San Francisco · Pre-Seed–Series A · 7 people tracked
Investment thesis
Protocol Labs operates as an innovation network aimed at driving breakthroughs in computing to advance humanity. It connects hundreds of startups, investment funds, accelerators, foundations, service providers, and other organizations working at the frontiers of computing, including web3, AI, AR, VR, brain-computer interfaces, and hardware. Members collaborate across the network to solve shared problems, exchange knowledge and resources, and accelerate research and development. The organization is known for incubating decentralized web and storage protocols such as IPFS and Filecoin, and has transitioned into a decentralized network of independent teams building openly toward a better technological future.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 23, 2026.
Team · 7 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Founder mafia
3 people who came through Protocol Labs went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 16 of 17 portfolio companiesCrypto & Web3 ×10Fintech ×7Data & Infrastructure ×6Deep Tech ×5AI & Machine Learning ×3Cybersecurity ×3Enterprise Software ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2
HQs:United States×3Switzerland×1Germany×1France×1United Kingdom×1Hong Kong×1
Investments · 17 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 32024 · 52023 · 12022 · 211 dated
Filebase provides S3-compatible object storage with high-speed uploads and downloads, free egress, and a verifiable fingerprint for every object.
Cloud ComputingData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsBoston, US
Zachary Cohen(Director)Joshua Noble(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsMulticoin CapitalRyan SelkisVersion One VenturesDelta Blockchain
Canza Finance is a Web3 company combining DeFi, crypto-assets, and traditional financial infrastructure to provide financial products for individuals and businesses in Africa and other emerging markets.
Crypto & Web3Fintech
Pascal Ntsama IV(Co-founder & CEO)inOyedeji Oluwoye(Co-founder & CMO)in
Co-investorsAdaverseFenbushi CapitalFlori VenturesHyperithmMapleblock CapitalStratified Capital+3 more
Element Materials Technology provides materials testing, product qualification, and assurance services for customers in aerospace, space, defense, and energy sectors.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechDefense TechEnterprise SoftwareMedical DevicesNew Materials
Rick Sluiters(CEO of Element Aero, Space & Defense)
Co-investors3i GroupForesite CapitalMetaplanetT. Rowe PriceVenrock
Enlightra develops photonic optical interconnects using comb laser technology to enable high-bandwidth, low-power data transfer for data centers and AI infrastructure.
Advanced ManufacturingData & InfrastructureDeep TechHardwareLausanne, CH
John Jost(Founder)inMaxim Karpov(Founder)in
Co-investorsTRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)Y CombinatorAsymmetry VenturesPegasus Tech VenturesRuna Capital
Gensyn provides decentralized infrastructure for AI models to train, verify, trade, and evolve using cryptographic verification and on-chain identity mechanisms.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureLondon, GB
Ben Fielding(CEO)inHarry Grieve(CTO)in
Co-investorsa16z cryptoAndreessen HorowitzCoinFundCounterview CapitalDigital Finance GroupEntrepreneur First+4 more
GLIF provides DeFi and liquid staking infrastructure for the Filecoin network, including staking pools and a loyalty rewards program tied to its $GLF token.
Crypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureFintech
Jonathan Schwartz(Founder)
Co-investorsMulticoin CapitalZee Prime CapitalStruck CapitalBig Brain HoldingsFinTech Collective
Hex Trust builds technology platforms serving large financial institutions in the banking and finance sector.
Crypto & Web3Enterprise SoftwareFintech
Alessio Quaglini(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsEterna CapitalFenbushi CapitalQBN CapitalRyze LabsToken Bay CapitalWintermute+5 more
Impossible Cloud provides enterprise cloud infrastructure with a channel/partner-first model, offering S3-compatible object storage and bare metal NVIDIA GPU servers with transparent per-terabyte and per-GPU-card-hour pricing.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareHamburg, DE
Dr. Kai Wawrzinek(Co-founder)Christian Kaul(Founder)in
Co-investorsNGP Capital1kxHV CapitalTS Venturesvery early Ventures
Crypto & Web3FintechGamingSingapore, SG
Co-investorsTechstarsAcequia Capital (AceCap)BlueYard Capital
POAP Inc builds digital collectibles on Web3 that serve as proofs of attendance at events and experiences, enabling people to preserve memories and discover communities.
Crypto & Web3Social
Co-investors359 CapitalA.Capital VenturesAdvancit CapitalArchetypeCollab+CurrencyInspired Capital+7 more
Synchron develops brain-computer interface technology delivered via catheter to restore or improve motor and cognitive function in people with impairment or decline.
BiotechDeep TechMedical DevicesCampbell, US
Thomas James Oxley(Executive Officer, Director)Nicholas Opie(Director)inThomas Oxley(Founder)in
BoardRahul Sharma(Director)Alex Morgan(Director)inMartin Dieck(Director)
Co-investorsARCH Venture PartnersForepont Capital PartnersID8 InvestmentsKaleida CapitalKhosla VenturesBezos Expeditions+4 more
Lisbon-founded builder-reputation platform behind Builder Score, acquired by recruiting firm IPTS in August 2026.
Co-investorsCoinbase VenturesFlori VenturesGood News Ventures
thirdweb provides a developer platform for building web3 applications, offering tools for creating and managing tokens, bridging and swapping across blockchain networks, and wallet infrastructure.
Crypto & Web3Developer Tools
Co-investorsBitDAODraft Ventures LlcFoundersHaun VenturesMantle NetworkShrug Capital+5 more
TransCrypts is a blockchain-based platform for verifying and sharing employment, health and educational credentials.
CybersecurityData & InfrastructureFintechNewark, US
Zain Zaidi(Founder)inZain Z(Founder)
Co-investorsAlpha EdisonAlumni VenturesAtland VenturesBeyond CapitalFactionInformed Ventures Advisors, Llc+7 more
WeatherXM operates a community-powered decentralized (DePIN) weather network where owners deploy solar-powered weather stations and earn $WXM token rewards for contributing data.
Climate TechCrypto & Web3IoT
Stratos Theodorou(Founder)in
Co-investorsPlaceholder VCLightspeed FactionBorderless VenturedlabFactionMetaplanet+5 more
Zama provides a protocol that encrypts transaction amounts, balances, and commercial references on public blockchains while keeping addresses public, enabling confidential onchain corporate payments such as cross-border vendor settlement, marketplace payouts, and treasury flows.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3CybersecurityDeep TechFintechSilicon Valley, FR
Rand Hindi(Founder)in
Co-investorsHack VCLunar VenturesMetaplanetMulticoin CapitalStake CapitalVsquared Ventures+4 more
Zama provides encryption technology for onchain finance that keeps blockchain addresses public while encrypting transaction amounts and commercial references at the token level.
Crypto & Web3CybersecurityDeep TechFintech
Rand Hindi(Founder)in
Co-investorsMulticoin CapitalSignum CapitalBlockchange VenturesMetaplanetPantera CapitalStake Capital+1 more
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Element · thelec.net · Aug 20, 2026
Zama · kucoin.com · Aug 11, 2026
Zama · cryptonews.net · Aug 11, 2026
Gensyn · parsers.vc · May 4, 2026
Enlightra · ggba.swiss · Dec 23, 2025
TransCrypts · cfotech.ca · Dec 11, 2025
Synchron · medtechdive.com · Nov 7, 2025
Impossible Cloud · finsmes.com · Jul 4, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Protocol Labs invest at?
- Protocol Labs invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Protocol Labs focus on?
- Protocol Labs focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Crypto & Web3, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Hardware, Robotics, SaaS.
- Where is Protocol Labs located?
- Protocol Labs is headquartered in San Francisco, US.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamReigniting the cypherpunk spirit with Juan Benet x Protocol Labs
Web3Privacy Now · Juan Benet
Juan Benet (Protocol Labs)
The Slow Hunch · Juan Benet
Protocol Labs Founder Juan Benet on Decentralizing the Internet with IPFS & Filecoin
The Defiant - DeFi, Web3 & NFT Insights · Juan Benet
Keynote Speaker: Juan Benet, Founder & CEO, Protocol Labs
Berkeley RDI Center on Decentralization & AI · Juan Benet
Juan Benet | Neurotech as a Protocol Labs Focus Area @ Paths to Progress
Foresight Institute · Juan Benet
Juan Benet I InterPlanetary Consensus I Protocol Labs I Pragma Denver 2024
ETHGlobal · Juan Benet
Images
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