Dutch blockchain investment fund Maven 11 Capital has raised EUR40 million which it will invest in start- and scale-ups creating innovative financial services and building Web 3.0. using blockchain technology.
The new fund is a direct response to the explosive demand for investment in, and mentoring of, start-ups in decentralised finance, where cutting edge technology plays a central role. Due to this, and the rapid development of DeFi and Web 3.0, the fund could very well close before summer’s end.
“Blockchain technology allows the creation of a completely new infrastructure enabling financial services without the intervention of a third party. Services such as payments, lending, savings, investment, and insurance will as such become more efficient, transparent and globally accessible to anyone with an internet connection,” says Balder Bomans, Managing Partner at Maven 11.
Maven 11 supports the companies in which it invests through taking an active role in the sector and contributing to the development of their portfolio companies. “In addition to funding, we bring knowledge and experience. We see the result of this integrated approach in the value growth of our participations,” says Bomans. This approach is working: Maven 11 booked a sizeable return with its first fund.
“The networks in which we invest offer products that are already widely used on a daily basis. The companies in these networks generate cash flows, which benefit our investors. This way, we generate value, not only in the long run through return on investment, but also via cash flow yield. This combination makes our proposition very attractive to investors,” says Bomans.
The second fund is being closed in stages. The first milestone will be reached in early June with EUR40 million. The final closing will follow quickly after, taking it to a total target size of EUR50 to EUR75 million.
Maven 11 will participate in a wide range of international companies, especially in the United States and APAC, where the Maven 11 team has extensive networks. For example, Maven 11 is investing in Maple Finance, a financing protocol and marketplace for capital-intensive companies. Another company that Maven 11 was able to invest in, is Zapper. Zapper offers consumers and professionals a dashboard for all interaction with decentralised financial products without revealing any personal data.
To date, a significant number of investors have invested in Maven 11 Blockchain Venture Fund II. This group consists mainly of entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, and family offices.
“With our position at the core of the sector, we are laying a foundation to generate returns based on the grow of this technology,” assures Bomans. “We don’t just invest,” he continues, “we are an active stakeholder and partner for all our ventures. The time between building a product or network and it going live has been significantly shortened by, among other things, the cross-border nature of blockchain technology. Actively participating in decentralised networks, which are governed by all stakeholders, is a new way of organising and leads to value maximisation within this network.”
