About Us
Since 1996, palcapital has been serving companies and entrepreneurs at the intersection of the emergent digital economy and global capital markets. We believe human behavior and market dynamics follow predictable patterns. palcapital pursues blue-ocean opportunities in the new decentralized digital economy by applying traditional finance, growth and liquidity strategies to optimize outcomes for stakeholders. Our focus is on transformative web3 and distributed ledger technology “DLT” that are disrupting global political, social and economic markets.
Web3
Web3 is built on the desire to shift control from central authoritative systems to trustless, self-sovereign, peer-to-peer decentralized networks and protocols. By relying upon peer-to-peer relationships, direct data exchanges remove the need for intermediaries. In these decentralized frameworks, individuals have the power to manage and control their data, relationships, identity and assets. At palcapital, we believe that individuals and entities should control when and how their information, rights, and preferences are accessed.
“all information looks like noise until you break the code.”
-Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash
It’s All Fractals Patterns
Fractals and patterns are not limited to the realms of mathematics and nature—they permeate every aspect of life. History has consistently rewarded innovation and those who see paradigm shift metamorphoses before they become institutionalized. Legacy experience shows that early adopters and investors who remain steadfast over time in successful “alternative” asset classes, such as DLT, have a historic first mover advantage.
“the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places.”
-Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash
Same As It Ever Was
We predict businesses of the future will prefer to have protocols, not people or businesses, as counterparts. They will be attracted by the unique algorithmic nature of DLT relationships to develop resilient business models that are more predictable, efficient and scalable. The net result will be arbitrage investment opportunities. We bring 50 years of relevant experience, enabling us to create simple, elegant solutions to take advantage of this foreseeable pattern.
“interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.”
-Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash
Portfolio & Advisory
Advisory Services
Tokenization Strategies
Fundraising
Business Scaling
Product Creation
Product Redesign
Mergers & Acquisitions
Investment Funds
Cutting edge investments in blockchain protocols, tokens, decentralized applications and NFT projects
Team
James has been at the forefront of the global emerging markets Merchant Banking, Investment banking and venture capital industries for over 30 years, focusing on product-market fit, business development and liquidity strategies for early-stage disruptors and investors. Since 2015, James has focussed exclusively on DLT-based opportunities and is the co-founder of CryptoMondays, CryptoOracle and DLTx.
In 2003, James co-founded Condo.com, the first internet business to focus on a single vertical in the real estate industry. In 2011, James launched the palgenesis fund focussed on being the initial seed investor in promising disruptive digital startups. palgenesis was one of the initial investors in Zipline International, Inc, the leading investment in the past decade in applied AI-assisted drone and robotic technologies. palgenesis is on track to return a 35% IRR over the 10-year life of the fund.
Prior to palcapital, James was Managing Director of Asian Investment Banking in HK for Bear Stearns and was the Managing Director of Latin American Equity Capital Markets at INGBarings, and founder and Managing Director of Emerging Markets Investment Banking at Furman Selz. He has been an advisor or investor to over 100 venture-backed and blockchain-based entities.
James graduated from Vassar College with an AB in Economics and from the Emory University Schools of Business and Law with a JD/MBA.
James Haft
Founder & CEO
