Funding and co-founders for Bitcoin startup

[JaliB]

Hey everyone,

I’m new to this forum, but I’ve been in the Bitcoin space for quite a while. After attending a recent Bitcoin conference, I realized it’s time to fully switch careers and focus on driving Bitcoin towards mass adoption.

To do that, I think there’s one big missing piece: a Bitcoin-first neobank.

Yes, there are plenty of Bitcoin wallets and neobanks where you can buy crypto. But the concept I have in mind doesn’t exist yet, and I’m genuinely convinced it has unicorn potential. Strike comes close, but still doesn’t fully match the vision I want to execute. I’m happy to share the details with anyone seriously interested in getting involved.

About me: I’m a product guy – currently working as a product manager at a fintech – so I have a solid understanding of how to build this and what’s needed in terms of licensing and regulation.

To get started, I’m looking for 2 things:

1. Two co-founders

- Commercial / entrepreneurial co-founder: Someone with a very commercial and pragmatic mindset. I’m strong on product, vision and strategy, and I execute well, but I thrive next to someone who is extremely entrepreneurial and knows how to turn ideas into a company from day one.

- Technical co-founder (full-stack): A skilled full-stack developer who’s excited about building a Bitcoin-first banking experience from scratch.

2. Funding: I’m looking to raise €500k–€1M. Ideally from someone who truly believes in Bitcoin – not just as an investment asset, but as a new form of money and payments (via Lightning).

If this resonates with you – whether as a potential co-founder or investor – feel free to reach out and I’ll happily walk you through the full vision.

[shinohai]

Oh wow I didn't realize it was time for the weekly "I'm an 'idea guy' with a brand new account looking to raise $MAXINT money for a project I can't go into detail about" thread again. 

[Vod]

What bitcoin conference did you attend, and what speakers did you listen to?   That will help us figure our your vague idea.

[BattleDog]

JaliB, you might be genuine, however, you're walking straight into an overused cliche.

A "Bitcoin-first neobank" isn't such a frontier domain anymore. You've got Strike, Cash App, River, Relai, Blink, Phoenix + fiat bridges, and a bunch of smaller regional plays. If you want people to take you seriously, you have to say very concretely what you're doing differently: geography, licensing path, custody model, Lightning rails, fees, which part of the stack you're actually owning vs just white-labeling from someone else. For this kind of thing the real moat is execution on regulation and banking relationships, not just the product deck.

Vod's question is actually a good filter as well, which conference did you attend, who impressed you, and what specifically from those talks pushed you toward "Bitcoin neobank or bust"? That kind of detail tells people whether you're serious and thinking in concrete constraints, or just high off conference hopium.

[robelneo]

2. Funding: I’m looking to raise €500k–€1M. Ideally from someone who truly believes in Bitcoin – not just as an investment asset, but as a new form of money and payments (via Lightning).

If this resonates with you – whether as a potential co-founder or investor – feel free to reach out and I’ll happily walk you through the full vision.

Everything looks good until I arrive at this portion. Why would we invest €500k–€1M in an anonymous guy whose full name we do not know, with no link to his website (if he ever has one), and no expertise to show?
People here are not that idiotic to fall for this, and FYI you're not the first one to ask or beg for a considerable amount of money for his so-called unique ideas

[JaliB]

Sorry if my earlier message was a bit vague and I get that it can be tiring when every week someone drops a new business idea here. Still, I thought it was worth the try, because this forum is full of people who:
a) care deeply about pushing BTC forward, and
b) are either builders or early adopters with the ability (and interest) to invest.

To clarify: after visiting BTC Amsterdam, I was reminded how important it is for people to be able to put part of their salary into BTC, especially with the high-inflation that we've been experiencing the past years. BTC is already well on its way in terms of adoption as an investment, but as a payment method, especially in Europe, it’s still far from convenient to use it that way. It’s surprisingly difficult to receive part of your salary in BTC and actually spend from that balance in a seamless way without using exchanges, that are for many people difficult and scary to use.

I know Strike, Cash App and River cover parts of this, but not in the smooth, integrated way European users expect from their (neo)banking apps. I genuinely believe there’s a big opportunity for a European player who understands local expectations and can execute on this.

As mentioned, I’m not asking anyone to invest money or jump on a team based on an idea that might still feel rough around the edges. But if anyone is interested or wants to talk further, I’m more than happy to chat.

[aioc]

As mentioned, I’m not asking anyone to invest money or jump on a team based on an idea that might still feel rough around the edges. But if anyone is interested or wants to talk further, I’m more than happy to chat.

You forgot to edit and take out this post. I quoted this as a contradiction of what you posted. Before mentioning specific amounts, it's better to share your credentials, achievements, and the capability to develop this idea. For all we know, you may have gotten this idea from other platforms and are now trying to cash in by seeking investors.

2. Funding: I’m looking to raise €500k–€1M. Ideally from someone who truly believes in Bitcoin – not just as an investment asset, but as a new form of money and payments (via Lightning).

[ABCbits]

To clarify: after visiting BTC Amsterdam, I was reminded how important it is for people to be able to put part of their salary into BTC, especially with the high-inflation that we've been experiencing the past years. BTC is already well on its way in terms of adoption as an investment, but as a payment method, especially in Europe, it’s still far from convenient to use it that way. It’s surprisingly difficult to receive part of your salary in BTC and actually spend from that balance in a seamless way without using exchanges, that are for many people difficult and scary to use.

I know Strike, Cash App and River cover parts of this, but not in the smooth, integrated way European users expect from their (neo)banking apps. I genuinely believe there’s a big opportunity for a European player who understands local expectations and can execute on this.

I don't know how credible or good is it, but BitWage exist since 2014. Their website claim they let employer pay into nearby 200 countries with integration to some payroll system.

[beveryu778]

It is interesting to hear your concept of a Bitcoin-first neobank but to construct something that deep will need more than passion and product background, you will have to have substantial regulatory backing, an elite team of technologists, and serious initial traction to persuade investors. Similar concepts have been tried by a large number of companies and failed primarily because of compliance, cost of licenses, and external adoption to hardcore Bitcoin communities. However, in the case that you really have a unique angle that can make your proposal stand out of Strike and the already existing wallets, a clear MVP or prototype would make it much easier to attract co-founders and funding. Disclosing more tangible information - even on the high level - might also create credibility and interest in the community.

[DPHOR]

What bitcoin conference did you attend, and what speakers did you listen to?   That will help us figure our your vague idea.

This made me flash back then when I attended a bitcoin conference back then at our ICT center  in PHC, and what I was expecting to hear wasn't the things they were talking instead their attention was centered on altcoin investment and what that could benefits them, I think I didn't waste time to leave because it wasn't what I expected I was seeing from them. Most times those who claims to be hosting seminar aren't doing the right thing instead they are mostly focused on the particular shitcoin they have managed to accumulate and asked people to invest on that shitcoin that it would give them x profits in specific range of time which I know is false.