- Crypto investment firm dao5 introduces tao5, an incubator designed to support early-stage subnets on the decentralized Bittensor protocol
- OWL Ventures’ acquisition of validator dao5, Bittensor’s third largest by stake, reinforces its influence in protocol governance and security.
- The incubator’s first project, Eternis’ “Lean In” subnet, aims to develop an AI system capable of solving complex mathematical hypotheses
- With over 60 active subnets and a vibrant developer community, Bittensor has become a hub for decentralized AI innovation
Crypto investment firm dao5 has launched an incubator, called tao5, aimed at accelerating the development of early-stage subnets on the Bittensor protocol. The initiative is positioned to promote innovative AI applications within the decentralized ecosystem.
The announcement follows OWL Ventures’ acquisition of network validator dao5—now the third largest validator by stake in the Bittensor ecosystem. By pairing its validator operations with the dao5 incubator, dao5 aims to play a key role in the protocol’s subnet security, management, and innovation.
Founded in 2022 by Tekin Salimia former general partner at Polychain Capital, dao5 has carved a niche in funding transformative crypto protocols and companies. The firm, which is structured to transition to a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), counts investments in projects such as Berachain, EigenLayer, Story Protocol, and Movement Labs among its achievements. Salimi’s early recognition of Bittensor’s potential—discovered through its vibrant AI community and decentralized network architecture—set the stage for this deeper engagement.
“Bitensor embodies the ethos of open collaboration,” Salimi said. “Our goal is to improve the caliber of technical teams building protocol subnets. We believe TAO’s fair and open design positions it as the premier ecosystem for the best AI founders.”
Bittensor’s Growing AI Ecosystem
Bittensor, a decentralized AI protocol, has taken off, with more than 60 active subnets and more in the pipeline. It has become a magnet for AI researchers and developers seeking open collaboration, offering a compelling alternative to the centralized control of traditional AI models.
The protocol rewards contributors with its native token, TAO, fostering a vibrant community of talent and innovation. Salimi’s early investments in Bittensor—made through direct over-the-counter token purchases—reflected his confidence in its long-term potential.
Partnering with AI Visionaries
As its first incubation partnership, tao5 teamed up with Eternis, the team behind the “Lean In” subnet (SN#63).
Eternis is working to develop an AI system capable of formally proving complex mathematical hypotheses, marking a significant step at the intersection of AI and mathematical reasoning. Inspired by successes like DeepMind’s AlphaGeometry, the project seeks to create an AI Mathematician, capable of Olympiad-level problem solving and beyond.
“Our vision for ‘Lean In’ is to build a decentralized ‘knowledge root state’ that supports structured data and knowledge for various sectors,” said Srikar Varadaraj, founder of Eternis. “This collaboration with tao5 and Bittensor allows us to advance this mission.”
A Strategic Play with Decentralized AI
The launch of tao5 signals dao5’s strategic pivot to position itself at the nexus of decentralized AI and blockchain. By leveraging Bittensor’s growth incubator and ecosystem, dao5 is not only deepening its stake in the protocol but also fueling AI advancements that could redefine its application across industries.
By bridging the worlds of blockchain governance and collaborative AI research, dao5 and tao5 aim to set a precedent for innovation within decentralized frameworks. Whether it’s building AI mathematicians or securing open-source knowledge, this initiative highlights the transformative potential of combining blockchain and AI to tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time.
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