Coinbase and Google Veterans Secure $5M for Blockchain LinkedIn Alternative

Icebreaker, a LinkedIn-style project founded by former Coinbase and Google veterans Dan Stone and Jack Dillé, has raised $5 million in seed funding from CoinFund.

With a valuation of $21 million, Icebreaker aims to build the world’s first open professional network using blockchain technology. The funds will be used to expand their team and develop this new platform.

Icebreaker Secures $5 Million for Blockchain-Based Professional Network

Icebreaker, a new professional network project led by former Coinbase and Google veterans Dan Stone and Jack Dillé, has raised $5 million in seed funding. CoinFund led the investment round, with additional participation from Accomplice, Anagram, and Legion Capital, among others. Valued at $21 million, Icebreaker aims to become the world’s first open professional network by leveraging blockchain technology.

The project’s goal is to offer an alternative to traditional platforms like LinkedIn, which the founders believe centralize control over digital identities. CoinFund CEO Alex Felix highlighted the significance of creating decentralized social graphs, stating, “We are proud to back Dan, Jack, and their team in their mission to introduce true ownership of professional identity to everyone online.”

Icebreaker will allow users to consolidate their professional profiles and networks into a single channel. It supports logins through email, Farcaster, or an Ethereum Wallet, enabling instant credential verification and endorsements. The founders intend to build an “open graph of reputation and identity,” challenging LinkedIn’s closed system with a public ledger of shared context and trust.

Dan Stone and Jack Dillé emphasize the need for user-controlled data in digital networking, criticizing existing platforms for their use of AI-driven noise and fake personas. They advocate for a system where users have full control over what and how much they share, free from third-party interference.

Icebreaker Founders Discuss Vision and Impact

Dan Stone, a former program manager at Coinbase and co-founder of Icebreaker, emphasized the project’s focus on trust in professional networking. He stated, “The world runs on trust. Until now, it’s been impossible to see because our existing networks optimize for engagement over signal. Yet every leader knows the loudest or most followed person is rarely the best. Icebreaker lets you see who your close network trusts, helping you cut through the noise to find exceptional talent and opportunities.”

Dan Romero, co-founder of the Web3 social network Farcaster and an angel investor in Icebreaker, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential. He noted, “I’m encouraged by this new wave of consumer startups implementing cryptography in a practical way. If Icebreaker can issue and maintain offchain and onchain credentials at scale, it will dramatically advance crypto adoption by years.”

Important: Please note that this article is only meant to provide information and should not be taken as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other type of advice.

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