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AU21 Capital

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

AU21 Capital is a prominent venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, exclusively dedicated to the burgeoning blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. Established in 2017, the firm has rapidly positioned itself as a key early-stage investor, identifying and backing innovative projects across various facets of the Web3 ecosystem. Their investment philosophy centers on supporting visionary founders who are building foundational infrastructure, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, non-fungible token (NFT) platforms, and other cutting-edge applications that leverage distributed ledger technology. AU21 Capital distinguishes itself not only through capital deployment but also by providing strategic guidance, extensive network access, and operational support to its portfolio companies, aiming to accelerate their growth and market adoption.

The firm's investment strategy is characterized by a high volume of early-stage bets, often participating in seed and private sale rounds. AU21 Capital has built an impressive portfolio that includes some of the most recognized names in the crypto space, such as Solana, Polkadot, The Graph, and Axie Infinity, demonstrating their foresight in identifying future industry leaders. Their commitment to the space is evident in their extensive investment record, having made over 200 investments since their inception. This prolific activity underscores their belief in the long-term potential of blockchain technology and their readiness to support a diverse range of projects from their nascent stages.

While specific check sizes can vary depending on the stage and needs of the project, AU21 Capital typically deploys initial capital ranging from $100,000 to $1,500,000 for their first checks. This range allows them to engage with promising startups at critical early junctures, providing essential funding to develop their products and expand their teams. Their role extends beyond mere capital provision, as they often act as strategic partners, leveraging their deep industry knowledge and connections to help projects navigate the complex and rapidly evolving blockchain landscape. AU21 Capital remains a significant and active player, consistently seeking out and empowering the next generation of blockchain innovators.

Investor Profile

AU21 Capital has backed more than 170 startups, with 3 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 9 rounds, about 5% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Initial Coin Offering, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, United Kingdom.
  • Strong thematic focus on Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Gaming.
  • Typical check size: $100K – $1.5M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (69%)
  • Initial Coin Offering (10%)
  • Series Unknown (10%)
  • Series A (5%)
  • Pre Seed (3%)
  • Corporate Round (2%)
  • Undisclosed (1%)
  • Private Equity (1%)

Country Focus

  • United States (21%)
  • Singapore (16%)
  • United Kingdom (6%)
  • India (6%)
  • Switzerland (5%)
  • Vietnam (5%)
  • Estonia (4%)
  • United Arab Emirates (3%)
  • Israel (2%)
  • Panama (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Blockchain
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Gaming
  • Financial Services
  • Information Technology
  • Fintech
  • Software
  • Web3
  • Metaverse
  • Finance
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does AU21 Capital frequently co-invest with?

Co-Investments: 25
GBV Capital
North America, Midland, Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman
Co-Investments: 23
LD Capital
Asia, Shanghai, China, Shanghai
Co-Investments: 33
NGC Ventures
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 32
Exnetwork Capital
Asia, Manila, Philippines, Manila
Co-Investments: 26
ZBS CAPITAL
Europe, Kyyiv, Ukraine, Kyiv
Co-Investments: 30
Momentum 6
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 22
Genblock Capital
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 34
MC
Europe, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands, Amsterdam
Co-Investments: 26
X21 Digital
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 42

Which angels does AU21 Capital often collaborate with?

Shared Deals: 7
Gabby Dizon
Asia, Rizal, Philippines, Pasig
Shared Deals: 2
Heslin Kim
Asia, South Korea
Shared Deals: 4
Sandeep Nailwal
Asia, Indonesia
Shared Deals: 8
Nischal Shetty
Asia, Maharashtra, India, Mumbai
Shared Deals: 2
JP
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 2
SR
Europe, Monaco
Shared Deals: 4
KW
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 7
RM
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
RN
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 2

What are some of recent deals done by AU21 Capital?

NeuronX

San Francisco, California, United States

NeuronX Protocol is the pioneering decentralized lending protocol on Dfinity, focusing on AI-driven automation.

Financial ServicesWeb3
Pre SeedMar 17, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,000,000

A-World is Web3 chain game based on BNB chain.

BlockchainWeb3
Series ANov 6, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Vue Protocol

San Francisco, California, United States

Vue Protocol is an IT company that provides a decentralized social layer with restaking, security, and Web3 social.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)FinanceWeb3
SeedOct 16, 2024
Amount Raised: $6,000,000
Nillion

Zug, Zug, Switzerland

Nillion is a computer and network security company that provides node operation that signifies implications for data, security, and privacy.

ComputerCryptocurrencyNetwork SecuritySecurity
SeedDec 12, 2022
Amount Raised: $20,000,000
The Unfettered

Turkey, North Carolina, United States

The Unfettered is a Web3 adventure video game based on role play, action, and warrior themes.

AppsArtificial Intelligence (AI)BlockchainGamingPC GamesVideo Games
SeedMay 10, 2022
Amount Raised: $2,500,000
IQ Labs

Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia

IQ Labs coordinates the decentralized development of novel frameworks and protocols in the DeFi space.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyTrading PlatformVirtual Currency
SeedMar 3, 2022
Amount Raised: $12,000,000
Turnt Gaming

Seattle, Washington, United States

Turnt Gaming is a developer of interactive NFT-based entertainment products and media.

GamingMedia and Entertainment
SeedMar 3, 2022
Amount Raised: $4,300,000
Mizar

London, England, United Kingdom

Mizar is a crypto trading company that provides information management solutions to serve the Oracle user community.

FinTechInformation TechnologyOpen SourceSoftwareTrading Platform
SeedFeb 25, 2022
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
metameet

Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland

Revolutionizing the events and meeting software industry.

3D TechnologySocial MediaSoftwareWeb Development
SeedFeb 14, 2022
Amount Raised: $5,800,000
Mecha Morphing

Santa Clara, California, United States

Mecha Morphing is a aesthetic blockchain game platform.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyGaming
Initial Coin OfferingJan 27, 2022
Amount Raised: $4,900,000