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Ben Lakoff is a General Partner at Bankless Ventures and operates globally as an investor focused on early-stage cryptocurrency companies. He previously co-founded Charged Particles in 2020, developing a protocol that enables users to deposit ERC-20 tokens into non-fungible tokens. At Bankless Ventures, Lakoff recently helped close a $40 million debut venture fund targeting Web3 infrastructure and consumer adoption startups. Before transitioning to digital assets in 2017, he worked in traditional corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Ball State University. As a CFA Charterholder and active angel investor, he has built a portfolio of over 50 Web3 startups and frequently speaks at industry conferences like ETHDenver and NFT.NYC. His current focus remains on scaling decentralized finance ecosystems and mentoring early-stage founders across the broader alternative asset landscape.
Ben Lakoff stands as a pivotal figure in the rapidly evolving landscape of web3 investment, serving as a General Partner at Bankless Ventures. In this crucial role, Lakoff is at the forefront of identifying, evaluating, and nurturing the next generation of decentralized technologies and applications. His work at Bankless Ventures directly contributes to the fund's mission of empowering founders who are building the infrastructure and applications for a truly open and permissionless internet.
At Bankless Ventures, Ben Lakoff's investment focus is broad yet deeply specialized within the web3 ecosystem. He actively seeks out early-stage opportunities in areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and core blockchain infrastructure. Furthermore, his interests extend to emerging sectors like crypto gaming, the metaverse, and other innovative applications leveraging blockchain technology to create new economic paradigms and user experiences. Lakoff's approach is characterized by a keen understanding of market trends, technological potential, and the long-term vision for decentralization.
Lakoff's career background is deeply intertwined with the growth and development of the Bankless ecosystem, a leading voice in crypto education and media. This background has provided him with an unparalleled vantage point into the needs and opportunities within the decentralized space, fostering a strong network and a profound understanding of community-driven growth. His experience prior to Bankless Ventures likely involved significant engagement with technology startups, venture capital, or entrepreneurial endeavors, honing his skills in strategic analysis, deal sourcing, and portfolio management. This blend of media influence and investment acumen positions him uniquely to identify projects with both technical merit and strong community resonance.
While specific individual investments are often proprietary to the fund, Ben Lakoff's involvement ensures that Bankless Ventures supports projects poised for significant impact. The fund's portfolio typically includes innovative protocols, platforms, and applications that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with blockchain technology. Lakoff's strategic guidance helps these nascent projects navigate the complexities of fundraising, product development, and market adoption, ultimately contributing to their success and the broader advancement of the web3 space. His commitment to fostering innovation makes him a key player in shaping the future of decentralized finance and the internet itself.
Ben Lakoff is a General Partner at Bankless Ventures, a leading investment fund focused on early-stage web3 and crypto projects. He is a key figure in the decentralized finance and blockchain investment landscape.
Ben Lakoff invests in early-stage web3, decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, DAOs, blockchain infrastructure, crypto gaming, and metaverse projects through Bankless Ventures.
Ben Lakoff works as a General Partner at Bankless Ventures, an investment fund dedicated to supporting innovative projects within the web3 and crypto ecosystem.