The Sei Foundation announced the launch of Sapien Capital—Open Science Fund I with a $75 million budget to support decentralized science (DeSci) startups on the Sei Network.
Investment Strategy Overview
The fund will invest in both tokens and equity in DeSci projects, with investment amounts ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. The full amount will be deployed over the next three to four years. Although Sei Foundation fully backs the fund, the possibility of involving external investors remains open for the future.
Fund's Key Focus Areas
Sapien Capital—Open Science Fund I will focus on areas such as:
- **Wearable technology**: advancing real-time health monitoring and data collection. - **User-owned data collectives**: empowering individuals to control and monetize their data. - **Gamified drug discovery**: using blockchain incentives to speed up pharmaceutical research.
Barlow noted that these areas have the potential to bridge the gap between niche scientific communities and mainstream adoption.
Growth and Challenges of DeSci
Decentralized science is transforming the conventional scientific research landscape. By using blockchain technology, DeSci platforms allow researchers to share data openly and secure funding without intermediaries. However, the sector faces challenges such as skepticism from the scientific community and regulatory issues. Sei Foundation aims to collaborate with academic institutions to build trust.
In November 2023, YZi Labs invested in BIO Protocol, making it one of the first notable moves in this sector. Major venture capital firms like a16z are showing interest, investing in blockchain-powered science projects.
The launch of Sapien Capital—Open Science Fund I marks a significant milestone in the development of decentralized science. The fund aims to support innovation and build the infrastructure for future scientific discoveries.
