DUBAI, UAE - June 13, 2025 - Coinpectra Accelerator’s VCStartup Connect brought together the most promising minds in Web3 at an exclusive, invite-only gathering hosted in the heart of Dubai. Tailored for curated networking, real deal-making, and high-quality content, the event offered a rare opportunity for builders, investors, and institutional players to exchange insights and drive forward the next era of blockchain innovation.
From panel discussions to founder pitches and high-impact networking, the Dubai edition of VCStartup Connect was designed for those who don’t just attend events - they shape the future of the industry.
Pitch competition: Startups in the spotlight
The day also featured a high-stakes pitch contest, showcasing the region’s most promising early-stage projects. Congratulations to our winners:
Dojo – Awarded a $50,000 audit service grant from QuillAudits
Quranium – Received a $10,000 media grant from Coinpectra
Syntropica – Granted $10,000 in services from DMCC
Startups were evaluated by a high-caliber panel of judges representing some of the most active forces in Web3 investment and growth: CLS Global, Draper Dragon, Tess Ventures, 50x Capital and ICP.
Highlights from the day:
Opening conversations: Regulation & opportunity
The day began with a deep dive into Dubai’s regulatory strategy with Belal Jassoma (DMCC), Dan Johnson (VARA), and Irina Heaver (NeosLegal), discussing how the city is positioning itself as a global blockchain hub through proactive licensing frameworks and cross-border collaboration.
Ecosystem builders take the stage
This panel examined how protocols are maturing beyond infrastructure and into community-focused ecosystems. Speakers included Bruno Calabretta (DFINITY), Mario Casiraghi (Fetch.ai), Tina Qi (Monad Foundation), and Vladislav Ponomarev (TON Factory). They emphasized that developer experience, real UX, and tailored incentive models are what distinguish successful ecosystems.
Enterprise x Blockchain adoption
Real-world implementation took center stage in this panel, where leaders from finance, real estate, and marketing shared how blockchain is making a measurable impact. Rajat Sakhuja (Mastercard) highlighted the company’s efforts to abstract blockchain complexity for end users, including projects like alias-based payment solutions and on-chain credentialing.
Gerrit Steen (DAMAC) emphasized blockchain’s potential to revolutionize real estate development, stressing that innovation should be paired with executive buy-in: “We create ‘speedboats’ inside the enterprise to test blockchain initiatives without sinking the ship.” Meanwhile, Filippo Buzzi (HexTrust) shared pilots with government agencies like the Dubai Land Department, and Kate Zem (Formula Agency) called for “Web2-native UX for Web3 tools” to support broader adoption. The panel was united on one point: for blockchain to scale in traditional industries, integration must be invisible to the end user.
Special thanks to our partners
This edition of VCStartup Connect was made possible with the support of industry-leading partners:
DMCC, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, who not only contributed as a strategic partner but also generously provided the venue, helping anchor the event in Dubai’s leading business district for Web3 innovation.
Peanut Trade, a key sponsor of the event, continues to champion innovation in the space. As a next-generation market-making platform, Peanut empowers Web3 projects with liquidity strategies tailored for real growth. Their backing underscores a shared commitment to building sustainable, long-term ecosystems.
NewTribe Capital, a major Dubai-based VC, helped curate the VC-list, with Juliet Su hosting a panel on the role of grants in the current state of the market.
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