed in this article. Backers include a global mix of institutional investors, cryptocurrency companies, family offices, multiple Avanti executives and directors, and individual investors prominent in crypto, tech and asset management. Leadership is headed by founder and CEO Caitlin Long. Avanti is required to comply with U.S. laws including the Bank Secrecy Act and federal KYC/AML rules and will also comply with Wyoming’s special purpose depository institution and digital asset statutes, which require 100% reserved fiat deposits and heightened consumer protections.