{"id":"robot-ventures","version":1,"language":"en","title":"Robot Ventures","hidden":false,"content":"**Robot Ventures** is a venture capital firm that provides pre-seed funding to startups in the Web3, blockchain, and fintech sectors.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm)[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-yz1gubnzgzi) Founded in 2019 by [Robert Leshner](https://iq.wiki/wiki/robert-leshner) and [Tarun Chitra](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tarun-chitra), Robot Ventures is backed by Bain Capital Ventures and [Ripple](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ripple-labs) Xpring.[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-luj9i657ug)  \n  \n# Overview  \n  \nRobot Ventures has a varied portfolio featuring investments across multiple sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), enterprise solutions, consumer applications, and infrastructure projects. Robot Ventures is recognized for its unique investment approach, focusing on early-stage companies that challenge conventional thinking and have the potential to redefine their respective industries. Their portfolio includes companies such as [DODO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dodo), [Kava](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kava), [Axelar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/axelar), [LayerZero](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layerzero), [NFTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/nftx), [Fei Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fei-protocol), [Lido DAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/lido-dao), [Liquity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquity), and [PoolTogether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pooltogether) among others.[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-9a06enckc3v)  \n  \nIn April 2019, Robot Ventures secured a $1 million funding round from Bain Capital Ventures and [Ripple](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ripple-labs)'s Xpring.[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-q3tfexlr61)[\\[5\\]](#cite-id-luj9i657ug) Right after the funding, Robot Ventures invested in two startups: at-home crypto mining startup Coinmine and Point, a debit card and banking account.[\\[6\\]](#cite-id-hkfxyhehnae) In 2020, Robot Ventures secured $4 million in funding round, led by [Galaxy Digital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/galaxy-digital) with additional participation by [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) co-founder [Fred Ehrsam](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fred-ehrsam)'s [Paradigm](https://iq.wiki/wiki/paradigm).[\\[7\\]](#cite-id-w1el05k6ppf)  \n  \nThe firm is co-founded by [Robert Leshner](https://iq.wiki/wiki/robert-leshner), known for his work with [Compound](https://iq.wiki/wiki/compound), and Tarun Chitra, founder of Gauntlet Network.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm) Leshner argued commented on his motivation behind Robot in a [Coindesk](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coindesk) article:  \n  \n> \"We see innovations happening in DeFi very early. What gives me a different approach is that 95 percent of my time is spent building Compound, and I can interact with other founders really as a peer, just one or two years ahead of them.\"[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-q3tfexlr61)  \n  \n# Portfolio  \n  \n* Aleo  \n* Alkimiya  \n* Argent  \n* [Axelar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/axelar)  \n* Bitski  \n* Blockfolio ([FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx))  \n* Blocknative  \n* [Centrifuge](https://iq.wiki/wiki/centrifuge)  \n* [Clipper](https://iq.wiki/wiki/clipper-dex)  \n* [Compound](https://iq.wiki/wiki/compound)  \n* Cozy Finance  \n* [DODO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dodo)  \n* Donut  \n* Drift  \n* Element Finance  \n* Elementus  \n* [Empty Set Dollar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/empty-set-dollar)  \n* [Fei Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fei-protocol)  \n* Flashbots  \n* Flexa Network  \n* Fractional  \n* [Frax](https://iq.wiki/wiki/frax-finance)  \n* [Futureswap](https://iq.wiki/wiki/futureswap)  \n* Gauntlet  \n* Goldfinch  \n* Greenwood  \n* Horizon  \n* [Hummingbot](https://iq.wiki/wiki/hummingbot)  \n* Imperii Partners  \n* [Instadapp](https://iq.wiki/wiki/instadapp)  \n* Jet  \n* [Kava](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kava)  \n* Keyless  \n* [Layer Zero](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layerzero)  \n* [Lido](https://iq.wiki/wiki/lido-dao)  \n* [Liquity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquity)  \n* Lyra  \n* Mellow  \n* [Mirror](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mirror-protocol)  \n* Multis  \n* Namebase  \n* Nansen  \n* Nebula  \n* Neon  \n* [NFTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/nftx)  \n* [Optimism](https://iq.wiki/wiki/optimism)  \n* Opyn  \n* Orca  \n* Parsec  \n* Point  \n* Polymarket  \n* [PoolTogether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pooltogether)  \n* Potion  \n* Primitive  \n* Rain  \n* Reverie  \n* [Ribbon](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ribbon-finance)  \n* Saddle  \n* Sense  \n* Showtime  \n* Siren  \n* Skolem Labs  \n* Slingshot  \n* Syndicate  \n* Tally  \n* Vauld  \n* Volmex  \n* Yield Protocol[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm)","summary":"Robot Ventures is a venture capital firm providing pre-seed funding to early-stage startups in the Web3, blockchain, and fintech sectors, founded in 2019.","categories":[{"id":"organizations","title":"Organizations"}],"promoted":0,"tags":[{"id":"Venture"},{"id":"Organizations"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"z5zwjll38tm\",\"url\":\"https://robvc.com/\",\"description\":\"Robot Ventures Website\",\"timestamp\":1717028253642},{\"id\":\"9a06enckc3v\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/robotventures?lang=en\",\"description\":\"Robot Ventures on X.com\",\"timestamp\":1717028477820},{\"id\":\"yz1gubnzgzi\",\"url\":\"https://coinlaunch.space/funds/robot-ventures/\",\"description\":\"Info about Robot Ventures on Coinlaunch\",\"timestamp\":1717029238796},{\"id\":\"q3tfexlr61\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2019/04/10/bain-capital-and-ripples-xpring-invest-in-defi-founders-scout-fund/\",\"description\":\"Bain Capital and Ripple's Xpring Invest in DeFi Founder's 'Scout Fund'\",\"timestamp\":1717030553323},{\"id\":\"luj9i657ug\",\"url\":\"https://medium.com/@rleshner/introducing-robot-ventures-d45f40ec12a0\",\"description\":\"Robert Lashner Introducing Robot Ventures\",\"timestamp\":1717031114596},{\"id\":\"hkfxyhehnae\",\"url\":\"https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/finance/news/bain-capital-ventures-ripple-xpring-085023422.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALV4EbtKqVHDRG4k78Gb9TQ8zR8aisqex6Q7nHZDa1WQ3rzQiKFDgMwujxWBlmJeXO11h-V5kgfFXB_7s5_DHHXH62ej0C4P4NMkxV4vy_alVTi0_twD_GZ1WjIVEFSMU0jW5tL9hLUXK2oBy8PGllbnRq-tMYUv0yzkm8sJp3TW\",\"description\":\"Bain Capital Ventures, Ripple Xpring invest $1m in ‘untraditional’ fund offering early-stage funding\",\"timestamp\":1717031179733},{\"id\":\"w1el05k6ppf\",\"url\":\"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2020/09/30/compound-gauntlet-founders-raise-4m-for-new-defi-scout-fund/\",\"description\":\"Compound, Gauntlet Founders Raise $4M for New DeFi Scout Fund\",\"timestamp\":1717035394844}]"},{"id":"website","value":"https://robvc.com/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/robotventures?lang=en"},{"id":"previous_cid","value":"QmduQNP72hKnq7fKZs7LwFNffwmoYsiDKVSZw2MfNnEZ5c"}],"user":{"id":"0x6753061a4cffbc0A617e57E956A298D88702a94B"},"author":{"id":"0x6753061a4cffbc0A617e57E956A298D88702a94B","profile":{"username":"vzbrv","avatar":"QmPJmiy99yT54Z5vdcZr56Y4wCcGqiZHVvzZkdpePFAXmA"}},"media":[],"views":5,"events":[],"linkedWikis":{"founders":["robert-leshner","tarun-chitra"],"blockchains":[]},"ipfs":"QmduQNP72hKnq7fKZs7LwFNffwmoYsiDKVSZw2MfNnEZ5c","transactionHash":"0x23050a555ce76cd26842fb426034e3b344e79327bb43f9124b8f103fa2218c8f","created":"2024-05-30T00:46:30.364Z","updated":"2024-05-30T02:19:25.441Z","images":[{"id":"QmcCPUmHH66sB2cDczz6ZCk6h7W57cbAYHa7KMnrpNHZNs","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}]}