Vana has just announced a successful $25 million raise, marking an important step in its journey to develop user-owned AI and solve the data challenges facing the AI industry. This Capital includes $5 million from a strategic round with Coinbase Ventures, $18 million from a Series A with Paradigm, and $2 million from a Seed round with Polychain. This is an important milestone, accelerating Vana's mission to build a breakthrough AI platform.
Breakthrough with User Owned AI In the AI era, data is considered the new “oil”. However, AI researchers are facing a data barrier as public data sources on the internet are gradually depleted. Vana provides a comprehensive solution, allowing users to contribute their data through data DAOs and ensuring they are fairly compensated. This not only helps overcome the data barrier but also opens up new opportunities for users to actively and potentially participate in the AI ecosystem.
“We have always been impressed with the Vana team as they develop user-facing AI,” said Paradigm ’s Jackson Dahl . “We look forward to the cutting-edge AI products they will launch.”
Vana's Unique Features Vana is the first network designed for user-owned private data, with an EVM-compatible layer 1 blockchain, supporting data aggregation via data DAOs, and rewarding the top 16 data liquidation pools. This is a breakthrough in collective ownership of digital assets, contributing to building the future of AI.
Vana Highlights:
- Data aggregation via data DAOs, secured with proof of contribution
- Contributors receive ownership in the AI models they help develop
- EVM compatible to create flexible incentives: dataset Token and AI model Token
- Top 16 data DAOs will receive emission rewards
Developer Testnet Vana's testnet has attracted many leading projects, with 140,000 Reddit users participating in the DAO and the first user-owned AI model successfully trained. Other projects include Twitter Data DAO and LinkedIn Data DAO, the first project to support investment on the Vana platform.
Capital Allocation
- $5 million from strategic round with Coinbase Ventures (closed last week)
- $18 million Series A with Paradigm
- $2 million from Seed round with Polychain
Top Partners
In addition to Coinbase Ventures, Paradigm, and Polychain, other notable investors include: Casey Caruso, Packy McCormick, Manifold, GSR, Will Price, Jez, SCB 10X, Defiance Capital, Contango, Auros Ventures, MH Ventures, BoxGroup, and Will Manidis. These are partners who believe that data will be the fundamental resource for AI in the future.
