VentureStaking lets anyone lock in future investing rights in ambitious, talented, and prepared entrepreneurs — only committing real capital once traction is proven.
I am the founder and CEO of Doriot® and the architect of VentureStaking®. I am excited to introduce this new system of capital creation to the Product Hunt community. Here's the pitch:
Venture Investing is a lot like poker—80% of your hands (investments) are throwaways, but you don’t know which until the cards are on the table.
In poker, you have an ante: a small bet that gets you in the game before going all in. In venture, there’s never been an ante—until now.
Welcome to VentureStaking® — a new funding model that allows anyone to back high-potential founders at the very beginning of their journey by purchasing rights (not obligations) to invest real capital later, when the startup is gaining traction. Here’s how it works:
A $10 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $100 in each of a founder’s future funding rounds.
Build a diversified portfolio of 50 early-stage founders for just $500—minimizing risk by up to 90% while harnessing the Power Law of venture
Then, choose to invest real capital later only in the startups that are objectively winning — and do so on the same terms and conditions as VCs.
And the model scales with your risk appetite and financial means:
For example, a $2,500 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $25,000 in a founder’s future rounds — regardless of who else is investing. It’s a game that rewards those who act early — and align with progress.
For founders, it’s a game-changer. They can raise early R&D rounds without giving up equity—speeding up funding and building a committed community from day one.
Here's how we pull the best from the top models:
Thiel Fellowship > Raise $200-$250K in R&D capital without selling equity
Kickstarter > Instead, sell a product (access and education) + optionality
Wefunder > Acquire a committed community at the very beginning of the journey
Y-Combinator > Weekly accountability to the community during R&D phase
It’s venture, flipped. A model driven by merit, not money or connections.
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@gerryhays This is interesting! Do you think it’s better to invest early based on a founder(s) belief system or when there’s a more clear-cut vision of the company itself?
@aj_123 great question! It's a three-step process. First, founders must get through Doriot's background check and due diligence. Second, they need to score a 70% or better on our Venture Exam—QAI—which demonstrates their understanding of how venture works for both investors and founders. Finally, their pitch is reviewed by the VentureStakers, who make the ultimate funding decision
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How do you see VentureStaking evolving alongside traditional VC? Do you envision startups using both, or will this eventually become the primary option?
@dean_smith10 We envision VentureStaking as the starting point for most founders, replacing the traditional friends-and-family round. Thereafter, founders would pursue Traditional Venture sources (i.e. Angels/VCs) while allowing their VentureStakers® to participate alongside on each funding round.
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Big fan of what Doriot is building! VentureStaking is such a unique way to empower communities and creators while rethinking tradition VC. Excited to see how the model continues to evolve and be implemented. Congrats on the launch!
@joey_zhu_seopage_ai Thank you for your enthusiastic support! This means the world to us - we built this so more people could finally get in before the rocket takes off, not after.
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It’s clear there’s real hunger for a more inclusive and aligned model of early-stage investing. How do we ensure that early community supporters, those who bet on a founder before the world does, stay engaged, informed, and truly aligned as that startup grows?
@pranav_kanagala Great question! As part of the agreement to raise a VentureStaking Round, founders are required to provide weekly updates to their VentureStakers® during the R&D Phase. For example, you can VentureStake in Doriot right now, and you’ll be added to our private community, where I provide weekly updates on our progress and next steps.
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I love this idea, and think it is very well structured and thought out. What are your short-term goals for Doriot in the next 6-12 months?
@keegan_cobleigh Phase I, R&D phase, is nearly complete! We've proven the model and we're closing the first-ever VentureStaking® round on July 31, 2025. Phase II is build and launch two Arenas (next 12 months).
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💎 Pixel perfection
love this model for every right reason. The poker analogy is brilliant when you consider it's not high-stakes poker at a casino, rather high-impact, high-reward...and you don't become a gambling addict! Bravo, Gerry. Let's go.
I love how this model can revolutionize social media entrepreneurship where creators can document their journey and the followers full of believers can help fund their idea into reality!
This is such a smart shift in the way early-stage investing works kind of like turning “optionality” into a structured asset. Love how it flips the risk model for both founders and backers. Especially useful for folks who want to support innovation without diving in blind.
Also, How do you plan to educate new retail backers on startup risk and power-law dynamics? Curious how you’ll balance accessibility with financial literacy at scale.
@suvam_deo Great question. Anyone who wants to VentureStake® must first obtain a VentureStaking® License. This license is earned by completing our startup investing simulation—**FantasyStartup®**—which teaches the five key factors of financial sophistication, including the Power Law of Venture and the Convexity of Returns
Report
@gerryhays Sounds intresting. What is the criteria to obtain the Lincense?
Replies
Fantasy Startup
👋 Hey Product Hunt friends,
I am the founder and CEO of Doriot® and the architect of VentureStaking®. I am excited to introduce this new system of capital creation to the Product Hunt community. Here's the pitch:
Venture Investing is a lot like poker—80% of your hands (investments) are throwaways, but you don’t know which until the cards are on the table.
In poker, you have an ante: a small bet that gets you in the game before going all in. In venture, there’s never been an ante—until now.
Welcome to VentureStaking® — a new funding model that allows anyone to back high-potential founders at the very beginning of their journey by purchasing rights (not obligations) to invest real capital later, when the startup is gaining traction. Here’s how it works:
A $10 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $100 in each of a founder’s future funding rounds.
Build a diversified portfolio of 50 early-stage founders for just $500—minimizing risk by up to 90% while harnessing the Power Law of venture
Then, choose to invest real capital later only in the startups that are objectively winning — and do so on the same terms and conditions as VCs.
And the model scales with your risk appetite and financial means:
For example, a $2,500 VentureStake® gives you the right to invest $25,000 in a founder’s future rounds — regardless of who else is investing. It’s a game that rewards those who act early — and align with progress.
For founders, it’s a game-changer. They can raise early R&D rounds without giving up equity—speeding up funding and building a committed community from day one.
Here's how we pull the best from the top models:
Thiel Fellowship > Raise $200-$250K in R&D capital without selling equity
Kickstarter > Instead, sell a product (access and education) + optionality
Wefunder > Acquire a committed community at the very beginning of the journey
Y-Combinator > Weekly accountability to the community during R&D phase
It’s venture, flipped. A model driven by merit, not money or connections.
@gerryhays This is interesting! Do you think it’s better to invest early based on a founder(s) belief system or when there’s a more clear-cut vision of the company itself?
Fantasy Startup
@michael_greenberg3 A VentureStake is a bet on the founder. But the real investment comes after you have more form around the project.
Tough Tongue AI
Excited about VentureStaking! How do you vet founders early on, and will there be community-driven due diligence before exercising stakes?
Fantasy Startup
@aj_123 great question! It's a three-step process. First, founders must get through Doriot's background check and due diligence. Second, they need to score a 70% or better on our Venture Exam—QAI—which demonstrates their understanding of how venture works for both investors and founders. Finally, their pitch is reviewed by the VentureStakers, who make the ultimate funding decision
Fantasy Startup
@dean_smith10 We envision VentureStaking as the starting point for most founders, replacing the traditional friends-and-family round. Thereafter, founders would pursue Traditional Venture sources (i.e. Angels/VCs) while allowing their VentureStakers® to participate alongside on each funding round.
Fantasy Startup
@dean_smith10 Thanks Dean!
AltPage.ai
This is genius—being able to lock in a spot before a startup blows up, but only paying later? Realy wish I had this years ago, fr. Makers crushed it!
Fantasy Startup
@joey_zhu_seopage_ai Thank you for your enthusiastic support! This means the world to us - we built this so more people could finally get in before the rocket takes off, not after.
It’s clear there’s real hunger for a more inclusive and aligned model of early-stage investing. How do we ensure that early community supporters, those who bet on a founder before the world does, stay engaged, informed, and truly aligned as that startup grows?
Fantasy Startup
@pranav_kanagala Great question! As part of the agreement to raise a VentureStaking Round, founders are required to provide weekly updates to their VentureStakers® during the R&D Phase. For example, you can VentureStake in Doriot right now, and you’ll be added to our private community, where I provide weekly updates on our progress and next steps.
I love this idea, and think it is very well structured and thought out. What are your short-term goals for Doriot in the next 6-12 months?
Fantasy Startup
@keegan_cobleigh Phase I, R&D phase, is nearly complete! We've proven the model and we're closing the first-ever VentureStaking® round on July 31, 2025. Phase II is build and launch two Arenas (next 12 months).
love this model for every right reason. The poker analogy is brilliant when you consider it's not high-stakes poker at a casino, rather high-impact, high-reward...and you don't become a gambling addict! Bravo, Gerry. Let's go.
Fantasy Startup
@scott_mcintyre1 Thanks Scott!!!
VentureStaking® by Doriot®
Fantasy Startup
@shivan_golechha Absolutely, Shiv!
This is such a smart shift in the way early-stage investing works kind of like turning “optionality” into a structured asset. Love how it flips the risk model for both founders and backers.
Especially useful for folks who want to support innovation without diving in blind.
Also, How do you plan to educate new retail backers on startup risk and power-law dynamics? Curious how you’ll balance accessibility with financial literacy at scale.
Fantasy Startup
@suvam_deo Great question. Anyone who wants to VentureStake® must first obtain a VentureStaking® License. This license is earned by completing our startup investing simulation—**FantasyStartup®**—which teaches the five key factors of financial sophistication, including the Power Law of Venture and the Convexity of Returns
@gerryhays Sounds intresting. What is the criteria to obtain the Lincense?
Fantasy Startup
@suvam_deo Just complete the simulation and get certified as a Sophisticated Startup Investor.