Compute for Equity
The clearing layer for the AI economy
Compute for Equity is a neutral, ADGM-regulated clearing house where AI startups acquire the compute they need by paying with equity — no cash leg required. We make energy, computing power and ownership interoperable, and clear the trade.
The problem
Three scarce assets — energy, compute and equity — can't trade against each other. AI startups raise dilutive cash and hand most of it to clouds for GPUs. Energy producers and datacenters can't capture the AI upside they power.
The solution
A standardized Compute-SAFE: a provider invests metered compute into a startup for equity, priced by our Oracle, custodied and cleared under ADGM rules, and — eventually — tradable on a secondary market.
Why we win
- Neutral: we own no compute, so our price is trustable
- Standardized: one instrument, repeatable and tradable
- Regulated: ADGM custody unlocks sovereign & institutional capital
- Multi-sided: the whole triangle clears against one book
Three moats
- Regulatory wedge: a multi-year ADGM/FSRA path
- Sovereign capital: Gulf relationships on the demand side
- Energy origination: cheapest leg of the triangle, at the source
Business model
Capital-light; revenue scales with cleared volume. Origination + clearing + custody fees blend to a 2–4% take on primary flow, plus a secondary take rate as the book matures.
Cold-start (how we ramp)
Phase 1 (Q3–Q4 2026): ~10 hand-brokered "fat deals" under ADGM RegLab. Phase 2 (2027): standardize the term sheet, open to a vetted cohort. Phase 3 (2028+): open marketplace + secondary. Two great participants, then ten great deals, then a market.
The ask
This round funds the path from ADGM RegLab restricted permission to a full Financial Services Permission — the legal/compliance build, regulatory-capital cushion, custody architecture, and senior regulatory hires. The deliverable: a licensed clearing venue for compute-for-equity in the one jurisdiction that has already written the rules for it. [Round size & terms — to be finalized.]
Founder & contact
Gabriel — Founder & CEO. Relocating to Abu Dhabi to build on the ground. Founder bio → · See a real deal → · [email protected]