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Who Funds Defi Startups?

Discover 32 funding sources for Defi startups: VC funds, accelerators, and free resources.

11
VC Funds
13
Accelerators
8
Free Programs
$4.2M
Avg Check Size

Defi Funding Landscape

Market Overview

The defi sector has 32 active funding sources globally, with funding trends showing steady growth with increased focus on sustainable business models.

Competition level is moderately competitive, making it moderately competitive with good opportunities for quality startups in this space.

Success Factors

Strong technical team with domain expertise
Clear market validation and traction metrics
Defensible technology or business model
Large addressable market opportunity
Experienced advisors and mentors

Funding Strategy

Recommended Approach

  • • Start with free resources to minimize operational costs
  • • Apply to industry-specific accelerators for mentorship
  • • Build relationships with VCs before you need funding
  • • Focus on funds with relevant portfolio companies

Timing Considerations

  • • Allow 3-6 months for fundraising process
  • • Accelerator applications have seasonal deadlines
  • • VC funding often correlates with market cycles
  • • Free programs can be accessed year-round

VC Funds Investing in Defi

Defi Ventures 1

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$3M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 2

Multi-location

series-a stage focus

$4M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp, StartupAI, DataFlow
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 3

Multi-location

series-a stage focus

$10M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 4

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$11M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 5

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$9M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 6

Multi-location

seed stage focus

$4M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp, StartupAI, DataFlow
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 7

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$7M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaas

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 8

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$5M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaas

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp, StartupAI
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 9

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$9M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaas

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp, StartupAI
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 10

Multi-location

series-b stage focus

$11M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaasEnterprise Software

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp
Learn More →

Defi Ventures 11

Multi-location

series-a stage focus

$11M
Check Size

Investment Focus

DefiSaas

Recent Defi Investments

TechCorp, StartupAI, DataFlow
Learn More →
View All Defi VC Funds

Defi Accelerator Programs

Defi Accelerator 1

Remote + On-site

$62K
for 7% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-09-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 2

Remote + On-site

$121K
for 8% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-09-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 3

Remote + On-site

$177K
for 8% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-05-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 4

Remote + On-site

$132K
for 7% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-03-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 5

Remote + On-site

$94K
for 6% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-03-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 6

Remote + On-site

$199K
for 7% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-12-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 7

Remote + On-site

$149K
for 8% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-01-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 8

Remote + On-site

$172K
for 7% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-10-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 9

Remote + On-site

$79K
for 6% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-05-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 10

Remote + On-site

$106K
for 6% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-12-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 11

Remote + On-site

$199K
for 8% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-12-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 12

Remote + On-site

$55K
for 8% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-10-15Apply Now →

Defi Accelerator 13

Remote + On-site

$175K
for 7% equity

Program Focus

DefiInnovationGrowth
Next Deadline: 2024-05-15Apply Now →
View All Defi Accelerators

Free Resources for Defi Startups

AWS

hard

Productivity Design

$5K
Learn More →

Google Cloud

easy

Productivity Design

$25K
Learn More →

Microsoft

hard

Developer Tools

$200K
Learn More →

GitHub

easy

Developer Tools

$25K
Learn More →

Stripe

hard

Productivity Design

$25K
Learn More →

HubSpot

hard

Marketing Growth

$25K
Learn More →

Notion

hard

Marketing Growth

$5K
Learn More →

Figma

easy

Marketing Growth

$1K
Learn More →
View All $2.5M in Free Resources

Funding Preparation Checklist

Before You Apply

Comprehensive pitch deck (10-12 slides)
Financial projections and unit economics
Product demo or prototype
Market research and competitive analysis
Team backgrounds and advisory board
Intellectual property documentation
Customer testimonials or letters of intent
Legal structure and cap table

Defi-Specific Tips

Market Size: Clearly articulate the defi market opportunity and your addressable market size.
Technical Depth: Demonstrate deep understanding of defichallenges and your technical solution.
Traction Metrics: Show relevant KPIs for defi startups, such as user adoption or revenue growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How competitive is funding for Defi startups?

Defi startup funding is moderately competitive, with 11 active VC funds and 13 accelerator programs globally. The average check size is $4.2M, requiring strong differentiation and traction.

What do Defi investors look for?

Defi investors typically prioritize strong technical team with domain expertise and clear market validation and traction metrics, along with strong technical teams and clear market validation. Domain expertise in defiis often crucial for gaining investor confidence.

Should I apply to multiple funding sources simultaneously?

Yes! Most successful Defi startups apply to multiple funding sources. Start with free resources to reduce costs, apply to relevant accelerators for mentorship and initial funding, then approach VCs for larger rounds. Having multiple options creates leverage in negotiations.

Related Resources

Other Industries

Who Funds Artificial Intelligence? →Who Funds Machine Learning? →Who Funds Deep Tech? →

More Resources

Startup Funding Guides →Pitch Deck Templates →Complete Investor Database →

Last updated: 8/18/2025 | Data aggregated from VC databases, accelerator programs, and startup resources |About our methodology