EMpower Fund by Lisk Ventures
Backing Builders Where It Matters Most
Too often, founders in high-growth markets are overlooked by traditional capital. EMpower changes that. We’ve committed $15M to equip founders in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America with the capital and networks to compete on a global stage.
Emerging Markets in Numbers
Africa
4 in 10 – Africans are expected to use mobile wallets with Web3 rails by 2030.
$1.1T – Mobile-money flows in 2024, with two-thirds from Africa — now primed for stablecoins.
Latam
51% – Of consumers in Latam have made a crypto payment or transfer.
17× – Latam grew from 2 unicorns in 2015 to 35 in 2024.
SEA
32× – Unicorn growth across Southeast Asia from 2015 to 2024.
125% –With more mobile connections than people, Indonesia is built for Web3 adoption.
Global
65% – Of Web3 growth is happening in Africa, LATAM, and Southeast Asia.
40% – Micro VC funds deliver higher returns than large funds.
EMpower: $15M for Founders in High-Growth Markets
Overview
Strategy
For Founders
Your Gateway to Capital, Credibility & Global Reach
We invest in founders who are solving critical challenges with Web3 infrastructure.
01
Why Partner with Lisk?
Beyond capital, we offer strategic, hands-on support to sharpen your vision, secure global funding, and accelerate your growth.
02
Are You a Lisk Founder?
We’re looking for founders who demonstrate:
- Proven Traction: An MVP or early traction with consistent month-over-month growth.
- Emerging Market Focus: A strong commitment to high-growth regions.
- Product-Led Vision: A clear product-first development approach.
- Market Readiness: Ready to scale beyond incubation.
- Strategic GTM: A well-defined go-to-market strategy with effective distribution.
03
Our Value Proposition
As a Lisk-backed founder, you’ll receive comprehensive support including:
- Significant Funding: Up to $250K in seed investment, with potential for an additional $500K in follow-on funding.
- Strategic Advisory: Expert growth and fundraising guidance.
- Global Network: Introductions to top-tier global VCs and enterprise partners.
- Ecosystem Integration: Exposure to and support within the Lisk DAO ecosystem.
- Expert Guidance: Founder-driven and operator-led mentorship.
- Real-World Access: Access to local testbeds and pilot programs.
04
Your Path to Funding
We connect with founders through two primary avenues, ensuring the right support for your stage:
- Incubator Programs: Ideal for early-stage teams seeking structured development. Join our year-round programs in Africa, LatAm, and Asia. Successful graduates are fast-tracked into our investment pipeline.
- Direct Application: For more mature projects with significant traction, we offer a direct application path to our investment pipeline. This route is for founders with established Web3 solutions ready for immediate scaling.