Participated · Equity · Apr 2018

Origin Protocol is a decentralized platform that helps creators, influencers, artists, and brands launch and auction NFTs. The company has hosted high-profile auctions and worked with celebrities including DJ 3LAU and Jake Paul, and staged the auction for the "Charlie Bit My Finger" video. Origin aims to expand NFT adoption among top-tier creators and mainstream consumers through education, marketing, and new use cases. The company announced that Paris Hilton has invested in Origin and joined its team as an adviser. Hilton is an active NFT collector and creator, having bought more than 130 NFTs and sold a piece called “Iconic crypto queen” for over $1.1 million. Origin’s co-founders said Hilton will provide strategic advice on delivering value with NFTs for creators, influencers, and brands. Origin Protocol provides infrastructure that lets developers and businesses build decentralized marketplaces on the blockchain for fractional usage of assets and services. Its platform enables buyers and sellers to discover listings, browse, make bookings, and leave ratings and reviews. The company has an existing prototype and plans to release a public beta in the coming months. Origin intends to use the newly raised funds to continue expanding development efforts. Founded in June 2017 by Matthew Liu and based in San Francisco, the company previously raised a $3.0M advisor round led by Pantera Capital in 2017. The recent financing strengthens its cash position to execute product development and beta launch plans.