Who founded Protocol Labs?

Protocol Labs was founded by Juan Benet in 2014.

Who are Protocol Labs's investors?

Protocol Labs's investors include a16z crypto, Andreessen Horowitz, BlueYard Capital, Capital B Private Holdings, Digital Currency Group, FundersClub, IA Seed Ventures, Lattice Capital and 12 more.

Where is Protocol Labs headquartered?

Protocol Labs is headquartered in San Francisco, US.

Protocol Labs

also invests · investor profileYC S14

San Francisco, US · Founded 2014 · 130 employees · 20 known investors

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Protocol Labs is an innovation network connecting over 750 tech organizations developing breakthrough technologies across web3, AI, AR, VR, BCI, hardware, and related fields. Organizations collaborate to solve shared problems and accelerate R&D across technological frontiers.

Also known as InterPlanetary Networks, Inc. · Filecoin

AI & Machine Learning Crypto & Web3 Data & Infrastructure Deep Tech Enterprise Software Crypto / Web3 Open SourceUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaFully Remote

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S14)

Protocol Labs was founded in 2014 by Juan Benet.

Juan Benet CEO, EngineerJuan Benet founded Protocol Labs and initiated IPFS and Filecoin, which work on distributed systems and decentralized storage infrastructure.

David DryjanskiEngineering Manager

Henri Stern Research ScientistFounder at Shout

Carl CervoneStartup Operator

rachel garciaPeople Operations

Nancy ByunTechnical Sourcer

Jesse TinsleyRecruiterformer

Maribeth KaumpRecruiting Coordinatorformer

Lori WiltenRecruiting Coordinatorformer

Stef HenaoPeople Leadformer

Investors · 20

a16z cryptolisted by a16z cryptoMenlo Park

How we know: a16z crypto's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Andreessen Horowitzlisted by Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50M

How we know: a16z's portfolio · Not right? Tell us

BlueYard Capitallisted by BlueYard CapitalBerlin · $500K – $5M

How we know: BlueYard Capital's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Capital B Private Holdingslisted by Capital B Private Holdings

How we know: Capital B Private Holdings's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Digital Currency Grouplisted by Digital Currency GroupNew York

How we know: Digital Currency Group's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

FundersClublisted by FundersClubSan Francisco · $290K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

IA Seed Ventureslisted by IA Seed VenturesBerkeley

Lattice Capitallisted by Lattice CapitalDover · $500K – $1.5M

How we know: Lattice Capital's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

Metaplanetlisted by MetaplanetTallinn · $500K – $10M

How we know: Metaplanet's portfolio page · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Nirvana Capitallisted by Nirvana CapitalSan Francisco

How we know: Nirvana Capital's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us

StartXlisted by StartXStanford · $10K – $1M

How we know: StartX's portfolio page · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Union Square Ventures (USV)listed by Union Square Ventures (USV)New York · $1M – $8M

How we know: Union Square Ventures (USV)'s portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Winklevoss Capitallisted by Winklevoss CapitalNew York · $100K – $5M

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Boost VCreportedSan Mateo · $500K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Draft Ventures LlcreportedSan Francisco

How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Hard YakareportedMuir Beach

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

HaystackreportedSan Francisco · $1M – $3M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Kapor CapitalreportedOakland · $100K – $1M

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Sherpalo VenturesreportedMenlo Park

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Founder mafia

The Protocol Labs mafia →

9 people who came through Protocol Labs went on to found or lead other companies.

Stefaan VervaetEcosystem Lead for Storage Providers & Web2Founded Akave Computing Cloud Coordination +1 Carl CervoneStartup OperatorFounded Kariba Labs +1 Juan BenetCEO, EngineerFounded Filecoin Deep KapurStartup Operator / PMFounded Amera Ben FischAdvisorFounded Espresso (Translucence Research Inc)Raymond ChengPublic Goods Startup Operator / EIRFounded Kariba Labs Bob DuboisSolutions Architect FilecoinFounded Wodan Angelo SchalleySolutions ArchitectFounded Akave Computing Cloud Coordination Daniel LeónEcosystem GrowthFounded Akave Computing Cloud Coordination

Related companies · 10

StackupStackup is a smart account platform that enables crypto companies to manage onchain financial operations through modern infrastructure for digital asset management. The platform targets enterprise-grade crypto businesses seeking to streamline transactions, hardware wallet management, and administrative processes.

ARQARQ Finance (formerly DolarApp) is a digital financial platform that enables currency exchange to digital dollars and euros, international payments, and investment access to global markets. It serves individuals seeking low-cost cross-border transactions and international investment opportunities.

Freeport MarketsFreeport is a self-custodial trading platform offering access to stocks, crypto, commodities, FX, and pre-IPO exposure, with market intelligence from social feeds and insider filings. The platform requires no KYC for basic trading and operates 24/7 including weekends, appealing to retail traders seeking low-friction global market access.

Argument Computer CorporationArgument builds systems for verifiable computing by combining zero-knowledge cryptography, formal verification, and distributed consensus technologies. Its work targets blockchain interoperability and provable software execution.

Master ClassOnline education subscription platform with pre-recorded tutorials and lectures by experts.

BifrostBifrost develops smart contracts that enable automated asset transfer upon death, allowing heirs to claim cryptocurrency holdings from self-custody wallets.

LumenLumen Learning provides courseware and teaching tools built on open educational resources (OER) for higher education, aimed at faculty and students. Its products support course delivery, faculty professional development, and student-centered learning in colleges and universities.

CorporatefinanceinstituteCorporate Finance Institute offers an online specialization program teaching finance professionals how to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial analysis, valuation, and investment decision-making. The program covers ESG frameworks, sustainability integration, greenhouse gas accounting, and climate risk management across eight core courses.

FiveableFiveable provides AI-powered exam preparation for AP classes, offering practice questions with automated scoring and personalized study tools for high school students.

OutlierOutlier offers dual enrollment college courses to high school students across the United States, enabling them to earn transferable college credit from the University of Pittsburgh while fulfilling high school requirements. The platform provides instructor-led, interactive online coursework designed to prepare students for college-level academics and build soft skills.

Companies working in the same space as Protocol Labs.

Legal entities · 2

corporate structure

InterPlanetary Networks, Inc.

Protocol Labs, Inc.

In the news

Grants | Protocol Labs Researchresearch.protocol.ai · Aug 2022

Frequently asked questions

What does Protocol Labs do?: Protocol Labs is an innovation network connecting over 750 tech organizations developing breakthrough technologies across web3, AI, AR, VR, BCI, hardware, and related fields. Organizations collaborate to solve shared problems and accelerate R&D across technological frontiers.
Who founded Protocol Labs?: Protocol Labs was founded by Juan Benet in 2014.
Who are Protocol Labs's investors?: Protocol Labs's investors include a16z crypto, Andreessen Horowitz, BlueYard Capital, Capital B Private Holdings, Digital Currency Group, FundersClub, IA Seed Ventures, Lattice Capital and 12 more.
Where is Protocol Labs headquartered?: Protocol Labs is headquartered in San Francisco, US.