jakiro
Author: Zen, PANews
In the first half of 2024, driven by the artificial intelligence boom, the US stock market rose rapidly, and the S&P 500 index hit a record high of 31 closing times.Nvidia, the “first AI stock” has frequently appeared in the newspapers, with its stock price soaring 149%, advancing into the $3 trillion club.
The momentum is right, and today’s technology startups almost talk about AI. Even if they are not focused on the AI field, they will emphasize which AI technologies they use.Well-known investment institutions such as a16z no longer set up AI-related funds, because artificial intelligence now plays an important role in almost all startups.As another “hot spot” that the technology industry cannot avoid in recent years, the intersection of Web3 and AI is undoubtedly a direction worth exploring. The concept of “AI improves productivity, Web3 changes production relations” has brought people unlimited imagination.
Referring to the column of “Finance Weekly” PANews conducted statistics on the “Web3+AI projects” that were financed in the first half of this year.These projects are applied to artificial intelligence technology to varying degrees, involving infrastructure of computing power and algorithms, data and privacy, DeFi, games and other entertainment products, as well as applications that provide content creation tools, AI Agent/bot and other services.The following will also take stock of the total of 64 “Web3+AI projects” that have completed financing in the first half of 2024 according to this classification method.
01 20 infrastructure categories, with a maximum single financing amount of US$85 million
Sentient
An AI research organization dedicated to building open source AI models through community contributions, allowing users to access and contribute models, and providing rewards based on contributions.One of Sentient’s core contributors is Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, which will be built on Polygon and may also create its own chain through the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK), with the plan to launch the testnet in the third quarter of this year.Sentient raised $85 million in a seed round led by Founders Fund, Pantera Capital and Framework Ventures.
io.net
The Solana Eco-DePIN protocol, designed to aggregate GPU resources for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) companies, aims to build their decentralized GPU networks and solve AI computing shortages.io.net completed a US$30 million Series A financing, led by Hack VC, and participated in the investment by Multicoin Capital, Web3.com Ventures and others.
Allora Labs
The decentralized artificial intelligence network is an L1 blockchain built on the Cosmos stack.It changed its name from Upshot to Allora in February this year and moved from an NFT evaluation platform to a decentralized artificial intelligence network.Allora’s total financing reached US$35 million.
Ritual
For the decentralized AI network project, Ritual received millions of additional investment from venture capital firm Polychain Capital this year, and the specific amount has not been disclosed.It had previously completed a US$25 million financing in November 2023, led by Archetype, and participated by Accomplice and Robot Ventures.
Ora
The AI-powered blockchain project aims to integrate AI into decentralized applications through its “on-chain AI oracle.”Ora completed a $20 million financing, with Polychain, SevenX Ventures, HF0 and Hashkey Capital participating.
Airstack
A Web3 developer platform powered by artificial intelligence allows developers to access and exploit on-chain data using AI-powered natural language requests.Airstack has raised a total of US$11 million, with investors including Superscrypt and Red Beard Ventures.
GaiaNet
Used to decentralize the generation of artificial intelligence tools network.By allowing individuals around the world to host and manage AI models on edge computing nodes, GaiaNet aims to address issues such as privacy protection, technological accessibility and democratization of AI technologies.GaiaNet completed a $10 million seed round of financing, with investors including EVM Capital, Mirana Ventures, and Mantle EcoFund.
ChainML
Web3-enabled AI R&D company aims to decentralize AI access, launching a proxy base layer called Theoriq, a framework for autonomous AI proxy to complete complex tasks.ChainML raised $6.2 million in seed expansion financing, led by Hack VC and Foresight Ventures and others participated.
REVOX.ai
Modular on-chain AI network.REVOX.ai is committed to combining AI technology with decentralized architectures to provide safer and more efficient AI solutions.REVOX.ai has raised $6 million, with investors including SevenX Ventures, Arweave SCP Ventures, Cointelegraph Acceleration and 7upDAO.
Prime Intellect
The decentralized AI development platform aims to democratize AI technology.Prime Intellect has raised $5.5 million, led by Distributed Global and Coinfund.Funds and resources will be used to promote its global computing aggregation, development of distributed training frameworks, and collaborative training of open AI models.
NodeOps
Blockchain node management platform.NodeOps provides an AI infrastructure for node operators and developers, aiming to simplify the development process and operations of the Web3 protocol.NodeOps has completed a seed round of $5 million, led by L1D.
Tensorplex Labs
The infrastructure of decentralized AI networks aims to accelerate the development of open, decentralized artificial intelligence networks such as Bittensor.Tensorplex Labs completed a $3 million seed round, led by Canonical Crypto and Collab+Currency, and Amber Group and others participated.
Hemera
Web3 infrastructure startup, its Hemera protocol is a Web3 Large Language Model (LLM) operating system specially built for developers, where SocialScan is an AI owned by a community-owned based on the protocol.Hemera has completed a $2.6 million seed round, led by LIF Capital and Nomad Capital.
PrivateAI
Decentralized AI protocol.PrivateAI has launched an AI native distributed data platform, aiming to build the world’s first field-specific large-scale language model (LLM) for the longevity industry.PrivateAI has completed a strategic round of financing, with DAO Maker and others participating in the investment, and the specific amount of financing has not been disclosed yet.
Optopia.ai
AI Layer2 network.Optopia.ai launched its main network in May, aiming to simplify Web3 operations through AI proxy, lower the entry threshold for users, and empower AI proxy through token economic model.Optopia.ai has completed seed round financing, with G·Ventures and Kucoin Ventures participating in the investment.
KIP Protocol
The AI-focused underlying Web3 protocol is designed to develop a secure and efficient decentralized Web3 protocol that enables AI creators (data owners, model makers, AI application developers) to deploy their work on Web3, thus retaining full digital ownership.KIP Protocol’s strategic round of financing was led by Animoca Ventures, with the amount not disclosed.
AINN Layer2
AINN Layer2 network project that supports large-scale application of decentralized AI, has received investment from institutions such as Amber Group.
NavyAI
Solana on-chain AI model training platform, dedicated to AI model training and self-learning, provides cost-effective solutions to reduce AI bias, and allows users to access and train virtual AI models to improve accessibility of artificial intelligence through decentralized GPU resources.Sex and impartial innovation.NavyAI has completed seed round financing, and X Ventures and others have participated in the investment, and the amount has not been disclosed.
Meson Network
Decentralized physical network.Meson Network says it focuses on DePIN+AI, and its “DePIN” node is developed using user-friendly technology and can accommodate a variety of hardware, such as personal laptops, servers, IoT devices, etc.Meson Network’s new round of strategic financing led by Presto Labs is valued at US$1 billion, and the specific amount of financing has not been disclosed.
Compute Labs
RWA tokenization protocol based on computing-based assets.Compute Labs is incubated by NVIDIA Inception VC Alliance, and provides investors with AI computing power returns through the development of enterprise-level AI computing power tokenization protocol CTP and GPU Restaking solutions.Currently, CTP has been launched on the Solana test network, and the main network is expected to be launched in the third quarter, and TGE will be completed before the end of the year.
02 10 data categories, multiple focus on privacy and security
OpenLedger
A decentralized and license-free data infrastructure enables builders to create smarter and more efficient models using verifiable data.OpenLedger raised $8 million in a seed round led by Polychain Capital and Borderless Capital.The main network is expected to be launched at the end of the year.
FLock
A native Web3 data privacy solution for AI, its “Federal Learning Block” (FLocks) research program uses blockchain as a coordination platform among data holders to perform machine learning while data remains local and private.FLock raised $6 million in seed rounds, led by Lightspeed Faction and Tagus Capital, and OKX Ventures and others participated.
Hyperline
Web3 native data lake development company, mainly builds shared storage and computing engines for Web3 developers who build AI products and analytics applications to support data applications and service functions.Hyperline completed a $5.2 million seed round, led by Slow Ventures.
Cookie3
MarketingFi and AI data layer for Web3 enterprises, creators and users.Cookie3 announced that it has received US$5.5 million token financing, and investors include The Spartan Group, Animoca Brands, etc.
Privasea
An artificial intelligence-driven data security solution integrates FHEML into a distributed computing power crowdfunding network, and combines the independently developed Depin mining machines to form a FHE computing power network that supports all L1 and L2.Privasea’s strategic private equity financing is invested by the incubator Tanelabs, supported by OKX Ventures, Nomura Group’s Laser Digital and SoftBank, and it also completed a $5 million financing in the seed round.
0xScope
The Web3 Knowledge Graph Protocol, which has released 0xScope V2, the future focus is on providing data support for Web3 AI applications through the proprietary Web3 data layer and connecting AI with Web3 in the process.0xScope completed a $5 million Series A financing round, led by HashKey Capital, and participated by OKX Ventures, GSR Markets, etc.
Ta-da
In the AI data market with the “gamified Web3” application model as the core, Ta-da has completed a financing of US$3.5 million, and investors include Morningstar Ventures, the first-layer blockchain protocol MultiversX, GBV Capital, etc.
Inference Labs
Web3 AI startup, dedicated to making artificial intelligence more accessible and focused on decentralized and privacy-centric technologies.Inference Labs has completed a $2.3 million Pre-Seed round of financing, led by Digital Asset Capital Management, Delphi Ventures and Mechanism Capital.
PublicAI
Web3 decentralized artificial intelligence training network aims to generate massive high-quality training data on a large scale using blockchain technology, and enable anyone to receive rewards by providing data works.PublicAI completed a $2 million seed round, with Solana Foundation and Eversstate Capital participating.
AIT Protocol
AI data infrastructure, a Web3 data infrastructure built on blockchain is mainly used for data annotation and AI model training, allowing encrypted users to receive rewards while participating in tasks and contributing to AI model development and training.Participants in AIT Protocol’s new round of financing include Animoca Brands, etc.
03 6 DeFi classes, mainly driven by intention
Aperture Finance
The AI-driven DeFi platform simplifies DeFi operations through innovative intent-driven methods, allowing users to specify the desired results.Aperture Finance raised a total of $12 million, with supporters including Skyland Ventures, Blockchain Founders Fund and Krypital Group.
onaji
Smart Contract Blockchain machine learning platform, which has established platforms for training and deploying AI models that can independently participate in DeFi on Ethereum and Layer 2.Onaji completed a US$2.5 million Pre-Seed round of financing, led by Stratos, and participated by Maven11, Uniswap Labs, IOSG Ventures and others.
XRADERS
Al-driven transaction management and social platform on BNB Chain.XRADERS has completed a US$2.1 million Pre-Seed and seed round financing, with FBG Capital and others participating in the investment.
0xGen
AI-powered DeFi platform.0xGen has completed strategic financing, with Principle68, Bella Protocol, Phoenix Chain and others participating in the investment.
AgentFi
Blast ecological AI-driven DeFi protocol.AgentFi’s first product uses the ERC-6551 standard to provide on-chain transaction services and automated services that can obtain profits through NFT-bound wallet accounts.AgentFi has completed its first round of financing, led by Generative Ventures.
Sharpe
AI-driven encryption applications designed for professional traders to provide a unified platform for intelligent, investing and automated digital assets.Sharpe has completed seed round financing, with Animoca Brands, GBV Capital and others participating in the investment, and the specific amount has not been disclosed.
04 15 games and entertainment categories, chain games combined with AI become a trend
MetaCene
Web3 MMO game platform, which adopts PVE and PVP gameplay, supports the provision of guild DAO governance, sustainable economic system and in-game AIGC editing and other functions.MetaCene completed a $10 million private equity Series A funding round, led by Folius Ventures and SevenX Ventures.
Raiinmaker
Raiinmaker is building decentralized artificial intelligence tools and Web3 infrastructure to support sports, gaming and entertainment projects.Users can train AI through iOS or Android phones and receive rewards proportional to their impact on the AI model.Raiinmaker’s total financing amounted to $10 million, of which the $7.5 million seed round was led by Jump Capital and Cypher Capital.
DeepLink
Decentralized AI cloud gaming protocol that provides ultra-low-latency game rendering solutions for 3A games and cloud Internet cafes, supports 1ms ultra-low-latency and 8K high-resolution gaming experience through AI and blockchain and streaming technology.DeepLink completed a total of US$8 million in angel round and A round financing, with a valuation of US$100 million. The investors include Gobi Ventures, Hycons, DBC, ROCK Ventures, etc.
ArenaX Labs
AI-driven Web3 competitive game AI Arena developer.AI Arena allows users to train their own AI characters to fight. The results of each battle depend on the player’s skills during training, and is designed to help users understand the operation and learning process of artificial intelligence.ArenaX Labs completed a new round of financing of US$6 million, led by Framework Ventures, and SevenX Ventures and others participated.
Today
Web3 social simulation game, smart NPC and codeless creator tools based on generative AI are being developed.Today completed a $5 million seed round, led by Sfermion and Big Brain Holdings.
Studio 369
The developer of the blockchain video game “MetalCore”, which is developing a dynamic task system that uses AI to generate unique tasks and goals, is expected to open game testing by the end of 2024.Studio 369 has completed a new round of $5 million this year, with investors including Delphi Digital, Bitkraft Ventures and Sanctor Capital.
Play AI
Provider of AI and blockchain solutions focused on gaming and virtual reality, including Play Markets for data collection, Play Dojo for AI improvements, and Play Hub for seamless AI proxy integration.Play AI has completed its first round of financing of US$4.3 million, with P2 Ventures, Jump Crypto and others participating in the investment.
Sortium
Web3 Game Studio, focusing on generative AI, provides technology that integrates artificial intelligence tools into the existing game production ecosystem to automatically perform challenging content creation tasks.Sortium has completed financing of more than US$4 million, led by Signum Growth, and Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Management LLC and other investments.
GOALAI
Web3 football fantasy game is committed to integrating blockchain NFT with real-world football communities, clubs, fans and games, and applying AI artificial intelligence to bring potential and commercial value to Web3 football enthusiasts.GOALAI has completed a US$3 million financing, led by IDG Capital, and KuCoin Ventures and others participated in the investment.
Stage
Web3 Music Platform.Stage aims to enable artists and fans to get fair rewards and engage deeply by integrating Web3, introducing the game-and-earning mode, RWA and AI music.Stage has completed a $2.4 million financing, with the Solana Foundation and others participating.
Cellulla
Full-chain AI games adopt the virtual proof of work (vPOW) asset allocation method to provide continuous incentives for games within the ecosystem.Cellula completed a US$2 million Pre-Seed round of financing, led by SevenX Ventures and OKX Ventures; previously, Cellula also received strategic investment in the Binance Labs Pre-Seed round through the Binance Incubator project.
EventCHI
Dutch blockchain ticketing platform.Through seamless integration of AI and blockchain, EventCHI provides a unified platform for cashless payments, NFT ticketing and intelligence.EventCHI has completed a seed round of over 1.6 million euros.
Saltwater Games
The UK-based game studio and publisher consists of three game studios, Nexus Labs, Maze Theory, and Saltwater Labs, among which Saltwater Labs is an innovative studio focused on the development of emerging technologies in Web3 and AI.It has received investment from Animoca Brands.
CARV
Focus on the modular data layer of the gaming and AI industries.As the sole author of ERC7231, CARV builds CARV Protocol, which has been integrated with over 40 chains, Google Cloud, and other identity, storage, infrastructure and AI ecosystems.It has received support from Temasek’s Vertex Ventures, ConsenSys, Tribe Capital, IOSG Ventures, HashKey Capital, Animoca Brands and other subsidiaries.
Sleepless AI
Web3+AI game platform, which completed a new round of financing led by Folius Ventures, has not disclosed the specific amount.According to its introduction, Sleepless AI is the winner of the Binance MVB V accelerator and has previously completed investments in Binance Labs and Foresight Ventures.
05 There are 13 application products, many focusing on the creator economy
MediConCen
Hong Kong blockchain insurance technology companies mainly use the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology to realize digital paper and manual claims processing.MediConCen completed a US$6.85 million (about HK$53.43 million) Series A financing, led by HSBC Investment Management, and participated in the investment, with a total financing of US$12.7 million.
MyShell
A Web3 AI platform focused on creators, which is mainly aimed at content creators and consumers, allowing the generation of AI agents or robots.MyShell raised $11 million in a round led by Dragonfly.
Bluwhale
AI Web3 startup, Bluwhale, has adopted a new approach to handing over control and benefits to wallet holders and enabling them to decide whether they are willing to interact with marketers and monetize their information.Bluwhale completed a $7 million seed round, led by SBI.
Adot
Decentralized artificial intelligence search engine.Adot (a.xyz) has raised a total of US$6 million, with Hash Global, SevenX Ventures, Mask Network and others participating in the investment.
Sahara
Decentralized AI networks, which require no trust, permissionlessness and privacy-centricity, create custom-made autonomous knowledge agents (Sahara KAs) for individuals and businesses, allowing everyone to use their knowledge capital to explore monetization andAutomation opportunities.Sahara has completed a seed round of $6 million, led by Polychain Capital, and participated by Samsung Next.
YogaPetz
Combined with AI’s decentralized mind and mind ecosystem, YogaPetz raised over $5 million from seed rounds and NFT sales, led by Animoca Brands, Newman group and Soul Capital Partners.
SOAI
The AI social platform aims to focus on reshaping the virtual companion industry ecosystem through developed AI technologies and creating customized AI soul mates for billions of people around the world.SOAI has completed a $5 million institutional angel round, of which Archer Capital invested $3 million and XForce Capital invested $2 million.
Bythen
Human-computer interaction AI protocol, which is building an AI product protocol to create an autonomous AI-powered 3D avatar agent.Bythen has completed a seed round of $3 million, with investors including East Ventures, BEENEXT, etc.
Talus Network
A blockchain platform focused on decentralized artificial intelligence, the network aims to leverage the power of Move, emphasizing security, speed and enhanced developer experiences to cultivate a diverse ecosystem of intelligent agents for decentralized applications.Talus Network completed a $3 million financing, led by Polychain Capital, and participated in the investment.
SmartLoC
B2B payment solutions based on blockchain and AI focus on leveraging technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence to optimize how enterprises conduct financial transactions around the world.SmartLoC has completed 1.8 million euros financing, led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).
imgnAI
The crypto AI platform, the image generation robot platform, was launched in late 2022. The imgnAI crypto token on its website is used to unlock advanced features and mint images directly into NFTs.The crypto AI platform imgnAI completed a seed round of $1.6 million, led by Hack VC.
LinkTo
Web3 traffic aggregation marketing platform, by introducing advanced investment technology and AI algorithms, LinkTo aims to provide brands and advertisers with a platform that can accurately locate and effectively reach the target audience, while ensuring data security and user privacy.LinkTo has completed seed round financing, with Adaverse and others participating in the investment.
Creator.bid
Based on blockchain and AI-driven digital content monetization and ownership platform, it supports content creators to build AI-driven digital assets to monetize content and manage writing. It also provides tools to enhance creators’ autonomy in their work and income.Rights management.The amount of financing for Creator.bid has not been disclosed, and investors include Mechanism Capital, etc.
