“Angel” investors ≠ angels. 👼❌

Founders don’t say “choose investors like co-founders” for fun.
They say it because things get weird, and then you find out who they really are.

What is this: naivety… or pure ragebait?

If you’ve seen something like this, drop the story (no names). 👇

🤖 Building Vertical AI: where the real AI opportunity lives

Vertical AI is not another SaaS upgrade. It’s a shift from selling software to automating expensive human labour.

LLMs made it possible to tackle workflows that were untouchable before: legal analysis, medical documentation, audits, compliance, and reporting.
That’s why Vertical AI doesn’t fight for IT budgets. It goes straight to the labour line in P&L.

What matters most for founders at the early stage:
these points help you focus on workflows that actually unlock ROI and long-term advantage.
▪️ Solve one painful, repeatable workflow first
▪️ Prove clear ROI early, not just “AI magic”
▪️ Start with a breakthrough feature and earn the right to expand
▪️ Automate progressively, humans stay in the loop
▪️ Move fast before incumbents react

We visualised the 4 key frameworks for choosing a Vertical AI product idea in the infographic above.
👉 Check it before locking your roadmap.

🔗 Learn more about building Vertical AI products here.

How to actually win on Product Hunt in 2026 🚀

Product Hunt isn’t broken. The old launch playbook is.

Our new article is based on 127 real Product Hunt launches across AI, Web3, and dev tools. And the pattern is pretty clear: most teams don’t fail because of bad products. They fail because they’re playing by rules that no longer work.

Yes, we’ve talked about Product Hunt before. But this piece goes deeper. It pulls together patterns, benchmarks, and system-level insights you won’t find in generic launch threads or recycled X advice. A lot of it comes from things teams usually only understand after a launch underperforms.

😺 In 2026, winning on Product Hunt isn’t about rankings. It’s about building a launch that turns attention into users, activation, and eventually revenue. That’s what this article breaks down, step by step, without hype or growth-hack theatre.

What you’ll learn:
▪️ Why most launches fail now (including algorithm shifts few people talk about)
▪️ The 4–6 week prep sequence that separates the top 5% from the rest
▪️ How to run launch day without triggering spam signals
▪️ The 30-day post-launch system that turns upvotes into revenue

If Product Hunt is anywhere on your roadmap, this is worth reading.
👉 The full article here

Build the system first. Results come after.

🚨 Coinbase Ventures 2026: what they say vs what they actually fund

While a lot of founders are pitching AI agents and RWA buzzwords, Coinbase Ventures is quietly writing checks somewhere else.

Here’s the part that’s uncomfortable but important:
▪️ The public thesis talks about AI agents, RWA perps, and on-chain credit
▪️ Actual capital still goes into stablecoins, payments, DeFi primitives, and infra
▪️ Being aligned with the Base ecosystem massively improves your odds

This gap between narrative and capital is where a lot of pitches die.

In our latest blog, we break down:
how CV really invests, which stages they prefer, why “boring infra” keeps winning, and how founders should position their 2026 roadmap without chasing hype.

If Coinbase Ventures is on your investor target list, this is worth reading.

👉 Full breakdown

🎙 Demo Day is live again

As promised, we’re back with another Demo Day. Not the first one — and definitely not the last.

The Demo Day is an exclusive virtual session together with Easy MM, bringing TGE-ready Web3 startups directly in front of investors, launchpads, and exchanges.

Projects pitching today:

◾️ ChimpX
An AI-powered DeFi super app that simplifies cross-chain asset management and lets users interact with multiple dApps from one interface.

◾️ Flipper
A Solana-based AI DEX aggregator unifying liquidity across chains, with advanced trading tools already live.

◾️ Legacy Protocol
A Web3 fan engagement platform starting with PSG-focused Matchplay, showing early traction and preparing to scale post-TGE.

◾️ Triumph
A GameFi studio building AI-enhanced free-to-play games with real digital ownership, early revenues, and a token launch ahead.

◾️ Mummy
A GameFi project focused on accessible gameplay, bringing users onchain through Web3-native progression.

🎥 If you want to see what Web3 founders are actually building right now — and what investors are paying attention to — this is worth watching.

👉 Join the live stream

Enjoy the Demo Day 🚀

🧠 How to actually read the Coinbase Ventures 2026 thesis

Coinbase Ventures doesn’t invest in ideas for the sake of ideas.
They invest in leverage.

And in practice, leverage means distribution.
It means Base.
It means USDC.
It means products that already live on-chain and are used today — not “this will matter after mainnet”.

That’s where a lot of founders miss the point.

They chase AI agents and RWA narratives because that’s what the thesis sounds like. Meanwhile, Coinbase Ventures keeps backing payments, stablecoin rails, and infrastructure that quietly compounds real usage across the ecosystem.

The skill here isn’t copying the thesis line by line.
It’s translating what you’re building into Coinbase’s language without rebuilding your entire startup around buzzwords.

In our article, we break down:
🔎 how founders can position themselves for CV in 2026, what actually triggers interest, and why on-chain traction still beats even the cleanest deck.

👉 Full analysis

Vote, guys, vote 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nelli-orlova_building-a-small-fundraising-copilot-as-activity-7422936169136664576-CB5U

🚀 2026’s Hottest Web3 Innovations Backed by Real Data

Markets are maturing, users are selective, and capital is flowing to startups that turn attention into measurable results. On InnMind, we spotlight the most promising teams tackling Web3 social, AI ops, tokenized RWAs, trust infrastructure, and retail-friendly DeFi.

Some numbers to keep in mind:
◾️ Web3 social platforms could grow to $471B by 2034 at 50%+ CAGR.
◾️ Tokenised real-world assets reached $30B in Q3 2025, up 10x from 2022.
◾️ Digital identity is projected to exceed $90B by 2030, with programmable payments unlocking huge operational efficiencies.

InnMind helps you learn about these promising teams and discover the tools and insights that will define the next generation of Web3 winners.

💡 Dive into the full article to see which startups are leading the charge and why they matter. Read the article

📅 What’s coming up: Web3 events worth bookmarking

We keep expanding the InnMind events calendar so you don’t miss where real conversations, deals, and partnerships actually happen. If events matter for your roadmap, it’s worth checking the calendar regularly.

Here are a few upcoming ones to keep on your radar 👇

🎮 Global Games Show Riyadh 2026
🗓 June 29–30, 2026

A global meeting point for gaming, esports, and interactive entertainment. Expect deep dives into gaming tech, monetization, and strong networking across developers, publishers, and investors.

⛓️ Global Blockchain Show 2026
🗓 June 29–30, 2026

One of the largest Web3 gatherings, with thousands of attendees. Focus on blockchain infrastructure, AI integration, governance, and ecosystem growth, with strong international representation.

🤖 Global AI Show 2026 – Riyadh Edition
🗓 June 29–30, 2026

Two days focused on real-world AI deployment. Keynotes, panels, workshops, and demos, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and business impact.

🌐 Wiki Finance Expo Hong Kong 2026
🗓 July 23–24, 2026

Asia’s largest fintech and Web3 event, covering crypto, AI in finance, payments, DeFi, and regulation. Strong networking, a broad audience, and free registration are available.

Plan, stay connected, and use the InnMind calendar to turn events into real opportunities 🤝

📉 The 2026 pitch deck reality check

Investor attention is shrinking fast ⌛️

In 2022, investors spent ~3:40 per deck.
In 2026, you’re lucky if you get a bit over 2 minutes.

That’s not a design problem. It’s a relevance problem.

We’ve just published a deep, no-fluff guide on how Web3 and AI founders actually get investor replies in 2026 — based on real DocSend data and thousands of decks reviewed at InnMind.

Here’s what we break down (and why it matters):

▪️ Why a deck’s only real job is earning a call — not closing a round
▪️ What investors actually scan in slides 1–6 (and what they skip entirely)
▪️ Why “AI wrappers” and generic “community” slides stopped working
▪️ How Web3 decks win with real yield and on-chain proof
▪️ How AI decks win with unit economics and agentic workflows

This isn’t another template.
It’s a look at what happens on the other side of the table when a tired investor opens your deck at 11 PM.

👉 Read the full article

Build decks that earn conversations — not silence.

POV: a European founder explaining VAT to your team

5–7% → “Ok, reasonable.”
10–15% → “Alright, manageable.”
22–27% → “WHAT? That’s killing business.”

And that’s just the standard rate: Spain 21%, Portugal 23%, Sweden 25%, Hungary 27%.
Some countries add extra rules for digital services.
Sometimes you need registrations, filings, reports + an accountant who charges more than your dev.

You’ll adapt. One day… 🫠

Meanwhile, governments: “We support innovation.”

💡 Web3 startups shaping 2026

The next wave of Web3 innovation isn’t about hype anymore. It’s about solving real problems with products people actually use.

On InnMind, we’re seeing the same pattern across the strongest teams: they’re turning complexity into usable systems and demand into traction.

The areas where this shows up most clearly:
🌐 Web3 social — engagement loops that actually convert, not just noise

🤖 AI ops — automating growth and content instead of scaling teams

🪙 Tokenized RWAs — unlocking liquidity around real, income-generating assets

🔏 Trust infrastructure — simplifying contracts, identity, and payments

🏦 Retail DeFi — making trading usable, guided, and intuitive

In the article, we break down why these startups are gaining traction now — and what makes them stand out as the market matures.

👉 Read the full article

🚀 XFounders 2026 Bootcamps are open for applications

If you’re building in Web3, AI, or Fintech — and already have real traction — this could be your next step.

XFounders is a membership-based rolling accelerator for Seed and Series A startups focused on scalable growth, sustainable revenue, and practical use of emerging tech.

No hype-driven Web3. No token-first shortcuts.
Just infrastructure, execution, and real business fundamentals.

Why founders join:

🔹 4-week in-person bootcamps (LATAM, MENA, Africa, Asia)
🔹 Tailored 1:1 expert sessions
🔹 Direct access to ecosystem partners and active investors
🔹 Fast-track grant opportunities
🔹 Marketing support and media visibility (2.5M views across XFounders episodes)
🔹 Long-term global founder, operator, and VC network

This is built as a long-term partnership — not a one-off program.

📝 Eligibility

You should have:
• $300K+ in external funding (including grants)
OR
• $10K+ in monthly revenue

Plus:
• Complementary founding team skills
• Interest in integrating with the blockchain partner (Starknet Foundation)

🔥 If you meet the criteria and are ready to scale globally, apply here.

☠️ Your pitch deck dies by slide 6

Here’s what actually happens when an investor opens your deck:
▪️ ~78% never get past slide 6
▪️ The first 3 slides take ~63% of total attention
▪️ Only ~11% ever reach the “ask”

This isn’t an opinion. It’s behaviour data.

Your deck isn’t being read. It’s being scanned, filtered, and quietly rejected — often in under 3 minutes.

That’s why:
❌ Long storytelling doesn’t work
❌ “We’re the Uber for X” doesn’t work
❌ Pretty decks with no proof don’t work

Investors are usually asking one simple question:
“Do I want to spend 30 minutes talking to these founders?”

If the answer isn’t clear by slide 3, the file gets closed.

We broke down how investors actually scan decks in 2026, what earns a call, and what gets ignored in our new guide for Web3 & AI founders.

👉 Read it here

Build a deck that survives the first 180 seconds 💪

Founders: “Why are investors ghosting us?”

Investors: (video)

It’s not personal. It’s portfolio PTSD. What was deployed in 2025 - still bleeding in 2026.

Market reality: investors aren’t bullish rn - they’re rekt.

Founders who win are the ones who reduce perceived risk: traction, crisp GTM, milestones.

How? We break this down weekly on InnMind Office Hours.

PS: If you’re raising soon, join Office Hours (PRO) - we’ll tear down your “risk points” in 45 minutes.

From Hype to Utility: What This 2026 Crypto Report Confirms About Investor Behavior 💼

We came across the new Crypto Marketing in 2026: A Complete Playbook by Lunar Strategy.
Let’s break down what Web3 founders can actually learn from it and why this matters for your fundraising strategy 👇

Here are the key insights that stood out:

🔹 Utility > Attention
The report heavily emphasizes utility, trust, compliance, metrics, and real adoption. The narrative is shifting toward sustainable ecosystems, not short-term growth hacks.

🔹 Trust is a Growth Lever
Trust is positioned as a core pillar alongside adoption and rewards. Strong compliance, transparency, and real product value are becoming competitive advantages.

🔹 AI + Data-Driven Decisions
AI and metrics are central themes. Projects are expected to operate like real tech companies, with measurable KPIs and optimized funnels, not vibes and speculation.

🔹 Adoption Over Speculation
The focus moves toward platforms, infrastructure, and user onboarding. Sustainable user growth beats token hype cycles.

🔹 Compliance is Part of Strategy
Regulatory awareness is no longer optional. Mature founders build with long-term positioning in mind.

This shift is not only happening in marketing. We see the exact same pattern in Web3 investing.

Investors are becoming more selective. They look for revenue signals, real product usage, sustainable token models, clear market positioning, and strong fundamentals.

We have been talking about this trend on InnMind.

This report reinforces what serious founders already understand:
Hype cycles fade. Utility compounds.

If you are building a Web3 startup and want to grow sustainably and sharpen your strategy, register on InnMind and move from noise to traction. 🚀