# Robot Ventures

> Robot Ventures is a venture capital firm providing pre-seed funding to early-stage startups in the Web3, blockchain, and fintech sectors, founded in 2019.

- Canonical URL: https://iq.wiki/wiki/robot-ventures
- Categories: Organizations
- Created: 2024-05-30T00:46:30.364Z
- Last updated: 2024-05-30T03:11:09.562Z
- Source: IQ.wiki — the world's largest blockchain and crypto encyclopedia (https://iq.wiki)

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**Robot Ventures** is a venture capital firm that provides pre-seed funding to startups in the Web3, blockchain, and fintech sectors.[\[1\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm)[\[3\]](#cite-id-yz1gubnzgzi) Founded in 2019 by [Robert Leshner](https://iq.wiki/wiki/robert-leshner) and [Tarun Chitra](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tarun-chitra), Robot Ventures is backed by Bain Capital Ventures and [Ripple](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ripple-labs) Xpring.[\[5\]](#cite-id-luj9i657ug)  
  
# Overview  
  
Robot Ventures has a varied portfolio featuring investments across multiple sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), enterprise solutions, consumer applications, and infrastructure projects. Robot Ventures is recognized for its unique investment approach, focusing on early-stage companies that challenge conventional thinking and have the potential to redefine their respective industries. Their portfolio includes companies such as [DODO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dodo), [Kava](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kava), [Axelar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/axelar), [LayerZero](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layerzero), [NFTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/nftx), [Fei Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fei-protocol), [Lido DAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/lido-dao), [Liquity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquity), and [PoolTogether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pooltogether) among others.[\[2\]](#cite-id-9a06enckc3v)  
  
In April 2019, Robot Ventures secured a $1 million funding round from Bain Capital Ventures and [Ripple](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ripple-labs)'s Xpring.[\[4\]](#cite-id-q3tfexlr61)[\[5\]](#cite-id-luj9i657ug) Right after the funding, Robot Ventures invested in two startups: at-home crypto mining startup Coinmine and Point, a debit card and banking account.[\[6\]](#cite-id-hkfxyhehnae) In 2020, Robot Ventures secured $4 million in funding round, led by [Galaxy Digital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/galaxy-digital) with additional participation by [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) co-founder [Fred Ehrsam](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fred-ehrsam)'s [Paradigm](https://iq.wiki/wiki/paradigm).[\[7\]](#cite-id-w1el05k6ppf)  
  
The firm is co-founded by [Robert Leshner](https://iq.wiki/wiki/robert-leshner), known for his work with [Compound](https://iq.wiki/wiki/compound), and Tarun Chitra, founder of Gauntlet Network.[\[1\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm) Leshner argued commented on his motivation behind Robot in a [Coindesk](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coindesk) article:  
  
> "We see innovations happening in DeFi very early. What gives me a different approach is that 95 percent of my time is spent building Compound, and I can interact with other founders really as a peer, just one or two years ahead of them."[\[4\]](#cite-id-q3tfexlr61)  
  
# Portfolio  
  
* Aleo  
* Alkimiya  
* Argent  
* [Axelar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/axelar)  
* Bitski  
* Blockfolio ([FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx))  
* Blocknative  
* [Centrifuge](https://iq.wiki/wiki/centrifuge)  
* [Clipper](https://iq.wiki/wiki/clipper-dex)  
* [Compound](https://iq.wiki/wiki/compound)  
* Cozy Finance  
* [DODO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/dodo)  
* Donut  
* Drift  
* Element Finance  
* Elementus  
* [Empty Set Dollar](https://iq.wiki/wiki/empty-set-dollar)  
* [Fei Protocol](https://iq.wiki/wiki/fei-protocol)  
* Flashbots  
* Flexa Network  
* Fractional  
* [Frax](https://iq.wiki/wiki/frax-finance)  
* [Futureswap](https://iq.wiki/wiki/futureswap)  
* Gauntlet  
* Goldfinch  
* Greenwood  
* Horizon  
* [Hummingbot](https://iq.wiki/wiki/hummingbot)  
* Imperii Partners  
* [Instadapp](https://iq.wiki/wiki/instadapp)  
* Jet  
* [Kava](https://iq.wiki/wiki/kava)  
* Keyless  
* [Layer Zero](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layerzero)  
* [Lido](https://iq.wiki/wiki/lido-dao)  
* [Liquity](https://iq.wiki/wiki/liquity)  
* Lyra  
* Mellow  
* [Mirror](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mirror-protocol)  
* Multis  
* Namebase  
* Nansen  
* Nebula  
* Neon  
* [NFTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/nftx)  
* [Optimism](https://iq.wiki/wiki/optimism)  
* Opyn  
* Orca  
* Parsec  
* Point  
* Polymarket  
* [PoolTogether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pooltogether)  
* Potion  
* Primitive  
* Rain  
* Reverie  
* [Ribbon](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ribbon-finance)  
* Saddle  
* Sense  
* Showtime  
* Siren  
* Skolem Labs  
* Slingshot  
* Syndicate  
* Tally  
* Vauld  
* Volmex  
* Yield Protocol[\[1\]](#cite-id-z5zwjll38tm)