Winner's Circle

Beckley Psytech - Before merging with atai Life Sciences, Beckley Psytech operated as a private UK-based biotech specialized in developing "short-duration" psychedelic therapies, specifically a 5-MeO-DMT nasal spray. The company leveraged its ties to the Beckley Foundation to advance a high-bandwidth pipeline of patent-protected compounds designed to fit within the standard windows of modern psychiatric care.

Bitwage - Bitwage is a pioneer in the "get paid in bitcoin" movement, providing the rails that allow anyone to receive a percentage of their paycheck in digital assets without their employer needing to change their existing payroll system. By merging with Paystand in 2025, it has evolved from a freelancer tool into an enterprise powerhouse that uses stablecoins to settle billions in global B2B transactions.

Block Inc. - Before becoming Block, the company was known as Square, Inc., primarily recognized for democratizing credit card processing for small businesses through its iconic mobile dongle. It successfully bridged the gap between merchant services and consumer finance with the launch of Cash App, eventually outgrowing its original name as it pivoted toward a Bitcoin-centric, multi-platform strategy.

Toucan - Before their acquisition by Babbel, Toucan was a Santa Monica-based startup that pioneered the "browsing-as-learning" category. Founded by Taylor Nieman, Shaun Merritt, and Brandon Dietz, the company successfully scaled to hundreds of thousands of users by offering a free, addictive, and scientifically-backed browser extension that made learning a new language feel like a fun game rather than a chore.

US Bitcoin Corp - Before its merger with Hut 8 in late 2023, US Bitcoin Corp operated as a large-scale industrial Bitcoin miner and infrastructure manager with sites across New York, Nebraska, and Texas. The company distinguished itself by offering "Managed Infrastructure Operations," using its proprietary software to run and maintain third-party mining sites on behalf of institutional clients.