Lisk is a Zug, Switzerland–based growth platform designed to support Web3 founders in scaling their companies globally. The firm integrates incubation, investment, and advisory services, operating almost like a boutique investment bank for early-stage startups. Lisk’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs in emerging markets by combining capital with strategic support, helping them reach investor readiness for international fundraising rounds.
The Lisk EMpower Fund targets Web3 startups solving real-world problems in payments, remittances, identity, and supply chain, with a geographic focus on Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Its thesis centers on supporting companies that combine blockchain infrastructure with practical applications that address systemic inefficiencies in high-growth but underserved markets.
In October 2025, Lisk announced the EMpower Fund, a $15 million venture initiative. The fund is led by Gideon Greaves, Head of Investments, and is structured to integrate incubation, due diligence, and growth capital.
The model also leverages tokenization to streamline LP subscriptions, enable secondary market liquidity, and allow participation from retail LPs, a novel approach among VC funds.
Leadership
The fund is led by Gideon Greaves, who brings expertise in blockchain venture building and investment structuring. Under his leadership, Lisk combines operational guidance with capital deployment to help founders navigate scaling and global fundraising.
Investment Strategy
The EMpower Fund provides $250K per startup alongside hands-on support in areas such as financial modeling, legal structuring, fundraising strategy, and investor relations. Through partnerships with local incubators, Lisk identifies promising ventures early, then provides both strategic and financial backing to prepare them for Series A and B rounds.
Notable Investments
The fund announced its first four portfolio companies:
Notable Exits
As a newly launched fund, Lisk EMpower has no exits yet.
Other
Lisk’s model is end-to-end: beyond capital, it acts as a boutique investment bank, helping with storytelling, structuring, and investor introductions.
The tokenized LP structure is also noteworthy, offering innovative liquidity and access compared to traditional VC setups.
Dominic Schwenter - COO
Jan Hackfeld - Chief Research Officer
Shusetsu Toda - Chief Technology Officer
