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Cooper Turley is a prominent Venture Partner at Variant, a leading crypto investment firm. He is widely recognized as a thought leader and builder in the Web3 space, particularly known for his expertise in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), the creator economy, and decentralized social platforms. He is also a co-founder of Friends With Benefits (FWB).
Cooper Turley primarily invests in innovative Web3 projects. His focus areas include decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), the creator economy, decentralized social networks, NFTs, and foundational infrastructure that supports the broader crypto ecosystem.
Cooper Turley works as a Venture Partner at Variant, a distinguished crypto-native investment fund.
Cooper Turley is the Founder and Solo General Partner of Coop Records and a Venture Partner at Variant, based in Los Angeles, California. Through Coop Records, he manages a $10 million early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to investments at the intersection of music and Web3 technologies. Turley previously co-founded the decentralized autonomous organization Friends With Benefits and served as an active advisor for the blockchain music platform Audius. He assisted in launching digital tokens for protocols including Ethereum Name Service (ENS), SuperRare, and Gitcoin, which reached an aggregate valuation exceeding $10 billion, while also making angel investments in Zora and Mirror. Drawing on a decade of music industry experience and a degree from the University of Colorado Denver, his current focus centers on advancing the creator economy through decentralized social networks and crypto infrastructure.
Cooper Turley stands as a pivotal figure in the Web3 ecosystem, renowned for his foresight and deep understanding of decentralized technologies. As a Venture Partner at Variant, a leading crypto-native investment fund, Turley plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the internet by identifying and nurturing groundbreaking projects. His work at Variant is complemented by a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to the development of DAOs, the creator economy, and decentralized social platforms.
At Variant, Cooper Turley operates as a Venture Partner, a position that involves active participation in deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio support. He brings a unique perspective to the firm's investment thesis, focusing intently on areas that promise to redefine digital ownership and community interaction. His primary investment focus areas include decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), which empower communities with collective decision-making; the burgeoning creator economy, enabling artists and creators to directly monetize their work; and the development of decentralized social networks, offering alternatives to traditional platforms. Turley also explores innovations in NFTs and the foundational infrastructure necessary for a robust Web3 future. His strategic insights help Variant back projects that are not only technologically sound but also culturally resonant and poised for long-term impact.
Cooper Turley's journey into Web3 began with an early recognition of its transformative potential. He quickly established himself as a thought leader, contributing extensively to the discourse around social tokens, community ownership, and the future of digital culture. A cornerstone of his career is his role as a co-founder of Friends With Benefits (FWB), a pioneering social DAO that has become a benchmark for community-driven organizations. FWB demonstrated the power of token-gated communities and the potential for collective value creation, influencing countless projects in the space. Beyond FWB, Turley has been an active participant and advisor in numerous other Web3 initiatives, consistently advocating for open, decentralized systems. His prolific writing and speaking engagements have further solidified his reputation as an influential voice, guiding both enthusiasts and institutional players through the complexities of the decentralized world.
Through his work at Variant and his independent contributions, Cooper Turley has been instrumental in bridging the gap between innovative Web3 concepts and tangible, investable opportunities. While specific individual investments he has personally led are often integrated within Variant's broader portfolio, his influence is evident in the firm's strategic backing of projects that align with his vision for a more equitable and decentralized internet. These include platforms that empower creators, tools that facilitate robust DAO governance, and infrastructure that supports scalable decentralized applications. Turley's ongoing commitment is to foster an ecosystem where users have greater control, creators are fairly compensated, and communities can thrive autonomously. His work continues to inspire and direct the flow of capital and talent toward building the next generation of internet experiences.
