DAO Maker was co-founded by Christoph Zaknun and Giorgio Marciano in 2018 , though some sources note the platform was founded in 2019 . Based in the British Virgin Islands with operational presence in Prague, this crypto venture capital platform has established itself as a retail-focused launchpad connecting nascent blockchain projects with early-stage investors. Since its inception, DAO Maker has facilitated over $90 million in total raises, with a total FDV exceeding $2 billion, attracting 315,000 KYC-verified users and over 1.1 million connected wallets .
The platform's core offering centers on its Strong Holder Offering (SHO) model, which prioritizes long-term token holders over speculative investors. As of 2026, DAO Maker has facilitated over 80 project launches . Users stake DAO tokens to gain "DAO Power," which determines allocation sizes in token sales. The firm also offers Venture Bonds, social mining rewards, and incubation services that include marketing, community building, and advisory support. Public information about total AUM remains limited, with the firm not publicly disclosing specific assets under management figures.
Notable Investments
Several successful projects have been launched through DAO Maker, including Orion Protocol, My Neighbor Alice, LaunchX, and DAFI Protocol . Other prominent launches include Seascape Network (CWS) and Infinity Pad (IPAD) . The platform's track record shows even the worst-performing token sale achieved at least 3x the SHO price, while the best performers like Orion Protocol have achieved well in excess of 100x returns at their all-time highest value . DAO Maker has made 36 investments, with the latest being Web3Intelligence as part of a Seed VC round on January 25, 2024 . Recent launches include Step.app, which attracted more than 15,000 registered users . The platform invests across DeFi, NFTs, and infrastructure projects , with a typical focus on seed or early-stage investments, also participating in later-stage funding rounds for portfolio companies .
Team
DAO Maker was founded by Christoph Zaknun (CEO), Giorgio Marciano (CTO), and Hatu Sheikh (CMO) in 2019, with Malte Christensen (COO) now helping run operations . Zaknun studied medicine at Charles University in the Czech Republic and worked as an assistant neurologist-traumatologist in Salzburg before joining the Austrian armed forces, rising to Sergeant. He also holds a bachelor's degree in robotics . Zaknun moved into crypto in 2017, becoming one of the earliest ICO investors, and in 2018 co-founded TGE Alpha Corp and helped set up ICO DOG, a fundraising marketing agency . Giorgio Marciano is a heavily experienced entrepreneur and IT engineer with over 13 years of experience in software development . Hassan Sheikh, the CMO, is a former lecturer in Mathematics and experienced business strategist .
Recent Activity
In 2026, DAO Maker entered its "Chainmaker" phase, connecting traditional fiat-based investing with DeFi . The platform upgraded to a multi-chain aggregator, expanding beyond crypto into real-world asset tokenization and trade finance, particularly following integration with the XDC Network . In February 2021, the $DAO token was launched, enabling users to participate in SHOs, and since then over 100 projects have launched on DAO Pad with over $150 million in total value shared . DAO Maker introduced its Venture Yield system in Q3 2021, requiring users to stake tokens to participate in SHOs while earning up to 32% on their stake, with over 45 million $DAO tokens locked for an average of 612 days . The platform has also introduced Public SHOs, allowing broader participation without requiring DAO token staking for those holding $2,500+ in tokens on EVM chains.
DAO Maker's retail-first approach differentiates it from traditional VC firms, though the 4% ROI figure suggests significant volatility in portfolio performance. The platform's stringent project vetting and innovative fundraising mechanisms have created a loyal community, but questions remain about sustainability as competition from rivals including Polkastarter, TrustSwap, and centralized exchange launchpads from Binance and others intensifies. The firm's expansion into compliance frameworks and real-world assets signals ambitions beyond pure crypto plays, though regulatory clarity in multiple jurisdictions remains an ongoing challenge. With 42 portfolio investments and a modest 5 lead deals, DAO Maker operates primarily as a platform enabler rather than a traditional lead investor, a model that offers scale but less concentrated influence over individual projects.