BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2025 / Incubater Capital has announced the launch of a new fundraising model designed to help startups raise capital without giving up equity or control. Founders Nathan Chen and Will Nicholson call it a "Community Liquidity Offering" (CLO), a method that reflects the shift toward transparent, founder-first startup growth.

"We plan to revolutionize raising capital," Chen explains. "Years ago, people were shocked that someone could hand you money on a silver platter to help fund your dreams. Now we're going to do it, without the downsides that people raising capital started to hate."

A New Approach for a New Generation of Builders

Incubater Capital positions itself as a next-gen alternative to traditional venture capital. Chen and Nicholson said they created the firm to fill a gap they experienced firsthand.

"We have friends who are going through the traditional venture capital route. It is hard, painful, and unproductive. But people do it because they have to, not because they want to," Nicholson says.

Nicholson, a seasoned trader in financial markets, teamed up with Chen, a consultant with experience scaling eight-figure brands through Noctex Group. Together, they began helping founders behind the scenes before launching Incubater Capital.

"The problems that the industry faced were evident months ago," Chen notes. "We realized it was time to save the trenches."

How the CLO Works

Incubater Capital's CLO model helps startups raise funds from their communities while increasing their visibility and credibility. The structure lets founders stay focused on building products instead of chasing investors.

"With new-gen capital investing, through what we call a Community Liquidity Offering (CLO), you no longer have to give away equity," Chen shares. "You no longer have to give away direction or ownership. You no longer have to spend horrendous amounts of time pitching, begging, chasing, and optimising the business for investing, instead of spending your time building a product that your customers would love."

The CLO process also includes marketing support, access to Incubater's trading community, and visibility within the web3 ecosystem.

"We are helping launch in a way that is extremely safe, transparent, and desired by the trading community. In other words, something that is missing," Nicholson remarks.

Why It Matters

Incubater Capital sees the Web3 space as the next frontier for innovation. Major firms, including Sequoia Capital, Y Combinator, and BlackRock, have entered the space.

"Small startups should feel comfortable doing so," Chen adds. "With the right partners that know what it's like, and the right process to do so, they can do it safely."

Incubater aims to become the Y Combinator for the growing Web3 community, providing founders with a path to validation that traders trust. "From our launches, our partner projects that never used to get VC funding are now being chased by investors due to increased publicity and market validation," Nicholson concludes. "It even makes their traditional raising easier."

About Incubater Capital

Incubater Capital is a next-generation venture firm founded by Nathan Chen and Will Nicholson. The company helps early-stage startups raise funding through Community Liquidity Offerings (CLOs), letting founders grow without giving up equity or control. Incubater Capital supports each launch with visibility, strategic guidance, and access to a dedicated trading community.

Nathan Chen
nathan@incubatercapital.io
incubatercapital.io
Brisbane, Australia

SOURCE: Nathan Chen