thesis

BitcoinFi Accelerator

Recent developments in Bitcoin have sparked an extraordinary level of interest from developers, who are now more eager than ever to create products on Bitcoin. Leading the charge, Draper Associates, and Thesis have been instrumental in advancing Bitcoin development, notably launching the first Bitcoin accelerator back in 2014. A decade later, we're thrilled to reintroduce a Bitcoin focused accelerator program.
BitcoinFi Accelerator is an exclusive 6-week builders program to accelerate innovative applications built on Bitcoin. This program aims to unlock Bitcoin’s economic value and scalability by providing cutting-edge resources, expert mentorship, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Our focus is on supporting teams that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Bitcoin.
The program will be primarily async with in-person components.

🔎 Focus Areas

We are seeking startups that will redefine and expand the capabilities of Bitcoin as a growing currency in the global economy and as a developer platform powering new applications in finance, social engagement, and more. Key areas of interest include:
Decentralized Finance:
Decentralized Exchanges, innovations in lending, borrowing, staking, and restaking platforms.
Perpetuals, stablecoins, and onramps that are secure, easy to use, and accessible to a global audience.
Protocols to onboard traditional assets such as stocks, commodities, treasuries, and more.
Community-Driven Platforms:
Decentralized social networks (DeSo), NFTs, and meme tokens that engage and unite communities in new and meaningful ways.
Games, prediction markets, and social clubs that foster vibrant, active communities and drive chain activity.
Developing social platforms that leverage Bitcoin’s unique properties to deepen connections and create community-driven value in various fields: Decentralized science (DeSci), infrastructure (DePin), and more.
Improved UX:
Building tools and infrastructure to accelerate Bitcoin’s adoption through providing quality user experience in wallets, onramps, online payments and more.

🙌 What We Offer

Unlocking the Economic Value and Scalability of Bitcoin: Leverage Bitcoin's unmatched security and liquidity to build scalable solutions that can capture emerging market opportunities.
Mentorship and Engineering Support: Access world-class mentors and engineers who will guide technical challenges and business strategies.
Technical Resources: Utilize advanced infrastructure and tools to accelerate development, from prototyping to deployment.
Networking and Distribution: Connect with a highly engaged network of investors, industry leaders, and influencers who can help scale your project.
Funding: Explore opportunities for follow-on funding from a network of aligned investors and partners committed to your success.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Stage of Development:
Must have a working demo, preferably an MVP, and be at the Pre-Seed stage
For teams that have already raised: no more than $1m in funding to date
Team Composition:
Teams must include a technical co-founder.
At least 3 team members with complementary skills (e.g., business development/growth/sales, technical, marketing).
Innovation & Market Potential:
Projects should demonstrate clear innovation and differentiation in their approach.
Teams must have a clear target market and a well-defined go-to-market strategy, aligned with the program's focus areas.

⏳ Program Timeline

Mid-September: Program Launch & Application Open
The Bitcoin Acceleration Program officially kicks off with the release of the application form. Teams are invited to submit their applications, showcasing their innovative solutions and outlining how they align with the program's goals.
Mid-September to Mid-October: Application Period
Applications will be accepted during this time, and teams can participate in informational webinars and Q&A sessions to better understand the program's expectations and opportunities.
Mid-October to November: Selection Process
Our selection committee will carefully review all applications. Selected teams will undergo interviews to assess their project’s potential, technical viability, and market strategy. Finalists will be notified and onboarded into the program.
November to Mid-December: Batch 1
The selected teams will participate in an intensive 6-week program. During this time, they will work closely with mentors, access technical resources, and refine their products in preparation for market launch. The program will culminate in a final showcase with further funding opportunities.

🔔 Get in Touch

To receive information about the BitcoinFi Accelerator, please complete the form below by September 15.

🔗
Click here to access the interest form
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🤝 BitcoinFi Accelerator Partners

Boost VC: Boost is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on being the first check for sci-fi. In the crypto space, that means prescient positions in companies like Coinbase and EtherScan. o learn more, please visit:
https://www.boost.vc/
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Draper Associates: Draper Associates, founded in 1985 by Tim Draper, is a seed-stage venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs drive their businesses to greatness. Tim Draper is among Silicon Valley's most prominent venture capitalists and invested in legendary companies such as SpaceX, Tesla, and Coinbase. He is an ardent proponent of Bitcoin and is one of the world’s largest holders of the cryptocurrency. To learn more, please visit:
https://www.draper.vc/
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Thesis: Thesis is a venture production studio, funding and building brands on Bitcoin. Thesis has supported multiple successful brands, including the launch of Mezo -- a new leading Bitcoin L2 -- as well as Acre, tBTC, and Fold, among others. Thesis has also garnered investments from leading Venture Capital firms, including a16z, Polychain Capital, ParaFi, Fenbushi, and more. To learn more, please visit:
https://thesis.co/
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