For founders, finding a balance between community engagement and strategic VC partnerships is key. Rob Hadick, general partner at Dragonfly, said VC will continue to be the primary way to help entrepreneurs innovate, and crowdfunding can and will be "a value-added part of this story."
Neoclassic Capital co-founder Michael Bucella, formerly of Goldman Sachs and BlockTower Capital, believes that platforms such as Echo can provide mass distribution and syndication services, but noted that these platforms currently "don't have a lot of other features." While Neoclassic does not actively recommend these platforms, Bucella said, "As we become more familiar with these platforms, we may be more inclined to include them as co-investors in our lead transactions." He emphasized that VC advice remains crucial for founders, especially in top projects.
Erick Zhang, managing partner of Nomad Capital and founder of the newly launched IC0 platform BuidlPad, encourages projects to combine the two models. He recommends that founders raise funds from VCs that provide strategic value (such as connections and expertise), while using platforms such as BuidlPad, Echo and Legion to attract community and angel investors. (The Block)