Fairshake Raises $4.9M From Winklevoss Twins

Hi NoRamp Community,

Daily News:

1) Aptos & Jambo Partner to Empower Emerging Markets Via Web3 Phone

2) Hack VC Closes ‘Oversubscribed’ $150M Fund For Crypto Startups

3) Fairshake Raises $4.9M From Winklevoss Twins

4) Adyen and Billie Partner on B2B BNPL in Europe

5) Erica Gee Appointed COO of Payment Solutions Vendor NXTMoves

Aptos & Jambo Partner to Power Emerging Markets Via Web3 Phone:

• The Aptos Foundation has partnered with Jambo Technology, a web3 developer for African markets, to enhance Web3 accessibility and education in regions with high potential for digital inclusion by leveraging Aptos's blockchain technology.

• The partnership's core product is the JamboPhone, priced at $99, designed for users in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America to access the digital economy, with the device available in over 40 countries and integrated with the Aptos network via pre-installed apps like the Aptos-compatible wallet Petra.

• The JamboPhone also features the Jambo App, which aims to educate users on leveraging web3 markets such as DeFi and gaming, contrasting with Solana's Android-based smartphone Saga, which debuted at $1,000 and is now receiving pre-orders for its second line at $500.

Hack VC Closes ‘Oversubscribed’ $150M Fund For Crypto Startups:

• Hack VC, a venture capital firm, has raised $150 million to invest in early-stage Web3 companies, with the round being oversubscribed as crypto venture activity continues to rise with increasing cryptocurrency prices.

• The firm, founded in 2017 by Ed Roman and Alexander Pack, focuses on modular infrastructure and tokenized real-world assets for stablecoin development, and boasts unicorns like Sui and Helium in its portfolio despite previous investments in collapsed projects Terra and BlockFi.

• Hack VC joins other crypto venture firms in announcing new funds amid a growing bull market, with recent raises by Lightspeed Faction and RW3 Ventures, and a PitchBook report indicating $1.9 billion in venture funding committed to crypto in Q4, a 2.5% increase from Q3.

Fairshake Raises $4.9M From Winklevoss Twins:

• Fairshake, a Super PAC supporting crypto-friendly candidates, has received a total funding of $4.9 million from billionaire twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of crypto exchange Gemini and prominent Bitcoin investors.

• The Winklevoss twins join a list of high-profile crypto investors backing Fairshake, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), ARK Invest, and crypto companies like Circle, Ripple, and Coinbase, with the Super PAC raising over $85 million to support leaders who endorse crypto and blockchain.

• Super PACs, like Fairshake, are prohibited from sending money directly to political candidates, but Fairshake has emerged as one of the most prominent campaign finance forces in the crypto space, having also spent millions opposing California Senate Candidate Katie Porter.

Adyen and Billie Partner on B2B BNPL in Europe:

• FinTech Adyen has partnered with B2B payments platform Billie to offer buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment services to online shops and marketplaces, initially in Germany, Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands, with more countries to follow.

• The integration aims to help merchants and their business customers manage cash flow, eliminate payment defaults and fraud risks, and simplify collection processes, providing an alternative to corporate credit cards with real-time credit approval and fraud protection.

• The partnership is expected to enable thousands of merchants across Europe to grow their customer base, modernize their B2B payment stack, and expand risk-free into new markets, with plans to extend the service to France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland in the coming months.

Erica Gee Appointed COO of Payment Solutions Vendor NXTMoves:

• NXTMoves, a US payment solutions provider, has appointed Erica Gee as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), with her expertise in scaling operations and driving process improvements expected to enhance client success and delivery.

• Gee, who recently served as principal at her business consulting firm Synergee Consulting, has a history of senior management positions at companies like Moov Financial, Interact Software, Dime Bank, and Geezo, where she was promoted to director of client success.

• Her appointment is part of a recent trend of new COO appointments in the fintech industry, including Julian Hynd at Chetwood Financial, Tobias Unger at Sopra Banking Software, and Mark Haines at wealth management firm JM Finn.

NoRamp:

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