Key highlights:
- Blockchain Builders Fund closes $28M Fund I, backing 40 early-stage crypto ventures across AI, DeFi, and infrastructure.
- The fund is led by Stanford grads and integrates with university programs like MS&E 447 and the Blockchain Accelerator.
- Expansion plans include partnerships with IC3-Cornell and collaborations with Ethereum Foundation, Solana, and Coinbase’s BASE.
Supporting Stanford’s blockchain ecosystem and beyond
Blockchain Builders, a venture fund rooted in Stanford University’s blockchain community, has completed the raise of its $28 million inaugural fund. Focused on pre-seed and seed investments, the fund supports startups emerging from Stanford and similarly prestigious institutions.
Spearheaded by Stanford graduate students Gil Rosen, Kun Peng, and Steven Willinger, the fund has already invested more than $16 million into 40 startups. The portfolio spans sectors such as decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, payments, and decentralized infrastructure. Companies include modular AI blockchain 0G, distributed computing firm Nexus Labs, open-access AI cloud platform Hyperbolic, and Layer-1 protocol Pod.
The team expects to deploy the remaining capital by the end of the year, with several portfolio companies preparing for their token generation events.
Blending academia with hands-on venture capital
Blockchain Builders Fund is deeply intertwined with Stanford’s blockchain initiatives. The team is behind the university’s Blockchain Accelerator, the MS&E 447 course on blockchain entrepreneurship, and the Blockchain Application Stanford Summit (BASS) conference series. These efforts have helped over 200 founders and 400 students while drawing nearly 5,000 attendees cumulatively.
“Blockchain Builders was born from our firsthand experience scaling the Stanford blockchain ecosystem. We started Stanford’s Blockchain Accelerator, teach MS&E 447 Blockchain Entrepreneurship, and produce the Blockchain Application Stanford Summit (BASS) conference series – these initiatives have supported over 200 founders, 400 students, and nearly 5000 cumulative attendees, and provide a deep network to inspire, support, and mentor new founders for success.”
—Kun Peng, Co-founder of the Blockchain Builders fund
The broader academic backing includes contributions from Professor David Tse, known for leading Stanford’s Tse Lab and teaching blockchain infrastructure through EE 374. Tse emphasized Stanford’s longstanding engagement in blockchain research and its role in expanding the startup landscape in the space.
Team with deep roots in both crypto and finance
The fund’s leadership team brings experience from major tech and crypto firms. Willinger previously worked at Coinbase Ventures, Capital One Ventures, and Blockstream, with earlier roles at Google. Rosen, a serial entrepreneur, scaled a 100-person infrastructure company serving clients like JPMorgan and the IRS before selling it to AI firm NGData. Peng has built Web3 startups across analytics, NFTs, and infrastructure.
“Our deep Stanford ties give us early access to high-potential founders who value our hands-on approach. We roll up our sleeves and dive into the details of strategy, GTM, and fundraising – positioning them optimally for competitive follow-on rounds led by tier-1 investors.”
—Gil Rosen, Co-Founder of the Blockchain Builders fund
Looking ahead, the fund is extending its support beyond Stanford. It is participating in the new IC3-Cornell accelerator, which also includes Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, Yale, and UCL. Collaborations are also in the works with the Ethereum Foundation, Solana, Starkware, and Coinbase’s BASE, reflecting the fund’s broader ambition to support Web3 innovation on a national scale.
The bottom line
By embedding itself within the academic and builder communities of leading institutions, Blockchain Builders Fund is shaping a unique model for early-stage crypto investing. With a blend of university programs, hands-on support, and a growing network of collaborators, the team is positioning itself as a foundational backer for the next wave of blockchain innovation.
Source:: Stanford-Linked Venture Fund Raises $28M to Back Early-Stage Blockchain Startups