[Singapore] In an unprecedented collaboration, LongHashX, a renowned Web3 accelerator with an influential Asian network, and Protocol Labs, the visionary creators of Filecoin and IPFS, are joining forces to launch the groundbreaking Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM) Genesis Accelerator. This transformative 12-week program comprises two distinct routes, the FVM Accelerator Program, and the FVM Builders’ Fellowship Program. With an ambitious goal of empowering 25-30 projects, this accelerator aims to unlock the full potential of data programmability on the Filecoin network through FVM, at the intersection of Web3 and AI.
On March 14, 2023, the FVM mainnet heralded a new era with the introduction of smart contracts, opening up endless possibilities across domains like AI, DeFi, and DAOs. However, concerns about data privacy, centralization, and innovation restrictions surfaced with the rise of data-intensive AI models like DALL-E 2, GPT-4, and LaMDA. FVM comes as the solution, fostering open-source AI development and compute-over-data, empowering a decentralized and collaborative approach to AI evolution.
This marks the fourth collaborative endeavor between LongHashX and Protocol Labs to bolster the thriving Filecoin ecosystem's developer community. LongHashX has played a pioneering role in partnering with leading Web3 ecosystems since 2018, cultivating developer communities and accelerating more than 75 Web3 projects, including several unicorns. Astar, Balancer, Manta Network, Lit Protocol, Huddle01, Tranchess, and Peanut Protocol are some notable alumni from their successful programs.
Emma Cui, the Founding Partner and CEO of LongHash Ventures, envisions the FVM as a game changer for the data economy, enabling a paradigm shift in AI models and Web3 social applications. She sees immense potential in novel concepts like Data DAOs, data computation preserving privacy and sovereignty, and is excited to invest in and support early-stage builders on FVM, guiding them from conceptualization to launching Web3-native startups.
The FVM Genesis Accelerator's first track, the FVM Accelerator Program, invites five exceptional projects built on FVM, with each project receiving substantial funding of US$200,000. Beyond funding, the program offers an immersive Web3-native curriculum and hands-on support, covering seven modules including Web3 Product Strategy & Design, Tokenomics & Governance, Smart Contract Security, and Fundraising, among others. Each project is provided with a dedicated Program Lead and Venture Builder for weekly problem-solving sessions, ensuring comprehensive guidance. Additionally, the selected projects gain access to LongHash Web (LHW), an on-chain contribution network facilitating interactions with over 100 prominent mentors from the broader Web3 landscape.
The second track, the FVM Builders' Fellowship Program, accommodates 20-25 projects, extending technical and developer support from Protocol Labs. These teams participate in workshops, fireside chats, and Mentor Office Hour sessions with LongHashX Venture Builders. The program streamlines the grant application process for potential grants from Filecoin/Protocol Labs, fast-tracking their development journey.
Commencing in mid-October, the LongHashX FVM Genesis Accelerator and Builders' Fellowship Program have attracted interest from innovative teams and projects worldwide. As the application deadline approaches on September 30, 2023, at 11:59 pm (GMT+8), pioneers across AI, DeFi, and various domains are encouraged to apply and be a part of this transformative experience.
LongHashX expresses particular interest in the following FVM use cases:
Artificial Intelligence: Revolutionize AI models by incorporating decentralization and privacy in all stages of production.
Data Collection and Provenance: Leverage DAO governance to crowdsource, curate, and monetize diverse datasets for training foundational AI models.
Model Training: Facilitate decentralized training frameworks, where communities collaboratively train foundation AI models using community-driven data and computational resources.
Model Inference: Ensure accuracy and verifiability of outputs from the foundation AI model, sourced from the community's datasets.
DeFi Use Cases: Integrate essential DeFi elements such as DEXes, lending/borrowing protocols, staking, cross-chain bridges, and liquid staking protocols into FVM, promoting liquidity and facilitating asset transfers.
Decentralized Social: Pioneer new social experiences where users can manage their social data on-chain, ensuring verification and ownership.
Open Category: Welcome all innovative use cases made possible using FVM, opening up a world of endless potential.
In this ambitious journey towards the convergence of Web3 and AI, LongHashX and Protocol Labs invite visionaries and innovators to join the FVM Genesis Cohort, paving the way for a decentralized and data-driven future. The Request for Startups guide by Protocol Labs offers further insights into potential use cases that can be explored on the FVM network. As the accelerator gears up to unveil this transformative cohort, the world eagerly awaits the birth of the next generation of Web3-native projects, shaping the world's digital landscape for years to come.
