Icebreaker, an open professional network co-founded by Coinbase and Google veterans, has raised $5 million in a seed round to build a blockchain version of LinkedIn.
Icebreaker co-founders Dan Stone and Jack Dille announced that they have secured funding in a round led by crypto-native investment firm CoinFund.
Icebreaker will use the funding to assemble a world-class team as it continues its mission to launch a platform that enables professionals to connect on the blockchain.
A professional networking platform on the blockchain
According to the announcement, Icebreaker targets professional networks where users can benefit from a “cryptographically verifiable identity” in a marketplace that is increasingly affected by artificial intelligence-related noise and “fake personas.”
Icebreaker helps recruiters find the best, highest quality talent, while existing platforms are often packed with engagement-focused profiles so users can take advantage of the best opportunities.
“The world runs on trust,” said Icebreaker co-founder Dan Stone. press release“Until now, it's been impossible to see because your existing network optimized for engagement over signal. But every leader knows that the loudest and most followed people are rarely the best. Icebreaker lets you see who your immediate network trusts, so you can cut through the noise and surface the talent and opportunities that might not be obvious.”
Stone and Dille both worked at Google before joining cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, but left the company in 2023 to co-found Icebreaker.
Icebreaker's pilot includes partnerships with Coinbase, Opensea and Polygon Labs. Users can create a profile on the platform from one or more of their existing identities, such as LinkedIn, X, GitHub, and Farcaster.
The platform's seed round also attracted investment from venture capital firms Accomplice, Anagram and Legion Capital. More than 30 angel investors also backed Icebreaker's funding round.
