Paradigm
Description
Paradigm is a prominent San Francisco-based investment firm exclusively focused on the cryptocurrency and Web3 ecosystem. Co-founded in 2018 by Fred Ehrsam, a co-founder of Coinbase, and Matt Huang, a former partner at Sequoia Capital, Paradigm quickly established itself as a leading player in the nascent digital asset space. The firm's mandate is broad, investing across the entire spectrum of cryptoassets and businesses, from the earliest stages of ideation through to mature companies and protocols. Their deep expertise and hands-on approach have made them a sought-after partner for founders building the next generation of decentralized technologies.
The firm's investment strategy is characterized by its long-term conviction in the transformative potential of crypto. Paradigm not only provides capital but also offers significant operational and technical support, leveraging its team's deep understanding of blockchain technology, cryptography, and decentralized finance. They are known for their rigorous research and development efforts, often contributing directly to the open-source projects they back. A significant milestone for the firm was the announcement of a new $2.5 billion venture fund in November 2021, underscoring their substantial commitment and capacity to deploy capital into the crypto economy. This fund cemented their position as one of the largest dedicated crypto investment vehicles globally.
Paradigm's flexible investment approach allows them to participate in rounds ranging from seed-stage funding for nascent concepts to substantial growth equity for established protocols. While they can write checks as small as $1 million for promising early-stage ventures, their typical first investment often falls within the range of $5 million to $50 million, reflecting their preference for meaningful stakes in high-potential projects. For later-stage or strategic investments, they have the capacity to deploy over $100 million into a single opportunity. This multi-stage, high-conviction strategy positions Paradigm as a critical capital provider and strategic partner for innovators shaping the future of decentralized internet infrastructure and applications.
Investor Profile
Paradigm has backed more than 128 startups, with 16 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 91 rounds, about 71% of its total and boasts 6 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, FinTech.
- Led 14 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $100M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (34%)
- Seed (26%)
- Series B (13%)
- Series Unknown (10%)
- Series C (7%)
- Initial Coin Offering (5%)
- Series D (2%)
- Private Equity (1%)
- Secondary Market (1%)
- Non Equity Assistance (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (70%)
- Singapore (4%)
- United Kingdom (4%)
- Cayman Islands (2%)
- Canada (2%)
- Bahamas (2%)
- Hong Kong (2%)
- Israel (2%)
- Switzerland (2%)
- India (2%)
Industry Focus
- Cryptocurrency
- Blockchain
- Fintech
- Financial Services
- Software
- Web3
- Information Technology
- Ethereum
- Bitcoin
- Decentralized Finance (Defi)
Frequently Asked Questions
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