Communities generate talent, not startups
Hackathons, university clubs, and meetups produce developers and researchers. Very few receive the operating layer required to become a company.
Bitcoin venture layer
From builders to companies.
Most Bitcoin builders have the technical depth. What stops them is the layer between prototype and real company. That layer is KONA.
The gap
The gap is not talent. It's business infrastructure.
European Bitcoin communities already produce exceptional builders. What is missing is the layer that turns prototypes, conviction, and local trust into real companies and credible dealflow.
Founders lack the business layer
No GTM architecture, no investor memo, no fundraising narrative. Strong code hits a wall before it becomes investable.
Angels lack curated Bitcoin dealflow
European investors interested in Bitcoin infrastructure still rely on fragmented networks, low-signal inbound, or generic programs.
Bitcoin builders
KONA
Investors
KONA is the operating layer that turns Bitcoin builders into fundable companies, and connects them to aligned capital.
How it works
From prototype to funded company.
Founders enter with a prototype and a thesis. Over Sprint, Build, and Pitch, KONA builds the missing business layer alongside them: market validation, GTM strategy, investor narrative, and dealroom prep. The output is a company ready to raise.
01
Prototype
02
Sprint
03
Build
04
Pitch
05
Company
Deal layer
Already a startup?
Bitcoin companies at product stage can apply for introduction to KONA's private investor network: a curated circle of angel investors and early-stage funds aligned with Bitcoin infrastructure.
founderOS
Five modules. One reasoning layer.
We built founderOS to run the build phase with founders. Five structured modules feed a shared reasoning layer that tracks progress and generates the documents investors want to see.
01
Intake
First read on your thesis, team, and where you are in the build.
02
Validation
Confirm the problem is real and the solution is right: interviews, pretotypes, and early signal.
03
GTM Strategy
ICP, positioning, channels, and revenue model. The full go-to-market structure.
04
Bitcoin Thesis
Why Bitcoin-only matters for the company, the buyer, and the moat.
05
Investor Readiness
Memo, dealroom, pitch deck, and investor list. Everything needed to raise.
Equity model
The stake reflects the work.
0%
0.1–3%
Standard
4–9%
10–20%
Community
Meetups, events, hackathons, and founder discovery. No equity taken.
Advisory
Defined advisory scope. Structured input on specific areas without full program engagement.
Accelerator
Operating support across the build phase: founderOS modules, investor narrative, and GTM with active KONA involvement.
Co-Creation
Deep co-build from the start. Shared resources and full KONA commitment alongside the founding team.
The principle
KONA charges no program fees.
We work alongside founders the way a co-founder would: with experience, network, and skin in the game. The equity we take is the only compensation. If the value is not delivered, neither is the stake.
Ecosystem
The Bitcoin ecosystem we operate in.
KONA is embedded in the Bitcoin community across Turin and beyond. These are the partners we source from, build alongside, and use to connect founders to aligned capital.
BitPolito
University
Bitcoin student team at Politecnico di Torino. Technical talent, research adjacency, and builder sourcing.
Blox.Space
Physical hub
Coworking space in Turin. The operational base for founders, events, and the KONA local node.
Plan B Network
Network
Academy for education, hubs across cities, and fund access via Cyphertunk and an incubator program.
Bitcoin Torino
Lobbying
Advancing Bitcoin adoption in Turin. Education, business support on custody and payments, and dialogue with city institutions.
Osservatorio Bitcoin
Research
Bitcoin research observatory at Politecnico di Torino. Academic credibility and research connections.
BitCare Forum
Forum
Italian Bitcoin community forum. Knowledge sharing and education across the ecosystem.
FAQ
Common questions.
Why equity instead of program fees?
Because fees create a service relationship. Equity creates a co-founder relationship. KONA only wins if the company wins. That alignment changes how we show up: with full commitment, real network access, and skin in the game from day one.
Do founders need to be based in Turin?
No. Turin is the sourcing and operating base, not a residency constraint. Proximity helps, but the model is built for European Bitcoin founders.
Why stay Bitcoin-only?
Because the strategic moat depends on ideological coherence, concentrated expertise, and filtered dealflow quality. Generic crypto positioning would dilute all three.
What is founderOS exactly?
founderOS is the operating system we run the build phase with. Five structured modules feed a shared reasoning layer that scores progress, surfaces gaps, and generates the investor documents founders need. Everything runs on a shared company record that KONA and the founder build together.
What kind of founders fit best?
Builders working on Bitcoin infrastructure, Lightning, security, AI x Bitcoin, privacy, freedom tech, or adjacent categories where conviction and technical depth matter.
How does KONA connect founders to investors?
Through a private, curated network of angel investors and early-stage funds aligned with Bitcoin infrastructure. Introductions happen after the program, when a company is investor-ready. Access is not open to the public. It is earned through the accelerator track.
Get started
The next step is a direct conversation.
Founder building toward a company. Startup ready for investor introductions. Investor looking for curated dealflow. Tell us where you are.