Marcel Fohrmann is the cofounder of SQD (formerly known as Subsquid), a decentralized data platform that provides blockchain data indexing and access solutions. He has established himself as a notable figure in the Web3 space, focusing on developing infrastructure for blockchain data retrieval and processing. ^[10]

Overview

Marcel Fohrmann has been active in the blockchain ecosystem since 2016, as indicated by his self-description as a "web3 wanderer" on his social media profiles ^[1]. His work has centered on creating solutions for blockchain data indexing and processing, with a particular focus on making on-chain data more accessible and usable for developers. Fohrmann's professional journey includes founding multiple technology companies and pursuing education in both technical and business fields. Based in Switzerland, he currently leads SQD's strategic initiatives to position the company as a key infrastructure provider for the emerging AI agent economy.

Education

Fohrmann holds a diverse educational background spanning mathematics, design, and business. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 2018. Prior to that, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Design from Mediadesign University of Applied Sciences in 2017. To complement his technical expertise with business acumen, Fohrmann attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business from 2020 to 2022, where he completed the GSB Executive Education program in Stanford LEAD Business. ^{[2] [3] [10]}

Career

Fohrmann's career in the blockchain space began around 2016, when he started exploring Web3 technologies. In 2017, he co-founded Helix Cognitive Computing GmbH, where he served until 2022. This early venture laid the groundwork for his later work in blockchain data infrastructure.

In 2021, Fohrmann co-founded Subsquid alongside Dmitry Zhelezov, who is described as the "Philosopher" at the company. Subsquid was established as a blockchain indexing service designed to make on-chain data more accessible and usable for developers. The platform initially focused on the Polkadot ecosystem but later expanded to support Ethereum and other blockchain networks.

Under Fohrmann's leadership, Subsquid developed tools for parsing and indexing blockchain data, allowing developers to more easily access and analyze on-chain activity. The company's technology became particularly valuable for academic researchers, analysts, and developers who needed to monitor smart contract activity. ^{[2] [5]}

Transition to SQD and Strategic Pivot

In early 2024, Subsquid underwent a rebranding to become SQD, with a strategic pivot toward serving the "AI agent economy." This shift reflected Fohrmann's vision of creating a decentralized database network capable of supporting autonomous AI agents operating on blockchain networks.

In January 2025, Fohrmann announced that SQD had secured "multi-million dollar backing" led by Christian Angermayer's Apeiron Investment Group to accelerate the company's growth. This funding was part of a broader initiative called the "SQD Surge Program," designed to position SQD as the leading data infrastructure provider for AI agents interacting with blockchain networks. ^{[7] [6]}

Under Fohrmann's leadership, SQD has established significant partnerships with major telecommunications companies. In September 2024, Deutsche Telekom joined SQD's decentralized network as a node operator, helping to process data queries and retrieve information from SQD's decentralized "data lake". This collaboration aimed to improve the security and efficiency of blockchain data retrieval and delivery.

Fohrmann has also overseen the expansion of SQD's network, with the company reporting a 300% increase in the number of nodes and a 190% year-to-date revenue growth as of January 2025. The company has continued to develop its technology, launching features such as Solana indexing and a portal for accessing blockchain data.

As of 2025, Fohrmann continues to lead SQD from Switzerland, focusing on expanding the company's capabilities and partnerships in the blockchain and AI sectors. ^{[2] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}