The Sei Foundation has launched a new venture fund, Sapien Capital—Open Science Fund I, aimed at supporting decentralized science (DeSci) startups on the Sei Network. This initiative seeks to revolutionize scientific research by leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency, funding, and data-sharing models.
Investment Strategy and Fund Allocation
The fund will invest in both tokens and equity of DeSci projects, with investments ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. According to Justin Barlow, Sei Foundation’s head of business development and investments, the full $65 million will be deployed over the next three to four years. The focus areas include wearable technology, user-owned data collectives, and gamified drug discovery.
The Growth of DeSci and Its Challenges
Decentralized science, or DeSci, is transforming the traditional scientific research landscape. By utilizing blockchain technology, DeSci creates decentralized platforms that allow researchers to share data openly and access funding without relying on centralized institutions. However, the scientific community has been slow to adopt blockchain-based models due to concerns about credibility and regulation.
Potential Obstacles and Solutions
Despite its potential, the sector faces challenges. The Sei Foundation plans to collaborate with respected academic institutions and life science companies to establish trust and encourage adoption of new models.
The DeSci sector holds significant promise for reforming scientific research with a focus on transparency and decentralized decision-making. An example of growing interest is Binance Labs' investment in BIO Protocol in November 2023.
