Our Thesis

What began as PORTERS.XYZ, a decentralised RPC infrastructure project, has evolved into Data Gateways LLC — a venture studio dedicated to building and backing rapid, high-conviction experiments in Web3. We focus on fast iteration, product traction, and applied research to compress the cycle between prototype and product-market fit.

We’ve learned that infrastructure wins are born from real-world friction: poor onboarding, inaccessible tools, and empty decentralisation promises. Our portfolio tackles these gaps directly — from onboarding flows like OnboardAI to modular ecosystem tooling like POPCO.

We operate at the edge of usability, applying systems thinking and field-based insights to unlock new pathways into decentralised ecosystems.

How We Work

We are a venture builder focused on:

• User-first onboarding: meeting users where they are, with context-aware, AI-supported flows.
• Infrastructure R&D: building primitives that reduce developer and user burden.
• Ecosystem alignment: working closely with protocol teams to localise growth and solve onboarding bottlenecks.
• Fast-cycle prototyping: validating hypotheses through staged, low-burn MVPs that scale.

We back our ideas with design sprints, small grants, and collaborative experiments. Every prototype is an insight engine — giving back data, user signals, and system gaps.

What We’re Building

• OnboardAI: A multilingual Telegram/WhatsApp AI guide that demystifies Web3 for emerging markets. From scams to wallets to Quai Network, it’s the fastest way to go from zero to confidence in crypto.
• POPCO: A plug-and-play governance toolkit for projects, allowing you to issue calls for proposals, track milestones, and unlock public goods funding pipelines with minimal overhead.
• Experimental MVPs: We ideate and challenge new concepts monthly — often low-burn, high-signal experiments exploring new governance, infra, or UX primitives.

Our Team

We are a RaidGuild-born, Web3-native venture builder. Distributed by design and united by critical thinking, autonomy, and care for real-world impact.

Ian Boucher, Sasquatch (CEO)

Brewer turned DAO believer - Ian came to Web3 in January 2021. For the last three years he has worked as a project and account manager with the builder DAO co-op, Raid Guild. With a background in process engineering he is specialized in Web3 and DAO development. His skills in technical communication and customer engagement pivoted him into roles at Raid Guild, where he manages diverse project teams and spearheads business development initiatives.

Ben Biedermann, benedictvs (COO)

Ben is a RaidGuild member and an expert on decentralized identity and Web3 infrastructure, who also reads for a PhD in DLT-based decentralized governance of small jurisdictions. As an entrepreneur, he successfully launched two Web3 consultancies in the past three years and received funding backed by the European Union on multiple occasions. His overarching objective is to bring DLT networks and society closer together.

Victoria Kozlova, vika (CMO)

Vika is an interdisciplinary researcher and creative director with a focus on user-centric design and brand development. She specializes in creating intuitive interfaces and maintaining DATA GATEWAYS’ brand consistency across digital and physical assets. Her academic background in sociolinguistics and marketing enables her to craft designs that meet user needs and promote the service through social media.

Get Involved

We’re seeking aligned funders, design partners, and ecosystems ready to run lean experiments with global impact.

Our Philosophy

We believe that technology is not neutral but social. For our ventures, infrastructure accessibility, and human-centred design are not trade-offs but they are foundations. We build what we wish existed, we build fast with, and with people in mind.