Building Cirrina - A Web3 Finance Superapp
In early 2023, I joined Cirrina as Head of Technology to help build a Web3 superapp designed to simplify personal crypto finance management for everyday users.
The Vision
Cirrina set out to solve a fundamental problem: Web3 was built by geeks for geeks, making it too complicated for average users to manage assets across multiple wallets and services, understand transactions, and file taxes compliantly.
Our vision was a beginner-friendly superapp that makes it easy to discover, own, and manage personal Web3 finances - from buying your first digital asset to tax filing.
My Role
As Head of Technology, I was responsible for:
- Assembling the technical vision using my blockchain expertise from previous roles at Revolut, DeCash, and DreamTeam
- Developing and launching the full-scale web app and infrastructure from scratch
- Building the MVP integrating Google login, Coinbase API, and Moralis for wallet tracking
- Creating the discovery product prototype to lower customer acquisition costs
What We Built
The MVP focused on the simplest use case: helping users show their transaction history to accountants for crypto tax preparation. We built:
- Portfolio tracking across multiple wallets and exchanges
- Real-time Web3 data dashboards with customizable views
- Transaction history aggregation for tax preparation
- Discovery product prototype to help users explore Web3 with lower friction
The Team
We assembled a stellar team of 5 professionals from Google, Revolut, and Osome backgrounds. Working part-time initially, we moved fast - from idea to MVP in about 2 months.
The Journey
The project started with extensive user research - over 100 interviews revealed that users struggled with complicated UIs, poor onboarding, and fragmented tools for tracking their crypto across multiple services.
We launched a landing page that achieved a 21.6% conversion rate and gathered 40+ users on our waitlist. We also secured a Letter of Intent with a reputable partner.
During fundraising, we contacted 295 investors, had 81 conversations, and conducted 40+ meetings. We received a $1.5M offer but ultimately declined it due to misalignment with the fund's expertise in our space.
Why It Ended
Two main factors led investors to pass:
- Market competition - despite our unique discovery approach, the space was crowded
- Timing uncertainty - VCs weren't confident Web3 would grow fast enough
The 2023 crypto winter made fundraising particularly challenging. After exhausting our options, we made the difficult decision to pause the project.
Lessons Learned
This experience reinforced several beliefs:
- Team is everything - having skilled, committed people makes all the difference
- Market timing matters - even great products can struggle if the market isn't ready
- User research is invaluable - our 100+ interviews shaped everything we built
- Personal introductions are key - cold outreach rarely works for fundraising
Despite the outcome, I'm proud of what we built and grateful for the incredible team. The experience deepened my understanding of startup fundraising and reinforced my passion for building products at the intersection of finance and technology.