Transforming from venture capital to family office.
Binance Labs today announced its official rebranding to YZi Labs, symbolizing a shift in the institution's investment strategy. According to Bloomberg reports, the organization will independently manage the assets of Binance founders Zhao Changpeng and He Yi, transitioning from venture capital to operating in the form of a 'family office.'
According to the official press release, in addition to continuing to drive Web3 innovation, YZi Labs will also expand into the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, exploring the potential of these frontier areas.
Rebranding is a natural continuation of business development. Over the years, while Binance Labs has leveraged the influence of the Binance brand, it has always operated independently. Now, with Zhao Changpeng (CZ) stepping down from Binance, YZi Labs is also adjusting its brand for independent development.
CZ continues to participate, and Ella Zhang returns to leadership.
Despite parting ways with Binance, CZ will still actively participate in YZi Labs' investment decisions, directly communicating with entrepreneurs to provide guidance and support, emphasizing that the organization remains committed to discovering and nurturing projects with long-term potential.
https://t.co/aJUYbae62O
— YZi Labs (@BinanceLabs) January 23, 2025
At the same time, YZi Labs welcomed significant personnel changes—Ella Zhang returned to take the lead. She co-founded Binance Labs with CZ in 2018 and led the first three incubation programs, successfully supporting over 40 startups including Polygon, Injective Protocol, CertiK, Dune Analytics, Kava, SafePal, Elrond, and Nym. She left Binance Labs in 2020 to start her own venture and has now returned to YZi Labs, bringing rich investment experience to lead the organization into a new phase. CZ stated:
The renaming to YZi Labs is not just a change of name; it symbolizes the expansion of our vision into transformative industries such as AI and biotechnology. We are thrilled to have Ella back on the leadership team; her expertise and vision were crucial to the organization's early success, and I believe under her leadership, YZi Labs will continue to discover and support entrepreneurs who can create a lasting impact.
Adjustment of investment focus and incubation programs.
In the future, YZi Labs will focus on the intersection of Web3, AI, and biotechnology, such as the application of AI in blockchain and the management of biological data on-chain, promoting the integration and innovation of these frontier technologies. Additionally, the organization will continue to focus on long-term value and will not be swayed by short-term market fluctuations in its investment strategy.
Regarding the incubation program, YZi Labs plans to readjust its strategy, resuming a 12-week physical incubation camp to create a more immersive entrepreneurial environment and help founders grow. Ella Zhang stated:
This rebranding marks a new chapter, but our mission remains unchanged—supporting visionary and execution-oriented founders. We will explore the potential of AI and biotechnology while rooting ourselves in Web3 to drive the boundaries of innovation.
The rebranding does not affect existing investments and support.
YZi Labs emphasizes that all existing investments and incubation programs will remain unchanged, including support for the BNB Chain 'Most Valuable Builder' (MVB) program.
YZi Labs has currently invested in over 250 projects across 25 countries, with 65 startups having participated in its incubation programs. In the future, the organization will further support innovations in the fields of Web3, AI, and biotechnology to aid industry development.
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