Latest news with #OutlierVentures

Byzanlink secures $1 million backed by Outlier Ventures

Wamda

a day ago

Business
Wamda

Byzanlink secures $1 million backed by Outlier Ventures

UAE-based RWA tokenisation platform Byzanlink has closed a $1 million private funding round backed by Outlier Ventures, NTDP Saudi Arabia, Smart IT Frame, Sensei Capital, and other angel investors. Founded in 2024 by Anbu Kannappan, Byzanlink operates from DMCC in Dubai, building infrastructure to tokenise traditional financial assets, offering institutional and retail investors broader access, enhanced transparency, and operational efficiency through blockchain rails. The new capital will fuel product development, expand ecosystem integrations, and strengthen regulatory alignment. Byzanlink aims to offer professionally managed, yield-bearing digital instruments, anchoring itself as a core compliance-ready infrastructure layer in the emerging global tokenised asset economy. Press release: Byzanlink, a real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation platform bridging traditional finance and decentralised finance (DeFi), has raised $1 million in a private funding round. The raise attracted a group of early supporters, including Outlier Ventures, NTDP Saudi, Smart IT Frame, Sensei Capital and angel investors Murali Kulala (CEO, Smart IT Frame), Salman Butt (Co-founder, Salla), and Christopher, a seasoned fintech investor, along with several other prominent angel backers. Based in Dubai's DMCC, Byzanlink is building infrastructure to modernise access to institutional-grade investment opportunities through blockchain-based tokenisation. The platform is designed to bring greater transparency, operational efficiency, and broader accessibility to financial assets that have traditionally remained out of reach for many investors. 'Support from such a diverse and forward-thinking group of partners is a strong signal for what we're building,' said Anbu Kannappan, Founder and CEO of Byzanlink. 'We believe the next generation of financial infrastructure will be powered by transparency, automation, and access. We're committed to building that foundation.' With this new capital, Byzanlink will accelerate product development, deepen ecosystem integrations, and strengthen the operational frameworks that support regulatory alignment and institutional adoption. The platform aims to align traditional investment structures with modern financial rails, creating a foundation where capital moves faster, more openly, and with greater programmability. As the tokenisation of real-world assets gains global momentum, Byzanlink is positioning itself as a core infrastructure layer supporting compliant, yield-bearing financial products for institutions, fintechs, and digital-native treasuries. The company's approach centres on a multi-asset model, with plans to support a range of professionally managed, blockchain-native financial instruments. While exact offerings are under development, the platform will prioritise security, liquidity, and real-time transparency. This funding milestone marks a significant step in Byzanlink's journey to reshape how capital is allocated, managed, and accessed in the digital economy.

Outlier Ventures, NTDP and NEOM conclude the first deep tech Web3 accelerator program in Riyadh

Zawya

23-02-2025

Business
Zawya

Outlier Ventures, NTDP and NEOM conclude the first deep tech Web3 accelerator program in Riyadh

Riyadh, KSA — Outlier Ventures, the world's leading deep tech Web3 accelerator, has successfully concluded its inaugural FutureSpark Base Camp in Riyadh. The program was conducted in strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia's National Technology Development Program (NTDP) and was supported by NEOM, providing participants with essential resources and expert guidance. The FutureSpark Base Camp was the first deep-tech Web3 accelerator in Saudi Arabia and is part of Outlier Ventures' commitment to growing the Web3 ecosystem globally and driving innovation in the region. The FutureSpark Base Camp saw an exceptionally competitive application process, with an acceptance rate of less than 2%. The cohort comprised teams from countries including Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal and the Marshall Islands. The select group of high-potential projects were chosen to participate, representing diverse sectors including Gaming, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Payment Solutions, Real World Assets (RWA) and Digital Identity, playing critical roles in shaping the future of the internet and directly aligning with our Post Web thesis. Launched in October 2024 in Riyadh, the FutureSpark Base Camp aimed to support the founders, creating a program that helped drive the growth and development of the selected startups. Outlier Ventures evaluated and advanced startup teams in the areas of token design, engineering, legal, marketing, finance, and more along with networking opportunities and guidance from mentors. The cohort also attended an intensive four-day workshop held in NEOM in January. The accelerator program concluded in Riyadh with an in-person Demo Day, where startup founders from Astra Nova, Byzanlink, Feed Protocol, Kodex, LIFT, Ouroboro Labs, Sorbet, Waslah and YalGamers, showcased their vision to a packed audience of 200+ distinguished guests, including investors, venture capitalists, and key government representatives. Prominent speakers at the event included Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO of the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and Stephan Apel, Founding Partner and CEO of Outlier Ventures. The program also organised a virtual Demo Day in February, offering the cohort an opportunity to present to a global audience. Stephan Apel, the CEO and Founding Partner of Outlier Ventures, said: 'The FutureSpark program supported an incredible cohort of founders in the Kingdom backed by our leading Web3 experts. It has been fantastic to see founders' progression over the 12-week program and we look forward to seeing their continued growth. The heart of the FutureSpark Base Camp is the passion of Web3 that drives the ecosystem. It is an honor for Outlier Ventures to launch its first Middle East accelerator in the Kingdom and to partner with such prestigious institutions as NTDP and NEOM who are continuing to support the founders in their journey. It is great to see this continued collaboration and we look forward to the ongoing success from the cohort.' Outlier Ventures is known as an authority for Web3 innovators from all over the world. The firm has an investment portfolio of over 350 global projects and has helped startups raise USD 1 billion with a combined network value of USD 11 billion. As part of Outlier Ventures' focus on the (Middle East and Africa) MENA region, Riyadh was a key strategic location to host the inaugural FutureSpark Base Camp. In 2024, the Kingdom became a top destination for VC funds in MENA: local startups raised USD 750 million, 40% of the total USD 1.9 billion funding received by all projects in the Middle East and North Africa. Saudi Arabia boasts a strong tech ecosystem, proactive government initiatives, and investor confidence. Launching the first deep-tech Web3 accelerator in Saudi Arabia is part of Outlier Ventures' commitment to helping grow the Web3 ecosystem globally and driving regional innovation. About Outlier Ventures Founded in 2014, Outlier Ventures is the world's leading Web3 accelerator, with a renowned reputation as the go-to authority for Web3 founders, investors and partners across its Base Camp accelerator program and Ascent token launch program. With a portfolio of over 350 global investments and a combined network with a combined network value of USD 11 billion, Outlier Ventures has helped raise USD 1 billion in seed funding. Outlier Ventures' portfolio includes leading Web3 companies, including Biconomy,Boson Protocol, Brave, Cheqd, Cudos, DIA Data, IOTA, Ocean Protocol, Root Network and XAI. Learn more: About NEOM: NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. NEOM will include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate, and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in groundbreaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity. For further information email media@ or visit and About NTDP: The National Technology Development Program is an effective partner in supporting emerging technology companies through a suite of technical initiatives and partnerships that contribute to driving the digital economy in the Kingdom. To find out more, visit:

Yahoo

21-02-2025

Business
Yahoo

How AI could change the internet

In today's digital age, where endless scrolling and algorithmic feeds can dominate our waking hours, a tech innovator warns of an imminent crisis — and offers a radical remedy. On this week's episode of Yahoo Finance Future Focus, Outlier Ventures chairman Jamie Burke delved into the future of the internet, exploring whether it's destined to become a digital wasteland overrun by bots and shallow AI-generated content or if a powerful blend of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology can pave the way for a new era of intentional, meaningful online experiences. This vision is known as the "post web". For decades, the design of the modern web has hinged on a simple yet powerful business model — capture and retain user attention. According to Burke, this has led to a paradoxical digital experience. 'The web as an interface for people to do things over the internet has really formed around the attention economy,' he explained. 'We're doing things we'd rather not be doing. We settle for good enough, rather than necessarily the best outcome, simply because our attention is hijacked by algorithms engineered to keep us scrolling.' Read more: Quantum computers could expose sensitive data within years, says IBM scientist The digital landscape, he argues, is deliberately structured to distract and fragment our focus, often steering us toward suboptimal outcomes and shallow engagement. In essence, our online behavior has been reduced to a series of clicks and swipes that feed advertising revenues rather than meaningful interactions. But what if the nature of our digital interactions could be transformed? Burke sees a future where artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in shifting the focus from an attention economy to what he calls an 'intention economy.' 'Most people, by now, are using tools like ChatGPT — so much so that it might have already replaced traditional methods like Google search,' Burke said. 'When you input a query into a chatbot, you're expressing an intent — essentially telling the AI exactly what you want. This isn't just about finding information, it's about efficiently accomplishing tasks without the endless interruptions that characterise our current web experience.' In the future, AI-powered agents could carry out complex workflows on behalf of users. Instead of navigating a labyrinth of advertisements and distracting content, individuals could simply state their intentions and have sophisticated algorithms coordinate the necessary actions behind the scenes. 'You put out your intention, and the internet coordinates around solving that as effectively as possible,' said Burke. At the heart of Burke's vision is the rise of intelligent agents — advanced AI systems that can handle increasingly complex tasks. These agents would be autonomous entities capable of making decisions, sourcing the best information, and even executing transactions on behalf of their users. Read more: How will AI change the world of scamming? | The Crypto Mile However, as we delegate more responsibilities to these digital intermediaries, the issue of security and trust becomes paramount. The answer, according to Burke, lies in integrating blockchain technology into this emerging digital framework. Blockchain, with its inherent features of decentralisation and immutability, offers the verifiability and security that AI agents require to operate safely and effectively. 'Blockchain technologies allow for characteristics such as sovereignty, permissioning, greater levels of security, and ultimately, ownership,' Burke said. He envisions a future where every digital transaction — whether it involves tangible assets like cryptocurrencies or intangible ones like personal data — is recorded in a way that can be independently verified. This could give users with more control over their information and interactions. 'Agents will select different blockchains for different tasks,' Burke said. He thinks a range of blockchain platforms could coexist, each tailored to specific functions and requirements. Another concern is the potential for malicious AI agents to disrupt or exploit these systems. Burke pointed to a recent news story in which a woman was duped into believing she had formed a relationship with a digital facsimile of actor Brad Pitt. In this case, AI-generated images and videos were weaponised to perpetrate fraud. Read more: Sovereign agents: Your own personal AI assistant? | The Crypto Mile 'This is perhaps an extreme example of the weaponisation of AI,' Burke warned. 'Not all agents are there to be helpful and nice; some are going to be malicious. Some are going to try to hijack and defraud both people and other agents.' It is critical that any new digital infrastructure is built on a foundation of robust security and trust, according to Burke. Another aspect of Burke's vision is reclaiming digital sovereignty. In the current landscape, users are often at the mercy of platforms that control not only the content they consume but also the data they generate. By leveraging blockchain's decentralised architecture, it becomes possible to restore a sense of ownership and control to the individual. 'Imagine an internet where you don't have to surrender your personal data or trust a single centralised platform with your digital identity,' Burke said. In this model, blockchain would enable users to set precise permissions — defining what an AI agent can and cannot do on their behalf. This could pave the way for a more ethical and user-centric internet, where interactions are based on verifiable trust rather than opaque algorithms. Read more: UK's 'tax on employment' is hurting business, says Centrus CEO 6 crypto developments in 2025 that will keep fuelling bitcoin's rally What Trump's planned banking deregulation means for investors

AI could usher internet of intention and a 'post-web' online experience