How to Pitch Paradigm
A crypto-and-web3-native thesis, deep technical research capability, and why generic fintech framing won't work here.
What Paradigm is
Paradigm is an investment firm focused specifically on crypto and web3 technologies, investing across stages from seed through growth. The firm is particularly known for its research arm, which publishes original technical research on protocol design, mechanism design, and cryptography — giving Paradigm's investment team a level of technical depth in this specific category that few generalist funds can match.
What Paradigm actually evaluates
Genuine technical and protocol-level novelty. Because Paradigm's own team includes researchers with deep cryptography and mechanism-design expertise, the firm's diligence goes well beyond a generalist financial or market-size evaluation — expect detailed, technically substantive questions about protocol design, security assumptions, and mechanism incentives.
Founder technical credibility in the space. Given the highly technical nature of Paradigm's evaluation, founders benefit from genuine, demonstrable technical depth in crypto and web3 specifically — a founder without real technical grounding in the space faces a harder diligence conversation here than at a generalist fund.
Long-term thesis alignment with where the category is heading. Paradigm's research-driven approach means the firm often evaluates a specific company against its own longer-term, well-developed thesis about where crypto infrastructure or applications are heading, not just the current market narrative.
Security and mechanism-design rigor. Given the unique risks in crypto protocols specifically, Paradigm's diligence includes real scrutiny of security assumptions and incentive design — a protocol with unaddressed mechanism-design vulnerabilities faces a difficult conversation regardless of other strengths.
Metrics Paradigm looks for by stage
Seed: Technical novelty and founder credibility matter more than traction; a well-reasoned, technically sound protocol design can carry significant weight even pre-launch.
Series A and beyond: Real usage and adoption data specific to the crypto or web3 context (on-chain activity, protocol usage, developer adoption), evaluated against Paradigm's own research-informed view of the category.
How to get a Paradigm meeting
Given the firm's technical research focus, direct engagement with Paradigm's published research — demonstrating genuine familiarity with the team's technical thinking — can be a meaningful way to stand out. Warm introductions through the broader crypto and web3 technical community, including other portfolio founders and researchers, carry real weight given how concentrated and technically-minded this specific ecosystem is.
What gets you passed
A protocol design with unaddressed security or mechanism-design vulnerabilities. A pitch that leans on market narrative rather than genuine technical substance. And a founding team without credible, demonstrable technical depth in crypto or web3 specifically.
Skip the cold outreach. Submit one structured application and get matched to every relevant fund in the PitchProtocol network — pre-screened, pre-researched, and delivered directly to fund partners. Apply to the First 100 Founders Cohort →
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Paradigm invest outside of crypto and web3?
No — this is a specific, deep focus area for the firm, reflecting its research-driven investment approach.
What stage does Paradigm invest at?
Seed through growth, with flexibility depending on the specific opportunity and category conviction.
Does Paradigm's research team play a role in diligence?
Yes — the firm's technical research capability is a genuine differentiator, directly informing how deeply the investment team can evaluate protocol-level and mechanism-design questions.
Is there a faster way to get my application in front of Paradigm without a warm intro?
Yes. PitchProtocol routes your structured application to matched funds — including deep technical specialists with Paradigm's thesis profile — with independent research, thesis alignment scoring, and your follow-up questions pre-answered. Apply to the First 100 Founders Cohort →