VanEck Ventures Launches $30 Million Fund

New York, NY, USA, October 9th, 2024, Chainwire

VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early-stage fund, targets investments in fintech, digital assets, and AI startups at pre-seed and seed stages. This launch signifies VanEck's strategic expansion into venture capital, consistent with its investment philosophy of identifying transformative opportunities early.

The Fund is available to Qualified Purchasers Only, is subject to significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Please carefully read the Private Placement Memorandum before investing.

VanEck has announced the launch of VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early-stage fund that focuses on visionary founders at the intersection of fintech, digital assets, and AI. This reflects VanEck’s history of recognizing transformative markets.

> “From pioneering an approach to gold investing in 1968 to recognizing the disruptive potential of Bitcoin in 2017, embracing a long-term view on transformative opportunities has always been part of our investment philosophy. This fund extends that vision into the early-stage venture space,” said Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck. “We look forward to supporting founders of what we believe are some of the most disruptive companies in fintech—those building the future of finance.”

VanEck Ventures will invest in category-defining founders leveraging technologies like blockchain and large language models. The fund focuses on exceptional teams building within the application layer while keeping an infrastructure-agnostic approach. Key investment themes include tokenized assets, native online financial marketplaces, and next-generation payment solutions utilizing stablecoins.

Led by Wyatt Lonergan and Juan Lopez, the fund’s managers have prior experience with Circle Ventures and have invested over $50 million in early-stage firms. VanEck’s reputation in asset management complements the fund's capabilities, providing support for innovative startups.

> “Three core inflection points are reshaping the internet: stablecoins as a banking layer, the commoditization of blockspace, and AI breakthroughs. This convergence creates immense opportunities for connected, user-centric financial experiences. We are excited to back founders creating these innovations,” said Wyatt Lonergan, General Partner.

The fund plans to make 25-35 investments with check sizes from $500,000 to $1 million, targeting firms with both strategic and financial upside, and has already made 4 undisclosed investments.

> “The rise of stablecoins has enabled seamless value storage and transfer,” said Juan Lopez, General Partner. “As more utilities for programmability and compliance appear, it’s an exciting time to build. Our goal is to partner long-term with visionary founders shaping blockchain utility.”

About VanEck

Founded in 1955, VanEck aims to identify impactful investment opportunities across various asset classes and trends. As of August 31, 2024, the firm manages about $113.9 billion in assets, including mutual funds and ETFs, guided by thorough research.

General Disclosures

This is not an offer to buy or sell any securities or financial instruments. Investment risks include uncertain returns, market risks, illiquidity, and potential conflicts of interest. The Partnership's investment program is speculative with substantial risks, and investments in digital assets are highly speculative. Digital assets are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance.

For further inquiries, contact:
Garret Shaw
Director of Public Relations
Serotonin
garret@serotonin.co

This article was originally published on Chainwire.