Venture capital firm DNA Holdings has launched a deal desk for tokenized investments in blockchain-based projects.

The desk targets high-net-worth investors — a term used to describe individuals with liquid assets of at least $1 million — but is also available for other venture firms seeking opportunities in the Web3 space. 

The platform runs on the layer-1 network Chintai and tokenizes equity in early-stage projects as a special purpose vehicle (SPV). At its launch, the marketplace displays seven startups raising capital, with target funding ranging from $325,000 to $2 million and checks starting at $2,500. 

Startups anywhere in the world can apply for funding through the DNA website.

“AI projects are evaluated on a daily basis by our team. Our thesis is to find early-stage, cutting-edge technology companies specializing in the Web3, crypto, AI and gaming space,” DNA’s manager Jake Flaherty told Cointelegraph. 

Venture firm DNA launches desk for tokenized equity in startups image 0

Projects raising capital as SPVs through the marketplace. Source: DNA Holdings

According to DNA, investing onchain gives investors access to an active secondary market. “This opens up a wide range of liquidity options after the initial purchase because investors are not locked into their positions,” the company said. The platform expects to host more than 50 SPVs of different sizes, raising up to $10 million.

VC firms return amid bull market

The current bull season has seen the return of venture capital firms to the Web3 space, raising capital for new funds, while alternative funding options for startups continue to flourish.

VC Roundup: November wraps with 99 deals across blockchain startups

In late November, startups working on solutions for the Bitcoin network gained a dedicated crowdfunding platform . For investors, the tool promises exposure to emerging technologies while granting ownership stakes similar to traditional equity investing, whereas startups can find an alternative to traditional venture capital financing. 

According to Galaxy Research, crypto startups raised $2.4 billion from venture capital firms in the third quarter of 2024, a 20% decline from the previous quarter.

Initial coin offerings, or ICOs, are also making a comeback in Europe under clearer guidelines set by the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) . One platform that is venturing into retail fundraising tools is Legion. It offers a merit-based system for projects seeking capital via token sales.

Related: Bitcoin venture capital firm Axiom hires ex-UK minister