Inference Labs, AI and Web3 Startup, Raises $2.3 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

Inference Labs, based in Hamilton, Ont., has secured $2.3 million in pre-seed funding to advance its mission of democratizing AI inference. The funding round, co-led by Digital Asset Capital Management, Mechanism Capital, and Delphi Ventures, attracted additional support from a diverse group of investors, including Big Brain Holdings, BitScale Capital, Edessa Capital, ID Theory, Metropolis DAO, Mozaik Capital, Newman Capital, Seed Club Ventures, and several angel investors.

Founded in 2023 by Colin Gagich and Ron Chan, Inference Labs specializes in developing infrastructure and products for AI inference on the blockchain. AI inference, the process by which trained machine-learning models draw conclusions from new data, has traditionally been dominated by major corporations. However, Inference Labs is championing a movement towards decentralized AI, advocating for a more accessible and collaborative approach to computational structures.

According to Gagich, the CEO of Inference Labs, decentralized AI is not only a goal but a critical necessity for the future. As part of its efforts to advance decentralized AI, Inference Labs has unveiled Omron.ai, a tool designed to incentivize and reward participants in AI networks. Omron.ai utilizes AI to promote the use of liquid staking tokens and liquid restaking tokens, which facilitate the staking of computational resources or data in AI models.

Liquid staking tokens and liquid restaking tokens play pivotal roles in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, particularly within the context of staking and yield farming. Staking involves locking up cryptocurrencies to support the operations of a blockchain network and earn rewards in return. Liquid staking tokens represent ownership in these staked funds, providing holders with a tradable asset that reflects their stake in the network.

On the other hand, liquid restaking tokens offer a convenient solution for continuously reinvesting staking rewards without the need to manually unstake and restake the underlying assets. This process, known as restaking or compounding, allows participants to maximize their returns by automatically reinvesting the rewards generated by their staked assets.Omron.ai, developed by Inference Labs, leverages smart contracts and special nodes to automate the restaking process for cryptocurrency tokens. By utilizing advanced algorithms and automated strategies, Omron.ai optimizes the allocation of staked assets across popular platforms, enhancing efficiency and maximizing returns for participants.

Through the streamlined management of staked funds and the seamless reinvestment of rewards, Omron.ai contributes to the growth and sustainability of AI networks. By incentivizing participants to stake their computational resources or data, Omron.ai fosters a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates the development and adoption of AI technologies. Overall, Omron.ai plays a critical role in facilitating the integration of decentralized finance and artificial intelligence, driving innovation and accessibility in both domains.

With the new funding, Inference Labs plans to expand its team and accelerate product development. The startup aims to create a network for AI verification with proof of inference consensus, where participants contribute computational resources to perform AI inference tasks and earn rewards for validating transactions on the blockchain network. Through these initiatives, Inference Labs is poised to drive innovation and accessibility in the AI landscape, paving the way for a more inclusive and decentralized future.