Crypto Venture Capital Firm Outlier Ventures Appoints Stephan Apel as CEO
Crypto venture capital firm Outlier Ventures has announced the appointment of Stephan Apel as its new CEO, taking over from Jamie Burke, who will assume the role of Chairman. Apel, a former Merrill Lynch investment banker, was one of the original backers and board members at Outlier Ventures and became its Managing Partner in 2016.
Apel has been working closely with Burke and the executive team during a transition period. Burke praised Apel’s contributions, stating that he helped scale the organization and provided strategic knowledge during challenging market conditions. Together with Chief Technology Officer Aron van Ammers, they grew Outlier Ventures’ portfolio to include 257 startups.
Strategic Initiatives and Token Launches
During his time as Managing Partner, Apel laid the groundwork for strategic initiatives, including the development of Outlier Ventures’ token launch platform called Ascent. He also led the token launches for several portfolio projects and expanded the firm’s network of backers to include family offices, corporations, and even a sovereign wealth fund.
Transitioning Roles for Jamie Burke
As Jamie Burke transitions to the role of Chairman, he will focus on growing Outlier’s portfolio of founders and play a more active role in the industry. Apel expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead Outlier Ventures as CEO and highlighted their unique position in bringing together partners and web3 ecosystems to support founders throughout their business cycle.
Achievements and Future Outlook
Outlier Ventures has raised over $350 million in seed funding for its various accelerator programs. The firm’s portfolio includes web3 companies such as Boson Protocol, Brave, Fetch.ai, Futureverse, Ocean Protocol, and Secret Network. In a previous interview, Burke mentioned the potential of web3 to enhance AI scalability.
Hot Take: Outlier Ventures Appoints Stephan Apel as CEO to Drive Growth and Support Web3 Founders
Crypto venture capital firm Outlier Ventures has chosen Stephan Apel as its new CEO, taking over from Jamie Burke, who will become Chairman. Apel’s experience as a founding partner and Managing Partner at Outlier Ventures makes him well-suited for the role. With strategic initiatives like the Ascent token launch platform and an expanded backer network, Outlier Ventures has positioned itself as a key player in the web3 ecosystem. The appointment of Apel signals a new era for the company, focused on supporting founders throughout their business cycle. Outlier Ventures’ success in raising seed funding for web3 companies demonstrates its commitment to driving innovation in the crypto space.