Meltem Demirors
Description
Meltem Demirors is a highly influential figure and active angel investor within the cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem, based in New York. As the Chief Strategy Officer of CoinShares, a prominent digital asset investment firm managing approximately $750 million in assets, she brings a deep understanding of market dynamics, regulatory landscapes, and emerging technologies to her investment decisions. Her expertise spans across various facets of the digital asset space, making her a sought-after advisor and early-stage backer for innovative ventures.
Demirors primarily focuses her personal investments on early-stage companies, typically at the angel or seed rounds, that are building foundational infrastructure, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, Web3 applications, and other critical components of the future digital economy. She looks for projects with strong technical teams, clear product-market fit potential, and a vision for long-term impact. Her investment thesis emphasizes the importance of robust security, scalability, and regulatory compliance, reflecting her institutional background at CoinShares.
Her diverse portfolio includes investments in over 30 companies that have gone on to become significant players in the crypto industry, such as StarkWare, Anchorage Digital, and Messari. While specific personal check sizes can vary, her typical first investments range from approximately $100,000 to $500,000, reflecting her commitment to providing meaningful early capital to promising ventures. Demirors is not just a capital provider but also a vocal advocate for the industry, frequently sharing insights and contributing to public discourse on blockchain technology and digital assets.
Beyond capital, founders benefit from Demirors' unparalleled industry insights, strategic acumen, and extensive network within the crypto and traditional finance worlds. Her ability to bridge the gap between nascent blockchain technologies and established financial markets provides a unique advantage to her portfolio companies, helping them navigate complex regulatory environments and scale effectively. Her active participation in the ecosystem, from speaking at major conferences to advising policymakers, underscores her dedication to fostering the growth and adoption of decentralized technologies.
Investor Profile
Meltem Demirors has backed more than 48 startups, with 8 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 0 rounds, about 0% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Switzerland.
- Strong thematic focus on Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Financial Services.
- Typical check size: $100K – $500K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (60%)
- Series A (17%)
- Pre Seed (17%)
- Series Unknown (6%)
Country Focus
- United States (60%)
- Canada (8%)
- Switzerland (6%)
- Singapore (4%)
- France (4%)
- Gibraltar (2%)
Industry Focus
- Cryptocurrency
- Blockchain
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Software
- Information Technology
- Web3
- Finance
- Ethereum
- Decentralized Finance (Defi)
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.