Is Web3’s Next Boom Coming from Africa, LATAM, and Asia? Lisk Bets $15 Million on It

Core Insights - Lisk has launched a $15 million initiative, the Lisk EMpower Fund, to support Web3 startups in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, aiming to counter the saturated Western venture capital market [1][2] - The fund will provide up to $250,000 in capital per startup, along with advisory services on regulatory compliance, tokenization, and fundraising strategies [2][5] - Lisk's strategy focuses on identifying value in regions often overlooked by global VCs, with a belief that necessity-driven entrepreneurship leads to more resilient founders [3][4] Investment Opportunity - Emerging markets present an estimated $5.2 trillion untapped investment opportunity, with historical venture returns averaging 9–11% annually over the past 15 years [4] - Many founders in these regions often bootstrap to Series A traction without institutional support, which Lisk views as a positive indicator of resilience [4][5] Early Recipients - Initial beneficiaries of the fund include startups like Lov.cash (South Africa), Afrikabal (agritech), IDRX (Indonesia), and SigraFi (gold-backed lending), showcasing a diverse range of sectors [3][6] - The CEO of Afrikabal highlighted the transformative impact of the fund, providing capital, credibility, and community support [6]