DAN ELITZER

Dan Elitzer stands as a pivotal figure in the early-stage crypto and web3 investment landscape, serving as a Managing Partner at Nascent. At Nascent, Elitzer plays a crucial role in identifying and nurturing groundbreaking projects that are shaping the future of the decentralized internet. His work involves a hands-on approach, collaborating closely with founders to transform innovative ideas into impactful realities within the blockchain ecosystem.

Nascent, under Elitzer's leadership, is renowned for its commitment to the open internet, focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage investments across a spectrum of critical areas. These include decentralized finance (DeFi), where new financial paradigms are being built; non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and their evolving applications; core blockchain infrastructure that underpins the entire ecosystem; and various web3 applications designed to empower users and foster new forms of digital ownership and interaction. Elitzer's investment philosophy emphasizes long-term vision and supporting teams with the technical prowess and ambition to drive significant innovation.

Elitzer's journey into the blockchain space began early, solidifying his status as a true pioneer. He is notably recognized as a co-founder of the MIT Bitcoin Club, an initiative that played a significant role in educating and fostering early interest in cryptocurrency among a new generation of technologists. This foundational experience provided him with a deep understanding of the technology's potential and the community's ethos. Prior to co-founding Nascent, Elitzer further honed his investment acumen at IDEO CoLab Ventures, where he led strategic investments in emerging crypto startups, gaining invaluable experience in venture capital within the nascent digital asset space.

Through Nascent, Dan Elitzer has been instrumental in backing projects that have gone on to become cornerstones of the web3 economy. While specific individual investments are often collaborative efforts within the firm, Nascent's portfolio reflects a strategic focus on foundational protocols and applications. The firm has been an early supporter of projects that have significantly advanced the DeFi landscape, contributing to the growth and adoption of decentralized technologies. Elitzer's expertise, combined with Nascent's strategic vision, continues to position them at the forefront of investing in the next wave of decentralized innovation, empowering founders to build a more open, equitable, and programmable future.