Reviews of VentureStaking® by Doriot® praise its novel way to secure future investing rights while committing capital only after traction, highlighting lower risk and better alignment among founders and backers. Users say it widens access to early-stage investing, supports non-traditional founders, and encourages diversified portfolios. Many commend the team’s expertise and vision, calling the approach practical and timely. A developer notes it rethinks VC mechanics in a relatable, poker-like framework. Overall, sentiment centers on accessibility, incentive alignment, and potential to reshape early funding dynamics.
Fantasy Startup
@dean_smith10 We envision VentureStaking as the starting point for most founders, replacing the traditional friends-and-family round. Thereafter, founders would pursue Traditional Venture sources (i.e. Angels/VCs) while allowing their VentureStakers® to participate alongside on each funding round.
Fantasy Startup
👋 Hey Product Hunt friends,
I am the founder and CEO of Doriot® and the architect of VentureStaking®. I am excited to introduce this new system of capital creation to the Product Hunt community. Here's the pitch:
Venture Investing is a lot like poker—80% of your hands (investments) are throwaways, but you don’t know which until the cards are on the table.
In poker, you have an ante: a small bet that gets you in the game before going all in. In venture, there’s never been an ante—until now.
Welcome to VentureStaking® — a new funding model that allows anyone to back high-potential founders at the very beginning of their journey by purchasing rights (not obligations) to invest real capital later, when the startup is gaining traction. Here’s how it works:
A $10 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $100 in each of a founder’s future funding rounds.
Build a diversified portfolio of 50 early-stage founders for just $500—minimizing risk by up to 90% while harnessing the Power Law of venture
Then, choose to invest real capital later only in the startups that are objectively winning — and do so on the same terms and conditions as VCs.
And the model scales with your risk appetite and financial means:
For example, a $2,500 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $25,000 in a founder’s future rounds — regardless of who else is investing. It’s a game that rewards those who act early — and align with progress.
For founders, it’s a game-changer. They can raise early R&D rounds without giving up equity—speeding up funding and building a committed community from day one.
Here's how we pull the best from the top models:
Thiel Fellowship > Raise $200-$250K in R&D capital without selling equity
Kickstarter > Instead, sell a product (access and education) + optionality
Wefunder > Acquire a committed community at the very beginning of the journey
Y-Combinator > Weekly accountability to the community during R&D phase
It’s venture, flipped. A model driven by merit, not money or connections.
@gerryhays This is interesting! Do you think it’s better to invest early based on a founder(s) belief system or when there’s a more clear-cut vision of the company itself?
Fantasy Startup
@michael_greenberg3 A VentureStake is a bet on the founder. But the real investment comes after you have more form around the project.
love this model for every right reason. The poker analogy is brilliant when you consider it's not high-stakes poker at a casino, rather high-impact, high-reward...and you don't become a gambling addict! Bravo, Gerry. Let's go.
Fantasy Startup
@scott_mcintyre1 Thanks Scott!!!
It’s clear there’s real hunger for a more inclusive and aligned model of early-stage investing. How do we ensure that early community supporters, those who bet on a founder before the world does, stay engaged, informed, and truly aligned as that startup grows?
Fantasy Startup
@pranav_kanagala Great question! As part of the agreement to raise a VentureStaking Round, founders are required to provide weekly updates to their VentureStakers® during the R&D Phase. For example, you can VentureStake in Doriot right now, and you’ll be added to our private community, where I provide weekly updates on our progress and next steps.
I love this idea, and think it is very well structured and thought out. What are your short-term goals for Doriot in the next 6-12 months?
Fantasy Startup
@keegan_cobleigh Phase I, R&D phase, is nearly complete! We've proven the model and we're closing the first-ever VentureStaking® round on July 31, 2025. Phase II is build and launch two Arenas (next 12 months).
VentureStaking is a game-changer! However, I did have one question: Will Doriot ever integrate blockchain into VentureStaking? If so, how? Again, this product will do great things and I cannot wait to see how it grows!
Fantasy Startup
@benjamin_lavender Yes, VentureStaking® will be a native application atop the Bitcoin blockchain.
This seems like a very innovative idea! So much so that it might irritate those involved in traditional VC. How do you plan on navigating this and do you think this will hurt your chances of gaining traction?
Fantasy Startup
@lindsey_white This model fundamentally disrupts the traditional venture landscape—but ultimately, we believe the shift toward it will be inevitable. It’s simply a superior system for capital creation and entrepreneurial support. At this stage, I’m confident that if we’re adequately capitalized to build and deploy the system at scale, traditional venture players won’t be able to stop its momentum. While conventional venture continues to serve the top 1%, our mission is to empower the 99%—founders and VentureStakers alike—who are ready for a winnable game.