Imua (formerly Exocore) has launched Imua Ignite, a high-impact accelerator program with $1 million in funding for teams building decentralized infrastructure, what they call “verifiable trust machines.” The program is accepting applications until May 16, 2025, and will select 12 early-stage projects to go through an intense five-week builder program. Imua Imua Imua Ignite $1 million in funding May 16, 2025 12 early-stage projects Why Imua Ignite is a Big Deal 🔍 Why Imua Ignite is a Big Deal 🔍 Trust in centralized institutions is breaking down. Meanwhile, AI is scaling rapidly. The world needs decentralized systems that reduce dependency on middlemen. That’s exactly where Imua comes in. Imua is a universal shared security protocol that lets you bring crypto-economic and cryptographic security from any chain to off-chain systems, oracles, ZK provers, sequencers, bridges, and more. Imua universal shared security protocol This program isn’t just a fund. It’s a launchpad. It includes investment, mentorship, technical help, and GTM support to ship real-world AVSs (Actively Validated Services). ⚙️ Program Details at a Glance 📅 Program Details at a Glance 📅 Applications Open: April 17 – May 16, 2025 Cohort Size: 12 teams Total Grant Pool: ~$1M (stablecoins + $IMUA) Program Length: 5 weeks Winners Announced: Week of May 19, 2025 Applications Open: April 17 – May 16, 2025 Applications Open Cohort Size: 12 teams Cohort Size Total Grant Pool: ~$1M (stablecoins + $IMUA) Total Grant Pool Program Length: 5 weeks Program Length Winners Announced: Week of May 19, 2025 Winners Announced Selected Teams Get 🧰 Selected Teams Get 🧰 💰 Funding: A cut of the $1M grant pool 📈 Investor Support: Intros to Imua’s investor network 📢 Co-Marketing: GTM strategy and shoutouts 🧑💻 Developer Support: Code reviews, tech integration 🧠 1:1 Mentorship: With core contributors and ecosystem experts 💰 Funding: A cut of the $1M grant pool Funding 📈 Investor Support: Intros to Imua’s investor network Investor Support 📢 Co-Marketing: GTM strategy and shoutouts Co-Marketing 🧑💻 Developer Support: Code reviews, tech integration Developer Support 🧠 1:1 Mentorship: With core contributors and ecosystem experts 1:1 Mentorship Who Should Apply? 🧑🚀 Who Should Apply? 🧑🚀 If you're building in any of these areas, you're a fit: AI Agents 🤖 Decentralized Oracles 🔮 Cross-Chain Bridges 🌉 Appchains 🧱 Stablecoins 💵 DeFi 🔄 ZK, MPC, FHE Protocols 🔐 Infra like RPC & Node Services 🖥️ AI Agents 🤖 Decentralized Oracles 🔮 Cross-Chain Bridges 🌉 Appchains 🧱 Stablecoins 💵 DeFi 🔄 ZK, MPC, FHE Protocols 🔐 Infra like RPC & Node Services 🖥️ Basically, if you’re building something that relies on verifiability, cryptographic security, or tokenized coordination, Imua Ignite is built for you. verifiability cryptographic security tokenized coordination Why Imua is Different 🧬 Why Imua is Different 🧬 🔗 Crypto-Economic Security: Tap into restaked capital from Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, etc. 🧮 Cryptographic Proof: Use ZK, MPC, or custom verification logic 🧩 Modular Design: Create your own governance, slashing logic, or AVS deployment paths 🌐 Omnichain Support: Secure services on EVM, UTXO, Move-based chains, and more 🔗 Crypto-Economic Security: Tap into restaked capital from Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, etc. Crypto-Economic Security 🧮 Cryptographic Proof: Use ZK, MPC, or custom verification logic Cryptographic Proof 🧩 Modular Design: Create your own governance, slashing logic, or AVS deployment paths Modular Design 🌐 Omnichain Support: Secure services on EVM, UTXO, Move-based chains, and more Omnichain Support Imua Powers Trust-as-a-Service (dTaaS) 🔐 Imua Powers Trust-as-a-Service (dTaaS) 🔐 With Imua, teams can deploy decentralized trust mechanisms for their systems — no need to spin up your own blockchain. It’s trust as a service, without centralized middlemen. Imua is designed for long-term sustainability. Validator sets are driven by value and performance, not speculation. trust as a service Apply and Learn More 🔗 Apply and Learn More 🔗 📌 Apply Now: https://x.com/imua/status/1915395469976707077 Apply Now https://x.com/imua/status/1915395469976707077 📘 How AVSs Work: https://docs.imua.xyz/avs-setup/avs-overview How AVSs Work https://docs.imua.xyz/avs-setup/avs-overview 🧠 Background on Imua’s Vision: https://x.com/imua/status/1900623700720054469 Background on Imua’s Vision https://x.com/imua/status/1900623700720054469 📖 Intro Article on Imua (Exocore): https://heybeluga.com/articles/what-is-exocore/ Intro Article on Imua (Exocore) https://heybeluga.com/articles/what-is-exocore/ ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 🔹 What does “verifiable trust machine” mean? A verifiable trust machine is any system that provides cryptographic or crypto-economic guarantees. Think: decentralized oracles, AI agents with proof of computation, or sequencers with slashing-based accountability. cryptographic or crypto-economic guarantees 🔹 What can I build with Imua? You can build or secure anything that benefits from decentralized verification. Use Imua to power: AI Agents that verify outputs Oracles with slashing logic ZK apps and off-chain provers Decentralized stablecoins, bridges, and even custom AVSs AI Agents that verify outputs AI Agents Oracles with slashing logic Oracles ZK apps and off-chain provers ZK apps Decentralized stablecoins, bridges, and even custom AVSs Decentralized stablecoins 🔹 Do I need to launch my own chain or validator set? Nope. That’s the point of Imua — it offers shared security so you can skip bootstrapping your own chain or validator community. Just deploy an AVS and tap into existing validator capital and cryptographic tools. shared security 🔹 How is Imua different from EigenLayer? While EigenLayer focuses on Ethereum restaking, Imua is cross-chain and modular. It allows AVSs to use ZK proofs, MPC, token slashing, or even Bitcoin and Solana capital. You're not limited to just Ethereum-based restaking logic. Imua is cross-chain and modular ZK proofs, MPC, token slashing, or even Bitcoin and Solana capital 🔹 What’s the funding split? Funding comes in a mix of stablecoins and $IMUA tokens. Exact allocation will depend on your project’s needs and progress through the program. stablecoins and $IMUA tokens 🔹 Will I get help with GTM and launch? Yes. The program isn’t just technical. You’ll get co-marketing, access to investors, and help with go-to-market strategy, including ecosystem launches and token design if needed. co-marketing investors go-to-market strategy 🔹 Do I need to have a product ready to apply? Ideally, you should have an MVP or working prototype. This is a builder program — so it’s for teams ready to build, test, and ship during the 5-week sprint. MVP or working prototype 🚀 Ready to Build the Future of Verifiable Trust? The next generation of decentralized infrastructure won't just live on-chain — it’ll power everything from AI agents to cross-chain bridges and privacy-preserving services. Imua Ignite is your chance to build at the forefront of this shift, with $1M in funding, real mentorship, hands-on dev support, and exposure to top investors. Imua Ignite $1M in funding, real mentorship, hands-on dev support, and exposure to top investors Spots are limited. Only 12 teams will be selected. Only 12 teams 👉 Apply now before May 16th🔗 Submit your application here Apply now before May 16th Submit your application here 📖 For more details: Overview of what Imua is building Official program announcement Dive into the Imua docs Overview of what Imua is building Overview of what Imua is building Official program announcement Official program announcement Dive into the Imua docs Dive into the Imua docs Don’t just talk about decentralization, build trust into the core of tomorrow’s systems.Let’s move forward. Let’s build Imua. 🛠️🔥 build trust into the core of tomorrow’s systems Let’s move forward. Let’s build Imua. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO Vested Interest Disclosure: Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYO business blogging program business blogging program