About Waves Institute

We're building the bridge between Bitcoin and AI, empowering founders to create the future of decentralized intelligence.

Our Mission

To accelerate the development of Bitcoin×AI technologies through open education, credible vetting, and aligned incentives.

Open Education
We believe knowledge should be accessible. Our educational resources and program content are designed to democratize expertise in Bitcoin×AI.
Credible Vetting
Our rigorous due diligence process ensures that only the highest quality startups reach our investor network, maintaining trust and reputation.
Aligned Incentives
We only succeed when our founders succeed. Our equity model aligns our interests with long-term startup success, not short-term gains.
Community First
We're building a community of Bitcoin×AI pioneers who support each other's growth and share knowledge freely.

Why Bitcoin × AI?

Bitcoin represents the future of money and value transfer, while AI represents the future of intelligence and automation. The intersection of these technologies will create unprecedented opportunities for innovation in finance, security, privacy, and decentralized systems. We're here to help founders navigate this complex but incredibly promising landscape.

Meet Our Founders

Deep Bitcoin and AI expertise from industry veterans who've built successful companies and contributed to core protocols.

FM

Francesco Madonna

Co-Founder & CEO

BitVault

Bitcoin SecurityProduct StrategyGo-to-MarketRegulatory Compliance

Background

Francesco is the founder of BitVault (bitvault.sv), a leading Bitcoin custody solution. With over 8 years of experience in Bitcoin security and product development, he has deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, product management, and security architecture. Francesco has helped numerous Bitcoin companies navigate regulatory challenges and implement robust security practices.

Key Achievements

  • Founded BitVault, serving 10,000+ users
  • Advised 50+ Bitcoin startups on security
  • Speaker at Bitcoin conferences worldwide
  • Published security research on Bitcoin custody
VP

Vincenzo Palazzo

Co-Founder & CTO

Former Bitcoin Core Contributor

Bitcoin ProtocolAI/ML EngineeringInfrastructureOpen Source

Background

Vincenzo is a former Bitcoin Core contributor and AI developer with deep expertise in protocols, machine learning, and infrastructure development. He has contributed to critical Bitcoin infrastructure projects and has extensive experience building AI systems at scale. His unique combination of Bitcoin protocol knowledge and AI expertise makes him invaluable for startups at this intersection.

Key Achievements

  • Bitcoin Core contributor for 3+ years
  • Built AI systems serving millions of users
  • Authored 20+ technical papers
  • Maintainer of popular Bitcoin libraries

Get in Touch

Have questions about our program, want to partner with us, or just want to chat about Bitcoin×AI? We'd love to hear from you.

Email Us
General inquiries and support
hello@waves.institute
Join Our Community
Connect with other founders
Discord Community
Office Hours
Book a call with our team
Schedule Call

Our Promise

We won't waste your time. If we can't help, we say it fast and point you to better-fit resources.