Brewing 100 Crypto Startups (A)Ideas
How I brainstormed with the A-Team of virtual VCs
⌚️ Todays’s edition is a 14 minutes read, but remains easily digestible in multiple sittings. Also, if the post ends up truncated by your email app : just click on "View entire message" and you'll be sorted out.
got featured in ‘s April Roundup of ! 🤯
👩🏻🎓 Total dMBA Fellows : 151 (+20 this month thanks to this ! 👇).
The biggest win lately :🐌 The biggest challenge lately : only 2 votes collected in last installment’s polls to decide on the future content for each Track. Adding to the pain, Substack doesn’t let me re-activate these in the exact same post : fear not, another poll storm is coming at you soon 😇.
Foreword
Dear Fellows, I hope this second installment of the dMBA Analyst Track finds you well. Grab a comfortable seat and a nice, warm latte, because this week we’re embarking on a thrilling experiment.
Together, we're going to explore a unique, ChatGPT-powered approach that’s taken me not less than the last 2 weeks to work out.
The objective : churning out 100 fresh startup ideas that could disrupt the crypto space.
The result : a sort of digital brainchild, embodying the expertise of 5 top venture capitalists exclusively dedicated to this mission.
And when I say experts, I'm talking Chris Dixon, Olaf Calson-Wee, Spencer Noon, Li Jin, or Kavita Gupta.
Before we indulge in the excitement of discovering the list, here’s a bit more context for you to understand what’s this all about.
Why it matters ?
One sure thing : fresh, disruptive perspectives push us forward. They make us look at things differently, and it’s fair to say that’s exactly what we need right now - be it in the crypto or investing space.
Nevertheless, coming up with unique startup ideas that haven't been explored to death is a tall order, even for the most seasoned founders out there.
On the other side of the coin, as a VC Analyst you’re constantly expected to come up with fresh, innovative investment themes that aren’t run-of-the-mill.
Hence this idea to leverage the power of AI and create a list of 100 unique crypto / Web3 projects that follow some specific guidelines explained below.
The methodology
The approach I used here is a blend of ChatGPT-powered brainstorming and human discernment.
I assigned each of our VC personas a task: 4 of them would each generate 25 startup ideas in a specific vertical, where they proved their mastery in public communications retrievable by ChatGPT. Meanwhile, a 5th persona would oversee the whole project.
So digital Olaf Carlson-Wee took on blockchain infrastructure, virtual Spencer Noon tackled decentralized finance, AI-Li Jin delved into the passion economy, and cyber Kavita Gupta explored environmental and social impact solutions. All this under the control of Chris Dixon-GPT.
After each persona finished their task, I set up a feedback and reflection system a bit similar to an Agent AI. The personas would review each other's work and provide insights. The project manager and I would use these insights to refine the ideas and make them more robust.
Clear prompting between myself, ChatGPT and the personas was key. We ensured regular updates on the project status and discussed potential improvements. In essence, we created a dynamic, collaborative space powered by ChatGPT and flesh and bone insight.
Challenges
Now, let's hit the pause button and get real for a minute : this approach, while exciting, has its limitations.
ChatGPT isn't a seer. It can't predict future trends nor account for the nitty-gritty of the current market situation. That’s the reason why I have instructed the AI to focus on these 4 specific fields, while taking into account the latest technological developments in terms of token standards or wallet management.
Disclaimer : at the time of writing, I still didn’t have access to ChatGPT Plugins or browsing capabilities. This has been resolved since, which will undoubtedly generate content for a follow-up post 😇.
On top of this, while GPT-4 shows a clear improvement compared to previous versions, the model still faces challenges in precisely following strict instructions during lengthy conversations or projects spanning multiple sessions.
Finally, although you will find pretty cool product ideas in this list, they might reveal challenging to execute. Here again, I have explicitly asked my virtual companion to imagine products that could solve concrete problems for their users - as opposed to fueling explosive hype cycles. But hey, in the end : nobody said changing the world was going to be a walk in the park !
Where to start ?
As explained above, the 100 ideas are organized into four tantalizing categories.
So dive in, explore, and tell me and my A(I)-Team of virtual consultants what you think in comments, or by using Substack Notes and Chat !
Who knows… if you’re a builder at heart, maybe you'll find that nugget of inspiration that gives birth to your next venture.
Or, as a proficient analyst, maybe you’ll have suggestions to make this fusion of human acumen and AI wizardry even more powerful.
Before you take the leap, there is something you must know : for me, bootstrapping the dMBA in public works like a group therapy.
The best way that I’ve found to move the needle on a few critical issues, at my humble level.
Should the VC world keep revolving around the same core group of like-minded individuals, who mostly shared the benches of Stanford and Harvard ?
Are opportunities evenly distributed to startup founders & emerging VC managers - regardless of their personal background, wealth or connections ?
Where can crypto builders find mutual learning opportunities with established TradFi or Web2 professionals, who already manage widely successful businesses ?
Subscribe below & join a circle of passionate makers & investors on a mission to tackle these questions ! ⬇️
Alright, it’s finally time to take off ! 🚀
25 startup ideas in the field of blockchain infrastructure
A distributed file storage system integrating semi-fungible tokens for improved reliability, intelligent space allocation & better pricing.
An NFT-bound wallet enabling seamless token swaps across multiple interoperable blockchains.
A cross-chain oracle service leveraging AI to predict and adjust network fees.
A trustless reputation aggregator for nodes, improving transparency in the rating (performance, trustworthiness) of validators across networks.
A distributed integration of AI models onto the blockchain, allowing for transparent model training and validation by a DAO of stakeholders.
An AI-native & blockchain-agnostic programming language to simplify the deployment of smart contracts across multiple networks.
A deployer for creating and managing smart contract wallets on multiple chains at once, with an emphasis on usability and security.
A protocol designed specifically to allow for the unique and secure transfer of soulbound tokens across multiple chains.
An AI-secured decentralized data marketplace.
An automated routing protocol between blockchain bridges to optimize transfers across networks.
A market for registering and monetizing intellectual property from blockchain projects, ensuring continued open-source access while developers can monetize their work.
A blockchain-based voting protocol that detects and prevents fraudulent activity with AI.
A protocol enabling the creation of DAO’s with built-in mechanisms for AI-assisted decision making.
A trustless platform for tokenizing and trading computing resources, leveraging smart contract wallets for automated transactions.
A smart protocol for trading resource credits destined to mining, with each sources of energy represented by a category of semi-fungible tokens.
A cross-chain liquidity protocol with AI-powered routing to optimize for low slippage and fees.
A permissionless API marketplace for blockchain-based services that matches providers with developers via AI, streamlining the integration of off-chain services & data into dApps.
A decentralized bug bounty service that allows developers to offer rewards for discovering and reporting security vulnerabilities in their smart contracts.
A protocol for time-locked execution of smart contracts, enhancing the flexibility and functionality of blockchain applications.
An AI-powered dashboard that provides real-time monitoring of multiple blockchain networks to improve global security & performance.
A protocol securing the upgrade of blockchain protocols with AI in order to minimize the risk of hard forks and network disruption.
A decentralized license issuer providing tamper-proof and transparent white-labeling for blockchain-based services.
A marketplace for reusable blockchain components allowing developers to buy, sell or rent pre-built modules, libraries or smart contracts to foster collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts in the ecosystem.
A protocol enabling the creation and management of dApp stores to streamline the discovery, download, and evaluation of decentralized applications in a trustless and transparent environment.
A sandbox environment enabling developers to stress-test their blockchain applications under various conditions (congestion, liquidity events, …) to ensure stability and performance over the long run.
Want more ?
You’re welcome 👇
25 startup ideas in the field of decentralized finance and real-world assets
A DeFi protocol leveraging semi-fungible tokens to offer differentiated lending products with varying risk/return profiles.
A decentralized life insurer facilitating secure one-time transfers to designated beneficiaries upon verification of specific life events.
A smart contract wallet-based DeFi aggregator that simplifies yield optimization across multiple protocols by hiding complex transactions.
A DeFi loan enforcement protocol based on NFT-bound wallets to provide an extra-layer of security for collateralized loans.
An AI-optimized DeFi yield farming protocol, offering predictive modeling for best returns.
A decentralized loyalty program using soulbound tokens for creating unique, non-transferable rewards.
An AI-assisted risk assessment tool for DeFi products to assess probabilities of market manipulation, rug or hack.
A DEX leveraging smart contract wallets for managing and executing algorithmic trades.
A decentralized platform for creating and managing tokenized employee stock option plans.
A trustless escrow service for real-world transactions based on account abstraction techonology.
An AI-driven DEX aggregator using machine learning algorithms to predict market trends and provide traders with optimized token swap rates.
A subscription-based service to access DeFi yield farming pools that automates the investment process and mutualizes transaction fees across users.
A DeFi protocol for creating and trading tokenized intellectual property rights, such as patents and trademarks.
A DEX for trading token-bound wallet NFTs that represent real-world assets and their associated cash flow.
An AI-based DeFi protocol for automated portfolio rebalancing.
A trustless pension payment manager, ensuring transfers to designated beneficiaries upon execution of a series of tasks or employment contract.
A decentralized prediction market using AI for forecasting and settlement.
A dApp for minting and trading synthetic assets under the form of semi-fungible tokens.
An AI-enhanced KYC/AML compliance solution for DeFi protocols.
An NFT-bound wallet protocol for creating permissionless employee benefit schemes.
A protocol that allows startups to tokenize and trade future income streams.
A decentralized exchange for tokenizing and trading equity stakes in startup incubators or accelerators.
A DeFi lending protocol leveraging soulbound tokens as digital collateral for loans, with built-in mechanisms for managing digital inheritance.
A protocol to create and manage tokenized, decentralized endowment funds.
A tokenized corporate debt marketplace improving transparency, liquidity and risk granularity thanks to semi-fungible tokens.
Still not enough ?
Bear with me …
25 startup ideas in the field of passion economy and communities
A blockchain-powered talent agency that automatically handles contracts and payments between professional artists and clients.
An AI-powered NFT marketplace that curates personalized artist-collector matches based on taste and previous collection data.
A suite of AI tools to assist creators in digital art generation, from sourcing ideas to optimizing design based on real time trends in the NFT market.
A decentralized proof-reading service enabling readers to support an author's work-in-progress, with the prospect of early access and a share in future profits.
A Web3 social network leveraging account abstraction to facilitate peer-to-peer renting of physical assets within communities.
A decentralized network for fan communities where content creators can issue, sell, and trade unique soulbound tokens representing personalized experiences or merchandise.
A blockchain-based reputation aggregator for DAO’s, where users earn non-transferable tokens representing their standing within the wider community.
An AI-powered event manager to organize virtual & IRL meetups between DAO members, from matching participants to booking facilities or personalizing the experience.
A DAO-structured online university, where curriculum design and policy-making are governed by token-voting mechanisms.
A token-bound wallet system for families or small communities, allowing shared access and control with customizable permissions over online fundraising pools.
An open auction house enabling creators to apply for virtual residencies, with selection outcomes determined through community token-voting.
A decentralized social network regulator where users signal negative engagement to an AI moderator and get rewarded with tokens.
A DAO-governed development label for launching and managing decentralized social games, with token-based rewards and achievements shared between players and developers.
A platform to launch small scale social networks that allow families or friends to mint and trade NFTs representing significant personal achievements or memories.
A decentralized advertising agency that operates as a DAO of marketers, designers and copywriters on socials, sharing ad revenue with stakeholders via tokens.
An NFT-based event ticket manager for online communities to host and monetize virtual conferences.
A blockchain-based mentorship program where mentors and mentees enter into smart contracts, with pre-set goals and milestones to achieve and unlock rewards.
A Web3-native art network enabling artists to tokenize their creative process (e.g. drafts, sketches, prototypes) as NFTs, offering fans unique insights and ownership in their future work.
A DAO for fan communities, where meet and greet events or private concerts can be organized while funding donations to charities.
A blockchain-based broadcaster enabling podcast creators to tokenize episodes and listeners to own a share of their favorite shows.
A no-code tool for influencers that converts existing followers into DAO members, tokenize their brand and engage with their audience in unique ways.
An AI matchmaker that brings investors with creators together in the passion economy, based on shared interests or investment behavior.
A travel experience designer that uses AI and blockchain to curate personalized tours, tokenizing and selling them as unique NFTs.
A DAO for managing and monetizing virtual real estate within social network-based metaverses.
A platform using smart contract wallets for creators and influencers to offer tokenized, customizable sponsorship packages to brands.
Ready for the last stint ?
Keep it up ! ⬇️
25 startup ideas in the field of environmental and social impact
A renewable energy credits trading app leveraging smart contract wallets for secure, automated & transparent investing.
A protocol for establishing DAO-managed, AI-assisted disaster relief funding collectives.
A voting system based on token-bound wallets to bring a granular and dynamic layer to governance & participation within impact DAO’s.
A protocol for ensuring quality and transparency in data collected by IoT devices and AI models for impact projects.
An AI- & blockchain-powered professional matchmaker for bias-free & streamlined skills verification, applicant selection, contract execution & worker retribution.
A DAO-governed dashboard for managing community energy grids, using AI for predictive analytics, optimizing distribution or maintenance, and detecting fraud.
A carbon offsetting social impact network where individual commitments are represented / rewarded by evolutive soulbound NFT’s.
A waste-recycling tracker that creates market-responsive and verifiable incentives thanks to semi-fungible tokens.
A protocol that allows DAOs to issue and manage semi-fungible tokens, enabling unique membership levels for impact communities.
A system automatically tokenizing donations that support reforestation and habitat restoration initiatives via account abstraction.
A decentralized marketplace for second-hand or recycled articles leveraging semi-fungible tokens to introduce a smart pricing mechanism that reflects the varying quality levels of the goods.
A decentralized funding platform for investing in and co-managing sustainable hostelry projects.
A virtual university where the educational profile of underprivileged students is linked to a soulbound NFT that can receive and unlock funding from donors, based on his.her situation and progress.
A decentralized governance portal for the smart management of tokenized water rights.
A green commuting app to incentivize the usage of environmentally-friendly transportation via individualized token rewards tied to a soulbound wallet.
An AI-powered alert service for predicting and managing environmental risks, leveraging decentralized data collection, storage & processing.
A decentralized marketplace using semi-fungible tokens to promote transparency and fair pricing in the market for sustainable farming products.
A smart DeFi protocol streamlining investment in ethical companies with AI & programmable wallets.
An AI-powered, personalized e-learning platform to incentivize digital literacy and inclusion in underserved communities.
A decentralized protocol for creating and managing tokenized VC funds that invest in social impact startups.
A DAO supporting the development of open-source smart contract and AI models directly addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.
A matching app connecting refugees and displaced persons with support resources, using tokens to streamline access to essential services.
A sustainable travel app that supports community-led, small-scale tourism initiatives governed by a DAO.
A decentralized knowledge graph leveraging AI to match new ideas & concepts in the field of environmental research.
A data and AI-driven marketplace for urban farming products that rewards consumers & producers with loyalty tokens.
There we have it !
A whirlwind tour of 100 startup ideas brewed in the virtual labs of our A(I)-Team.
Remember, these concepts are just the beginning, the seeds of potential ventures : they're here to inspire and provoke thought.
Personally, I believe that the intersection of human creativity and AI's capabilities can birth truly transformative projects both in startup- and VC-land.
Today’s experiment is but a taste of what’s to come in the dMBA : we’ve got are more insights, more research and exciting explorations in the pipeline.
Now is your time to participate : I'd love to hear your thoughts ! Which ideas most resonated with you ? How would you take them forward ? Do you have suggestions to refine our methodology further ? Let's keep the conversation going.
Until the next adventure,
Julien
Who am I ?
🏎 A former F1 engineer turned data- & AI-driven Angel Investor.
👼 I detect, empower and nurture crypto founders at the earliest stages of their world-changing missions.
🎓 I share the process & learnings of building a 1st time VC fund with the dMBA.
🌎 Check out my complete profile & portfolio here !
How can I help ?
If you are a founder or investor on a mission to make the global financial system more accessible, transparent & positively impactful : let’s connect.
Besides fundraising, I'm thrilled to offer my expertise in streamlining your processes through AI, data analytics, and any research tasks you may consider outsourcing (market, community, tokenomics, governance).
⚠️ Disclaimer : the content of this newsletter is for educational & entertainment purpose only. In no situation should it be considered investment, tax or legal advice. The reader is invited to build his/her own opinion about the views expressed, and take appropriate decisions for his/her specific situation or objectives. Digital assets are highly volatile and the risk of capital loss must never be underestimated : do your own research, and only invest what you can afford to lose.