Mo Shaikh, co-founder of the Layer1 blockchain Aptos, is back with a new venture. On Tuesday, Shaikh and three former Aptos executives—Neil Harounian, Alexandre Tang, and Jerome Ong—announced the launch of Maximum Frequency Ventures (MFV), a $50 million fund aimed at backing what Shaikh calls 'MFers ready to build'.
Shaikh argues that most crypto venture funds lack the operator experience and mentorship needed to help startups transition from prototype to growth. 'Crypto funds write checks and then wait for a token event. Accelerators race to demo days. Studios stop at prototypes. At MFV, we invest early, embed with teams, and stay until adoption takes hold,' he said.
The MFV team brings a combined background from top institutions. Shaikh previously worked at BCG, BlackRock, and RBC, while his co-founders all held senior roles at Aptos. 'We know what it takes because we've carried the weight ourselves,' Shaikh explained. The fund’s focus on operator experience is rooted in their firsthand involvement in building Aptos, a blockchain with a market cap of over $2.6 billion and more than 200 projects in its ecosystem.
Aptos emerged from Meta’s abandoned Diem (formerly Libra) project in 2022, along with Sui and Lightspark. Shaikh believes that the team’s front-row seat to cutting-edge innovation during Aptos’s rise gives MFV a unique advantage in identifying projects that can achieve real adoption.
The name 'MFV' is a nod to the mindset Shaikh values most: 'MFers ready to build.' He emphasizes that sustainable adoption comes from long-term commitment, not quick token gains. MFV plans to embed with portfolio companies, offering capital, strategic guidance, and network access to help founders scale from day one.
FAQ ⚡
- What is Maximum Frequency Ventures (MFV)? A new $50 million venture fund founded by Aptos co-founder Mo Shaikh to back early-stage crypto builders.
- Who’s behind the fund? Shaikh leads MFV together with three former Aptos executives: Neil Harounian, Alexandre Tang, and Jerome Ong.
- What makes MFV different from other crypto funds? It embeds with startups long-term, focusing on product adoption instead of quick token exits.
- Why is this launch significant? It highlights operator experience as a key ingredient of crypto’s next wave of innovation.