{"id":"tekin-salimi","title":"Tekin Salimi","content":"**Tekin Salimi** is a United Arab Emirates-based investor and founder in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry, best known for establishing [dao5](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao5), a crypto-native investment fund. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-POb1zYAO2N)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=rlJn5WAeMLg)$$\n\n## Education\n\nTekin Salimi attended Ryerson University and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2014, he attended National University of Singapore for a Fall exchange program, where he studied Principles of Equity Financing, International Investment Law, Environmental Law & Chinese Corporate and Securities Law.  [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-Th4zZIPImc)\n\nIn 2015, he graduated from York University, Osgoode Hall Law School with a Doctor of Law degree. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-Th4zZIPImc)\n\n## Career\n\n### dao5\n\nTekin Salimi is the founder of [dao5](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao5), a venture fund focused on the cryptocurrency sector. He announced the formation of the fund in March 2022, initially describing it as an experimental, seed-stage investment vehicle that planned to eventually convert into a founder-owned [Decentralized Autonomous Organization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao) (DAO).\n\nThe fund's first iteration launched with $125 million in capital. As the founder, Salimi directs the fund's investment strategy, focusing on sourcing and supporting early-stage crypto protocols and companies. The firm presents itself as both a \"principled cryptocurrency investment fund\" and a \"collective of crypto-native minds.\" [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-POb1zYAO2N) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-camBH5LukV)\n\nIn May 2025, Salimi announced the launch of [dao5](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao5)'s second fund, continuing the firm's investment activities in the digital asset space. Beyond his role at [dao5](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao5), Salimi serves on the advisory board for the Thailand Digital Investor Club (TDIC), a position he publicly mentioned in February 2025.\n\nHis public statements and social media activity indicate investment interests in various blockchain protocols and token standards, including [Berachain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/berachain) and ERC-404. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-POb1zYAO2N)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=nKR75Aj_Few)$$\n\n### Prior Experience\n\nBefore establishing [dao5](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dao5), Salimi served as a Corporate Lawyer at Torys LLP from 2015 to 2017. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-Th4zZIPImc)\n\nIn 2018, he was a General Partner at [Polychain Capital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/polychain-capital), one of the industry's earliest and most prominent crypto-focused investment firms. During his time there, he was involved in identifying and managing investments in foundational blockchain protocols and decentralized applications, working with founding teams in the emerging digital asset market. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-POb1zYAO2N)\n\nSalimi's background also includes experience in traditional finance. He was a Portfolio Manager at Commonwealth Asset Management, where he was responsible for managing investment portfolios.\n\nHis earlier roles include positions at the global investment firm Passport Capital and as an Analyst at Onda.\n\nThese roles provided him with a foundation in financial modeling and market analysis before he transitioned his focus to the cryptocurrency industry. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-POb1zYAO2N)","summary":"Tekin Salimi is the founder of dao5, a cryptocurrency investment fund and collective of crypto-native minds. dao5 launched its first fund in 2022 and a second fund in 2025.","images":[{"id":"QmZxwrjfVMxhQnwCm3UiEef3suTXsHVuY2EfHTHhSKEqSw","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founders"},{"id":"Venture"},{"id":"PeopleInDeFi"},{"id":"Organizations"},{"id":"Ethereum"}],"media":[{"id":"Qma5DJzceYAvL2UnNzNXKMoj5rohRXwUMaJKk3rbKW38aT","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmNjy1GGWBztMJoPkoevNFS6rnuPyheV219vfoqfEGMpDw","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmbwYGLsgHHJ82w8hveMJDkYieBmGhwY4SfycQtVNr2Bun","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKR75Aj_Few?si=KsSSp9H0Gj3qgOm_","name":"nKR75Aj_Few?si=KsSSp9H0Gj3qgOm_","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKR75Aj_Few?si=KsSSp9H0Gj3qgOm_","source":"YOUTUBE"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlJn5WAeMLg?si=dlNd3gT1lUPBi72I","name":"rlJn5WAeMLg?si=dlNd3gT1lUPBi72I","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlJn5WAeMLg?si=dlNd3gT1lUPBi72I","source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"POb1zYAO2N\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/tekinsalimi\",\"description\":\"Tekin Salimi's X Profile\",\"timestamp\":1756314513826},{\"id\":\"camBH5LukV\",\"url\":\"https://dao5.com/\",\"description\":\"dao5 official website\",\"timestamp\":1756314513826},{\"id\":\"Th4zZIPImc\",\"description\":\"Linkedin profile\",\"timestamp\":1756316330223,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmsalimi/\"}]"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/tekinsalimi"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmsalimi/"},{"id":"website","value":"https://dao5.com/"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Publishing wiki for Tekin Salimi\""}],"events":[{"id":"ff85140d-c6bd-4680-98e9-f5513d4491ba","date":"2022-03","title":"Founded dao5","type":"CREATED","description":"Announced the launch of dao5, an experimental seed-stage crypto fund with plans to convert into a founder-owned DAO, after raising $125 million.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null},{"id":"2ffa9bac-3cc1-421a-b9d6-66ab7db72450","date":"2025-02","title":"Joined TDIC Advisory Board","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Began serving on the Thailand Digital Investor Club (TDIC) advisory board, contributing to Thailand's positioning as a global leader in crypto.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null},{"id":"13708db8-e0d4-4f97-b2bd-469032aa1f77","date":"2025-05","title":"Launched dao5 Fund 2","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Announced the launch of dao5's second fund, raising $222 million to continue the firm's investment journey in the crypto space.","multiDateStart":null,"multiDateEnd":null}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":[],"speakers":[]}}