Monthly Roundup : November 2024
Pivot x XDC Partnership & Co-acceleration program, Devcon sojourn, event plans for December
November 2024 was LIT for the world of Web3!!
This is the month when Bitcoin turned around and beat the naysayers coming tantalizingly close to the $100K price-tag — bringing along with it a much needed cheer with a raging bull season! So while Bitcoin was doing its job, we were busy launching a co-acceleration program with XDC Network, backed by XVC Tech’s $125 Million Fund, getting our startups off the ground, interacting with VCs, bringing new angels and investors on board and also scouting for talent.
Plena Finance, a Pivot Ventures backed wallet startup, made its public debut with a resounding TGE. We also onboarded two brave new startups — 0xDay — a hacker-centric deep-tech dApp focused on the global hackathon business; & Vanna Protocol — a cutting-edge DeFi protocol tailored for professional proprietary traders. We also dipped our fingers into Devcon SEA 2024 at Bangkok.
Check out our month as it went by.
Highlight of the Month
Pivot and XDC Network Launch Co-Acceleration Program, Backed by XVC Tech’s $125 Million Fund
Pivot and XDC Network have launched a co-acceleration initiative called ‘Let’s Pivot-to-XDC’, aimed at supporting the growth of innovative blockchain startups. This program will provide funding and mentorship to 10 selected startups in the DeFi, Payments, and Real-World Asset (RWA) sectors, enhancing blockchain integration on the XDC Network.
The ‘Let’s Pivot to XDC’ co-acceleration program selects startups on a rolling basis, providing tailored onboarding and support based on individual needs, with funding disbursed according to the achievement of key milestones. This structured approach ensures that each startup has access to necessary resources for sustainable growth and integration into the XDC ecosystem.
Startup Spotlight & Updates
While we are scouting for talented startups, our flagship acceleration program is currently live with 14 promising startups that are working to disrupt different sectors in the Web 3.0 space. Here are updates on the progress of some of the team’s journeys.
Plena Finance
Plena Finance, a startup backed by Pivot Ventures, successfully went public with its Token Generation Event (TGE) on November 27, 2024. This significant milestone marks the culmination of their fundraising efforts, which raised $5 million through various funding rounds, including a notable Initial DEX Offering (IDO) in collaboration with Seedify and ChainGPT. The TGE was accompanied by listings on major exchanges such as Gate.io, MEXC, BingX and PancakeSwap, providing investors with multiple avenues to acquire the $PLENA token.
Learn more here: Twitter | Website | Link3
Chimp Exchange
- Our portco and acceleratee team from Chimp Exchange made a landmark move and went live on Boba Network.
- They have kicked-off a trading competition with 20,000 $BOBA tokens ($1,000) for top traders.
- Try it out now: http://chimp.exchange/#/swap
- Learn more here
Cluster Protocol
At FIL Bangalore, one of the portfolios of Pivot Ventures, Cluster Protocol, launched their product, the ultimate coordination layer for AI agents.
- The platform can be accessed at: https://beta.clusterprotocol.ai/spaces
- Check out the video demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AwzF5me8g5k6j6YiUrgk1CmbEFBUd3XI/view?usp=sharing
Think of it as the carnot engine powering the AI economy, ensuring developers get paid for their models while users build next-gen AI apps effortlessly. With modular, self-evolving AI agents and virtual disposable environments, Cluster Protocol is redefining how AI apps are created. Whether you’re an AI creator or a business looking to innovate, they are here to make it seamless, secure, and rewarding.
Vanna Protocol
In November, Vanna Protocol achieved significant milestones, including a user-friendly website redesign and the beta launch of its platform on Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base mainnets. The team completed a $350K pre-seed funding round and is now seeking $1.5M in a seed round, while actively engaging with the blockchain community at events like Devcon Bangkok and ETHIndia.
Ecosystem Growth
We are closing on the 200 VC circle numbers! 🚀 In November ’24, we onboarded 29 new VCs — almost one every day — bringing invaluable support to the 14 startups in our acceleration program. New additions to the Pivot Venture Circle and Pivot Partner Circle are pivotal in driving innovation and scaling success for our portfolio. Welcome aboard! 🌟
New VCs on the Panel
New Partners on the Panel
New Mentors on the Panel
Masterclasses
Our “Build with Founders” Series of Masterclasses continued this month. We called in Saurabh Singh, Founder, Exa Protocol to teach us the importance of decentralized storage in Web3, the consensus algorithms that secure blockchain networks, and the latest innovations and tools.
> YouTube Playlist: All our masterclass recordings have been uploaded on our YouTube channel. Click on the link here for the 0xHub Masterclass playlist.
Pivot @ Events
Brunch with Chimp
We conducted the 0xBrunch Founders Connect in Gurgaon on 9th Nov continuing connect with new founder talent in the Web 3.0, and working closely with our portcos to engage with new startups, founders & community for their growth and development. This time we did this with Chimp Exchange.
Pivot @ Devcon SEA, Bangkok
Our team attended Devcon SEA 2024, an Ethereum expo held from November 12–15 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok. With an estimated 12,000 participants from all over the global, this was a showcase event for Southeast Asia. Pivot went with a motive to meet new founders, onboard new venture capitalists to explore our deal flows, and establish new partnerships to support the startups we are accelerating.
Events in December
The Pivot December event Calendar will be lit with rocking events around the India Blockchain Week and Ethindia timeline. We aim to set the Bangalore Web3 space on fire with the following star-studded events as organizer, sponsor & co-host. This update will be coming up in the December edition of the Pivot monthly newsletter.
- Hacker House with Router: A 48Hr Hackathon bringing together 70+ hackers, building on chain abstraction solutions for the Router Protocol.
- Demo Day With Router: Culmination event for the hacker house where the best developers compete & win from a reward pool of $11000.
- Founders x VCs Lounge: An exclusive gathering for builders in Web3. Dive into compelling conversations spanning DeFi, DePIN, AI, RWAs & more.
- Hacker House & Demo Day with TON: We have partnered with TON again to bring a 48Hr Hackathon followed by a Demo day for 150+ hackers / 40 teams from all over the country.
- IBW2024 Demo Day: Pivot is an ecosystem partner in this 2-day landmark event to be held in Bangalore. 2 startups we are accelerating will be presenting in the event for a prize pool of over $20000.
- Pivot Clubhouse: By the time this newsletter reaches you, Pivot would have organized the most rocking party in the 1st week of December, marking the bullish movement of the global crypto markets. Supported by the likes of Solidus Aitech, Fam Protocol, Axes Network, TON Society, Router Protocol, 0x.Day, QuillAI Network & QuillAudits, this party will bring together upto 150 Founders, VCs & KOLs who make the Web3 space what it is today.
Insights
At Pivot, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of Web 3.0, offering insights that drive conversations on blockchain and decentralized tech. Discover our latest articles covering pivotal milestones in our acceleration program and other key Web 3.0 developments.
Sector Analysis — Memes — Part 2
Economics behind meme coins and meme-based assets, analyzing their tokenomics, monetization methods, market performance, and unique use cases. Read Here: https://blog.0xpivot.com/sector-analysis-memes-part-2-9dc1a5b25ed5
Sector Analysis — Memes — Part 3
Evolution of meme-based assets from online humor to social catalysts in Web3, driving community engagement, shaping digital culture, and balancing rapid growth. Read Here: https://blog.0xpivot.com/sector-analysis-memes-part-3-4f4dfd327b44
Sector Analysis — Memes — Part 4
Exploring the practical utility of memecoins, integration into DeFi, gaming, & metaverse, regulatory challenges, market trends, and future trajectories. Read Here: https://blog.0xpivot.com/memes-sector-analysis-part-4-259ba07e8b99
From the Founders’ Desk
Pivot Founder, Anshul Dhir, maintains a keen focus on global macroeconomics, shaped by international policies, discussions, and events. His recent blog posts delve into vital issues that could profoundly impact both the Web 3.0 sector and the wider economic landscape.
Trump’s Return, Musk’s DOGE, and the Crypto Circus: The Absurd Spectacle of 2024
Impact of Donald Trump’s political resurgence and Elon Musk’s DOGE-related initiatives on governance, cryptocurrency, and platforms like Polymarket.
Meme Coin Frenzy: A Reflection of Greed and Unchecked Speculation
The current meme coin frenzy, driven by platforms like Pump.fun, has turned community-driven finance into a speculative gold rush, emphasizing greed over the core principles of DeFi.
Markets in Moonvember’24
The Crypto Fundraising Trend for YTD 2024 highlights a dynamic year in blockchain investments. January began with $635.75M raised across 138 funding rounds. The trend peaked in October, achieving $2.46B in total funds, marking the highest fundraising activity of the year. November followed closely with $1.76B raised across 131 rounds, showcasing sustained investor interest. The data reflects fluctuating funding patterns, with October standing out as the most active month for crypto investments. December has just begun, lets see what fireworks this brings.
(Source: Cryptorank)
Looking forward to a Delightful December’24
About Pivot
Pivot is a global venture accelerator firm dedicated to the Web 3.0 industry, 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.
