Merito Network

Start-ups, especially from deep tech ventures, need an alternative to funding that doesn't require wasting so much time pitching to TradFi investors that reject ~98% of the time. Token fundraising platforms like @juiceboxETH give that potential. They give hope we'll get closer to financial meritocracy.

Many pop-up cities (villages/events) for these Q3-Q4 dates are getting confirmed, and we're here for it. Forma Bristol @formacity · 6/27–7/5 (live) Zanzalu 3.0 @_zanzalu · 7/25–8/14 Magic Island @magicislandxyz · 8/1–8/31 mtndao X @mtndao · 8/1–8/31 Zō village @MeritoNetwork · 8/2–8/31 Valley of the commons @VotC2026 · 8/24–9/20 ReVillage revillage.com · 9/1–9/30 Cosmo Local CNX cosmolocalcnx.com · 9/1–9/28 ZuCity Japan PopUp @zucity_japan · 9/4–10/5 Edge City India @JoinEdgeCity · 10/11–11/1 Edge City Bhutan @JoinEdgeCity · 11/11–11/20 Network School @ns · rolling, starts the 1st each month More to come!

This August in Myoko (a one-hour train ride from Nagano), Zō Village is bringing together a dynamic community and offering: → Japanese cultural events → Co-working space w/ mountain view → Vibe coding classes → Great gym & fitness Visit: zovillage.com

Cool event happening this September in Nagano...we'll be there!

Thank you for the inspiration @balajis

Physical presence changes how ideas move. A casual comment over lunch becomes a business pivot. Physical is the new luxury. Join us this August at Zo Village in Japan: @merito.network/lets-get-physical-the-antidote-to-the-ai-age-c40ed63adfbc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@merito.networ…

Just a few spots remaining this August at Zō Village in Myoko, Japan for focused deep work. We have a cozy coworking space, private onsen, modern gym, and three kaiseki-style meals cooked daily for us. zovillage.com

@sui_sing_run You're welcome to come join us in August, Sui-san...running every day in the cool mountain air.

実は••• 5日ぶりに走りましてん 毎日楽しそうに走ってるように 見せかけて 毎回重い腰を上げていってます（笑） 軽くならんかのぉ〜

How to spend this August: 1) Alone at home and cafe/coworking space. Overheated when outside. Challenged to find good food and a gym. Hard to meet friends. 2) At Zo Village: Tasty meals, co-working, gym, friends at a onsen resort in fresh air in Japan. zovillage.com

@paulg There is another path. We’ve started new companies and currencies. Why can’t we start new communities, cities, and even countries? After all, that’s part of why Elon wants Mars, and why Thiel backed seasteading. Maybe we can get there via the Internet. thenetworkstate.com

This August, Zō Village is bringing together an interesting group of movers and shakers. And offering: → Fun, curated cultural events → Find clients, co-founders, or investors in Japan → Fitness classes Read more: zovillage.com DM for more info!

@jonaswillett1 @Tinder @grok , where does the $400 billion number come from?

The IRL connection economy is a $400B+ market. And companies are racing to own it. In the last 6 months, $800M+ in capital was deployed on "IRL" bets. @Tinder invested $60M into a new Events feature for connecting matches in-person. They're pivoting to IRL and offering experiences such as speakeasies, raves, and pottery classes. @222place: raised a $10.1M Series A to curate blind social experiences for Gen Z. Personality-matched groups sent to hyperlocal nightlife events. @JagermeisterUSA launched BestNightsVC - the only venture fund in the world dedicated solely to nightlife and IRL connection. 16 portfolio companies across 4 continents. @timeleft: dinner with 5 strangers, every Wednesday. €18M ARR. 6,500 dinners/week across 200+ cities. Dion: members-only social app where the first move is buying someone a real drink, redeemed IRL. 10K members, 30K+ on the waitlist founded by @revekkapal. Pie: Bonobos founder @dunn built an IRL friendship app. $24M raised. 130K+ MAU. @weroad_official: group trips for 20-30 year olds who don't know each other beforehand. $150M valuation. Matchbox: is an algorithm-powered matching platform for IRL events and has powered over 100,000 connections. founded by @liamjmcgregor (prev @MarriagePact) New dating apps like Known @Celesteamadon, Cerca @MylesCerca, and Ditto @AllenWangzian are aiming to improve connection amongst young people. Billion-dollar companies are paying $$$ for community and events leads: - @AnthropicAI: Marketing Events Manager ($255k) - @tryramp: Community Manager ($223k) - @tryramp: Events & Culture Manager ($181k) - @duolingo: Senior Community Manager ($193k) - @NotionHQ: Community Programs Lead Everyone knows the more time we spend online, the more valuable real-life connection becomes. The question isn't whether IRL wins. It's who facilitates it best.

This August. Your chance to level up. In the Japanese mountains. Come be part of our new society, Zō Village. @merito.network/welcome-to-z%C5%8D-village-%E5%A2%97%E5%9F%9F-b8a6bcd7b37a" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@merito.networ…

@pbrody Congrats for the deserved recognition, Paul. What's next?

I could not have asked for a kinder, more thoughtful sendoff from my former EY colleagues. I'm proud of what I've built and sad to be leaving such great people.

San Francisco is the only tech hub with growing startup formation. Politicians want to kill it🚨 Garry Tan on the data: SF has +24% company formation growth. Every other city is declining. But city hall is doing everything it can to drive companies out: ▪️ 800% gross receipts tax hike proposed ▪️ Lab bans threatening biotech and AI startups This is the only VC hub in America still growing, and local politicians are trying to destroy what makes it special. The irony: SF's comeback is real, and the biggest threat isn't competition from other cities. It's self-inflicted. Do you think SF stays the AI capital or does policy push startups elsewhere?

How I got my first 100 users for each of my 24 startups:

Eye-opening data from former OIST University Dean of Research Nick Luscombe's presentation at Asia Society Japan's event in Tokyo today on Japan's Research Renaissance: Strategies for Global Impact. Time for a new way for Japan to fund its research? @MeritoNetwork is ready to lead a funding renaissance.

@MeritoNetwork is thrilled to present on the huge opportunity presented by DeSci to a crowd of technologists and investors at the Network School in Malaysia tomorrow. luma.com/oi9xd4i6

@Noahpinion , thoughts?

Could Japan become a node in the global network school archipelago? @merito.network/the-japan-network-state-symbiosis-76e6d87e4582" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@merito.networ…