• Imua

  Participated · Seed · Feb 2025

  Imua is a purpose-built L1 blockchain focused on shared security that aggregates on-chain decentralized trust via restaking and extends it to off-chain networks like AI. The protocol bundles decentralized security from major chains including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana. Imua’s public testnet is live with 42 validators and the project has partnered with over a dozen projects; mainnet is expected to launch soon. The company was co-founded by Warren Paul Anderson, Rongjian Lan and Raluca Ada Popa and is based in San Francisco, CA. Imua intends to use the funds to expand operations and accelerate development efforts. Shima Capital provided early incubation support for the company.

• Smart Transactions

  Participated · Seed · May 2024

  Smart Transaction is a solver-run decentralized framework that enables creation and execution of transactions with user-defined conditions for timing and execution. Built on smart contracts, the platform is designed to be MEV-resistant, context-aware, and support dynamic execution based on precise conditions and time. It allows users to set specific execution conditions and timing, enabling secure, conditional, and customizable transactions across various blockchain applications. The framework's solver architecture processes and executes transactions according to those conditions, aiming to reduce MEV-related risks and increase execution precision. Smart Transaction completed a $5.5 million seed financing; valuation and additional financial terms were not disclosed. The company did not disclose operating metrics in the article.

• Kinto

  Participated · Equity · Nov 2023

  Kinto is a modular exchange built on a custom Layer 2 stack with Chain Abstraction technology that combines institutional-grade security with retail accessibility. Its core product is a non-custodial smart wallet and modular exchange offering features such as User-Owned KYC, insured wallets, chain-abstracted swaps and lending markets, and a native Hyperliquid integration for advanced trading. The platform aims to bridge traditional and decentralized finance and to make it easy for users to move on- and off-chain without using centralized exchanges. Kinto currently serves approximately 75,000 verified users and manages about $62 million in total value locked, and the company reports steady revenue streams. Large institutional participation includes a $20 million asset deployment by Brevan Howard Digital’s Abu Dhabi branch. The company is preparing a token launch scheduled for February 18, 2025 as a key milestone in its product rollout. Kinto is a KYC’ed Layer 2 blockchain designed to support modern financial institutions and decentralized protocols with low cost and security. The network aims to meet requirements of both DeFi and traditional finance while protecting user privacy and assets. Kinto’s KYC mechanism encrypts personal information and stores it with a third party, shareable only at user request. The platform insures every app to shield users from untraceable exploits and anonymous scams. It also offers developer incentives intended to make the network attractive for launching new applications. Kinto raised $5M across two rounds to fund team expansion and network development and is led by CEO Ramon Recuero in Orlando, FL.

• Fhenix

  Participated · Seed · Sep 2023

  Fhenix develops a Layer 2 for Ethereum that enables confidential smart contracts via fully homomorphic encryption (FHE). The company released the initial version of its testnet, Helium, which lets developers deploy confidential smart contracts and encrypt all or part of their applications. Fhenix aims to bring privacy and confidentiality features to Ethereum applications through its FHE-powered stack. The startup plans to use the new funding to expand operations and accelerate development efforts. Financially, Fhenix closed a $15M Series A and has raised a total of $22M to date. The company is based in Tel Aviv and is focused on advancing its testnet and developer adoption. Fhenix provides a confidential blockchain powered by fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) that enables encrypted smart contracts and encrypted computation while allowing developers to use Solidity and familiar Ethereum tooling. The company offers fhEVM, which lets Ethereum developers build encrypted smart contracts and perform encrypted computation of data. fhEVM was originally developed by Zama and integrated into the Fhenix Network through a strategic partnership. Fhenix launched a private devnet in July 2023 and intends to bring its network into a public testnet called "Renaissance" in the first half of 2024. The company plans to use the $7M Seed to support ecosystem application development and to fund the public testnet launch. Led by CEO Guy Itzhaki and based in Tel Aviv, Fhenix aims to bring encrypted‑data computation to smart contracts, transactions and on‑chain assets.

• Shardeum

  Participated · Equity · Jul 2023

  Shardeum is a scalable EVM-based layer-1 blockchain that deploys dynamic state sharding. Its dynamic state sharding approach keeps gas fees low and TPS high as participation grows by performing consensus at the transaction level and lowering the computational power required for validator nodes. This consensus mechanism aims to allow anyone to run a node and increase decentralization. The company intends to use the $5.4M in new funding to expand operations and accelerate development efforts. Operating metrics on the testnet as of July 7, 2023 include over 7.4 million transactions, 820K+ accounts and more than 230K contracts deployed. Shardeum raised an $18.2M seed round in October 2022 from investors including Jane Street, Big Brain Holdings, Struck Crypto, The Spartan Group, Ghaf Capital, DFG, CoinGecko Ventures and Foresight Ventures. Shardeum is a remote, EVM-based Layer 1 blockchain that implements sharding to increase transactions per second as nodes are added while retaining atomic cross-shard composability. The protocol emphasizes low gas fees forever and leverages dynamic state sharding to balance decentralization and security. Founded by Nischal Shetty and Omar Syed, the company raised $18.2M in Seed funding. Backers include Jane Street, Struck Crypto, The Spartan Group and a broad group of institutional and angel investors. The company plans to use the funds to further enhance its dynamic sharding technology, accelerate ecosystem development, and focus on product and design improvements. It will also expand research and marketing efforts and host hackathons in India and the U.S. to incentivize developers to build on the platform.

No current team members are available.