Unlocking financial access for the next billion

Introducing our MiniPay Fund: empowering globally ambitious founders to create digital finance solutions for the emerging world.

The MiniPay Fund by Verda Ventures invests in blockchain-enabled breakthrough apps for consumers in emerging markets—targeting financial infrastructure like payments, remittances, identity, and stablecoin-based banking services.

Leveraging capital, technical expertise, and access to Opera’s ~300M monthly active users, we accelerate high-traction products to market, driving financial access for over 1 billion unbanked people.

Beyond the check

We’re not your average VC. Capital is a commodity, but expertise isn’t. We bring distribution, access, and most importantly, a team that will truly partner with you on your journey.

Integrated Blockchain Ecosystem

Verda Ventures’ MiniPay investments are integrated into Opera’s massive user base and Celo’s blockchain infrastructure, providing significant market distribution for portfolio companies.

Focus on Emerging Markets

The MiniPay Fund specifically targets high-growth opportunities in underserved regions like Africa, leveraging blockchain to solve financial access gaps.

End-to-End Support

Beyond capital, Verda Ventures provides technical expertise and a ready-made distribution channel, fast-tracking companies from incubation to scale.

Real-World Crypto Solutions

While many VCs focus on speculative crypto investments, Verda emphasizes real-world applications like stablecoin remittances and mobile banking to drive mass adoption.

Portfolio

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FAQs

What stage is Verda Ventures investing in?

We use a barbell approach, investing from the earliest seed stages to mature profitable businesses. We’ve incubated projects from the ground up, invested in scalable initiatives aiming to access Opera’s African user base, and supported everything in between.

What industries is the MiniPay Fund currently investing in?

Our MiniPay fund invests in the application layer of MiniPay. Whether it’s stablecoin-enabled infrastructure, identity, or compelling consumer experiences, our mission is to create financial access in emerging markets via MiniPay.

Do I need to be building a product specifically for MiniPay?

Not at all. Our focus is on funding companies that can leverage MiniPay as a distribution channel, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

What geographic focus does the MiniPay Fund currently have?

We currently invest globally, provided your product demonstrates a degree of market fit in Africa. As MiniPay expands into new emerging markets, we plan to broaden our focus to support projects serving additional emerging markets including Latin America and Southeast Asia.

When should I be reaching out to Verda Ventures?

We’re excited to connect with founders building across all stages, from ideas and early prototypes to scaling solutions. If your product can bring value to the MiniPay ecosystem and you see MiniPay as a compelling distribution partner, let’s chat!

What is the MiniPay Fund’s relationship with Opera and Celo?

Opera provides the distribution channel to MiniPay Fund’s portfolio companies and Celo is the blockchain infrastructure that the MiniPay wallet is built on.

What is the MiniPay Fund’s average check size?

Typically, our initial investment in a startup ranges between $100,000 – $250,000 for earlier stage investments and between $500,000 to $2 million for later stage investments.

Does the MiniPay Fund lead rounds?

We’re generally flexible and value the opportunity to partner with other strong co-investors who can help the company succeed. At the earlier stages, we’re open to being the first check in, and at the later stages, we generally co-invest alongside your other investors.

Does the MiniPay Fund have strict ownership requirements?

We’re generally looking for 5-10% ownership at the earlier stages and between 2-6% ownership at the later stages.

How does the MiniPay Fund support portfolio companies post investment?

Product Support – Opera’s extensive product team will almost feel like an extension of yours, assisting with your product launch on the MiniPay wallet, boosting discovery through targeted marketing, and providing real-time feedback to support your journey toward market fit.

Technical Support – With our strong connections to the founding technical team of the Celo blockchain, we offer prioritized technical support, enabling rapid product launches and efficient troubleshooting.

Future Financings – Our team’s experience in building and investing in successful exits brings a robust network of investors, along with pitch deck support and fundraising guidance. Given our in-depth involvement in your product, we excel at connecting you with strategic investors who can accelerate your company’s growth.

Who are MiniPay Fund’s investors?

The majority of our investors are strategic corporations, financial firms, and angel investors with deep experience in Web3 and emerging markets, offering an additional layer of support to our portfolio companies.

Our Blog

Stablecoins: The Race for Network Dominance

The consensus is clear – traditional financial payments remain fragmented and inefficient, placing the burden of delays and high costs on consumers and businesses. Stablecoins… Read More
Stablecoin Adoption, Where Will Value Accrue?

Tether made $13B in 2024—yet 300+ stablecoin players are floundering. Outside of stablecoin issuers, where’s the value headed? My take on the future winners. The… Read More

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