Rishabh Narang - Co-Founder & CEO of Sharpe

Hello Community,

We’ve got some brilliant projects in our portfolio and want to tell you more about the founders and teams behind them. You will have the opportunity to learn more about specific projects through our interviews on a regular basis. Feel free to post any questions you may have further down in the comments section.

In today’s interview, we have Rishabh Narang - Co-founder & CEO of Sharpe. Let’s go!

Hi Rishabh, To start off, could you tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved in the Web3 space?

I stumbled into crypto almost by accident back in 2012. I started mining Bitcoin out of curiosity, and before I knew it, I was hooked. The potential of decentralized systems to upend finance as we know it was too fascinating to ignore.

When Ethereum came along, I initially dismissed it as hype. But the more I dug in, the more intrigued I became. Soon, I was spending nights and weekends tinkering with smart contracts. One thing led to another, and by 2016 I was building my first crypto venture.

Looking back, it's clear I was destined to be a crypto native. The idea that global finance could run on a decentralized layer just made too much sense. Now I can't imagine doing anything else.

 You founded Sharpe AI in 2021. Can you share the inspiration behind founding Sharpe and the challenge your technology aims to solve?

Sharpe was born out of frustration. As a crypto trader, I was wasting hours every day juggling a dozen different tools and platforms just to get basic market insights or execute trades. It was absurd that there wasn't a single unified interface for intelligence, investing, and automation in crypto. So we decided to build it ourselves.

The core thesis behind Sharpe is aggregation theory. Over time, the biggest moats in crypto will be built through aggregation at scale and distribution. We're creating that consumer layer—a meta-aggregator that makes crypto accessible to everyone, from pro-traders to institutions.

We've actually been building in stealth for years, only going public in 2024. The goal is simple: make crypto easier. Everything else flows from that.

How does Sharp differentiate itself from other AI companies in the market, and what unique value does it bring to its users?

Most AI companies in crypto have a narrow focus—trading bots, market predictions, or whatever. We're building a comprehensive ecosystem. It's the difference between using a bunch of single-purpose apps versus having an entire app store at your fingertips.

Sharpe aims to be the true "super-app" for crypto. We're bringing together data, execution, and automation in one place. It's an ambitious goal, but that's what makes it exciting.

Could you explain which key technologies and innovations Sharpe AI utilizes to enhance its AI solutions?

At our core, we're leveraging large language models and machine learning to make sense of the massive amounts of crypto data we ingest. But the real magic is in how we combine those AI capabilities with things like account abstraction, cross-chain interoperability, and decentralized execution environments.

It's not just about having smart AI; it's about seamlessly integrating that intelligence into every aspect of the crypto experience. We're making incremental improvements everywhere, and those add up to something transformative.

Sharpe Labs recently introduced the $SAI token and incentive design. Can you explain how this system works and its benefits to users and the broader Sharp AI ecosystem?

The $SAI token is all about aligning incentives. Users can stake it to unlock premium features and earn a share of platform revenues. The buyback mechanism creates sustainable value for holders. And the governance rights ensure the community has a real voice in Sharpe's future.

It's designed to create a virtuous cycle and a fly-wheel effect where everyone benefits from the platform's growth.

What challenges did you face during the early stages of Sharpe AI’s development, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge early on was scope. It's one thing to make a trading bot or a data dashboard. It's another way to create an entire operating system for crypto. We had to constantly resist the temptation to narrow our focus.

Ultimately, we overcame it through sheer persistence and by building an amazing team that believed in the mission. When you're trying to do something truly ambitious, you need people who are willing to ignore the naysayers and just keep building.

 Sharpe Labs’ inclusion in both the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and the Google AI Startup Program is a great achievement. Can you elaborate on these milestones and how they will influence Sharpe AI’s growth and technological advancements?

Being selected for programs like Microsoft for Startups and Google AI Startup is nice validation, sure. But the real value is in the access—cutting-edge tools, expertise, guidance, and resources—that are massively accelerating our development.

It's like getting a nitro boost. Suddenly, you have the network and capabilities that would have taken years to build on your own.

 In April this year, you closed a successful investment round backed by Animoca Brands, GBV Capital, Maven Capital, Morningstar Ventures, and others. How did you deploy the capital you raised?

We actually achieved profitability the same month we raised our seed round, which is pretty unusual in this space. We've deployed the capital strategically, investing in hiring, marketing, and product development.

We've also used it to bootstrap new initiatives like Hive Intelligence and acquire complementary projects like Brownian. The goal is to keep expanding our capabilities while maintaining a solid financial foundation.

 Looking ahead, what are your future plans and vision for Sharpe AI, and how do you see the company evolving in the next five years?

In five years, I see Sharpe becoming the default interface for interacting with crypto and DeFi. Not just for retail traders, but for major institutions as well. We'll have expanded far beyond trading into areas like decentralized marketplaces, on-chain incentive platforms, and AI-powered financial services. The lines between TradFi and DeFi will have blurred, and Sharpe will be the bridge connecting those worlds.

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Thanks a lot for your time Rishabh. Good luck with your projects!

You can check the social media profiles of the project: Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord | LinkedIn | Medium

The Morningstar Ventures Team