10Square

High-Level Overview

TenSquared (10SQ) is a venture capital firm focused on high-conviction investments in blockchain, Web3, and the attention economy, targeting innovations in media, tokenization, AI-enabled content, and consumer monetization. Its mission centers on building portfolios of premier technology companies that transform time allocation, providing limited partners (LPs) access to generational innovation in media and digital technology through a disciplined approach across crypto market cycles.[1][6]

The firm's investment philosophy combines traditional finance expertise with deep digital asset knowledge, leveraging a decade-long network for unique deals with outsized returns. Key sectors include media & entertainment (video streaming, music, gaming, creator tools), tokenization & payments (stablecoins, tokenized IP, agentic finance), AI-enabled attention economy (AI content, data provenance, decentralized ID), and consumer monetization (decentralized social, loyalty rewards, prediction markets). Its portfolio features Attention Economy Fund I, including a next-generation music platform for independent artists' monetization and fan engagement, plus in-house 10SQ Labs.[1]

Origin Story

TenSquared emerged from a team with extensive experience in traditional financial institutions and the digital asset sector, having invested together across multiple crypto market cycles. While specific founding year and key partners are not detailed in available sources, the firm highlights hands-on operational expertise and a decade-long network of founders and investors, positioning it as an innovative deal-maker in Web3.[1][6]

This evolution reflects a shift toward the attention economy, blending crypto-native insights with broader tech innovation, as evidenced by their focused fund structure and research on Web3 ecosystems.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Unique Investment Model: High-conviction, disciplined portfolio construction across crypto cycles, encompassing diverse structures like venture deals in frontier media and digital tech for long-term value.[1][6]
• Network Strength: Decade-long relationships with founders and investors to source proprietary opportunities with outsized return potential.[1]
• Track Record: Proven collaboration in digital assets, combining traditional finance with operational expertise in blockchain/Web3.[1]
• Operating Support: In-house research (reports, newsletters, podcasts) on attention economy and Web3, plus labs like 10SQ Labs; portfolio aid via tools for monetization and engagement.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

TenSquared rides the Web3 attention economy trend, where blockchain enables new models for media consumption, creator monetization, and AI-driven content amid shifting digital behaviors. Timing aligns with maturing crypto infrastructure post-multiple cycles, favoring tokenization of IP/royalties, decentralized social networks, and AI provenance tools amid rising demand for authentic, incentivized digital experiences.[1]

Market forces like stablecoin adoption, prediction markets, and "to-earn" models amplify this, positioning 10SQ to influence the startup ecosystem by funding tools that decentralize value capture from Big Tech platforms. Their focus empowers independent creators and tokenized assets, fostering a more equitable media landscape.[1]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

TenSquared is poised to expand its Attention Economy Fund with AI-Web3 intersections, such as monetizing training data and proof-of-humanity protocols, capitalizing on generative AI's content boom and blockchain's trust layer. Trends like agentic finance, decentralized ID, and gamified loyalty will shape its trajectory, potentially scaling influence through more funds and global creator platforms.[1]

As crypto matures into mainstream digital infrastructure, 10SQ's network-driven model could evolve into broader impact, delivering LPs sustained innovation at the media-tech frontier—reinforcing its core promise of transforming time allocation into enduring value.[1][6]