Generative Ventures Research
Investment Thesis
Generative Ventures is a London-based early-stage venture fund founded in 2023 by Lex Sokolin and Will Wang. Its thesis is the "machine economy": economic activity accelerated by generative AI, powered by fintech, and settled on Web3 blockchain networks. The firm argues that fintech, Web3 and AI are one economic whole and that each depends on the others. It looks for network-effect businesses with engaged communities and trustless, open-source models that could outperform simply holding Bitcoin or AI infrastructure equities. The firm describes itself as an engaged, activist investor rather than a passive one.
Fund Backing and Structure
In the launch essay Lex Sokolin says the fund is backed by Bertelsmann Investments, the investment arm of the European media group, and is the sixth fund deployed with that group since 2008. Third-party profiles describe BAI Capital as the parent. Fund size and AUM are not publicly disclosed, so none is recorded.
Stage Focus
The launch essay says the fund will focus on leading Seed and Series A rounds. EU-Startups lists Pre-Seed/Seed and Series A/B. Observed deals are overwhelmingly seed.
Check Size
EU-Startups lists a typical investment of EUR 100K to 1.5M. Observed round sizes run from about $3M to $45M, with the firm usually participating alongside other investors. The check-size range is a low-confidence figure from a directory listing.
Lead Tendency
The Venture Codex records 16 rounds, of which the firm led 5 (31%) and participated in 11 (69%). Leads include Walapay (Oct 2026), Nevermined (Jan 2025) and peaq (Series A, 2024). It co-leads or follows often, so the tendency is both.
Recent Activity
- October 2026: led Walapay's $4.6M seed (global money movement API), with Commerce Ventures participating.
- December 2025: took part in AllScale's $5M seed led by YZi Labs (self-custody stablecoin neobank for micro businesses).
- September 2026: infiniFi $3M seed (DeFi fixed-income primitive), per The Venture Codex.
- April 2025: Glider seed round (portfolio construction and automation).
- February 2025: Teneo Protocol seed and Olas round.
- January 2025: led Nevermined (agent-to-agent payments) and took part in 1Money.
- November 2024: Pharos seed.
The firm is actively deploying, with roughly one deal every few months.
Portfolio Highlights
The portfolio page groups companies as AI, then Machines (DePIN and robotics), then Protocols, then Financial Apps. Notable names include Nevermined, Olas, peaq, Taiko, Pharos, Merlin Chain, Pi Squared, Hyperspace, Exabits, Threefold, 1Money, WSPN, Walapay, AllScale, Glider, infiniFi and TestMachine. Roughly 40 companies are shown. Many logos on the page carry captions that do not name the company, so the list is conservative.
Team
- Lex Sokolin: Managing Partner and co-founder. Previously spent four years at Consensys and over a decade in fintech; writes the Fintech Blueprint newsletter.
- Will Wang: co-founder, named with Lex on the firm's X profile.
The firm has 2 to 10 employees per LinkedIn.
Decision Process
A small founder-led partnership. Lex Sokolin is the primary public contact ([email protected]); dealflow also routes through [email protected]. No formal process is published.
Founder Preferences
Founders building protocols and applications where AI agents transact, hold money and coordinate on blockchain rails, with token or community incentives aligned. Crypto-native fintech and stablecoin payments are the strongest cluster.
Geographic Focus
The firm is based in London but invests globally. Recorded deals by region: United States 9, Singapore 2, Europe 2, Bermuda, Hong Kong and Canada 1 each. Walapay is New York based.
Gaps
The firm site is a Squarespace page that mostly failed to render, so the thesis page and individual team bios were not read directly. Fund size, partner titles beyond Lex Sokolin, and exact co-lead status on several deals are unverified.