VanEck Ventures into Fintech: $30 Million Fund for Seed-Stage Investments
VanEck, the global investment management firm, has announced the launch of a new $30 million venture capital fund aimed at investing in fintech, digital assets, and artificial intelligence (AI) companies in their pre-seed or seed stages. The firm plans to support approximately 25-30 projects, with each investment ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
Focus on Tokenization and Innovative Financial Solutions
One key area of interest for VanEck through this fund is tokenization. The company is particularly focused on projects that operate at the application layer while adopting an infrastructure-agnostic approach. This includes initiatives related to tokenized assets, internet-native financial marketplaces, and innovative payment middleware and applications built on stablecoins.
Leadership and Strategic Expansion
VanEck Ventures will be led by Wyatt Lonergan and Juan Lopez, both of whom previously managed Circle Ventures, the venture arm of the stablecoin issuer Circle. This fund marks a significant strategic expansion into the venture capital space for VanEck, which has traditionally focused on asset management.
Investment Philosophy Rooted in Long-Term Vision
Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck, stated, “From pioneering an approach to gold investing in 1968 to recognizing the disruptive potential of Bitcoin in 2017, embracing a long-term view on transformative opportunities has always been part of our investment philosophy. This fund extends that vision into the early-stage venture space.” The firm aims to back founders of what it believes are some of the most disruptive companies in the fintech sector, contributing to the future of finance.
Current Investments and Future Aspirations
The firm has already invested in four different projects within this new fund, underscoring its commitment to emerging opportunities in the fintech and digital asset arenas. VanEck has a history of identifying and capitalizing on emerging investment trends, and it has plans that go beyond its existing offerings of several crypto-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Ambitious Goals in the Crypto Space
In an interview with CoinDesk earlier this year, Pranav Kanade, VanEck’s Portfolio Manager, expressed the firm’s ambition to allocate 15% of its assets under management (AUM) to crypto investments, a substantial increase from the approximately 1% it currently holds. This highlights VanEck’s strategic pivot toward expanding its presence in the digital asset sector.
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