Navigating the Web3 Financial Landscape: Strategies for Startup Success

April 30, 2024

Kenji L. Funahashi

Partner at Wilson Sonsini

Leo Lu

Director of Platform, Struck Crypto

John Schenk

CFO- Escalon

We had an exclusive webinar tailored for Web3 startup founders, where our expert panel will delve into the critical aspects of financial operations and legal considerations specific to the Web3 space. From blockchain technology to decentralized finance (DeFi), understanding the nuances of Web3 is crucial for sustainable growth and compliance. Whether you’re launching a new project or scaling your existing venture, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge and insights necessary to thrive in the evolving digital economy.

Topics Covered:

  • Financial Operations for Web3 Startups
  • Compliance and Regulatory Considerations
  • Strategic Financial Planning
  • Legal Strategies for Web3 Ventures
  • Case Studies and Real-World Examples

Meet our speakers

Kenji

Kenji L. Funahashi

Kenji (Ken) Funahashi is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where his practice focuses on corporate and securities law. Ken works on a wide range of corporate finance matters, from start-up companies obtaining angel financing to multibillion-dollar transactions for multinational and Fortune 500 companies. He has handled more than $10 billion in financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and IPOs, including hundreds of private and public financing transactions for entrepreneurs and investors.

Ken’s practice focuses on the representation of technology, life sciences, healthcare, and other growth companies throughout the United States and internationally. Representative clients include software, SaaS, IT, IoT, cybersecurity, aerospace, robotics, e-gaming, AR/VR, and blockchain entrepreneurs and investors in the technology area, and genomics, diagnostics, biologics, pharmaceuticals, medical device, and digital health entrepreneurs and investors in the life sciences and healthcare fields.

In addition to practicing in California’s technology clusters for over two decades, Ken has studied and worked abroad and has extensive experience in cross-border transactions in Asia and Europe. He was previously a partner at one of the largest international law firms in the world and assists both U.S. technology companies engaging in business overseas, as well as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and European companies in financing, licensing, M&A, and joint venture activities in the U.S.

The unique history of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati closely traces the birth and evolution of Silicon Valley.

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has represented technology pioneers associated with virtually every milestone innovation, as well as life sciences trailblazers shaping the future of healthcare.

Today, the firm is synonymous with ushering promising, innovative companies through their business life cycle.

Leo Lu

Leo Lu

Leo is the Director of Platform at Struck Crypto. He leads all value-add services for the crypto fund, partnering with founders on go-to-market, marketing/community/PR, and operations. In addition, Leo manages ecosystem development to interface with the Web3 community, partners, and service providers.

Leo has significant experience in strategy and operations from his time at Cross River as the Chief of Staff for the crypto team and as a fractional COO for early-stage startups where he advised founders across HR, finance, and operations. He started his career at BNY Mellon on the corporate venture team that made principal investments in companies including Fireblocks, R3, and HQLAX.

Leo began his journey in Web3 in 2018 as a team member at Crypto NYC. He graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Struck Crypto is an early-stage crypto venture capital firm that is discovering and distributing decentralized innovations. Struck Crypto was the first investor in Mythical Games and an early investor in Zero Hash. The fund has also invested in 1inch, Synthetix, Shardeum, and other leading crypto infrastructure companies.

John Schenk

John Schenk is a finance executive with 20+ years experience working for high-growth technology companies and global entertainment brands. Skills include finance, accounting, strategy, operations, business development, legal/business affairs and HR. MBA in finance from #3 ranked best MBA Finance program. Actively licensed CPA. John has successfully raised millions of dollars via equity, debt and convertible debt financing structures.

Meet Our Partner

Cryptio

FROM SEED TO SERIES A, AND FROM SERIES A TO BEYOND.
We aim to provide founder-first capital for innovative entrepreneurs who want to change the world. Specializing in Seed and pre-Seed B2B investments, we work with young founders who leverage information asymmetries to build core technology innovations with the power to transform industries. We promise to seek to deliver more sweat equity per dollar invested than any other investor on your cap table.

Learn more at https://cryptio.co/

SVB

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of some of the world’s most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial and private banking to individuals and companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity, venture capital and premium wine industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights and connections. SVB’s parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA ), is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets. First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC.

Learn more at svb.com