London-based asset manager Fasanara Capital has launched a $350 million investment fund to back fintech and cryptocurrency startups that can deliver new use cases for the emerging Web3 economy.
The company, which manages $3.5 billion in assets, is targeting early-stage startups in the fintech and crypto spheres. It plans to establish long-term relationships with project founders and other industry veterans. This includes potentially larger equity commitments than traditional venture capital firms.
Founded in 2011, Fasanara Capital is a fintech investment firm increasingly specialized in digital assets and lending technologies. The company is regulated by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority and has the backing of the European Investment Fund, a Luxembourg-based financial institution that facilitates small business loans through private banks and funds.
Web3 participants need to recognize its potential to revolutionize participation in various fields. https://t.co/pf6seKA2hc
— Cryptox (@Cryptox) March 14, 2022
Two of Fasanara’s portfolio companies recently achieved unicorn status: ScalaPay, an Italian payment service provider, and Grover, a German smartphone and subscription service company. In the startup world, a unicorn is a company that achieves a valuation of $1 billion or more.
Venture capital funding into fintech and cryptocurrency startups continues to grow as investors look to identify the next wave of disruptive technologies. In Europe alone, more than 750 fintech financing deals totaling over $27 billion were reported in 2021, according to the organizers of the Tech.eu Summit. Meanwhile, data from Cryptox Research shows that crypto startups closed 1,349 deals in 2021 at a total value of roughly $30.5 billion.
Related: GameFi is showing signs of a mature landscape: Report
Despite evidence of a bear market looming over the cryptocurrency industry, venture funding in the space has shown no signs of slowing in 2022. In the first quarter alone, crypto startups saw $14.6 billion in cumulative inflows from the venture capital community.
