A source of useful information about best Web3 and crypto startups and venture capital deals. Reviews about promising startups, fundraising tips, market insights, VC feedback and valuable data for Web3 enthusiasts and professionals. https://innmind.com/
1️⃣5️⃣ Most Active Crypto VCs Seeking Web3 Startups
Yes, global venture funding may have dropped by 16% in Q3 2024, but crypto VCs are still on the hunt for innovative Web3 projects. With $66.5 billion raised globally this quarter, there’s still significant capital flowing—especially for founders who know how to position their project.
🔑 Here’s what you need to do to stand out:
1️⃣ Highlight Traction & Revenue: VCs are more selective now. Be sure to showcase real-world traction, user growth, and any revenue-generating activities. Early-stage rounds still attract attention, but investors are looking for tangible signs of growth and sustainability.
👉 InnMind/streams">Learn from the top web3 startups pitches
2️⃣ Refine Your Tokenomics: Crypto VCs want to know how your token works within your ecosystem. Ensure that your tokenomics model shows clear utility, governance, and sustainability. Investors are drawn to projects with long-term value, beyond hype.
👉 Refine your model with InnMind Tokenomics template
3️⃣ Tackle Regulatory Readiness: With increasing scrutiny on crypto regulations, especially in the EU and US, having compliant documentation in place or showing regulatory preparedness can give you an edge. VCs are more cautious now and appreciate projects that prioritize compliance.
👉 Download free legal templates here
4️⃣ Leverage Partnerships: Crypto investors love projects with strong ecosystems or partnerships. If you’ve secured early partnerships, highlight them! And use your network for introductions—warm intros are still the best way in.
👉 Discover potential partners in the InnMind community
🔍 Discover the 15 most active crypto VCs investing in Web3 this year and make your next move count. Don’t miss your chance to shine in a challenging market!
Unichain: Uniswap's response to the evolving rollup ecosystem!
🟢Uniswap announced yesterday the launch of Unichain, its own L2 solution, built to improve DeFi performance and liquidity.
🟢Unichain aims to provide faster and cheaper transactions, with block times of just 200-250 ms and up to 95% lower costs than Ethereum.
🟢Built using the OP stack and part of the Optimism "Superchain" ecosystem.
🟢Unichain supports native cross-chain interoperability, allowing seamless access to liquidity across different L2 networks and beyond.
Technological innovations
Unichain introduces several technological innovations, such as the use of a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) for block building. This mechanism enhances transparency, security, and fairness by prioritizing transaction order, while helping extract Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) efficiently. Unichain is also addressing the biggest obstacle of DeFi, liquidity fragmentation across L2s, positioning itself as a liquidity hub for multiple chains to interact with.
New token utility unlocked
As of now UNI have been strictly a governance token, providing token holders with voting power on proposals created by the DAO. The introduction of Unichain unlocks a new token utility giving UNI holders the ability to stake their tokens to become validators, or delegate their tokens to others. This shifts the dynamics for UNI, potentially creating a demand and value for UNI. This further aligns economic incentives between Ethereum and its scaling solutions, reinforcing the utility of UNI within the Web3 financial system.
Broader Implications on the web3 ecosystem
For the broader Web3 ecosystem, Unichain’s launch can boost DeFi adoption by offering a more scalable and user-friendly experience. Unichain’s innovations are also a reflection of the broader movement towards a multichain Web3 world, highlighting the need for specialized chains that can optimize for different use cases. If successful, Unichain could accelerate the shift towards more modular, interconnected ecosystems, where value and data flow freely across different L1s and L2s, ultimately bringing more users and applications into the decentralized economy.
By leveraging its strong position in the DeFi space, Uniswap's move stands to significantly impact DeFi, cross-chain interoperability, and the broader Web3 ecosystem by providing faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions, solving liquidity fragmentation, and fostering new economic opportunities and innovations.
🔥Have a great weekend ahead, stay safe and don't forget to buckle up; the cryptoverse is on the rise🔥
📢 Essential Legal Templates for Web3 Startups – Free to Download!
🚀 Ready to launch your token but unsure about the legal complexities? We've got you covered! Following our workshop with Janina Pietrowska, a top Web3 legal expert, we're excited to share exclusive legal templates to simplify your token launch process.
📄 MiCA-Compliant White Paper Template
Your ultimate guide to preparing a MiCA-compliant white paper for TGE, navigating regulations, and accelerating your fundraising efforts.
🔗 Download here
📑 Compliant Utility Token Offering Guidelines for 2024-25
Discover expert strategies for launching compliant utility tokens, mastering tokenomics, and securing investor trust.
🔗 Access the guide
These essential guides are perfect for founders working on utility tokens, security tokens, or stablecoins, helping you meet regulatory standards and attract investors.
🎥 Missed the workshop? Watch the full recording for deeper insights.
🚀 Unlock the Future of Blockchain: Insights on Layer2, DeFi, and Tokenomics
Don’t miss this exclusive interview with Tom Ngo, CEO of Metis Protocol, as he dives into the latest innovations in Layer2, DeFi growth strategies, and the future of blockchain scaling. 🔝
As a seasoned blockchain entrepreneur, Tom also breaks down the key elements of tokenomics that drive long-term success and offers actionable insights for retail investors.
Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast, investor, or Web3 founder, this interview is packed with invaluable knowledge you don’t want to miss!
🎥 Watch it now
Short reminder: we start workshop about launching a compliant utility token in 2024 in 10 minutes.
▶️ YouTube
▶️ LinkedIn
Join the stream to to learn everything you need to know about planning your Token Generation Event from a legal perspective!
🏢 Crypto Adoption in 2024: How Corporates Are Embracing Blockchain
Web2 corporates are finally catching up with blockchain’s potential, and it’s a huge opportunity for Web3 startups to lead the charge. 🚀 Here are some big names diving in:
◾️ Nike – Building a virtual marketplace with NFTs
◾️ Starbucks – Tracing coffee origins via blockchain
◾️ HSBC – Streamlining cross-border trade with blockchain
◾️ Visa – Testing tokenized assets for banks
◾️ PayPal – Enabling crypto transactions for U.S. merchants
The future is decentralized, and as more companies move into crypto, Web3 founders need to stay ahead by offering real solutions that corporates can adopt. According to 2024 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report, between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the total value of global crypto activity increased substantially, reaching higher levels than those of 2021 during the bull market.
Governments worldwide introduce more concrete guidelines for crypto usage, encouraging enterprises to explore this space further. The growth is real, but challenges like regulations and market volatility still exist.
🛠 Time to build and spread web3 across web2!
🌍 Crypto Currency Exchanges: A Real Look at Listings
We examined over 4,800 data points to uncover the performance of tokens post-listing on major centralized exchanges: Binance, ByBit, OKX, KuCoin, Coinbase, Gate.io, and MEXC.
There's a belief that bigger exchanges lead to better price action on launch. Is that really the case or is it a misconception?
We ran statistical analysis to reveal the real impact of exchange listings on token price performance.
Report: https://docsend.com/view/xrmxc5ybb5wic9ug
🎉 CZ is back to crypto spotlight!
After stepping down as CEO of Binance and serving a brief prison 👮 sentence due to AML compliance issues, CZ has returned to the scene. His departure from Binance marked a significant moment for the crypto world, but his resilience showcases his enduring influence in the industry.
As we anticipate his next moves, let's remember that innovation in crypto often follows those who dare to push boundaries.
🔍 "Alpha" from AlphaMind: Evaluating the potential of the $EYWA IDO
Yes, that’s right — our good frens and partners at AlphaMind just released a detailed review of EYWA — in the format of a professional «investment memo» for the retail community, sharing VC analysts’ thoughts on our ecosystem’s products and the potential impact of EYWA solutions. Moreover, they’ve created a sentiment form to evaluate the potential of the $EYWA IDO. Now it’s your turn to review their assessment and compare it with your own!
➕ As a reminder, AlphaMind is a community-first launchpad with a built-in Quest engine that makes them independent from third-party platforms like Intract and Galxe. Their unique Karma system tracks both on-chain and off-chain activities to reward meaningful engagement and real contributions, incentivising true community engagement, loyalty, and support for Web3 projects.
AlphaMind was created by the team behind InnMind, a leading Web3 startup accelerator platform with 7+ years of market expertise. Their investment arm, InnMind Capital, backed EYWA back in 2021. To date, InnMind platform has supported over 5000 crypto VCs (from major players like Sequoia to smaller syndicates) and over 25,000 founders who successfully raised over $70 million from VCs on InnMind. This is a golden opportunity for projects like EYWA to engage with a vast network of VCs, experts, and blockchain enthusiasts.
⚡️ We’re Live in 10 Minutes!
The Crypto VC Pitching Session is about to begin!
▶️ Join YouTube stream
▶️ Watch in LinkedIn
Tune in to discover promising Web3 startups and ask questions in the comments!
🔎 How retail community looks at web3 startups' tokenomics
Last week - Kate from InnMind & AlphaMind team sat together with Max Krasnov, CEO at Coinstruct.tech & web3 economist to cover the critical topics around token economy that bother most of the crypto retail investors.
In this in-depth 30-minute interview they discussed the answers to such topics as
❓ how retail investors can effectively analyze tokenomics in IDO projects
❓ typical red flags they should watch out for and other questions.
If you're planning your TGE and engagement mechanics with the retail community around your project - this is a must-watch video to understand the gaps you might have to fill in with your current token economy model💡
⏩ Watch here
🎥 Save the date: InnMind Web3 VC Pitching Session!
Join us on September 25th at 15:00 CET for a front-row seat to the InnMind Online Pitching Session. Whether you're a founder or just curious, this is your chance to learn from top Web3 startups as they pitch to investors. 🚀
Some of the confirmed VCs include:
✅ 3X Capital | Gate Labs | CLS | Webwise VC | Majinx VC | Brinc | MEXC Ventures and others!
📺 Catch the livestream on YouTube & LinkedIn.
💡 Don't miss a chance to apply and get a chance to be selected for a pitch.
💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to see what investors are looking for in today’s market!
🔝 Top 10 Quest Platforms for Crypto Marketing in 2024
In 2024, quest platforms are a must for driving growth and engagement in the Web3 space. These platforms let you gamify tasks, reward users with tokens, NFTs, and other assets, and build a loyal community around your project. 🎮✨
We've reviewed the top 10 quest platforms that can help you scale your crypto marketing efforts and foster real community engagement.
🔍 Explore the full review here
🚀 InnMind’s Free Workshop: Launching a Compliant Utility Token in 2024
Are you finally launching your TGE in the next months after a long crypto winter? 🌍
Join InnMind's free workshop with Janina Pietrowska, one of the leading web3 lawyers & legal advisors since 2017 with over 100 Web3 projects in her success cases portfolio.
What you’ll learn:
📌 Key steps to launching a compliant utility token
📌 How to navigate the regulatory landscape in 2024
📌 Which jurisdiction to choose
📌 Get your questions answered live by Janina!
⏰ When: September 26th 17:00 CET
🖥 Where: Zoom & YouTube Livestream
👇 Apply to join the workshop in zoom to ask questions related to your specific startup case and get extra materials & legal templates for free!
🔗 Sign up here
Polygon and the big revamp!
After a year of extensive community discussions, Polygon developers announced that the migration of MATIC to POL is starting September 4th.
The introduction of POL plays a crucial role for the project's transition into a ZK chain and its integration with AggLayer, which aims to consolidate liquidity and state across multiple chains.
The upgraded POL token will have expanded functionalities in the future, including roles in block production, zero-knowledge proof generation, and participation in Data Availability Committees (DACs).
It is evident that Polygon’s main catalyst for revamping is the introduction of AggLayer!
Similar to the arrival of TCP/IP in the 80s, which created a seamlessly unified Internet; AggLayer, unites a divided blockchain landscape into a web of ZK-secured L1 and L2 chains that feels like a single chain.
To achieve seamless transactions between different chains and rollups, the aggregation layer has three key design components:
- Proof Generation
- Optimistic Batch Confirmation
- Atomic Cross-Chain Interaction
As of now, 10 well-funded projects are integrated with Polygon’s AggLayer, Ronin, TON, X-layer and Movement Labs to name a few. With the help of these projects being part of it, AggLayer is planning to become an essential point on every infrastructure project's roadmap, thus attracting more partners/projects and hopefully being able to solve true pain points that are hindering the growth and mass-adoption of the industry.
🔥Have a great weekend ahead, stay safe and don't forget to buckle up; the cryptoverse is on the rise🔥
🌐 Unlock Expert Guidance & Key Connections with Syndika!
We know navigating the Web3 space can be tough—especially when it comes to finding the right strategy, connections, and investors. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Syndika, our newest partner at InnMind, offering exactly what you need to scale your startup in these challenging times.
🚀 Syndika is a premier Web3 global leader that excels at investing in and nurturing Web3 startups, utilizing exceptional technology, economic, and cybersecurity capabilities.
It is not just another "useful contact" to postpone, it is a great opportunity for web3 startups to get a deep expertise, grow their network, and get funded:
◾️ Syndika has 15 portfolio startups valued at over $1B
◾️ The team includes 60+ experts
◾️ Got investments for 40+ startups
◾️ Their track record includes 85+ web3 projects
Only for InnMind founders, Syndika is offering an exclusive opportunity:
🔑 1-hour free strategic consultation
Tailored to your startup’s needs. Whether you’re struggling with tokenomics, business strategy, or go-to-market plans, Syndika’s experts will help you solve the problems that are keeping you up at night.
🤝 Potential partner matching to supercharge your growth!
To connect you with key players and potential collaborators from their vast Web3 ecosystem. This is more than advice—it’s about opening doors to real opportunities for growth and investment.
Connect with Syndika to make it right from the very beginning, avoid typical mistakes and connect with key players in the web3 ecosystem.
▶️ Book your spot now
📰 Today, the U.S prosecutor started criminal prosecution against market-makers Gotbit, ZM Quant, CLS Global and MyTrade for market manipulation and sham trading in the crypto sector.
Source
Made him laugh.. but wanted him to cry! 😁
(c) Chapter One VC
Stablecoins: Current Landscape
The first stablecoin, BitUSD was introduced nearly 10 years ago and since then stablecoins have amassed a total market cap of $160 billion.
They aim to maintain a stable value relative to real-world assets and are used to facilitate trades, serve as collateral for loans, and enable market participants to avoid inefficiencies associated with converting back to fiat currency.
Stablecoins are increasingly considered as one of the main real life usecases of crypto, being used for remittances by millions around the globe and a safe-heaven for individuals living in countries with hyper-inflation.
USDT (Tether)
🟢The market leader in US-pegged stablecoins, Tether has established its dominance having the highest market cap.
🟢USDT's stability and liquidity are crucial for trading and liquidity provision in DeFi, cementing its status as a foundational asset in the decentralized finance space.
DAI
🟢The biggest algorithmic stablecoin on the market, DAI has a market cap of $5.217 billion. It is backed by a mix of crypto assets, algorithmically managed to keep a 1:1 parity with the US dollar.
🟢Historically, black swan events have caused DAI to diverge from its peg, reflecting the complexities and risks of algorithmic mechanisms.
🟢However, the idea of a stablecoin backed by crypto assets has resonated deeply with the DeFi and web3 community.
UStb, the new player in the market
🟢Ethena Labs, the startup behind the synthetic USDe dollar, recently announced UStb, the stablecoin fully backed by BlackRock’s on-chain BUIDL fund.
🟢UStb operates similarly to traditional stablecoins, with its reserves invested in BlackRock’s BUIDL. The BUIDL fund itself holds US dollars, US Treasury bills, and repurchase agreements.
🟢UStb expands the current product offering of Ethena and provides diverse stablecoin options for users and exchange partners in varying market conditions.
Stablecoins are an essential part of the industry and with the collapses of Luna and controversies around Tether, they have have been shown in a bad light. It is essential however to understand their importance in making the whole industry more efficient and accessible for all stakeholders.
🔥Have a great weekend ahead, stay safe and don't forget to buckle up; the cryptoverse is on the rise🔥
💻 Reminder: Free Legal Workshop Today at 16:00 CET!
Join us for a free online workshop with Janina Pietrowska, Web3 legal expert, and get answers to your key questions about launching a compliant utility token.
📌 What we’ll cover:
🔹 How to choose the right jurisdiction
🔹 Rules for utility token issuers
🔹 Whitepaper requirements under MiCA
Don't miss your chance to ask questions live and grab free legal templates! 🚀
Set a reminder now and join us on:
▶️ YouTube
▶️ LinkedIn
Bull Markets Historically Begin in Uptober 📈
Yup, you see it. History’s on our side!
Even on InnMind which is evergreen, every Q4 we see significant increase in deals closure between web3 startups and crypto VCs in our platform.
So get ready for Uptober 2024 and kick off your fundraising plan now, because InnMind is about to heat up! 🔥 https://app.innmind.com/pricing
Dive into the real insights on the token performance on major CEXs: Bigger Exchange = Bigger Volumes⁉️
Our partners at Simplicity Group have conducted an in-depth analysis to identify the real impact of exchange listings.
Get exclusive access to the full report here 👇
Tokenized Ads in Telegram mini apps
Looking for a cost-effective way to scale your crypto project? Telegram’s mini-app ecosystem might be your next big marketing tool. Here’s why this under-utilized channel offers huge potential for web3 founders:
Since Telegram has expanded its gaming features through the «mini-apps», over 500 million monthly active users (MAU) interact with these apps 🤩
What Are Telegram Mini-Apps? 🤔
Mini-apps are lightweight apps that run directly inside Telegram without users needing to leave the platform. Think WeChat but for a global, crypto-savvy audience. They’re designed for anything from gaming, productivity tools, to web3 experiences — and most importantly for us, marketing and user acquisition.
Mini Apps offer various monetization avenues, such as in-app purchases, subscriptions, and advertising. For crypto projects, the main source of monetization is selling traffic via incentivised quests, using points as rewards.
Many tech companies have been experimenting with mini-apps for a while now. For example, Tencent has successfully made mini-games an integral part of its social network business. The Chinese tech giant revealed that mini-games on WeChat have reached 500 million MAU and over 1 billion unique users. In its latest annual report, Tencent also noted that gross revenue of mini-games grew 50% year-over-year in 2023.
As the founder of Slise.xyz, an AdSense for Web3, wrote in his SubStack: «The main interest point for web3 marketers is that because of the semi-unlimited supply these users are cheap, and it allows growing Telegram products / social channels to big numbers at low cost. While this market is still early and there are not so many buyers who would bid for it, it presents a really good opportunity at a below-the-market price.»
Something you shouldn’t miss exploring 👇
Читать полностью…🎥 Join the Live Stream of Our Crypto VC Pitching Session Today at 15:00 CEST!
Get ready to watch some of the most exciting Web3 projects pitch to top VCs! Set your reminder on YouTube and LinkedIn and meet the participants:
◾️ Velix - Liquid Staking as a Service protocol that allows users to stake assets across L2s and L1s while maintaining liquidity.
◾️ SUBBD - The ultimate AI-powered content creation platform.
◾️ Functionland - Revolutionizing data storage by offering lower costs, complete privacy and mobile app support.
◾️ GPT Wars - The first AAA FPS survival game on TON, set in a dystopian future.
◾️ Meme Labs - A complex meme-infrastructure positioned to own the meme niche for +900 million users of Telegram.
Don’t miss out! See you soon 😉
💸 Airdrops - Are they dead? 💸
History
Airdrops first went mainstream in 2020, when Uniswap distributed 400 UNI to every wallet that had interacted with its platform. This strategy was designed to drive adoption by giving users a financial stake in the project, and it worked — other projects quickly adopted the model, and airdrops rapidly became an expectation within the DeFi community.
Current Landscape
▫️ Nowdays, airdrops have led to unintended consequences such as "airdrop farming," where users exploit token giveaways for short-term gains without long-term engagement.
▫️ This has resulted in declining user activity and token value, a striking example being the unsuccessful airdrop of Blast.
▫️ Instead of retaining users, airdrops are hunted by users that collect rewards before quickly exiting in search of the next opportunity.
▫️ According to CoinMetrics, 65% of all airdropped tokens have lost value since their release.
The bad example of Blast
▪️ In June, Blast distributed 17 billion BLAST tokens to early adopters, hoping to attract users and capital.
▪️ On-chain data depicted a significant number of users leaving Blast after collecting their rewards.
▪️ The token price dropped by 20% triggered by a huge sell-off.
▪️ The sentiment and intention of the community was evident before the actual airdrop even occurred as the TVL was declining in the month leading up to the airdrop.
▪️ Users that had qualified for the airdropped started withdrawing their capital and moving to the next opportunity.
Future
Nobody knows what the future holds, it is certain however that the strategy lies in creating long-term, value-driven ecosystems, rewarding consistent participation and meaningful contributions. Fleeting financial incentives were found to be an inadequate method for aligning the incentives of stakeholders. Understandably, drawbacks are part of the journey and different strategies will be tried and fail in the name of innovation.
The question that remains is will airdrops find their fit or will the web3 community develop a novel solution for token distribution?
🔥Have a great weekend ahead, stay safe and don't forget to buckle up; the cryptoverse is on the rise🔥
🚀 Ready to Launch Your Token in 2024?
Join our free workshop next week with Web3 legal expert Janina Pietrowska to learn everything you need to know about planning your Token Generation Event from a legal perspective! ⚖️
We’ll cover:
🔵 How to choose the right jurisdiction
🔵 MiCA rules and Whitepaper requirements
🔵 Key compliance documents for a smooth token launch
⏰ When: September 26th, 17:00 CET
🖥 Where: Zoom & YouTube
👇 Register now to join the event in zoom to ask your questions live and get exclusive free templates + free legal consultation specific to your startups’ case
The Rise and Fall of FriendTech: A Cautionary Tale for Web3 Developers
🟢 FriendTech, once a SocialFi sensation in the Web3 space, soared to prominence after its August 2023 launch on Base, allowing users to trade "keys" linked to influencers. Keys allowed users to engage in private chats with creators/influencers, introducing a new way of monetizing your audience.
🟢Fueled by speculative hype, airdrop rumors, and backing from venture capital giant Paradigm, it rapidly grew to over 910,000 users. However, its reliance on speculation, volatile tokenomics, and stagnant product development led to a rapid decline. What started as a novel socialfi project became a trading casino of unsustainable growth, leading to a plateau of prices and a decline in user activity.
🟢FriendTech tried to escape the stagnant trap that had led itself to by introducing V2. The introduction of V2, which added "Clubs"—paywalled chatrooms for topics instead of individual creators—flopped. The competitor landscaped outpaced FriendTech in innovation and hype was lost once again.
🟢A botched airdrop, platform stagnation, and internal conflicts with Base further alienated users. By mid-2024, FriendTech’s user base had all but disappeared, and the developers abandoned the project.
🟢On September 8th,2024 the devs of FriendTech gave up control over its smart contracts, moving them to a zero Ethereum address and abandoning the project.
🟢Its rise and fall offer valuable lessons on the dangers of hype, the importance of continuous innovation, and the need for building genuine community trust in Web3 projects.
🔥Have a great weekend ahead, stay safe and don't forget to buckle up; the cryptoverse is on the rise🔥
📢 Ready to Pitch Your Web3 Startup to Top Web3 VCs?
InnMind is kicking off its Autumn Edition of the Online Crypto VC Pitching Sessions, and we’re looking for the brightest builders to showcase their projects to the leading web3 investors! 🚀
⚡️More than 20 quality introductions were already made since the last VC Pitching Session between participating startups & VCs
Criteria for startups:
➡️ Verticals: Decentralized Infrastructure | DePin | BTC | Web3 Cloud | DeFi | SocialFi & Gaming | NFT | RWA, and more.
➡️ Stage: Pre-seed / Seed / Private / Series A
This is a fast-track opportunity to get real feedback from investors, build connections, secure direct introductions with VCs and accelerate your funding round💡
⏩ Apply now and pass the pre-selection process to participate.
🚀Missed Our Latest VC Crypto Pitching Session? Watch the Replay Now! 🎥
Last week, we saw some of the most innovative Web3 and AI startups pitch their projects to top VCs and investors. 💡 From real estate tokenization to decentralized AI, the session was packed with valuable insights and takeaways for any founder preparing their own pitch.
If you’re looking to learn from the best and see what works when pitching to investors, don’t miss the chance to watch the recording 📺
➕ Sign up on the InnMind platform to apply for the next pitching sessions.