Updated on:12/01/2025 05:07 PM 
In an exclusive interview with Polkastarter co-founder Daniel Stockhaus during Dubai Blockchain Week, he revealed a critical issue in the industry: many crypto projects are under immense pressure from marketing agencies to chase hype over substance. Polkastarter stands as a leading fundraising launchpad in the blockchain space, having facilitated some projects that achieved astonishing returns, such as 270x on initial investments. However, Stockhaus clarifies that such explosive, short-term gains are not the platform's ultimate goal, expressing a preference for more moderate, sustainable returns during an Initial DEX Offering (IDO).
This philosophy may seem counterintuitive in a market known for its volatility, but speaking with Stockhaus, his passion for fostering robust projects is evident. Polkastarter positions itself as more than just a launchpad celebrating exorbitant gains; it is a meticulous curator focused on projects with strong fundamentals. The platform emphasizes educating its community, ensuring they are well-informed before investing in the next potential crypto unicorn. A quick glance at Crypto Twitter reveals thousands of projects vying for attention. As Helen Hai from Binance noted, a responsible launchpad doesn't want its investors to buy into something that becomes worthless in a few years. This approach only fosters disillusioned investors who lose faith in the crypto space after entrusting their funds to a platform motivated solely by greed.
Interestingly, there was a notable lack of focus on profits or ROI throughout Dubai Blockchain Week. Instead, the projects we spoke with concentrated on delivering value to their users, creating a secure and productive environment for their teams, and promoting the safer adoption of new technologies. Stockhaus, who works with projects capable of delivering life-changing ROIs, shares this sentiment. He highlighted a significant problem: the overwhelming number of blockchains competing for the attention of promising projects. He drew a parallel to the NFL draft, where teams compete for top talent, regardless of whether another team might be a better fit. Stockhaus described the challenge for new projects as, “new organizations are struggling to decide where to build.” He elaborated,
“The pressure is immense. If an investor wants a specific term, and one VC agrees, suddenly ten others are at the table with competitive offers. It’s difficult to say no, especially if you really need the funding; you often end up going with the one offering the most.”
What gives Polkastarter its edge and explains its popularity is its agnostic, multi-chain approach. Although its ecosystem is rooted in Polkadot, platform delays forced them to go live before Polkadot was fully operational. Consequently, many initial projects launched on the Ethereum blockchain, and Polkastarter now supports approximately six different chains. This strategy, aligned with the interoperability vision of Polkadot, is sustainable and offers distinct advantages. Stockhaus explains that,
“Polkastarter helps projects select which chain is right for them. We understand the projects' histories, their past decisions, and how they feel about those choices. We also have strong connections with the networks themselves. Because we know the networks so well, we often anticipate potential challenges for new projects. While we can't speak negatively about any network, we can guide projects toward a better fit.”
Polkastarter also focuses on long-term support through its partnerships hub. They don't just launch projects and move on; they provide ongoing support through monthly or even weekly meetings to leverage their network for the project's continued growth. Stockhaus states that when they scout for new projects,
“we don't look for projects we think will have the lowest floor price. We look for passionate teams that are focused on their mission, not just in it to make a quick profit.”
He went further, stating that he actually prefers when a project only does a 2x or 3x at launch. This indicates that the wider community has a fair chance to profit as the IDO trading begins. He lamented that when a project performs exceptionally well immediately, it often leads to disappointment for the broader community who buy in after a 200x surge, only to see the price settle at a more modest 20x-40x. This leaves many outside the initial investor base at a loss, making them less likely to participate in future IDOs.
Stockhaus admitted that “anyone can look like a genius in a bull market. I’ve always said judge us after two years.” Well, Polkastarter is now 17 months into its journey, having launched several highly successful projects like Superfarm and Ethernity. We still have seven months left before he invites us to judge their success, but with the launch of Polkastarter Gaming, it's clear they are moving in a decisive and strategic direction.
