Thunderstruck ⚡️PlanB Rockamoto

Yo sat stackers! Psychotic Bitcoin plebs and whales, welcome to this week’s newsletter. We’re feeling most excellent about BTC still cruising above that 100k mark. We’re gearing up for the Plan B Conference down in El Salvador this weekend. I'm totally stoked to hang with you all, and make sure to catch the epic Satoshi Rockamoto event on Friday! If you will be in El Salvador this week and want to meet in person, reply to this email and book some time with us.

We had a fantastic time in Medellin, Colombia, last week, and we’re looking forward to spending a few months there later this year. My wife loved it, and so did I. Despite having probably the worst Satoshi Rockamoto we have ever had, the 1st annual Bitcoin Medellin Conference was a success.

Watch the videos from conference Day 1 here
Watch the videos from conference Day 2 here

Dallas Rushing from Satoshi lives in Medellin, and he also spoke at the conference. FYI, Satoshi is out of beta, and you can grab the app. They’re live with Bitcoin buy/sell in the USA, and the wallet is also live everywhere outside the US. It was also great sharing the stage for the first time with Khushboo! Double dose of Lightning Ventures on this panel.

Meanwhile, we’ve got some sweet portfolio updates, as well as news on Thunder Funder’s RegCF updates—both offerings zoomed past their minimum goals, so high-fives all around.

Strap in and let’s roll!👇🏻

Yo! If you’ve invested through Lightning Ventures, you receive confidential company updates as they come in. Below are some public updates from our beloved portfolio darlings. Please let us know if you are an investor and are not receiving company updates.

⚡ Foundation Devices has unveiled QuantumLink, a groundbreaking solution that combines the convenience of wireless communication with airgap-level security, addressing the vulnerabilities of traditional Bluetooth technology.

⚡ Zaprite now integrates BTCPay Server, allowing merchants to accept Bitcoin and Lightning payments directly into BTCPay wallets alongside fiat options.

⚡ Geyser has launched "Bitcoin Pilgrims" at Bitcoin Beach, an open-source initiative encouraging Bitcoiners to explore Bitcoin circular economies, meet-ups, and events with a pilgrim booklet and community stamp to guide their journey.

⚡ JAN3 is hosting an exclusive screening of HBO’s Money Electric on February 1st in San Salvador, featuring Bitcoin legends like Adam Back, Samson Mow, and Peter Todd—stay tuned for a chance to attend!

⚡ OrdinalsBot has partnered with RuneArt to launch TIMESTAMPS, a debut collection merging Ordinals and Runes to create a new format for art on Bitcoin, featuring six artists exploring the theme of time through their unique perspectives.

⚡ Breez has released SDK v0.6.2, introducing features like real-time sync, BIP-353 address payments, BTC address receiving, and enhanced payment expiration for smoother transactions.  

⚡ Fountain v1.11.4 is now live on iOS and Android, offering improved Nostr connect functionality and various bug fixes.

⚡ Satoshi App launches version 1.0.8 for iOS and APK, expanding global Bitcoin exchange access, with U.S. users requiring whitelisting.  

This is an opportunity to invest in an existing Lightning Ventures portfolio company, Cloaked Services, that is led by some insanely awesome and accomplished Bitcoiners. Details below 👇🏻

Cloaked Wireless was founded by Jonathan Wilkins and Jeremy Hill. Jonathan was previously the Chief Security Officer and Co-Founder of Blockstream, Chief Security Officer of Bitcoin company River Financial, Security Architect at Yelp, Senior Researcher at MySpace, and Security Architect at Microsoft. Jeremy is another high achiever with a seasoned background in business growth, managing top-grade operations and network infrastructure within IT / Ops, and has led Products & Marketing as a VP at App Help by App Direct. The team also includes famous Rusty Russell + Dr. Adam Back, and Calle BTC as advisors.

Cloaked aims to revolutionize telecommunications by decentralizing it with its privacy-first approach. As the parent company of Cloaked Wireless, the company is building in what we see as the future of secure, private, and censorship-resistant telecommunications, starting with its live privacy-first MVNO and the upcoming Cloaked Network.

In today’s society, SIM swaps plague the telecommunications sector, causing billions in financial losses and eroding user trust. Major carriers have failed to prioritize security, leaving consumers exposed to identity theft, financial losses, and privacy breaches.

As a bonus, Cloaked Wireless is offering a limited-time incentive to investors participating in the upcoming financing round. Eligible investors will receive complimentary wireless service for a specified period outlined below based on the total amount of their investment: 

• $5k - $9,999 Investment: 1 year (12 months) of free wireless service

• $10k - $24,999 Investment: 5 years (60 months) of free wireless service

• $25k+ Investment: 10 years (120 months) of free wireless service.

By pioneering the use of open-source technologies, Cloaked is tackling the core authentication vulnerabilities that have left countless victims in the wake of these cybercrimes. We see that its solution not only fortifies user security but also sets a new standard for trust and protection in mobile communications. The company is capitalizing this feat through the following:

1. Privacy-First MVNO: Cryptographically secure authentication before account changes combined with the inability of Cloaked Wireless operations or support staff from being able to modify customer accounts, ensure SIM swap attacks are impossible.

2. Bitcoin Payments: Users enjoy total anonymity and decentralization.

3. Minimal Data Collection: User trust is earned, not monetized. Non KYC purchase flows enable anonymous wireless services. 

We are very excited to be gaining more exposure to Cloaked, a hyper promising rocketship that is on its way to becoming an A-list brand company in the Bitcoin space. We love that this deal is on the same terms as the previous round and of course appreciate that amazing discount. 

Slice: If you’ve been waiting for a standout deal, this is it. Don’t miss the chance to check it out and snag your Slice of the action. 

Redefining the $455 billion digital advertising space. Slice rewards users for ad engagement and offers a customizable AI-powered search experience. They’re making advertising user-centric in a way no one else has dared.

Key Highlights

• Slice is profitable!

• 875,000+ downloads and steadily growing monthly active users , Slice has achieved product-market fit and is hitting an inflection point.

• Strategic partnerships with Outbrain, Bing/Yahoo, and Taboola .

• Slice has released a customizable search portal with AI features, widgets, and subscription revenue .

• Slice has achieved a 24x boost in LTV , from $1 to $24.

• Innovative Technology Stack: Leveraging AI for precision targeting and the Bitcoin Lightning Network for micropayments , Slice is at the cutting edge of ad tech.

• Dual Revenue Streams: The combination of ad revenue and a freemium subscription model provides diversified income and resilience.

Joltz will be down in El Salvador this week! Let’s see if there is some big news coming from them down in Bitcoin country. We’re keeping our eyes peeled! 👀

Orange Pill App is on fire and having record months! They’ve hit their minimum goal milestone and just released a thorough end-of-year update! If you’re a fan or a user of Orange Pill App, why not be an owner, too? Orange Pill App has some new features rolling out this month, including an LN wallet and a ticketing system.

2024 has been an excellent year for the entire Bitcoin ecosystem and Orange Pill App. They grew by 2.3x and built a Bitcoin Treasury of 3.6 BTC. With the bull run in full swing and the launch of their Bitcoin Wallet and Event Ticketing Platform, OPA anticipates even faster growth in 2025.

We’re brewing up something extra special for our Thunder Funder community, and will be dropping an official announcement soon. For now we’ll just say: “How many badges have you earned so far?”

Haven’t joined yet? Creating an account on Thunder Funder is easy! Sign up to build out your profile, interact with other users, earn badges, invest in exclusive Bitcoin startups, and contribute to the future of the ecosystem. Don’t miss out!

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For the complete list of amazing companies and jobs in Bitcoin, be sure to keep an eye on Bitcoiner Jobs.