We’re Gen Z college dropouts who raised $41.4M for our blockchain startup. Here’s how we did it
In a late-stage economy dominated by established players, opportunity for new economic entrants can be bleak. So we went our own way. In the fall of 2022, at 19 and 22, we dropped out of Vanderbilt to establish Movement Labs. A year later, in the fall of 2023, we secured $3.4 million in pre-seed funding to kickstart our vision. Fast forward to April 2024, and we’ve just closed a $38 Million Series A round. Our journey isn’t just about reshaping the future of technology and finance with a next-gen coding language, it’s about the realities of navigating life as Gen Z starting from scratch.
The Gen Z advantage in a fast-moving space
Being young and flexible has been our secret weapon in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and Web3. Our ability to adapt quickly, think outside the box, and challenge conventional wisdom has allowed us to identify and solve problems that others might overlook.
As digital natives, we grew up in a world where technology evolves at breakneck speed. This has instilled in us a natural ability to navigate and innovate in fast-moving spaces like blockchain. We’re not weighed down by legacy thinking or outdated practices—instead, we’re driven by a vision of what the future could be.
Breaking free from traditional paths
College helped us mature and develop into capable new economic entrants and entrepreneurs. But benefits to being in college eventually diminished, and we found rare opportunities that existed in the moment. College has been shaped as a path to finding a job and starting a career. Once we found a more stable and streamlined path, it only made sense to go all in.
Our generation understands that paths we’re told to follow don’t lead where they used to. We’re not afraid to take calculated risks and go off the path. This mindset has allowed us to move decisively, pivoting our focus to the Move programming language when we recognized its potential to revolutionize the blockchain industry.
Solving real problems in the blockchain space
Our goal at Movement Labs is to create a unified blockchain ecosystem where developers can build secure applications that interact seamlessly across different networks, and users can confidently manage their digital assets without fear of hacks or incompatibility issues.
The Move programming language was originally created by Meta (formerly Facebook) with the goal of building a foundation for a world where digital information is smart and programmable. While many in the tech world moved on when Meta’s project changed direction, we saw hidden potential that others missed.
Move is like a super-secure and efficient language for the digital age. It’s designed to handle information and digital assets more safely and effectively than older systems, making it ideal for businesses and financial applications.
This potential inspired us to make a bold move—we quit our internships and dropped out of college to go all in on Move. We’re swimming against the current, but that’s where we see the biggest opportunity. In most industries, large corporations have already claimed the lion’s share of the market. They’ve become like well-oiled machines, making it hard for newcomers to break in.
By focusing on Move when others have overlooked it, we’re creating a new playing field. It’s our chance to build something groundbreaking and carve out our own space in the fast-moving world of technology and finance.
Building a community-driven future
One of the most exciting aspects of being Gen Z entrepreneurs in the Web3 space is the emphasis on community. We are fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovative builders and community contributors who share our vision. We build our seats at the table together.
This community-driven approach is second nature to our generation. We’ve grown up in a world of social media, open-source software, and collaborative online spaces. We understand that the best innovations often come from diverse groups working together toward a common goal. And we understand that breaking the mold requires collaboration between a number of diverse skill sets.
Our vision for the Move language is to make it accessible and decentralized. We want to level the playing field, opening doors for a new wave of innovation. This approach gives Gen Z around the world the chance to freely create and collaborate, building their own futures without traditional gatekeepers. It’s about empowering our generation to shape the digital economy, together.
The future is now
To those who might doubt the ability of young entrepreneurs to lead in such a complex industry, we say: The future is already here, and we’re building it. Our $38 million funding round isn’t just a validation of our technology—it’s a testament to the power of fresh perspectives and bold ideas.
We believe that the next wave of technological revolution will be led by those who are willing to question everything and reimagine what’s possible. That’s what we’re doing at Movement Labs, and that’s what we believe our generation brings to the table.
So, to our fellow Zoomers, we say: Don’t be afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo. Your unique perspective and skills are needed in the tech industry and beyond. And to the generations prior, we say: Embrace the energy and innovation that young entrepreneurs bring to the table. We can build a better future together.
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