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Primitive Ventures

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

Primitive Ventures is a prominent San Francisco-based venture capital firm specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. Co-founded in 2018 by well-respected industry veterans Dovey Wan and Eric Meltzer, the firm has quickly established itself as a key early-stage investor in the rapidly evolving Web3 ecosystem. Primitive Ventures is known for its deep expertise and global perspective, particularly its insights into both Western and Asian crypto markets, making it a bridge for projects seeking international reach.

The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying and supporting foundational technologies and disruptive applications within the blockchain space. They typically focus on pre-seed and seed-stage companies, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and network access. Primitive Ventures seeks out projects that demonstrate strong technical innovation, clear market fit, and the potential for long-term impact across various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), infrastructure, and layer-one protocols. Their hands-on approach involves working closely with founders to navigate the complexities of building in a nascent industry.

Primitive Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of promising blockchain companies, reflecting their commitment to the future of decentralized technologies. As of early 2024, their portfolio includes investments in over 40 companies, showcasing their active participation in the crypto venture landscape. While specific check sizes can vary based on the stage and needs of the project, Primitive Ventures typically deploys initial capital ranging from $250,000 to $1,500,000 for early-stage rounds. Their strategic investments aim to foster the growth of a more open, transparent, and decentralized internet.

Investor Profile

Primitive Ventures has backed more than 33 startups, with 8 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 3% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, Hong Kong.
  • Strong thematic focus on Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Information Technology.
  • Led 1 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $250K – $1.5M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (58%)
  • Series A (21%)
  • Series Unknown (9%)
  • Series B (6%)
  • Pre Seed (6%)

Country Focus

  • United States (33%)
  • Singapore (24%)
  • Hong Kong (6%)
  • Israel (6%)
  • Russian Federation (3%)
  • United Kingdom (3%)
  • United Arab Emirates (3%)
  • Australia (3%)
  • Italy (3%)

Industry Focus

  • Blockchain
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Information Technology
  • Software
  • Financial Services
  • Fintech
  • Web3
  • Bitcoin
  • Information Services
  • Internet
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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 Primitive Ventures frequently co-invest with?

OKX Ventures
Africa, Beau Vallon, Seychelles, Mahé
Co-Investments: 5
Hypersphere Ventures
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Co-Investments: 4
dao5
North America, Utah, United States, Virgin
Co-Investments: 6
CMS Holdings
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 4
Coinbase Ventures
North America, California, United States, Oakland
Co-Investments: 4
Hashkey Exchange
Asia, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Co-Investments: 4
Hack VC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
Symbolic Capital
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 5
Lemniscap
North America, Midland, Cayman Islands, George Town
Co-Investments: 4
The Spartan Group
Asia, Central Region, Singapore, Singapore
Co-Investments: 5

Which angels does Primitive Ventures often collaborate with?

Shared Deals: 1
Sandeep Nailwal
Asia, Indonesia
Shared Deals: 2
GL
North America, NA - Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, San Juan
Shared Deals: 1
MD
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 2
AP
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
ST
North America, Minnesota, United States, Cosmos
Shared Deals: 2
JP
North America, New York, United States, Brooklyn
Shared Deals: 1
NM
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
KH
Europe, United Kingdom
Shared Deals: 1
CL
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2

What are some of recent deals done by Primitive Ventures?

MEI Pharma

San Diego, California, United States

MEI Pharma is a oncology company focuses on the clinical development of novel therapies for cancer.

BiopharmaBiotechnologyMedicalOncology
Post Ipo EquityJul 18, 2025
Amount Raised: $100,000,000

SpaceComputer uses satellites to create a secure blockchain system that resists cyberattacks and physical tampering.

BlockchainComputerSatellite Communication
Pre SeedMay 13, 2025

Henlo.com is a memecoin project that relies on community involvement and is part of the Berachain ecosystem.

BitcoinBlockchainDecentralized Finance (DeFi)Web3
SeedFeb 5, 2025
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
Canopy

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

Canopy is a Movement Labs native innovator in decentralized finance (DeFi) yield strategies.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)FinTechInformation Technology
SeedJan 29, 2025
Amount Raised: $1,200,000
TAC

Roma, Lazio, Italy

TAC is a performant EVM layer connected to TON through a decentralized and a trustless bridging layer.

BlockchainFinancial ServicesWeb3
SeedNov 11, 2024
Amount Raised: $6,500,000
Sapien

San Francisco, California, United States

Sapien is engaged in aiding organizations in preparing data for AI training through a consumer game called 'Train2Earn.'

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Data ManagementInformation Technology
SeedOct 30, 2024
Amount Raised: $10,500,000
Drift

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Drift brings on-chain, cross-margined perpetual futures to Solana.

BlockchainInternet
Series BSep 19, 2024
Amount Raised: $25,000,000
Blockscout

Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Multichain, open-source block explorer designed for Ethereum-based blockchains and L2 rollups.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyOpen SourceSoftware
SeedAug 7, 2024
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
Cartridge

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Cartridge is an infrastructure supplier for verifiable on-chain games and autonomous worlds.

Online GamesPC Games
Series AAug 4, 2024
Amount Raised: $7,500,000
Sentient

Incline Village, Nevada, United States

Sentient is an AI research organization fostering a new Open AGI Economy for AI Builders and Creators.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Software
SeedJul 2, 2024
Amount Raised: $85,000,000