NEW YORK CITY, NY – 10/02/2026 – (SeaPRwire) – EV3 Ventures has announced the close of its second investment fund, securing $61.74 million in committed capital to support early-stage startups building crypto-enabled infrastructure. The oversubscribed fund positions the firm to lead pre-seed and seed rounds for founders developing new models of ownership, coordination, and service delivery powered by decentralized technologies.
Founded and led by Mahesh Ramakrishnan and Salvador Gala, EV3 Ventures focuses on what it identifies as a long-term structural shift toward user-generated and people-owned infrastructure. The firm’s thesis centers on the idea that crypto networks enable individuals to directly own, operate, and earn from real-world services, rather than acting solely as contributors to centralized platforms.
EV3 points to the rapid growth of the gig economy as evidence of both opportunity and imbalance. While a significant portion of the U.S. workforce participates in platform-based services, the firm argues that many existing models concentrate value at the corporate level, leaving workers with limited influence or upside. In contrast, crypto-based coordination mechanisms are seen as a way to align capital, labor, and incentives through transparent, network-driven systems.
A core investment focus for EV3 is the emergence of people-powered infrastructure across sectors such as telecommunications, energy, computing, logistics, and advertising. The firm believes these industries are well positioned for disruption through decentralized ownership structures and community participation.
EV3’s first fund, launched in 2022, backed companies including Daylight in renewable energy, Dawn in fixed wireless broadband, and Opacity in verifiable digital identity. Collectively, these portfolio companies have raised more than $50 million in follow-on funding from investors such as a16z Crypto, Framework Ventures, and Dragonfly Capital. Additional investments span areas including extended reality, drone services, and influencer marketing.
Beyond capital deployment, EV3 Ventures has adopted an open-research approach, publishing detailed investment analysis publicly. The firm views this transparency as a strategic advantage, helping attract founders who are pursuing unconventional ideas and exploring emerging frontiers in crypto-enabled services.
The new fund is being raised at a time when crypto markets present a mixed picture. While overall market capitalization has recovered toward previous highs, venture fundraising in the sector remains subdued. New fund formation has slowed since 2022 as limited partners apply stricter standards, favoring disciplined strategies and execution-focused teams.
EV3 believes these conditions favor investors with conviction and experience across market cycles. Having launched its first fund during a prolonged downturn, the firm positions itself as a partner to founders willing to build through volatility and challenge prevailing assumptions.