Participated · Seed · Jun 2022

Mech.com is developing NFT-based web3 games, including an initial match-3 title where players earn in-game currency (ore) and the tradable $FORGE token, and a planned arena battle game that integrates NFTs into a play-to-earn ecosystem. The team emphasizes an iterative, small-launch approach to tune gameplay based on community feedback, with a stated focus on making genuinely fun, casual games. Founder and CEO Trey Smith and co-founder Nik Rudenko have prior experience founding two other game studios (Buildbox and KayaBit); Kyle Klemmer joined as COO in 2021 and brought marketing experience and blockchain connections. The company has attracted advisors and early supporters from the crypto and gaming spaces, including Justin Kan and others. Mech.com plans to begin a private round, launch new NFT factions (the Rebel class), and release a beta testing version to early adopters.

Participated · Initial Coin Offering · Nov 2021

Founded around 2018, Agoric began as a JavaScript-based smart-contract coding language and has since evolved into a proof-of-stake blockchain linked to the Cosmos ecosystem. Its core product is a platform that enables developers to write smart contracts in JavaScript with additional security controls. Agoric is focused on bringing millions of JavaScript developers into crypto and DeFi by meeting them in a familiar language. The project has built a consensus layer with the Cosmos SDK and is preparing an economic applications layer that will include a stable token called Run. The company completed a public token sale that added roughly 40,000 new account holders and has so far raised over $85 million including a private sale and earlier seed funding. Future phases include a permission phase for community-vetted core contracts, continued security testing, bug bounties, and eventual permissionless deployment. Agoric is a JavaScript-native smart contract platform and Proof-of-Stake blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK that provides a composable development environment with reusable governance, lending, and trading components. The chain includes built-in DeFi primitives such as RUN (a stable local currency) and BLD (a staking token) to support on-chain economic activity. Agoric launched its public mainnet after testing network infrastructure and staking dynamics with more than 100 validators. The team intends to use funding to scale the ecosystem and expand developer programs, including additional entry points into DeFi and continued developer bounties. Agoric has partnered with Keplr to support BLD staking and governance and aims to attract JavaScript developers and enterprises to build interoperable DeFi applications. The project is led by CEO Dean Tribble and Chief Scientist Mark S. Miller. Agoric is developing a blockchain-agnostic programming language for smart contracts that is based on JavaScript and designed to enable formal verification while remaining accessible to developers. The company aims to reduce costly smart-contract bugs by making contracts more secure and easier to audit. Agoric launched last year and is preparing to bring its technology to market, with a near-term goal of launching a testnet. The startup plans to double its team with the new funding, prioritizing engineering and business development hires. It also intends to build interoperability with top-tier next-generation decentralized projects. Chief scientist Mark Miller emphasized that even experienced developers can accidentally introduce expensive errors into smart contracts, motivating Agoric’s approach. The company received a $4 million financing to support these product and go-to-market efforts.

Participated · Seed · Mar 2013

Cubie is a mobile messaging app that emphasizes user-generated content, offering drawings, voice messages, animated stickers and an in-app store for sticker purchases. The app includes a public forum called Cubie Space where users can publish drawings and share creations to social networks, which has driven viral growth. Since launching in March 2012, Cubie has been downloaded 5.5 million times, with most users in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The company offers animated sticker sets (including licensed anime-themed packs) and plans product updates such as YouTube search inside chat windows. Cubie is exploring partnerships with regional carriers to address data-plan constraints in emerging markets and is targeting expansion into the U.S. and Japan. The founders joined 500 Startups in October as part of their go-to-market and growth efforts.

Participated · Seed · Nov 2012

Cubie is a Taiwan-based free mobile service launched in late March 2012 by husband-and-wife founders Yenwen Feng and Cjin Cheng. The app enables users to create and share drawings, photos, video, and voice messages within chats. In its first six months it was downloaded 4 million times and gained traction in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Japan. Cubie joined the latest batch of the 500 Startups accelerator program. The company raised capital to support expansion, specifically intending to use the funds to grow in the USA and Japan. The fundraising and accelerator participation indicate early-stage momentum and international user adoption.