Illia Polosukhin

Illia Polosukhin is a highly influential figure in the Web3 space, primarily recognized as the Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol, a leading Layer-1 blockchain platform. Leveraging his deep expertise in distributed systems and blockchain technology, Polosukhin has emerged as an active and strategic angel investor, focusing almost exclusively on the burgeoning decentralized ecosystem. His investment philosophy centers on empowering early-stage companies and protocols that contribute to the expansion, utility, and decentralization of Web3.

Polosukhin's investment portfolio, as tracked by platforms like Crunchbase, showcases a clear thematic concentration. He has participated in at least 11 reported seed-stage investments, predominantly backing projects within or closely aligned with the NEAR ecosystem. Notable investments include Aurora, an EVM compatible scaling solution, and Orderly Network, a decentralized exchange protocol. Other significant commitments have been made to infrastructure providers like Calimero and Proximity Labs, as well as user-facing applications such as Sweat Economy and Sender Wallet. This broad engagement across various sub-sectors, including DeFi, gaming, and developer tools, underscores his commitment to fostering a robust and diverse Web3 landscape.

As an angel investor, Illia Polosukhin typically provides capital to support foundational development and early market entry for promising startups. While specific individual check sizes are not publicly disclosed, his participation in seed rounds, which have ranged from $1.5 million for projects like Meta Pool to $20 million for Orderly Network, suggests a typical first check size for his angel investments could range from approximately $50,000 to $1,000,000. Beyond financial backing, companies often benefit from his strategic guidance, technical insights, and extensive network within the blockchain industry, making him a valuable partner for founders navigating the complexities of the decentralized world. His continued involvement as an investor reinforces his vision for a more open and decentralized internet.