💸 AI Got $40B in Funding. 95% of It Went Nowhere

Last week, MIT released a report that shook the tech world.
They looked at 300+ enterprise GenAI projects… and found that 95% created zero measurable business value 📉
That’s tens of billions of dollars — gone. Pilot after pilot that never made it to production.

Sounds like a bubble, right?🎈

But here’s the twist: the same researchers say this failure rate is expected.
They point to the Everett Rogers S-curve (attached), showing how new technologies always stumble before they scale.
In other words: this might not be a collapse — it might just be the early stage of transformation.

📌 So what’s really going on?

Some see an industry burning cash on tools that don’t deliver.
Others see natural growing pains as AI finds its real product-market fit.

MIT’s report doesn’t kill the dream — it just documents the chaos before clarity.

🔗 Here’s the article that breaks it all down

💬 Is AI overhyped… or are we just entering the real builder phase? What do you think?
Share your take in the comments 👇

🧠 Linea’s Tokenomics Drop Is a Wake-Up Call for Founders

No fluff, no mercy — just the raw mechanics behind one of the most controversial L2 airdrops of 2025.

📌 Dual-burn token model
📌 No investor/team allocations
📌 2k LXP threshold that cut off 60%+ wallets
📌 Centralized consortium instead of DAO
📌 $1.27B TVL with surging DeFi traction

This isn’t just another airdrop drama. It’s a signal. The bar for earning token value is rising — and builders need to adapt.

If you’re designing your own token model, or trying to understand what VCs will expect from your distribution logic — study this case. This is what ruthless, institutional-aligned tokenomics looks like.

💡 Founders: use this to stress-test your own approach.

🎨 NFT hype is gone. What’s left?

Christie’s just shut down its dedicated digital art department.

Yes, that Christie’s — the auction house that sold Beeple’s NFT for $69M in 2021 and helped put NFTs on the global map.

What happened?
👉 The NFT buzz faded.
👉 Revenue dropped.
👉 Priorities shifted.

Now, Christie’s will still sell digital art — but buried in the broader “20th & 21st Century Art” category. Translation: NFTs are no longer the headline act.

At the same time, NFT marketplaces like MakersPlace and Async Art have disappeared. Even major exchanges like Kraken & Bybit quietly killed their NFT platforms.

And yet…
💡 NFT market cap recently hit $9.3B.
💡 Ethereum-based collections are growing.
💡 Projects like CryptoPunks and Pudgy Penguins are still trading.

So, what gives?
This moment is a reminder for every Web3 founder and investor: the digital asset space changes fast. Today’s darling can become tomorrow’s side note.

📌 Focus on real use cases, not hype waves.

🧠 Your turn: Do you think NFTs will evolve into something meaningful again — or has their moment passed?

Drop your thoughts in the chat 👇

🛡 For founders, a VPN isn’t optional — it’s infrastructure

If you're building a startup in Web3, AI, or crypto, unrestricted access and security aren’t just "nice-to-have" — they’re essential.

Why Surfshark VPN matters:
🔐 Secure workspaces: encrypt your code, assets, and research even on public Wi-Fi
🌍 Bypass geo-blocks: access APIs, platforms, and tools no matter your location
🧠 Protect sensitive workflows: from DAO ops to exchange logins, keep it all private
🎯 Stay compliant and flexible: test products, markets, or ads in multiple regions without friction

🎁 InnMind community bonus — extra months for free:
+1 month on the 1-month plan
+3 months on the 12- or 24-month plan

🌐 Claim your extra time here

📲 Build globally — without borders or fear

🧠 60-Second Tokenomics Stress Test
— Most Web3 founders will fail it.

If you’re launching a token, take 60 seconds and answer brutally honestly:
How resilient is your token economy?

Count 1 point for every YES:

1️⃣ Have you modeled supply shocks at TGE and do you have liquidity reserves to absorb dump pressure?

2️⃣ Do you know your true FDV at listing and how it compares with early investor entry prices?

3️⃣ Is your unlock schedule balanced — avoiding both retail exit liquidity for VCs and founder overhang?

4️⃣ Can you quantify runway vs. token inflation — i.e. how long emissions cover growth before demand lags?

5️⃣ Have you stress-tested listing economics — CEX fees, market maker costs, and whether they’re even ROI-positive?

⸻

🎯 Your Score:
✅ 5 = You’re launch-ready 🦾
✅ 3–4 = You’re close, but leaks exist 🔧
✅ 0–2 = 🚨 Your tokenomics will collapse under market pressure

💬 Drop your score in the comments — no shame, just insight.

📊 If inflation risk, liquidity planning, or unlock pressure are weak points — explore InnMind’s Tokenomics Calculator:
A pro-grade framework to simulate inflation, prevent supply shocks, validate unlocks, and build investor trust through transparent capital allocation.

👉 Check it out here

🧠 Save Time. Never Miss a Word. 30% Off tl;dv for Founders 🚀

Startup life is chaotic. Your calendar’s full of investor calls, team syncs, and partner meetings — and remembering every insight is impossible.

That’s why smart founders use tl;dv, the AI meeting assistant that records, transcribes, and summarizes every conversation — across Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams.

🔥 Now inside the InnMind Perks Club: get 30% OFF for the first 6 months of tl;dv Pro.

Why founders love tl;dv:
▪️ AI notes in 30+ languages for global teams
▪️ Auto-generated summaries for investor updates & board reports
▪️ 100+ integrations with tools like Slack, Notion, and CRMs
▪️ Timestamped highlights you can clip & share instantly

Start for free, upgrade only if you need more power. tl;dv isn't just a notetaker — it's your AI memory for every critical conversation.

🎁 Claim your exclusive 30% off through InnMind — and stop losing time on meeting notes.

👉 Get the Deal via InnMind Perks Club

🚨 New in InnMind Event Calendar: Must-Attend Web3 Events for Startups! 🚨

🔥 Whether you’re building, fundraising, or scaling — these global events are where Web3 founders & investors connect, pitch, and grow. Add them to your radar👇

👩 EmpowHER in AI
🗓 September 29

An exclusive AI + Web3 event built for women-led innovation. Expect community-first vibes, high-impact networking, fireside chats & pitch zones.
🔗 Event Link

💸 Future Blockchain Summit X Fintech Surge
🗓 October 12–15, 2025 – Dubai

Where DeFi, fintech, and AI collide. 250+ global speakers, 1,200+ investors, live product launches, and investor matchmaking at the world’s largest startup & investor forum. 🚀
🔗 Event Link

🇪🇺 European Blockchain Convention
🗓 October 16–17, 2025 – Barcelona

Join 6,000+ founders, investors & leaders at Europe’s top blockchain conference. Expect startup battles, 10,000+ curated 1:1 meetings, VIP networking, and more. 🎟 Use code: Innmind15 for discount
🔗 Event Link

🧠 Global AI Show Abu Dhabi
🗓 December 8–9, 2025 – Abu Dhabi

AI meets policy, investment, and real-world innovation. 200+ speakers, 5,000+ attendees, and a deep dive into AI’s role in governance, finance, and sustainability.
🔗 Event Link

🎮 Global Games Show Abu Dhabi
🗓 December 10–11, 2025 – Abu Dhabi

Where gaming, esports, Web3 & AI collide. Expect cutting-edge demos, next-gen tech, global publishers, and elite networking with 5,000+ attendees.
🔗 Event Link

🌐 Looking for more interesting Web3 events?
Explore the full calendar on InnMind — where top investors & startups meet.

📊 RWA in 2025: From Pilot to Product — What Founders Should Know

Just dropped: the latest 2025 RWA Market Report by Dune x RWA.xyz.

This isn’t just another “crypto trends” doc. It shows how tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) are no longer theory — they’re now fully operational products with real traction.

And this shift opens a huge new wave of opportunities for builders — especially in lending, payments, and DeFi UX.

🧩 Key takeaways + ideas for you:

1️⃣ U.S. Treasuries on-chain
BlackRock’s BUIDL hit $2.2B in under 18 months. Real yield, daily access, multichain.
💡 Build: 1-tap yield apps with simple deposit/withdraw UX.

2️⃣ Private Credit is growing fast
$15.9B market cap. Maple paid $92M+ in interest and offers both DeFi-native and KYC options.
💡 Build: plug-and-play investor dashboards showing “how much I earned” clearly.

3️⃣ Euro-denominated RWAs take off
Spiko’s euro fund hit €300M. High demand for yield without USD conversion.
💡 Build: onchain euro accounts for startups + freelancers.

4️⃣ Institutional funds go DeFi-native
Janus Henderson’s $750M CLO fund now integrates into Aave and DEXs via deJAAA.
💡 Build: ready-made routes with human language inside dApps.

5️⃣ Stocks, ETFs & gold on-chain
Ondo’s tokenized ETFs hit $150M. Fractional, 24/7, redeemable.
💡 Build: “Web3 investing” super apps bundling RWAs with stable yield + exposure.

🚀 Why now?
Because we’re beyond experiments. As the report notes, the RWA market grew 224% since early 2024. This isn’t the future — it’s the present.

💡 Building something in this space? Develop your startup with InnMind → innmind.com

The 5 Traps That Quietly Kill Good Startups (and how to dodge them)

Founders don’t usually die from a single bad decision. They bleed out from small, predictable mistakes they thought they were “too smart” to make.

Here are the five we keep seeing, and the counter-moves that actually work:

1️⃣ Building before proving
You don’t have an MVP; you have an MVR (minimum viable risk).
If 10 target users won’t pre-commit, your roadmap is a to-do list for a product no one needs.

2️⃣ Strategy by vibes
Great products still lose to distribution, timing, and price.
Own one unfair advantage (channel, dataset, regulation insight) or you’re playing hope-poker.

3️⃣ Unit economics that only work in a spreadsheet
If LTV/CAC < 3 with real retention, you’re subsidizing demand.
Tighten ICP, raise price, kill channels that can’t pay back in < 6 months.

4️⃣ Operational drag
Scaling ≠ hiring faster. It’s failing cheaper.
Instrument onboarding, refunds, churn — weekly. If you can’t explain the trend, you can’t fix it.

5️⃣ Fundraising avoidance masquerading as “discipline”
Bootstrapping is a strategy, not a religion.
If your category is speed-sensitive, undercapitalization is a slow death.

Ask anyone who’s scaled in trading or fintech: the scars are the same.
B2BROKER has helped 500+ firms avoid those traps over the last 12 years, and now they’re sharing the unfiltered lessons on what actually scales and what quietly implodes.

What you’ll get on their channel (weekly, concise, no fluff):

✅ Post-mortems that map mistake → metric → fix
✅ Operator checklists (validation, pricing, CAC payback, compliance traps)
✅ Tech & market shifts that matter (with numbers, not hype)
✅ Short frameworks you can paste into your next ops or board doc

If you’re a founder or investor who prefers signal over slogans, it’s worth a follow.

👉Avoid the mistakes, get the lessons: https://t.me/b2broker

P.S. Sponsored content. We only spotlight channels we’d read ourselves. If it’s not tactical and founder-useful, it doesn’t make the cut. We share it because it’s practical.

📉 SEO Is Dead. What’s Next for Web3 Founders? Meet AI-SEO

If you're still relying on classic SEO strategies to grow your Web3 startup, you might already be invisible.

In our new video interview, we sit down with Crypto Rank — the team behind cutting-edge AI-driven SEO for crypto projects — to break down what’s changed and how founders are quietly bleeding money by ignoring this shift.

Inside the interview:
🔍 Why traditional SEO fails in Web3 and crypto?
⚙️ How AI-SEO tools are transforming discoverability?
💸 Costly mistakes that drain your budget with 0 ROI
📈 Real startup case studies scaling visibility with AI

💬 Plus: We ask the big question — will AI fully replace SEO by 2026?

This is Part 1 of the series, and it’s a must-watch if you're building in a niche, noisy market like crypto.

🧠 For traction-hungry startups, AI-SEO might be the biggest unlock this year.

👇 Watch the full interview here & drop your take in the comments:
https://youtu.be/k6Z4Nc5rSpk?si=3AEje5jY-4xiBMnd

😡 Avoid Co-Founder Conflicts Before They Start

Too many great startups crash early due to misalignment between co-founders — not the market.

That’s why we’ve added a Founders Agreement Template to our Knowledge Base. A plug-and-play contract written in plain English that helps you:

✅ Define equity splits, roles & responsibilities
✅ Set vesting and IP rules
✅ Handle exits and decision-making
✅ Show investors your team is aligned

🧠 Designed for SaaS, AI, Web3, and crypto startups — globally.

✍️ Just fill it out, review with your team, and sign. Your startup’s future self will thank you.

👉 Download now

🎁 New PERK for Startups: AI-SEO Audit + 25% Off from CryptoRank

Recently, we interviewed with CryptoRank, an AI-SEO team specialising in LLM optimisation for crypto projects, DeFi protocols, and exchanges. They continue to share value with our community: through InnMind, you will receive 25% off LLM optimisation services and a free audit.

Most Web3 teams are invisible in AI search because classic SEO doesn’t help them appear in agent answers. With CryptoRank’s AI-SEO, your startup can rank inside AI agent answers and turn that visibility into qualified leads and customers.

👉 Claim it here.

You can find more attractive deals here. Be discoverable today, unstoppable tomorrow 🚀

🔎 AI-SEO for Web3 Startups: Part 2️⃣ with CryptoRank

This week, we’re closing the AI-SEO topic for Web3 startups. As promised, here is Part 2 of our interview with our friends at Crypto Rank.

📌 Quick refresher on Crypto Rank:
experts in AI-driven SEO for Web3 who break down why traditional SEO no longer works for startups in this space, and how ignoring AI-SEO quietly drains visibility and budget. Their team specialises in getting crypto projects, DeFi protocols, and exchanges to rank inside AI agent answers.

What you’ll learn in Part 2:
▪️5 actionable AI-SEO tactics to scale visibility in Web3
▪️How to align content with search intent using AI
▪️Case studies of crypto startups tripling traffic with AI-SEO
▪️The new role of AI-driven tools in fundraising and investor discovery

If you’re building in Web3, this is not optional. AI-SEO is a growth lever you can deploy today 🚀

▶️ Watch Part 2 now

💭 Question for you:
What’s the biggest challenge you face in making your startup discoverable online? Drop your answer in the comments.

🛑 Stop Cofounder Chaos Before It Starts

Founder breakups quietly kill more startups than market risk. The fix isn’t a 40-page contract; it’s a concise founders agreement that makes hard conversations straightforward and efficient.

We recently announced the Founder Agreement Template in the InnMind Knowledge Base. The new blog post complements that template with context and a step-by-step guide that founders can run immediately.

🧩 The traps that “feel fair” on day one and explode later: 50/50 without vesting, salary asymmetry, etc.
✅ The 10 decisions to lock in now: IP assignment, leaving terms, etc.
⏱️ A 60-minute script to align the team today, plus practical examples you can copy.

🔗 Read the article

➕ Save and share with your cofounder so you can protect the company and the relationship.