tl;dr
Aurora Labs, creator of the Aurora protocol on the Near blockchain, has launched Aurora Blocks, a six-week incubator program for developers building AVM-compatible Virtual Chains. The program will support five teams with $250,000 in funding, technical mentorship, go-to-market support, and business a...
Aurora Labs has launched Aurora Blocks, a six-week incubator program designed to support developers building AVM-compatible Virtual Chains on the Near blockchain. The program will select five teams to receive $250,000 in funding, along with mentorship, marketing, security, and go-to-market support.
Partnering with leading Web3 firms in infrastructure, security, marketing, and advisory, Aurora Blocks focuses on accelerating projects in sectors including DeFi, AI, DeFAI, Bitcoin layer-2, real-world assets (RWAs), and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN).
The initiative aims to launch 1,000 Virtual Chains by 2025, helping early-stage concepts evolve into operational networks that drive adoption and real-world utility. Aurora Labs CEO Alex Shevchenko emphasized that the incubator provides not just funding, but the infrastructure and guidance needed to launch scalable, user-attractive products.
Applications for Aurora Blocks close on May 28, with a Demo Day scheduled for July 23, where participating teams will present their innovations to investors and the Near protocol community. Aurora Blocks offers premium developer tools, seed funding, technical mentorship, legal support, and networking opportunities to accelerate project growth.