Monthly Roundup: May 2025
Inside Pivot’s Blazing May — Web3 Acceleration, Supercharging Startup Innovation, Startup Highlights, Seedify Launchpad Curation, Launch of Mentor connect program — Bodhi Day, Global Ecosystem Expansion & More
This May was HOT — but for Pivot, it was 🔥BLAZING.
We are now the officially curators for the Seedify’s Permissionless Launchpad, A major step towards a new chapter in Pivot web3 acceleration.
But that was just the start. Our startups brought some serious heat with some serious updates:
- Exa Protocol turned Android phones into full-blown decentralized storage nodes.
- QuillAI Network launched an AI agent that sniffs out crypto scams in seconds.
- Cluster Protocol dropped Candy Machine, a vault that opens with prompts, not passwords.
On the ecosystem front, we crossed 460 total startup applications, grew our VC network to 460+ investors, and sparked real founder energy at IRL events like the HODL Summit and 0xBrunch Founders Connect in Gurgaon.
Soon we will be introducing Bodhi Days, our newest Mentor-founder brainstorm series…
…Continue reading to know happened during the month of May 👇
Highlight of the Month
We’re happy to announce that Pivot is officially part of the Seedify Curators Program for their Permissionless Launchpad!
One of Web3’s leading launchpads, empowers top blockchain projects from idea to impact — and now, we get to help shape that future.
As curators, Pivot will support the nex-gen startups and enable early-stage innovation from the ground up with expert-led curation, community fundraising, transparent launches, and expanded ecosystem access.
To know why Pivot venture Is Uniquely Positioned as a Curator — Click ➡️ HERE ⬅️
Startup Acceleration Updates
Exa Protocol
Exa Protocol’s new Android App update is a HUGE FLEX 🦾
With the launch of their Android App v1.1, any smartphone can now become a fully functional node on the Exa Network. Users can contribute decentralized storage, earn $XAP for uptime, refer unlimited users, and manage everything via an integrated crypto wallet — all from one clean interface. It’s a bold step toward unlocking passive crypto income with zero complexity. 📱💸
👉 Update your app now and start earning.
Exa Protocol is building the future of Web3 storage — and it fits in your pocket 📱
Forget desktop nodes and complicated setups. With ExaDrive, your Android phone becomes a plug-and-play node in a decentralized storage network, no tech expertise needed. The app delivers Web2-level speed (100ms latency!), allows users to earn $XAP for uptime, and already supports 60+ projects with over 140K files stored. By going mobile-first, Exa is tapping into the world’s largest computing network — 6.8B smartphones — making truly distributed storage accessible to everyone.
👉 Start earning and storing now!
QuillAI Network
QuillAI launches — QuillCheck — your AI watchdog for crypto token safety on Sentient🛡️🤖
QuillAI Network just dropped QuillCheck on the “World of AI” Sentient Chat — the first adversarial AI agent that checks any token for rug pulls, honeypots, and fraud in seconds. What used to take hours on Reddit in 2017 now takes a single message to an AI in 2025. Just ask: “Is this token legit?” and get real-time security insights. It’s the first step toward their vision of swarm-level, AGI-grade protection for Web3.
👉 Check the story here: https://x.com/QuillAI_Network/status/1928113333632147564
QuillAI Network just took a major leap in AI security and cracked the jailbreak problem.
Their latest breakthrough? An adversarial guardrail system that slashes AI attack success rates from a staggering 82% down to just 6%, all while maintaining lightning-fast performance under 85ms latency. Powered by a self-evolving red-team, QuillAI built an AI attacker that continuously tries to jailbreak its own defender, uncovering vulnerabilities before attackers do. It’s like having a 5-layer defense stack that self-patches in real time 24/7.
👉 Engage here: https://x.com/QuillAI_Network/status/1929533518973120681
Cluster Protocol
Cluster Protocol drops Candy Machine — the AI vault that rewards your brain 🧠🍭
Say goodbye to passwords, Cluster Protocol just launched Candy Machine, an AI-powered vault that opens only when you craft the right prompt. Built on Aptos, it challenges users to convince the AI through clever inputs to unlock hidden rewards. It’s part game, part tech showcase — and all Web3-native.
Ready to outsmart an AI vault?
👉 Try it: candymachine.fun
🧠 How it works: A step by step guide.
Growth & Community Expansion
The Pivot Ecosystem continues to experience exponential growth!
Here are some key milestones from March:
- Our Acceleration Applications soared beyond 460, adding to the overall web3 responsibility on our shoulders.
- VC network expanded to 262 investor groups, bringing more funding opportunities for Web3 founders.
- We now have 224 ecosystem partners & allies, that are helping us build deeper collaborations and adoption for the startups under our acceleration program.
- Increased engagement & active discussions across our community on all platforms.
New VCs onboard
New Partners onboard
Masterclasses
Masterclass #24: Build Voice Agents using VAPI and n8n
In Part 3 of our AI Agents series, we made an AI talk like literally respond to a human query!
In this workshop style masterclass, we built a complete voice-powered AI agent workflow from scratch that can actually can make/attend a call, talk to a customers, answer to queries, resolve a query, qualify leads, and even book appointments, all using no-code tools like VAPI and n8n. It was a practical, hands-on walkthrough where we moved beyond basic automation and explored how founders can bring conversational AI into their daily workflows without needing a dev team.
Events
Dubai FinTech Summit
Last month, Anshul Dhir, Founder & CEO of Pivot attended the Dubai FinTech Summit, where the world’s top minds in finance, DeFi, and infrastructure gathered to shape what’s next. From connecting with global fintech leaders to spotlighting high potential startups, this summit was all about scaling, strategic investments, and unlocking new collaboration opportunities for the ecosystem.
HODL Summit by Trescon
Anshul Dhir, Founder & CEO of Pivot, attended the HODL Summit by Trescon at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The event brought together 5,000+ global Web3, DeFi, and blockchain leaders for meaningful conversations around scaling infrastructure, founder acceleration, and shaping the decentralized future.
Pivot 0xBrunch Founders Connect — Gurgaon
In May, we wrapped up the Pivot 0xBrunch Founders Connect in Gurgaon alongside with our partners Manta Network and CLS Global, we created a space where founders didn’t just network — they connected. From real talk on building in public to shared lessons from the trenches, the vibe was all about collaboration over competition. Big ideas were exchanged, warm intros sparked new momentum, and it reminded us why these IRL events matter.
Missed this one? No worries the next Founders Connect is already brewing. ☕👀
IdeaTON #1 Pitch Session
Rohit Kaul, our Head of Investor Relations, sat on the judges panel to engage with early-stage Web3 startups and spot promising talent during the IdeaTON — Pitch session hosted by TON Society IND & TON Society SEA, our steadfast #Web3 comrades.
The session wasn’t just about startups showing a bunch of slides, it was about finding founders building with purpose, and strengthening Pivot’s mission to back meaningful innovation from the ground up.
Upcoming Events
Bodhi Days
Pivot is elated to announce the launch of Bodhi Days, a special monthly brainstorming session where real-world builders share what actually works in #Web3 with the startups under our acceleration programs. This exclusive mentor-founder initiative from Pivot boils down to the following things:
- 1️⃣ Get real-world & actionable Insights — No Theories!
- 2️⃣ Seek clarity through honest conversation
- 3️⃣ Confront tough questions, get unvarnished answers
- 4️⃣ Sharpen Strategies, expand perspective, grow better
We are hosting our 1st Bodhi Day with the founders under our acceleration programs on 13th June 2025 at 06:30 AM UTC!
🔅 Register Here: https://lu.ma/rn4yjn1s
We have invited Arturas Svirskis, Founder & CEO, Hexagon Ventures Group, from our Mentor Circle, to brainstorm with the founders the nitty-gritties about all things investment & funding!
Insights
With AI agents taking over business ops and dominating Google search trends, Pivot was on a mission to decode how these smart systems are transforming the future of work.
Last month, we explored whether AI agents could replace software engineers, how RAG is supercharging LLMs with real-time data, and why MCP might be the key to seamless AI integration.
And to top it off — we unpacked “vibe coding,” a fresh take on how AI is redefining software and Web3 development, lowering barriers for non-tech creators and empowering them to build apps with ease.
Here’s a quick look at what we’ve been breaking down 👇
Will AI Agents Replace Software Engineers? Here’s What Experts Are Saying
Exploring how AI agents reshape software engineering, automating coding and redefining roles, while experts address limitations and opportunities to forge an innovative, collaborative future for developers.
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): The Future of LLMs in 2025
Exploring how Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) boosts AI precision with real-time data, transforms healthcare and customer service, tackles limitations, and paves the way for innovative AI solutions in 2025.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) in AI: The Future of Seamless AI Integration
Exploring how Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables AI to integrate with tools, automate tasks, enhance workflows, and redefine AI’s role in dynamic, context-aware, action-oriented applications.
Vibe Coding: What It Means for the Future of Tech & Web3
Exploring how vibe coding leverages AI to redefine software and Web3 development, streamlining app creation, lowering barriers, and empowering non-technical creators, while addressing limitations for innovative tech solutions.
Markets
Despite a cooling from March’s peak ($5.08B), crypto fundraising remains resilient. In May, startups raised $1.92B across 117 rounds, showing a positive uptick in deal volume from April’s 99 rounds — even with lower capital raised.
Key Insight: While total funding is down from March highs, the steady increase in the number of rounds (from 99 in April to 117 in May) signals growing participation and founder activity. Investors appear to be placing more bets at smaller ticket sizes, a strong sign of widening early-stage support.
With Bitcoin holding strong above $105K and a 6-month gain of 8.89%, market sentiment is stabilizing, encouraging builders to keep building and investors to stay in the game.
👀 All eyes peeled for June, will capital inflows follow this uptick in round activity?
About Pivot
Pivot is a global venture web3 accelerator firm, created by founders, for founders. Pivot’s selected startups are focused on milestones & are not bound to periodic curriculum-based programs. Founded by Anshul Dhir, a 3x founder in the Web 3.0 space, and mentor and investor in over 50 companies in Web3. Pivot is being supported by some great founders & Angels in this industry including Polygon, Delphi Digital, Blockchain Founders Group, Liminal, Biconomy, BitsCrunch, Tegro, Router, QuickSwap & more. We are also supported by Tier 1 ecosystems such as BNB Chain, Polygon, Arbitrum, ICP, Manta Network, Mantle apart from many VCs, launchpads, Exchanges & many more.
