
Morningstar Ventures
Description
Morningstar Ventures, established in 2018, is a Dubai-based private equity firm with a dedicated focus on the burgeoning digital asset and blockchain technology sectors. The firm primarily targets early-stage investments, encompassing both token and equity rounds, aiming to support foundational projects within the Web3 ecosystem. Their strategic approach extends beyond mere capital injection, emphasizing long-term partnerships, incubation, and advisory services to foster the growth and adoption of decentralized technologies.
The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying and nurturing innovative projects that contribute to the infrastructure and application layers of the blockchain space. This includes a broad spectrum of areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain gaming, metaverse initiatives, and core Web3 infrastructure. Morningstar Ventures is known for its hands-on approach, leveraging its expertise and network to help portfolio companies navigate the complexities of the crypto market, from product development to market entry and community building.
Morningstar Ventures has built a diverse portfolio, demonstrating a clear preference for seed and early-stage ventures. Their typical first check sizes range significantly, from as little as $300,000 for some participations in seed rounds, up to $5,000,000 for lead investments in promising projects. For instance, they notably led a $5 million seed round for Elrond (now MultiversX) in 2019, showcasing their capacity for substantial early-stage commitments. With over 40 investments to date and having acted as a lead investor in more than 10 instances, Morningstar Ventures has established itself as a prominent and active player in the global blockchain investment landscape.
Their commitment to the blockchain space is further evidenced by their initiatives like "The Morningstar Ventures House" in Dubai, which serves as a hub for Web3 events, community engagement, and incubation, reinforcing their role as an ecosystem builder. This holistic strategy underscores their belief in the transformative potential of blockchain technology and their dedication to supporting the entrepreneurs driving its evolution.
Investor Profile
Morningstar Ventures has backed more than 99 startups, with 6 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 10 rounds, about 10% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series Unknown, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Gaming.
- Led 2 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $300K – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (64%)
- Series Unknown (13%)
- Series A (11%)
- Initial Coin Offering (4%)
- Undisclosed (3%)
- Pre Seed (3%)
- Private Equity (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (22%)
- Singapore (18%)
- United Kingdom (7%)
- Germany (4%)
- Taiwan (3%)
- Hong Kong (3%)
- Cayman Islands (3%)
- United Arab Emirates (3%)
- Israel (2%)
- Romania (2%)
Industry Focus
- Blockchain
- Cryptocurrency
- Gaming
- Web3
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Metaverse
- Software
- Video Games
- Information Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
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