DeFi Base Camp: Introducing Cohort 2

The first cohort of DeFi Base Camp came to a close in early July. We feel lucky to have been able to watch and help the growth of those ventures — the ones that hold the promise of delivering real innovation to DeFi and Web3.

Although crypto builders have faced some tough times lately, the startup founders in our Base Camp program have shown great resilience. Kima Finance (previously Diversifi), IdentDeFi, and Obey have all closed their fundraising rounds, while Sumeria is weeks away from launching on mainnet.

To build on the success of our first six projects, we decided to increase the number and accept seven total for our second cohort of DeFi Base Camp. We gave priority selection to project proposals that fell into these categories:

• Improved DeFi infrastructure that enables user adoption of Web3 applications
• Cross-chain infrastructure for better interoperability and safer liquidity management
• Market neutral and sustainable DeFi built on revenue and value creation
• MetaFi use cases that create DeFi primitives for the metaverse
• CeFi/TradFi <> DeFi solutions that allow for better onboarding and engagement from TradFi

Cohort 2 includes 0xKYC, Casten, Smilee, Starfall, SuperHedge, Vyper Protocol, and Caviar (prev. Danu Finance).

0xKYC | Website

0xKYC is a compliant, zero-knowledge identity solution. The protocol creates a soulbound token that proves a user is not on a money laundering list or a PEP, without exposing their name or other types of personally identifiable information.

Casten | Website | Twitter

Casten is building the gateway for institutions to invest and manage their DeFi-enabled structured finance products.

Smilee | Twitter

Smilee is a new DeFi primitive that allows the shorting of liquidity pool tokens, rewriting impermanent loss into impermanent gain, and by that creating the first natively convex payoff in DeFi.

Starfall | Twitter

Starfall is a trust and safety layer for DeFi and NFTs that utilizes machine-learning algorithm target bots for fraud detection.

SuperHedge | Website | Twitter

SuperHedge is a DeFi options vault (DOV) with a focus on principal-protected structured products to allow users to safely express their market view.

Vyper Protocol | Website | Twitter

Vyper Protocol is a DeFi primitive that allows users to create, trade, and settle derivatives in a fully permissionless manner.

Caviar | Twitter

Caviar is a NFT-AMM that allows users to instantly buy or sell any NFT.

What is DeFi Base Camp?

DeFi Base Camp is a three month, fully remote program that provides direct support across all areas critical to the success of early DeFi and Web3 projects. In collaboration with Outlier Ventures, we focus on accelerating projects with the next generation of builders.

Our program is designed to help you navigate the complex world of decentralized finance, and equip you with the resources and knowledge you need to launch a successful project. We provide intensive support in areas like product development, community building, marketing, and fundraising, so you can focus on what you do best.

If you’re ready to take your project to the next level, DeFi Base Camp is the perfect place to start. Get more info here.