INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
DeFi
Discover the power of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)—a landscape where accessibility meets innovation.
The future of the DeFi industry shines bright with promise. Leveraging blockchain technology and P2P networks creates an open, transparent, and accessible financial system. DeFi platforms enable direct, secure access to services like loans, trading, and insurance without intermediaries. Despite the recent regulatory and security hurdles, the improvements in scalability and compliance are fueling the DeFi industry’s growth, providing startups with more opportunities to capitalize on.
At Waveup, we know all the ins and outs of fundraising and driving business growth. Our experts specialize in pitching potential DeFi investors via compelling and insightful DeFi pitch decks. Plus, we craft impeccable business models and market entry plans, assist in securing the necessary funding, and scout for the best M&A opportunities.
Dive deeper into the sector’s nuances by reviewing our DeFi market research.
16x
DeFi is poised for a whooping 16x growth over the next 7 years.
$850B
In 2022, decentralized exchanges saw $850 billion in trades from 5.6 million unique wallets.
200%
DeFi users tripled in three years, hitting 4.8 million in 2022.
$2B+
The volume of daily transactions across decentralized exchanges globally.
Every 2nd
Crypto-related pitch is DeFi-focused nowadays
VENTURE LANDSCAPE
In 2022, DeFi startups attracted over $2.7 billion in funding
With the largest deals going to:
- Banking
- Borrowing and Lending
- Wallets
- NFTs
WAVEUP VIEW
The challenges of DeFi startups
The enormous growth potential of the DeFi industry comes with a number of challenges.
Security concerns
DeFi platforms are prone to hacking and security breaches. It’s due to the ongoing development of technology and issues involved in smart contracts and decentralized protocols. Thus, DeFi startups need to focus on implementing rigorous security measures and employing cutting-edge encryption technologies.
Regulatory uncertainty
DeFi isn’t still well regulated. Governments and regulators are working on how to manage this new kind of financial system to keep it safe and legal. Unclear regulations may lead to operational disruptions, increased costs, and legal risks. And such uncertainty can also make investors cautious about funding DeFi startups.
Economic moats
Investors admit that almost half of the crypto pitch decks are DeFi-focused. It means that there are hundreds of DeFi startup projects searching for funding. And although the DeFi industry is on the investor radar nowadays, it may be hard to attract the necessary funding due to such high demand. If founders want to stand out and carve a piece of an investment pie, they need to focus on presenting unique technology with its benefits and a defensible moat.
How we can help
Fundraising advisory
From diligent business analysis to storytelling and financial forecasts, we’re helping founders crystallize and structure key business fundamentals and translate them into a compelling investment opportunity.
Due diligence and portfolio support
Evaluating potential investments, conducting thorough due diligence, and supporting portfolio companies on their new fundraising rounds.
Growth hacking
Discovering market opportunities and developing execution strategies to build actionable and scalable blueprints for growth.
WHO WE ARE
Unlocking your next stage of growth
We turn data into business insights that drive results, helping companies excel in the competitive B2C and B2B spaces across 50+ verticals, discovering and catalizing opportunities for growth.
Our investment consulting services for DeFi startups
Market intelligence
Fundraising support
Pitch decks
Financial models
Investor research
Growth consulting
Go-to-market strategies
Marketing/sales materials
Design support
FAQs
How attractive is the industry to potential DeFi investors?
The DeFi industry is the focus of both investors and the community. It’s an innovative and promising sector, revolutionizing the traditional financial system. Plus, the decentralized nature of the industry makes it more resistant to manipulation and censorship.
If you are a DeFi startup, how easy is it to raise funding today?
It’s more difficult than easy to attract the necessary funds nowadays. It’s due to the market’s competitive nature, as almost half of crypto projects are DeFi-focused.
How long does it take to create a pitch deck and financial model for a DeFi startup?
Normally, our experts complete all the documents in 14-21 days. But in case of project complexity or a busy schedule, it might take a bit longer to finish the project. Thus, it’s better to negotiate the time completion in advance.
What are the key mistakes DeFi startups make in their pitch decks?
An impeccable DeFi pitch deck needs a clear and catchy investment story right from the start since grabbing investors’ attention is key. Plus, you need to showcase a solid plan for breaking into the market as well as a viable business model. Keep it light and engaging—too many charts or tables can dull the sparkle and bore VCs. The bad news is that most DeFi pitch decks miss the mark here, losing out on potential funding.
How competitive is the DeFi market?
The DeFi market is highly competitive, with over 1K DeFi startups and numerous established players like Uniswap, Aave, and Compound.
What services do you provide for investors looking to invest or already investing in DeFi?
We help investment funds conduct thorough due diligence on potential DeFi projects to determine their investment viability. Additionally, we offer complete fundraising assistance to the portfolio companies of our partner funds.
Do you provide DeFi M&A support?
Sure thing! We can help detect and assess new DeFi M&A opportunities and support initiatives by devising CIM documents, valuing companies, and conducting modeling for buy-side and sell-side transactions.
Do you make intros to DeFi VCs?
If there’s a match in terms of round size, team, product, etc., we can link you with prominent DeFi VCs. Our core competency, though, lies in structuring the investor outreach to secure first meetings at scale with investors interested in the field.
Do you have available data or research to purchase on the DeFi market?
Certainly! We provide tailored insights into the DeFi sector. Our research encompasses in-depth industry evaluations, competitive analyses, and comprehensive market surveys for you to get a distinctive edge. Leveraging reliable data sources, we ensure you understand the intricacies of the DeFi landscape, covering its potential and hurdles.
Which growth stage of companies have you worked with in the past?
We help DeFi startups by guiding them through the Seed to Series B growth stages, along with assistance in pre-seed and Series C+ stages and cooperation with top industry players and VC funds.
Leverage Waveup's unmatched expertise in fundraising, M&A advisory, and growth hacking to take your project to the next level. Share your email, and let's discuss how we can help!