Money and VCs: How to Invest and Raise Capital in Web3

Money and VCs: how to invest and raise capital in web3

Overview

How does venture capital invest in web3 and what do funds look for today? In this MERGE Madrid panel, Google Cloud and Treitius VC (one of Spain's first web3-focused funds) discuss investment thesis, market maturity, the big trends (RWA, stablecoins, tokenization), the role of regulation and advice for founders raising capital.

What you'll learn

• Investment thesis: infrastructure, interoperability, cybersecurity and tokenization
• Market maturity: from hype cycles to a more solid ecosystem
• Trends: RWA, the “stablecoin summer” and institutional adoption
• The branding challenge: how to make web3 more understandable for the everyday user
• Regulation: why it is key for adoption and investment decisions
• How to raise capital: team, market validation and which investors to target

Session summary

Thesis and roles: Treitius VC describes a broad thesis within web3, focused on infrastructure (interoperability, products built on it), cybersecurity and tokenization; Google Cloud explains the role of partnerships with funds (credits, AI, experts and community) to help founders and funds grow (noting the views expressed are personal).

Maturity and cycles: it reviews the hype cycles (Bitcoin in 2017, NFTs in 2020-21) and debates what the next big consumer use case will be, with RWA as a candidate.

Trends: it highlights real-world asset tokenization (with an example of tokenized guarantees for microcredits), the “stablecoin summer” (international trade, salary payments, yield) and institutional adoption, citing moves such as NASDAQ's interest in tokenizing.

Branding and necessity: it debates whether web3 needs a “branding upgrade” to reach the everyday user, and how in some countries (such as Venezuela) stablecoins are already a real necessity against the loss of value of the local currency.

Regulation and investment: there is agreement that regulation is key for adoption and for investment decisions; after the market cooled in 2022, funds now look for more mature founders, reasonable valuations and real value propositions.

How to raise capital: tips include leveraging resources like Google Cloud credits, being strategic when choosing investors (aligning thesis, check size and stage), and showing a solid team, market validation and willingness to pay; as next focuses it cites digital identity, content and music, RWA and, for one panelist, Bitcoin.

Watch the full talk

Watch the full recording on MERGE's YouTube channel, with Google Cloud and Treitius VC on investing in web3.

FAQs

What do web3 funds look for today?
According to the panel, mature founders, solid teams, market validation, reasonable valuations and real value propositions, beyond the hype.

What are the big trends?
Real-world asset tokenization (RWA), stablecoins and institutional adoption.

How should a founder raise capital?
By being strategic: targeting investors whose thesis fits, showing team and traction, and validating that there is a market willing to pay.

Is this investment advice?
No. This content is informational and summarizes personal opinions expressed in the panel; it does not constitute investment advice. Consult a professional for your specific situation.