VentureStaking lets anyone lock in future investing rights in ambitious, talented, and prepared entrepreneurs — only committing real capital once traction is proven.
Replies
Best
How do you plan to advertise and normalize this new form of venture capital? Do you see any potential threats or setbacks from the traditional venture capital industry?
Will venture staking be able to be used by all types of startups? Or will there be certain candidates who would fit best using venture staking over traditional VC?
Really impressive reframing of early-stage investing — VentureStaking feels like it captures the spirit of angel investing while solving for its biggest pain points: high risk, low signal, and low accessibility.
One question I had: how do you envision balancing community enthusiasm with founder protection? Especially as creators and solo builders (vs. traditional founders) enter the fold, what safeguards are in place to prevent speculative hype from misaligning with a builder's pace or vision?
Loving the blend of Thiel, Kickstarter, and Wefunder DNA here. Looking forward to watching this grow. 👏
@charlie_bakos Doriot is where everyone comes together for the purpose of capital creation, grounded in the principles of shared risk, shared information, and shared prosperity. A VentureStaker®'s license is based, in part, on their behavior. What we need is constructive input—period.
Any behavior that crosses into personal attacks against a Founder—whether inside or outside the system—will first lead to a suspension, and then revocation of VentureStaking® privileges. Even if enforcing this means limiting our short-term growth, the integrity of the system is non-negotiable.
To help maintain this standard, we will use AI moderation tools to flag comments as green, yellow, or red. Simply put: if anyone wants to tear others down, they can go to social platforms. There will be a decorum
Report
This flips the venture model in such a clever way. I’m curious how you plan to vet founders before offering VentureStakes? Will there be a community-driven review process or some kind of due diligence layer?
@minh_phan14 Founders will go through three stages of vetting:
Doriot Foundation – Founders must pass background checks and complete the QAI (Qualified Accredited Investor) Certification.
Arena Admission – Founders then must be accepted into an Arena to pitch. Arenas will be geography-based, university-based, or mission-based, with additional “general” Arenas available. This structure ensures founders are matched with the VentureStakers® most aligned with their vision.
VentureStaker® Decision – Once in an Arena, it’s the VentureStakers® who decide which founders receive a Doriot Fellowship and the accompanying $200,000 grant to launch R&D by pledging enough VentureStakes®. In this sense, the VentureStakers® are voting on who receives a Fellowship.
@abhi_bejgum And, a way to more efficiently discover which startups have real promise!
Report
This is a really cool idea! It makes early-stage investing feel way more accessible and less risky. I like how it gives people a way to support founders early without needing a ton of money up front. How do you decide which founders get on the platform?
This sounds like an exciting and exclusive opportunity. I look forward to seeing how this model progresses and redefines what venture capital can be. Congrats on the launch!
@srihitha_kanamatareddy Thank you! But you don't have to just watch. You can be a part of this from day one and potential profit for a future investing opportunity in Doriot. Our VentureStaking round closes on 7/31. VentureStakes® start a $10 for the right, not obligation, to invest $100 in each of our future rounds if they arise.
Replies
How do you plan to advertise and normalize this new form of venture capital? Do you see any potential threats or setbacks from the traditional venture capital industry?
Fantasy Startup
@grady_hadar We're heading to the Frontier. There will be threats and setbacks. Joining us?
what startups do you guys wish you could have invested in before they blew up?
Fantasy Startup
@kristen_keating Stripe
Will venture staking be able to be used by all types of startups? Or will there be certain candidates who would fit best using venture staking over traditional VC?
Fantasy Startup
@abigail_blythe Many founders that are VentureStaked® will raise from traditional venture (i.e. Angles/VCs). It's not an either or situation.
Fantasy Startup
@abigail_blythe All types!!! We never know what comes from a seed when planted. Someone that starts a bakery could very well create an empire!
Revolutionary!
Fantasy Startup
@noah_e !!!
Fantasy Startup
@noah_e !!
Really impressive reframing of early-stage investing — VentureStaking feels like it captures the spirit of angel investing while solving for its biggest pain points: high risk, low signal, and low accessibility.
One question I had: how do you envision balancing community enthusiasm with founder protection? Especially as creators and solo builders (vs. traditional founders) enter the fold, what safeguards are in place to prevent speculative hype from misaligning with a builder's pace or vision?
Loving the blend of Thiel, Kickstarter, and Wefunder DNA here. Looking forward to watching this grow. 👏
Fantasy Startup
@charlie_bakos Doriot is where everyone comes together for the purpose of capital creation, grounded in the principles of shared risk, shared information, and shared prosperity. A VentureStaker®'s license is based, in part, on their behavior. What we need is constructive input—period.
Any behavior that crosses into personal attacks against a Founder—whether inside or outside the system—will first lead to a suspension, and then revocation of VentureStaking® privileges. Even if enforcing this means limiting our short-term growth, the integrity of the system is non-negotiable.
To help maintain this standard, we will use AI moderation tools to flag comments as green, yellow, or red. Simply put: if anyone wants to tear others down, they can go to social platforms. There will be a decorum
This flips the venture model in such a clever way. I’m curious how you plan to vet founders before offering VentureStakes? Will there be a community-driven review process or some kind of due diligence layer?
Fantasy Startup
@minh_phan14 Founders will go through three stages of vetting:
Doriot Foundation – Founders must pass background checks and complete the QAI (Qualified Accredited Investor) Certification.
Arena Admission – Founders then must be accepted into an Arena to pitch. Arenas will be geography-based, university-based, or mission-based, with additional “general” Arenas available. This structure ensures founders are matched with the VentureStakers® most aligned with their vision.
VentureStaker® Decision – Once in an Arena, it’s the VentureStakers® who decide which founders receive a Doriot Fellowship and the accompanying $200,000 grant to launch R&D by pledging enough VentureStakes®. In this sense, the VentureStakers® are voting on who receives a Fellowship.
Fantasy Startup
@minh_phan14 Yep! See comments above!
excited about venture staking. Great way to build up investing knowledge with low capital!
Fantasy Startup
@abhi_bejgum And, a way to more efficiently discover which startups have real promise!
This is a really cool idea! It makes early-stage investing feel way more accessible and less risky. I like how it gives people a way to support founders early without needing a ton of money up front. How do you decide which founders get on the platform?
Fantasy Startup
@nicholas_ventura See comments above!
This sounds like an exciting and exclusive opportunity. I look forward to seeing how this model progresses and redefines what venture capital can be. Congrats on the launch!
Fantasy Startup
@srihitha_kanamatareddy Thank you! But you don't have to just watch. You can be a part of this from day one and potential profit for a future investing opportunity in Doriot. Our VentureStaking round closes on 7/31. VentureStakes® start a $10 for the right, not obligation, to invest $100 in each of our future rounds if they arise.
Fantasy Startup
@srihitha_kanamatareddy Thanks!
I’m really excited to see this grow to fruition. The market is in great need of a more democratic form of venture capital.
Fantasy Startup
@grayson_lusco Join us! www.doriot.com
Fantasy Startup
@grayson_lusco Agreed!