Avalanche has seen new heights: hitting 20M daily transactions which is six times growth for the past three months. Cryptic invited Xenia Soborova, Ecosystem Coordinator who contributes to grants strategy and ecosystem success at Avalanche Foundation, to explain the current cycle’s success of Avalanche, and what stands behind that growth. Furthermore, we discussed how the Avalanche Foundation grants strategy looks like today, what pillars their grants cover and what types of founders the Avalanche ecosystem is looking for. At Cryptic, we have learnt that the Avalanche Foundation funds infrastructure and artificial intelligence projects, prioritizing resilient founders who are connected to the community and committed to real results. More than just financial resources, Avalanche Foundation’s grant models combine strategic support, connections, and mentorship, fostering an ecosystem that promotes sustainable innovation in Web3.
Xenia’s role in building the Avalanche ecosystem
Xenia Soborova is a strategic leader in the web3 space, with strong experience in the cryptocurrency and technological innovation sectors, previously worked with renowned web3 brands like Binance, RARI Foundation, and Subsquid. She joined the Avalanche Foundation four months ago to sustainably and holistically support the Avalanche ecosystem’s builders, combining web3 expertise with business vision to foster projects that expand the network’s infrastructure.
Xenia Soborova sits at the intersection of grants strategy, strategic initiatives and post-grant founders’ support.
After leading BD initiatives with Binance, RARI Foundation, and Subsquid, Xenia joined Avalanche Foundation to design and run its next-generation grant and builder-impact programs. In practice that means:
- Shaping grant strategy – surfacing the verticals (AI, SocialFi, DeFi infra, DePIN) that will move the needle for Avalanche
- Architecting post-grant success – tiered support, BD introductions, co-marketing, and a data dashboard that tracks on-chain traction, funding, and retention.
- Turning early-stage founders into long-term ecosystem contributors – matching them with the right partners, investors, and community resources.
This strategic approach and deep understanding of the dynamic market give Xenia credibility and long-term vision, essential to designing programs that support builders beyond funding and have tangible results.
Avalanche Foundation: mission, pillars and business model
Avalanche is a high-performance blockchain platform designed to support decentralized applications and digital finance with scalability, security, and speed. Known for its ability to process thousands of transactions per second with near-instant finality, Avalanche stands out in the Web3 space by offering a robust infrastructure that meets the growing demands of users and developers. The foundation is the non-profit entity responsible for fostering sustainable ecosystem growth, collaboration, and supporting Avalanche community by creating strategic initiatives, like grants and campaigns.
The mission of the Foundation is to support and accelerate the expansion of the ecosystem, especially through grant programs aimed at builders, developers, startups and teams building solutions on the Avalanche network. These programs are structured to provide strategic, financial and educational support, ensuring that projects have the resources to innovate and deliver real value to the community. The team prioritizes building an open, collaborative and diverse network where different initiatives can coexist and thrive.
One of the differentiators of Avalanche’s model is its focus on infrastructure for L1s as the basis for sustainable development. In addition to financial support, the team offers ongoing guidance and retroactive programs that reward projects already in operation that demonstrate concrete results. This approach encourages consistent value delivery and the creation of a solid ecosystem based on long-term partnerships and strengthened relationships between the foundation, builders and the community.
Currently, Avalanche Foundation runs several ongoing grants programs:
- infraBUIDL() Program – to support tooling and infrastructure builders on Avalanche
- infraBUIDL(AI) Program – building artificial intelligence (AI) tools on Avalanche
- Retro9000 – retroactive grant program to drive new L!s adoption and infrastructure tooling
What sets the grant program apart
Grants are financial contributions made to support innovative projects within the Avalanche ecosystem without taking equity. They are designed to fuel the development of tools, applications, and infrastructure that advance the network and benefit the entire community.
According to Xenia Soborova grants at the Avalanche Foundation are much more than a simple funding mechanism – “We work closely with grantees throughout their journey, defining clear milestones that guide progress and ensure transparency,” she explains. This milestone-based approach allows the team to provide ongoing support, helping projects stay on track and achieve meaningful results.
Moreover, the foundation emphasizes a long-term partnership model. “We don’t just provide money and disappear,” Xenia adds. “We invest in founders who are resilient, deeply connected to the community, and committed to delivering real impact. Beyond capital, we offer strategic guidance, business development connections, and marketing support to help projects thrive.” This comprehensive support system ensures that innovation within Avalanche is sustainable and aligned with the network’s growth.
At the same time, Foundation sets expectations on founders in return. For example, we expect that builders do some prior research to understand how their solution fits into the ecosystem and what problem it solves. Moreover, grants committees evaluate previous experience of the team to make sure they will ship and have a solid plan and roadmap with milestones tied to budget allocation. Foundation values community traction and how the team is determining their ecosystem impact, for example, projected metrics.
Perspectives on the development of the Avalanche ecosystem
The grant program values resilient founders who are curious and capable of engaging the community through authentic storytelling.
Beyond grants programs run by the Foundation, Avalanche provides support through various initiatives like the Developer Academy, hackathons, and Codebase, Avalanche-based accelerator and VC fund Blizzard – all of which empower entrepreneurs on different stages.
The ecosystem’s success relies on a combination of financial resources, strategic support, and commitment to growth and shipping, creating a collaborative environment conducive to innovative ideas and lasting impact in Web3.
Building the future on Avalanche: an open invitation
For founders and innovators eager to make a meaningful impact in the Web3 space, Avalanche offers a unique and supportive ecosystem designed to turn bold ideas into reality. The foundation’s comprehensive grant programs, strategic guidance, and community-driven approach create the ideal environment for sustainable growth and innovation.
As Xenia envisions, the future of Avalanche lies in fostering long-term partnerships with resilient and passionate builders who are committed to creating real value and advancing the network’s infrastructure. This collaborative spirit will continue to drive Avalanche’s evolution as a leading platform for decentralized applications and emerging technologies.
To learn more about how you can join this thriving ecosystem and access the resources available to accelerate your project, visit the Avalanche Foundation’s website.
Disclaimer: This article is based on an interview and reflects the personal views and opinions of the featured speaker. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.
