About
Pioneering the Future of the Digital Economy with a Legacy of Innovation
our vision
Blockchain world
At COSIMO Digital, we envision a world where blockchain technology and tokenization are at the heart of the global economy. Just as the internet transformed commerce in the early 2000s, blockchain is now driving a new era of digital finance, revolutionizing how assets are created, exchanged, and managed. Blockchain is more than a technological advancement; it is the infrastructure for the next era of finance, offering unparalleled transparency, security, and efficiency.
Innovation
This momentum is reflected in the increasing institutional interest, including the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs and the launch of major tokenization initiatives by financial giants. We foresee blockchain playing a pivotal role in the future of digital finance, driving substantial investment, fostering innovation, and reshaping the global financial ecosystem. As regulatory frameworks evolve and market infrastructure strengthens, the exponential growth of blockchain adoption will continue, creating unprecedented opportunities for both individual and institutional investors.
next infrastructure
The convergence of blockchain with AI, cybersecurity, AR/VR, and the metaverse is gaining significant traction and attracting unprecedented capital, holding the potential to revolutionize industries across sectors from healthcare to supply chains. The rise of digital assets, decentralized protocols, and Web3 platforms signals that blockchain adoption is now at a critical inflection point.
Cosimo
At COSIMO digital, we are committed to leading this transformative journey, just as Cosimo de' Medici led the Renaissance, by building a future where blockchain technology is an integral part of our world.
Our core values of innovation, integrity, and foresight guide our every move
Innovation
We are pioneers at the frontier of blockchain development, committed to pushing boundaries and unlocking new possibilities. By investing in disruptive technologies, we stay at the cutting edge of the digital asset revolution.
Integrity
Trust is at the core of everything we do. We adhere to the highest standards, ensuring that our clients, partners, and investors always receive transparent, ethical service.
Foresight
With a sharp eye on market trends and emerging technologies, we anticipate shifts that will define the future of finance. Our deep expertise in blockchain enables us to make decisive moves that position our investors at the forefront of this transformation.
History
2014
COSIMO digital was founded in 2014, inspired by the vision and legacy of Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici, a renowned Italian banker and patron of the Renaissance. Just as Medici recognized the transformative power of art and science during his time
2017
in 2017 our founders recognized the patterns and signals pointing to the dawn of a new era in technology—blockchain. As a team of specialized blockchain investors boasting over 100 years of combined experience, they began to focus on capitalizing on the unprecedented opportunities in this emerging market.
2019
we launched COSIMO X, the world’s first tokenized evergreen venture capital fund, marking a revolutionary step in the illiquid venture market. By leveraging blockchain technology, COSIMO X has opened new avenues for investing in deep tech and blockchain-enabled opportunities, setting a new standard for venture capital.
Today
Today, COSIMO digital is a multi-faceted digital asset management company whose funds and subsidiaries span the breadth of the burgeoning digital economy.
Team
The COSIMO Team has been at the forefront of innovation and value creation for early-stage companies over the past 25 years. As technology pioneers, we have developed products used by hundreds of millions of users every day and have created many firsts: from the first commercially available financial service on the internet to the first internet push notification. With over 40 issued patents across the team, we are technology pioneers resolute in our mission to help emerging entrepreneurs build legendary companies.
Rob
Frasca
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Rob Frasca
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Rob Frasca is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of COSIMO digital. He is a serial entrepreneur, investor, visionary online pioneer and frequent speaker on blockchain and cryptocurrencies. A pioneer and product visionary, Rob founded and brought four venture-backed startups to successful exits and served as CEO of four companies.
Rob is widely recognized for creating the first internet fintech company (GALT Technologies), the internet’s first stock quote and portfolio management service- NETworth, which was eventually acquired by Intuit in 1994 and became Quicken Financial Network. His second startup, an early artificial intelligence company, was acquired by Lycos, the second-most-popular internet portal at the time, where he became VP and General Manager. Frasca’s third startup, Affinnova, was acquired by Nielsen in 2014. He has brought over 50 products to market, including one with over 100 million users.
Rob graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and received an MBA/M.S.I.A. from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. He is also a decorated U.S. Naval Flight Officer with 18 combat missions.
Ciaran
Hynes
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Ciaran Hynes
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Ciarán Hynes is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at COSIMO digital where he also serves as COO/CFO. Decades of entrepreneurial and investment experience allowed Ciarán to realize the transformative possibilities of blockchain technology from the outset. Since then he has been helping COSIMO digital’s expansive network of startups, partners and investors navigate the complexities of the digital economy to achieve success.
A serial entrepreneur, Ciarán has founded seven companies, led five as CEO, and successfully completed multiple buy-side and sell-side transactions. Throughout his career, he has raised over $100 million in capital, brought more than 25 products and services to market, and served as a board director for over 20 companies.
Additionally, he is an ICCA International Marketing Award winner and was honored as one of the Irish America Wall St. Top 50 in 2019 and again in 2023. He has spoken at many prestigious international conferences and events. Beyond his professional achievements, he completed the Dublin City Marathon and played Minor and Senior Hurling for Dublin.
Connor
Cantwell
Partner - Europe
Connor Cantwell
Partner - Europe
Connor Cantwell is the European Partner at COSIMO digital, bringing extensive leadership experience in growing businesses and delivering value for stakeholders in both national and multinational environments.
As a key figure in COSIMO’s broad ecosystem Connor helps guide startups through the rapidly evolving digital economy as well as playing a pivotal role at both Black Manta Capital Partners and Fortuna Custody in Europe.
Appointed Managing Director of Nielsen Ireland at just 27, Connor later joined the Nielsen European Executive Board, overseeing operations across more than 40 countries. He founded and successfully sold 20-20 Insights, an award-winning software and analytics firm, before establishing Centauri Technologies, focusing on investment and operational support for Irish technology companies in mobile, business intelligence, and social media.
Jack
Ward
Principal and Fund Manager
Jack Ward
Principal and Fund Manager
Jack Ward is Principal and Fund Manager at COSIMO digital, specializing in tokenomics, protocol valuation, and staking strategies. With over 7 years of deep experience in the digital assets space, Jack has a proven track record in derivatives trading and the development of decentralized applications (dApps). His expertise lies in navigating the complexities of blockchain technology, helping startups and projects leverage its potential for growth and innovation. Jack holds a Master of Science in Finance from Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business and plays a crucial role in shaping COSIMO digital’s investment strategies, guiding both startups and investors through the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Brandon
Fluegel
Fund Manager
Brandon Fluegel
Fund Manager
Brandon Fluegel is a Fund Manager at COSIMO Digital, bringing over 20 years of experience as a seasoned derivatives trader, risk manager, and strategy consultant. He has managed portfolios with discretion, handling up to $1 billion in notional value daily for International Trading Group (ITG), and has completed more than 100,000 round-turn trades across 40 different futures contracts. As the Portfolio Manager for ChainLogic Fund, the first digital asset fund to be registered with the CFTC and regulated by the NFA in 2017, Fluegel played a pivotal role in earning 12 prestigious awards from BarclayHedge and Preqin for top-performing digital asset strategies.