navigation

HomeFoundersPortfolioNews

socials

Paper Ventures X
Paper Ventures Linkedin
Paper Ventures Crunchbase

Aligned Layer

Aligned Layer
Aligned Layer

Project

Aligned Layer

Category

ZK

Description

Aligned Layer co-founded by Roberto Jose Catalan and Federico Carrone, is designed as a ZK (Zero-Knowledge) verification layer atop EigenLayer, enhancing Ethereum's capabilities for SNARK-proof verification efficiently and cost-effectively. It addresses the challenges of integrating ZK proofs into Ethereum's architecture, striving to make the platform more suitable for a variety of SNARK verifications without bias towards any specific type. The mission of Aligned Layer is to support the development of trustless applications through verifiable computation, leveraging the security features of Ethereum.

Aligned Layer

Aligned Layer
Aligned Layer

Project

Aligned Layer

Category

ZK

Description

Aligned Layer co-founded by Roberto Jose Catalan and Federico Carrone, is designed as a ZK (Zero-Knowledge) verification layer atop EigenLayer, enhancing Ethereum's capabilities for SNARK-proof verification efficiently and cost-effectively. It addresses the challenges of integrating ZK proofs into Ethereum's architecture, striving to make the platform more suitable for a variety of SNARK verifications without bias towards any specific type. The mission of Aligned Layer is to support the development of trustless applications through verifiable computation, leveraging the security features of Ethereum.

Camp Network

Camp Network
Camp Network

Project

Camp Network

Category

L1 - AI and IP

Description

Camp Network, co-founded by Nirav Murthy and James Chi, is an L1 focused on the intersection of AI and IP. Camp introduces its novel Proof of Provenance mechanism to record intellectual property onchain with verifiable origin, usage rights, and attribution, while supporting derivative creation, licensing, and monetization.

Camp Network

Camp Network
Camp Network

Project

Camp Network

Category

L1 - AI and IP

Description

Camp Network, co-founded by Nirav Murthy and James Chi, is an L1 focused on the intersection of AI and IP. Camp introduces its novel Proof of Provenance mechanism to record intellectual property onchain with verifiable origin, usage rights, and attribution, while supporting derivative creation, licensing, and monetization.

Cap

Cap
Cap

Project

Cap

Category

Stablecoins

Description

Cap is building the next generation of stablecoins with the goal of distributing sustainable yield to users. Cap achieves this by outsourcing the the yield generation to external agents, who in turn tap into hedge-fund-like strategies typically unavailable to retail participants.

Cap

Cap
Cap

Project

Cap

Category

Stablecoins

Description

Cap is building the next generation of stablecoins with the goal of distributing sustainable yield to users. Cap achieves this by outsourcing the the yield generation to external agents, who in turn tap into hedge-fund-like strategies typically unavailable to retail participants.

DoubleZero

DoubleZero
DoubleZero

Project

DoubleZero

Category

Infrastructure

Description

DoubleZero, co-founded by Austin Federa, Matteo Ward, and Andrew McConnell, is tackling a unique bottleneck that software cannot solve - the physical infrastructure supporting blockchain networks. By creating a decentralized, global fiber network dedicated to supporting high-performance distributed systems, DoubleZero aims to drastically improve blockchain performance while maintaining security and decentralization.

DoubleZero

DoubleZero
DoubleZero

Project

DoubleZero

Category

Infrastructure

Description

DoubleZero, co-founded by Austin Federa, Matteo Ward, and Andrew McConnell, is tackling a unique bottleneck that software cannot solve - the physical infrastructure supporting blockchain networks. By creating a decentralized, global fiber network dedicated to supporting high-performance distributed systems, DoubleZero aims to drastically improve blockchain performance while maintaining security and decentralization.

Drosera

Drosera
Drosera

Project

Drosera

Category

Security

Description

Drosera, founded by Fernando Reyes, enables protocols to detect potential threats and take automated actions before any damage is done. By utilizing stringent security standards to ensure applications are protected from exploits and vulnerabilities, Drosera aims to build a more secure and resilient DeFi ecosystem.

Drosera

Drosera
Drosera

Project

Drosera

Category

Security

Description

Drosera, founded by Fernando Reyes, enables protocols to detect potential threats and take automated actions before any damage is done. By utilizing stringent security standards to ensure applications are protected from exploits and vulnerabilities, Drosera aims to build a more secure and resilient DeFi ecosystem.

Forgotten Playland

Forgotten Playland
Forgotten Playland

Project

Forgotten Playland

Category

Gaming

Description

Forgotten Playland co-founded by Bram Janssen and Zico Bakker is an upcoming free-to-play social crypto-native party-game set in an abandoned attic, transforming it into a vibrant social hub where players can explore and socialize. It features engaging minigames, thematic areas like the Space Disco, Beach Bar, and Jungle Camp, and offers extensive customization options for "Plushies", the game's adorable characters and most prominent web3 integration. Players navigate through playful chaos, enhancing their experience with creativity and competitive spirit. The game blends imaginative challenges with the thrill of competition and personal expression and blends.

Forgotten Playland

Forgotten Playland
Forgotten Playland

Project

Forgotten Playland

Category

Gaming

Description

Forgotten Playland co-founded by Bram Janssen and Zico Bakker is an upcoming free-to-play social crypto-native party-game set in an abandoned attic, transforming it into a vibrant social hub where players can explore and socialize. It features engaging minigames, thematic areas like the Space Disco, Beach Bar, and Jungle Camp, and offers extensive customization options for "Plushies", the game's adorable characters and most prominent web3 integration. Players navigate through playful chaos, enhancing their experience with creativity and competitive spirit. The game blends imaginative challenges with the thrill of competition and personal expression and blends.

Glacis

Glacis
Glacis

Project

Glacis

Category

Infrastructure

Description

Glacis provides a plug-and-play solution for cross-chain blockchain operations, simplifying interchain executions with a secure, bridge-agnostic service that avoids centralized trust. Aimed at enhancing blockchain development, Glacis prioritizes security, integrity, and collaboration to boost developer productivity and scale solutions. The platform's key focus areas include rigorous security measures, commitment to high-quality reliable building and efficient co-creation to minimize technical burdens and improve the user experience.

Glacis

Glacis
Glacis

Project

Glacis

Category

Infrastructure

Description

Glacis provides a plug-and-play solution for cross-chain blockchain operations, simplifying interchain executions with a secure, bridge-agnostic service that avoids centralized trust. Aimed at enhancing blockchain development, Glacis prioritizes security, integrity, and collaboration to boost developer productivity and scale solutions. The platform's key focus areas include rigorous security measures, commitment to high-quality reliable building and efficient co-creation to minimize technical burdens and improve the user experience.

Holonym

Holonym
Holonym

Project

Holonym

Category

Security - Digital Identity

Description

Holonym, co-founded by Shady El Damaty and Nanak Nihal Singh Khalsa, is a organization focused on developing the next generation of digital identity security for the decentralized web. Instead of using random phrases to generate private keys, Human Keys transforms people into keys, and allows humans to control their keys by uniquely proving their biometrics. Human Keys features three protocols: Mishti Network, a breakthrough threshold entropy network that computes an Oblivious Pseudorandom Function (OPRF) on biometric data; Zeronym, a zero knowledge identity protocol; and Silk, an elegant wallet interface for interacting with blockchain protocols.

Holonym

Holonym
Holonym

Project

Holonym

Category

Security - Digital Identity

Description

Holonym, co-founded by Shady El Damaty and Nanak Nihal Singh Khalsa, is a organization focused on developing the next generation of digital identity security for the decentralized web. Instead of using random phrases to generate private keys, Human Keys transforms people into keys, and allows humans to control their keys by uniquely proving their biometrics. Human Keys features three protocols: Mishti Network, a breakthrough threshold entropy network that computes an Oblivious Pseudorandom Function (OPRF) on biometric data; Zeronym, a zero knowledge identity protocol; and Silk, an elegant wallet interface for interacting with blockchain protocols.

HyveDA

HyveDA
HyveDA

Project

HyveDA

Category

Data Availability

Description

HyveDA, founded by Douwe Faasen and Rick Seeger, is a highly efficient Data Availability (DA) protocol with sub-second latency and 1 GB/s throughput, and is designed to meet the needs for decentralized applications which have significantly high data demands. As Hyve scales horizontally, thoroughput increases as more nodes are onboarded, thus providing a highly scalable and secure solution for applications.

HyveDA

HyveDA
HyveDA

Project

HyveDA

Category

Data Availability

Description

HyveDA, founded by Douwe Faasen and Rick Seeger, is a highly efficient Data Availability (DA) protocol with sub-second latency and 1 GB/s throughput, and is designed to meet the needs for decentralized applications which have significantly high data demands. As Hyve scales horizontally, thoroughput increases as more nodes are onboarded, thus providing a highly scalable and secure solution for applications.

Limitless Labs

Limitless Labs
Limitless Labs

Project

Limitless Labs

Category

GambleFi - Prediction Market

Description

Limitless Labs, founded by CJ Hetherington, Roman Mogylnyi, Dima Horshkov, and Rev Miller, is an R&D network that specializes in prediction markets, blockchain and AI. Their flagship product, Limitless, is a revolutionary prediction market and offers users the chance to create a betting market for any global event, including sports, politics and pop culture.

Limitless Labs

Limitless Labs
Limitless Labs

Project

Limitless Labs

Category

GambleFi - Prediction Market

Description

Limitless Labs, founded by CJ Hetherington, Roman Mogylnyi, Dima Horshkov, and Rev Miller, is an R&D network that specializes in prediction markets, blockchain and AI. Their flagship product, Limitless, is a revolutionary prediction market and offers users the chance to create a betting market for any global event, including sports, politics and pop culture.

Meth Lab

Meth Lab
Meth Lab

Project

Meth Lab

Category

DeFi Metaverse

Description

MethLab is a liquidation-free, oracle-less, and Intent-based lending/borrowing protocol that enables fixed-rate/fixed-term positions.

Meth Lab

Meth Lab
Meth Lab

Project

Meth Lab

Category

DeFi Metaverse

Description

MethLab is a liquidation-free, oracle-less, and Intent-based lending/borrowing protocol that enables fixed-rate/fixed-term positions.

Monkey Tilt

Monkey Tilt
Monkey Tilt

Project

Monkey Tilt

Category

Gamblefi - Casino

Description

Monkey Tilt, led by Sun Wukong, who is coming in with a deep expertise in regulated online gaming, is a crypto-enabled gambling platform focused on innovative and ambitious growth. The platform aims to set new standards in the gaming industry by bridging Web2 and Web3 technologies. With a strong commitment to KYC and compliance, Monkey Tilt is strategically positioned to enter new markets, potentially making its token the first in the gambling sector to be listed on major exchanges.

Monkey Tilt

Monkey Tilt
Monkey Tilt

Project

Monkey Tilt

Category

Gamblefi - Casino

Description

Monkey Tilt, led by Sun Wukong, who is coming in with a deep expertise in regulated online gaming, is a crypto-enabled gambling platform focused on innovative and ambitious growth. The platform aims to set new standards in the gaming industry by bridging Web2 and Web3 technologies. With a strong commitment to KYC and compliance, Monkey Tilt is strategically positioned to enter new markets, potentially making its token the first in the gambling sector to be listed on major exchanges.

Naptha AI

Naptha AI
Naptha AI

Project

Naptha AI

Category

AI

Description

Naptha AI, co-founded by Mark Schmidt and Richard Blythman, is a modular platform designed to promote collaboration between autonomous intelligent agents. By shifting the AI narrative from standalone models to a dynamic interconnected network of agents, Naptha looks to scale AI research and development across the agentic web.

Naptha AI

Naptha AI
Naptha AI

Project

Naptha AI

Category

AI

Description

Naptha AI, co-founded by Mark Schmidt and Richard Blythman, is a modular platform designed to promote collaboration between autonomous intelligent agents. By shifting the AI narrative from standalone models to a dynamic interconnected network of agents, Naptha looks to scale AI research and development across the agentic web.

Pell Network

Pell Network
Pell Network

Project

Pell Network

Category

DeFi - BTC Staking

Description

Pell Network, founded by Steven Shen, Makoto Uramura, and Tyler Wu, is an omnichain, composable, adaptive Decentralized Validation Services (DVS) Network powered by restaking. Pell utilizes Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) to simplify the process of providing cryptoeconomic security, thereby reducing costs to build dApps and providing yield for Bitcoin holders.

Pell Network

Pell Network
Pell Network

Project

Pell Network

Category

DeFi - BTC Staking

Description

Pell Network, founded by Steven Shen, Makoto Uramura, and Tyler Wu, is an omnichain, composable, adaptive Decentralized Validation Services (DVS) Network powered by restaking. Pell utilizes Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) to simplify the process of providing cryptoeconomic security, thereby reducing costs to build dApps and providing yield for Bitcoin holders.

Perle

Perle
Perle

Project

Perle

Category

AI - Data

Description

Perle brings wisdom to data. Unlock great AI with expert-powered, modular data training solutions that make AI development effortless.

Perle

Perle
Perle

Project

Perle

Category

AI - Data

Description

Perle brings wisdom to data. Unlock great AI with expert-powered, modular data training solutions that make AI development effortless.

QED

QED
QED

Project

QED

Category

ZK

Description

QED Protocol with Carter Feldman at the helm, is pioneering a zk-Native blockchain for enhanced trustless computation and privacy. It stands out for its ability to handle numerous transactions simultaneously with horizontal scalability and for its welcoming approach to Web2 developers through familiar programming languages. Additionally, QED is poised to become Bitcoin's execution layer, introducing smart contracts and DeFi functionalities securely through ZK proofs. The protocol's technology, crafted by experts in TapScript and modular arithmetic, enables decentralized apps to perform unlimited computation for a fixed gas fee, utilizing "smart signatures" for innovative transaction verification. This positions QED as a revolutionary platform for expanding Bitcoin's utility.

QED

QED
QED

Project

QED

Category

ZK

Description

QED Protocol with Carter Feldman at the helm, is pioneering a zk-Native blockchain for enhanced trustless computation and privacy. It stands out for its ability to handle numerous transactions simultaneously with horizontal scalability and for its welcoming approach to Web2 developers through familiar programming languages. Additionally, QED is poised to become Bitcoin's execution layer, introducing smart contracts and DeFi functionalities securely through ZK proofs. The protocol's technology, crafted by experts in TapScript and modular arithmetic, enables decentralized apps to perform unlimited computation for a fixed gas fee, utilizing "smart signatures" for innovative transaction verification. This positions QED as a revolutionary platform for expanding Bitcoin's utility.

Qooverse

Qooverse
Qooverse

Project

Qooverse

Category

Gaming

Description

Qooverse, co-founded by Kyle Wong and Ernest Kam, is a web3 gaming studio centred around the Qooverse IP. The studio is focused on building an ecosystem of mid-core and casual social games that are distributed on Telegram and other social platforms, with games being fast-paced and lasting less than five minutes.

Qooverse

Qooverse
Qooverse

Project

Qooverse

Category

Gaming

Description

Qooverse, co-founded by Kyle Wong and Ernest Kam, is a web3 gaming studio centred around the Qooverse IP. The studio is focused on building an ecosystem of mid-core and casual social games that are distributed on Telegram and other social platforms, with games being fast-paced and lasting less than five minutes.

Raise

Raise
Raise

Project

Raise

Category

Payments - Gift Cards

Description

Raise, founded by George Bousis, is revolutionizing payments, loyalty, and gift cards using blockchain technology. Tokenizing gift cards and cutting out the middlemen allows Raise to utilize stablecoins, and provide a more transparent and cheaper payments infrastructure for brands and consumers to use.

Raise

Raise
Raise

Project

Raise

Category

Payments - Gift Cards

Description

Raise, founded by George Bousis, is revolutionizing payments, loyalty, and gift cards using blockchain technology. Tokenizing gift cards and cutting out the middlemen allows Raise to utilize stablecoins, and provide a more transparent and cheaper payments infrastructure for brands and consumers to use.

Rakurai

Rakurai
Rakurai

Project

Rakurai

Category

Solana - DeFi

Description

Rakurai, founded by ex-Apple, Silicon Valley engineer Ali Rizvi, enhances and optimizes staking on Solana through utilization of a proprietary high-throughput Solana client and a network of supercharged validator nodes.

Rakurai

Rakurai
Rakurai

Project

Rakurai

Category

Solana - DeFi

Description

Rakurai, founded by ex-Apple, Silicon Valley engineer Ali Rizvi, enhances and optimizes staking on Solana through utilization of a proprietary high-throughput Solana client and a network of supercharged validator nodes.

Rena Labs

Rena Labs
Rena Labs

Project

Rena Labs

Category

AI - TEE

Description

Rena Labs, founded by a core team that includes Princeton and MIT PhDs, is a startup building the foundations for the next wave of autonomous and verifiable AI solutions. By developing the first TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) abstraction middleware, Rena enables AI to scale in a secure manner, while also preserving privacy.

Rena Labs

Rena Labs
Rena Labs

Project

Rena Labs

Category

AI - TEE

Description

Rena Labs, founded by a core team that includes Princeton and MIT PhDs, is a startup building the foundations for the next wave of autonomous and verifiable AI solutions. By developing the first TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) abstraction middleware, Rena enables AI to scale in a secure manner, while also preserving privacy.

Renzo Protocol

Renzo Protocol
Renzo Protocol

Project

Renzo Protocol

Category

Restaking - EigenLayer

Description

Renzo founded by Lucas Kozinski, is a Liquid Restaking Token (LRT) and Strategy Manager for EigenLayer. It is the interface to the EigenLayer ecosystem securing Actively Validated Services (AVSs) and offering a higher yield than ETH staking. The protocol abstracts all complexity from the end-user and enables easy collaboration between users and EigenLayer node operators. Renzo strongly advocates for EigenLayer and its goal of facilitating permissionless innovation on Ethereum, and programmatically acquiring trust for the ecosystem. Renzo is built to promote the widespread adoption of Eigenlayer.

Renzo Protocol

Renzo Protocol
Renzo Protocol

Project

Renzo Protocol

Category

Restaking - EigenLayer

Description

Renzo founded by Lucas Kozinski, is a Liquid Restaking Token (LRT) and Strategy Manager for EigenLayer. It is the interface to the EigenLayer ecosystem securing Actively Validated Services (AVSs) and offering a higher yield than ETH staking. The protocol abstracts all complexity from the end-user and enables easy collaboration between users and EigenLayer node operators. Renzo strongly advocates for EigenLayer and its goal of facilitating permissionless innovation on Ethereum, and programmatically acquiring trust for the ecosystem. Renzo is built to promote the widespread adoption of Eigenlayer.

Sophon

Sophon
Sophon

Project

Sophon

Category

L2

Description

Sophon is an entertainment-focused modular L2, built as a zkSync hyperchain. Sophon is where entertainment meets crypto, in a deeply thoughtful and intentional ecosystem that privileges developers and users.

Sophon

Sophon
Sophon

Project

Sophon

Category

L2

Description

Sophon is an entertainment-focused modular L2, built as a zkSync hyperchain. Sophon is where entertainment meets crypto, in a deeply thoughtful and intentional ecosystem that privileges developers and users.

TAC

TAC
TAC

Project

TAC

Category

TON - L2

Description

TAC, founded by experienced TON ecosystem builder Pavel Altukhov, is the first-of-its-kind TON Network extension buit to bring EVM to TON. By allowing EVM applications to seamlessly connect with TON, TAC breaks down existing barriers for both developers and users to create a unified experience.

TAC

TAC
TAC

Project

TAC

Category

TON - L2

Description

TAC, founded by experienced TON ecosystem builder Pavel Altukhov, is the first-of-its-kind TON Network extension buit to bring EVM to TON. By allowing EVM applications to seamlessly connect with TON, TAC breaks down existing barriers for both developers and users to create a unified experience.

Vanilla Finance

Vanilla Finance
Vanilla Finance

Project

Vanilla Finance

Category

DeFi

Description

Vanilla Finance is an innovative decentralized trading platform which seeks to make finance more accessible by blending social media, gamification, and user-friendly crypto entry points to engage both newcomers and experienced crypto enthusiasts. Vanilla provides easy-to-understand access to traditional financial products in a crypto setting, allowing users to define fixed inputs and risk for floating returns.

Vanilla Finance

Vanilla Finance
Vanilla Finance

Project

Vanilla Finance

Category

DeFi

Description

Vanilla Finance is an innovative decentralized trading platform which seeks to make finance more accessible by blending social media, gamification, and user-friendly crypto entry points to engage both newcomers and experienced crypto enthusiasts. Vanilla provides easy-to-understand access to traditional financial products in a crypto setting, allowing users to define fixed inputs and risk for floating returns.

Aligned Layer

Project

Aligned Layer

Category

ZK

Description

Aligned Layer co-founded by Roberto Jose Catalan and Federico Carrone, is designed as a ZK (Zero-Knowledge) verification layer atop EigenLayer, enhancing Ethereum's capabilities for SNARK-proof verification efficiently and cost-effectively. It addresses the challenges of integrating ZK proofs into Ethereum's architecture, striving to make the platform more suitable for a variety of SNARK verifications without bias towards any specific type. The mission of Aligned Layer is to support the development of trustless applications through verifiable computation, leveraging the security features of Ethereum.