NATIX, the AI Camera & Drivers-Powered DePIN, Secures $9.6M in Funding
Hamburg, Germany, April 25th, 2024, Chainwire
With the latest $4.6M Strategic Round led by Borderless Capital, NATIX is set to transform driver-led data collection and driver applications with innovative web3 incentives
NATIX Network, an AI-based platform that utilizes edge computing to collect real-time geospatial data, has successfully secured $4.6 million in a strategic funding round led by Borderless Capital and co-led by Tioga Capital, completing an aggregate funding of $9.6 million. Additional investors include Escape Velocity, Big Brain, WAGMI Ventures, Inception Capital, Laser Digital, IOTEX, Moonrock Capital, Cogitent, Room 40 ventures, Veris Ventures, Future Money Group, iAngles, Gracy Chen (Managing Director at Bitget), James Parillo (General Partner at Figment), Paul Taylor (Web3 Partner at Blackrock), Vijay Pravin Maharajan (CEO at bitsCrunch), and Crypto Banter.
Big tech companies have created centralized monopolies that limit access and hinder innovation in map data. By empowering individuals through Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePINs), NATIX is driving innovation in the geospatial analytics market projected to exceed $200B by 2033.
Highlighted as one of the fastest-growing DePINs globally in Messari’s state of DePIN 2023 report, NATIX has attracted in one year over 92,000 registered drivers who have covered more than 28 million kilometers. The user-friendly design of NATIX allows anyone with a smartphone to participate without requiring special hardware. The data collected by NATIX is invaluable for urban areas, mobility firms, and the autonomous driving industry, helping them optimize operations and effectively enhance infrastructure.
NATIX’s flagship product, “Drive&,” leverages smartphone cameras and driver assistant apps such as dashcams and navigation, combined with innovative incentive mechanisms and privacy-respecting computer vision AI, to crowdsource real-time data. NATIX is set to launch its native token on Solana in Q2 of 2024 to enable new monetization avenues for drivers and in-platform governance.
“It’s great to see NATIX gaining momentum, which reflects the strong market confidence in our vision. We are committed to accessibility, allowing anyone with a vehicle and smartphone to make meaningful contributions to their urban environment,” said Alireza Ghods, NATIX’s CEO and co-founder. “Looking ahead, collaborating with leading high-performance networks like Solana and Peaq is crucial for advancing our mission.”
“NATIX is emerging as a leader in commodity DePIN, establishing a benchmark for how incentivized models can effectively operate at scale,” said Alvaro Gracia, Partner at Borderless Capital. “We’re impressed by NATIX’s innovative use of smartphone cameras and AI-accelerated chips to build a network for crowdsourced geospatial data. Not only does it enhance scalability and simplify user onboarding, but makes it easier to provide users with significant rewards and perks, boosting engagement throughout. This lays the groundwork for future innovative models in the industry.”
NATIX plans to launch its native token $NATIX on Solana in Q2 of 2024, introducing new ways to earn and enhancing platform governance and infrastructure. This launch will offer drivers premium features like airdrops, staking for data validators, and greater involvement in governance. NATIX will also leverage Peaq, a Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built for DePIN and machine RWAs (real-world assets). NATIX will use Peaq’s modular DePIN functions, multi-chain ID, and data verification, to enhance its architecture and solidify a prominent role in Peaq’s extensive DePIN ecosystem.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Ali and his team at NATIX. With its consumer-centric approach, we believe that NATIX is uniquely positioned to continue scaling the platform and build out valuable applications for its drivers and projects in need of high-quality geospatial data,” commented Nicolas Priem, General Partner at Tioga Capital.
Drivers can download the NATIX Drive& app from the App Store or Play Store to start mapping and earning rewards.
About NATIX:
Founded in Hamburg in 2020, NATIX is a decentralized network of smart cameras. NATIX’s AI-powered app uses the phone’s camera to detect objects, collect real-time geospatial data, and map the world around us in a completely decentralized space – no additional hardware needed. NATIX’s solution leverages edge computing to analyze the data and ensure that no personal data is collected – by design. Network contributors are rewarded with NATIX’s native cryptocurrency, $NATIX, to support better driving-assistant applications (dashcam, navigation, parking availability, etc.) and improve the mapping infrastructure around us. For more information visit www.natix.network
About Borderless Capital:
Borderless is a leading investment management firm focused on Web3 technology, dedicated to supporting the next generation of innovators who are driving the development of groundbreaking technologies that will enable the creation of value without borders. Borderless comprises a team of builders, partners, and investors who adopt a long-term perspective and strive to unleash the full potential of open, community-driven networks. Since 2018, Borderless has invested in 200+ protocols/companies across infrastructure, business applications, and nascent cryptographic protocols, and has played an integral role in the development of some of the most significant and innovative Web3 communities. Borderless has been a pioneer in DePIN, launching the first dedicated fund in 2021 and investing in over 35 DePIN projects since then. For more information, please visit their website at: www.borderlesscapital.io
About Tioga Capital:
Tioga Capital is a European venture capital fund focused on Web3. We back exceptional entrepreneurs and blockchain protocols that bring us closer to a world of more individual sovereignty, trust and privacy. Learn more at: https://tioga.capital/