Web3 infrastructure provider QuickNode is set to launch a $65 million accelerator program — designed to help develop the next generation of Layer 2 blockchain projects.
Announced at ETHDenver in Colorado on Wednesday, the eight-week "RollOut" program kicks off in March, supporting participants with tools and funding from over 30 projects and firms, including Arbitrum, Chainlink, Coinbase Ventures, Dragonfly Capital, Fireblocks, Google and Protocol Labs, according to a statement from QuickNode shared with The Block.
RollOut will offer workshops and mentorship from industry-leading developers and VCs, with selected participants competing for a variety of resources such as grants from data availability providers and discounted security audit services. The program's curriculum spans ecosystem building, community development, tokenomics strategy and go-to-market planning.
With the Layer 2 market predicted by investment manager VanEck to reach $1 trillion by 2030, QuickNode argues now is the time to cultivate new projects from both traditional and web3 native developers alike. It hopes to build on momentum from recent launches such as Soneium, Unichain and Kraken's Ink, alongside major institutions like Deutsche Bank and BlackRock reportedly exploring their own Layer 2s.
"Scalability and efficiency are two primary blockchain challenges, and Layer 2s address both," QuickNode co-founder Dmitry Shklovsky said. "RollOut is a launchpad for projects that will move the industry forward. By connecting the right builders with strategic capital and technical mentorship, we are setting the stage for a new era of high-performance, decentralized applications on Ethereum."
What is QuickNode?
QuickNode is a Remote Procedure Call (RPC) provider, offering access to various blockchain networks via APIs and RPC endpoints. RPC providers like QuickNode, Infura, Alchemy and Ankr, among others, allow developers to interact with blockchains without running a full node themselves — simplifying the process of integrating blockchain data and services into applications.
In January 2023, QuickNode announced it had raised a $60 million Series B funding round, led by Dan Tapiero's 10T Holdings, at a valuation of $800 million. The firm is "very much geared toward an IPO," CEO Alex Nabutovsky previously told The Block, and could also raise a Series C round beforehand.
Earlier this month, QuickNode VP of Product Josh Neuroth sat down with The Block's Frank Chaparro to discuss the increased adoption of blockchain technology by traditional finance institutions and enterprises in an episode of The Scoop podcast.
