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dlab

North America, New York, United States, New York

Description

dlab is an early-stage venture capital firm and venture studio based in New York, United States, with a dedicated focus on the rapidly evolving Web3, decentralization, and blockchain technology sectors. Operating with a dual mandate, dlab not only invests in promising startups but also actively builds and incubates projects through its venture studio arm. This unique approach allows them to provide both capital and hands-on operational support, aiming to foster innovation and accelerate the growth of foundational technologies in the decentralized web.

The firm primarily targets seed-stage companies, seeking out founders who are exploring new frontiers in areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, DAOs, infrastructure, and other emerging blockchain applications. Their investment thesis emphasizes long-term value creation and supporting projects that contribute to the open, permissionless future of the internet. As a venture studio, dlab often engages with projects from their inception, offering strategic guidance, technical expertise, and network access to help transform nascent ideas into viable products and protocols.

In May 2021, dlab announced the launch of its dedicated fund, totaling $15 million, specifically earmarked for early-stage investments. This fund size indicates a strategic focus on providing crucial early capital to a select number of high-potential ventures. While specific check sizes can vary based on the opportunity and stage, dlab typically deploys initial investments ranging from approximately $250,000 to $750,000 in seed rounds. Their portfolio includes notable projects such as Syndicate, Superfluid, and participation in rounds for Farcaster and Mirror.xyz, showcasing their commitment to leading and co-investing in impactful Web3 initiatives.

dlab positions itself as more than just a capital provider, striving to be a true partner to its portfolio companies. Their deep expertise in the Web3 space, combined with their studio capabilities, makes them a valuable resource for founders navigating the complexities of decentralized technology. They seek ambitious teams with clear visions for how their solutions will contribute to the broader Web3 ecosystem, emphasizing strong technical foundations and community-driven development.

Investor Profile

dlab has backed more than 27 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 4% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Pre Seed, Convertible Note rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in Canada, United States, The Netherlands.
  • Strong thematic focus on Blockchain, Information Technology, Cryptocurrency.
  • Led 1 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $250K – $750K.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (56%)
  • Pre Seed (26%)
  • Convertible Note (15%)
  • Series A (4%)

Country Focus

  • Canada (19%)
  • United States (15%)
  • The Netherlands (11%)
  • Greece (7%)
  • Germany (7%)
  • Singapore (7%)
  • Australia (4%)
  • Cayman Islands (4%)
  • Ireland (4%)
  • Norway (4%)

Industry Focus

  • Blockchain
  • Information Technology
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Software
  • Apps
  • Marketplace
  • Financial Services
  • Fleet Management
  • Logistics
  • Peer To Peer
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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 dlab frequently co-invest with?

Protocol Labs
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
SOSV
North America, New Jersey, United States, Princeton
Co-Investments: 25
Hypersphere Ventures
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Co-Investments: 2
CMS Holdings
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 2
Placeholder
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 2
Advanced Blockchain
Europe, Berlin, Germany, Berlin
Co-Investments: 2
EMURGO
Asia, Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo
Co-Investments: 2
ConsenSys Mesh
North America, New York, United States, Brooklyn
Co-Investments: 2
Metaplanet
Europe, Harjumaa, Estonia, Tallinn
Co-Investments: 2
The Spartan Group
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does dlab often collaborate with?

Balaji Srinivasan
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Shared Deals: 1
JB
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Shared Deals: 1
ED
Europe, Berlin, Germany
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by dlab?

Daler Trading

Gibraltar, Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Daler is an algorithmic crypto market maker specializing in liquidity provision across spot & derivatives markets for digital assets & RWA.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyDecentralized Finance (DeFi)Trading PlatformWeb3
Pre SeedAug 2, 2024
WeatherXM

Athens, Attiki, Greece

WeatherXM is a community powered weather network, that rewards weather station owners and offers accurate weather services.

Information ServicesInformation TechnologyWeb3
Series AMay 22, 2024
Amount Raised: $7,700,000
FleetOperate

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

FleetOperate is a truck driver marketplace platform that enables drivers to provide on-demand driving services to carriers and shippers.

AppsFleet ManagementLogisticsMarketplacePeer to PeerRailroadReal TimeTransportation
Convertible NoteDec 21, 2022
Light Protocol

Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal

Light Protocol sends crypto privately and enables developers to integrate private transactions at scale.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyFinancial Exchanges
SeedOct 18, 2022
Amount Raised: $4,500,000
Onchained Lab (EtherScore)

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Blockchain reputation system

Artificial Intelligence (AI)BlockchainConsumer Reviews
SeedSep 30, 2022

Contango is a decentralised protocol bringing perpetual futures built on top of money markets.

FinanceFinancial ExchangesInformation Technology
SeedJul 28, 2022
Amount Raised: $4,000,000
Fig Investments

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Fig is a technology platform that helps financial services firms offer crypto structured & direct indexing products

BlockchainFinancial ServicesFinTechSoftware
Pre SeedJul 1, 2022
Amount Raised: $650,000
WeatherXM

Athens, Attiki, Greece

WeatherXM is a community powered weather network, that rewards weather station owners and offers accurate weather services.

Information ServicesInformation TechnologyWeb3
SeedJun 30, 2022
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Kotal

Middletown, Delaware, United States

Kotal is a developer of cloud-native deployment tools for managing the lifecycle of blockchain infrastructure.

BlockchainInfrastructureOpen SourceSoftware
SeedJun 9, 2022
Crayonic

Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands

Secure wearables for critical infrastructure.

Health CareManufacturingMilitary
Convertible NoteApr 27, 2022