Three Stanford grads have launched a $28 million venture fund to support early-stage blockchain startups. The fund, called Blockchain Builders, is already making waves in the Web3 world.
A $28 Million Boost for Web3
Blockchain Builders, based in the Stanford blockchain ecosystem, recently closed its first fund, exceeding its target with $28 million in commitments. This pre-seed and seed-stage fund focuses on promising startups from Stanford and other top universities.
The fund has already invested over $16 million in 40 companies across various sectors, including AI, infrastructure, decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN), payments, and real-world assets (RWAs).
Impressive Portfolio and Experienced Team
Some of their notable investments include:
- 0G: A modular AI blockchain.
- Nexus Labs: A supercomputer venture.
- Hyperbolic: An open-access AI cloud.
- Pod: A Layer-1 blockchain.
The fund’s founders—Gil Rosen, Kun Peng, and Steven Willinger—bring impressive experience from traditional finance and the crypto space. Willinger has a background at Coinbase Ventures and Capital One Ventures, while Rosen has a history of successful entrepreneurship and angel investing. Peng brings extensive experience in various Web3 sectors.
More Than Just Money
The team emphasizes their hands-on approach, providing more than just funding. They offer strategic guidance, go-to-market support, and fundraising assistance to help their portfolio companies succeed. Their deep Stanford connections give them early access to promising founders.
Expanding Horizons
Blockchain Builders is already looking ahead to Fund II and expanding its reach beyond Stanford. They’re partnering with other leading academic institutions and collaborating with major players in the crypto space, such as the Ethereum Foundation and Solana. Their goal is to continue fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of blockchain builders nationwide.
