Alliance

Investment decisions are led by co-founders Imran Khan (CEO) and Qiao Wang (CTO). They are supported by a team of mentors and angel investors who evaluate startups during the cohort application process.

Alliance sources deal flow primarily through its structured accelerator program. Startups apply online, and the firm selects small cohorts (15-30 teams) per cycle. Many of its portfolio companies, such as Pump.fun, Kamino, and Tensor, were discovered this way. The firm also draws referrals from its alumni community and investment partners.

Alliance operates as a multi-family office that functions like a hybrid accelerator and venture firm. It invests directly into portfolio companies via SAFEs and retains token side letters, but it does not run a traditional venture fund. The firm also manages capital on behalf of multiple families, though specific LPL relationships are not disclosed.

Alliance focuses entirely on direct investments, typically at the seed stage. It does not act as a fund of funds or commit capital to external venture funds. Its deployment is structured around cohort participation and follow-on investments upon seed rounds.

Alliance targets early-stage startups at the pre-seed and seed stages. It invests $500k at a $5M post-money valuation via SAFE, with an additional $500k commitment upon the startup's subsequent seed round. The firm prefers technical founders regardless of prior traction.

Alliance does not explicitly exclude any sector, but it has historically focused on crypto, AI, fintech, and stablecoins. It accepts startups building across a wide spectrum, including Web2.5 products. There is no formal avoidance of any sector.

Alliance DAO is the alumni community of founders who have graduated from the accelerator program. It is a separate entity that provides peer support, mentoring, and access to perks. The firm's investment and program operations are managed separately, though founders often become DAO members after Demo Day.