Beyond mere funding, we equip founders with specialized support in areas like commercial strategy, financial planning, and geographic expansion. We are more than just investors; we’re active partners. Unlike many venture firms, we emphasize a synergistic approach to our portfolio, encouraging collaboration between portfolio companies to bolster success and drive mutual value.
Our investment philosophy is rooted in patient capital, emphasizing a long-term perspective to achieve superior risk-adjusted returns for investors. This sets us apart in a market frequently drawn to fleeting gains rather than enduring value.
We make global equity investments in companies that align with our Ethos, focusing on Pre-Seed to Series B stages. Our areas of focus span across several key sectors within the Bitcoin ecosystem, including Energy, Mining & Advanced Computing (Layer 0), Lightning Network & Scalability (Layer 2+), Artificial Intelligence, Financial Services, Privacy & Security, and Decentralized Applications (dApps).
Our Team
Nicholas Safford has over 17 years of experience in the intersecting worlds of finance and energy. Throughout his career, he has spearheaded transactions worth over $50B across venture capital, private equity, and corporate M&A.
Nicholas’s 10-year tenure at Aramco, the global energy giant, was marked by comprehensive energy sector investments. From traditional operations to emerging technologies, his work encompassed the entirety of the energy value chain.
It was during these years, against the backdrop of the evolving energy and macroeconomic landscape, that Nicholas recognized the transformative potential of Bitcoin. Recognizing Bitcoin’s inherent link to energy and its importance to the future of finance, he began investing in Bitcoin in 2015 and started New Layer Capital in 2021.
Previously, Nicholas held key roles at Pacbridge Capital Partners, Mekong Capital, and Riveria Investment Group. An active angel investor since 2006, he has continually supported technological startups.
Nicholas is an alumnus of The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, where he earned his MBA, and George Mason University, where he pursued a BS in Finance.
Alex Lyashok, Operating Partner
Alex Lyashok is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in hi-tech operations. Prior to joining New Layer Capital as a Partner, Alex made over 150 angel investments and has been investing in Bitcoin since 2013. He also serves as an advisor to several New Layer Capital portfolio companies.
From 2015 to 2021, he served as the CEO of WorkFusion, an Intelligent Automation SaaS AI company. Under his leadership, the company generated $800M in value, reached $50M in sales, and raised $180M in venture capital. He managed a team of 350 people across the US, Europe, and Asia, serving major banks and insurance companies.
Prior to WorkFusion, Alex held various positions at EPAM Systems, a NYSE-listed product development services firm, including Head of Global Operations and CTO. He helped the company grow from $150M to $730M in sales and achieve a $2.5B market cap. His roles involved operations, marketing, strategy, and the development and marketing of service offerings. He led the acquisition of five companies and launched several successful practices.
In 2022, Alex oversaw the U.S. expansion of the prominent European bitcoin miner, White Rock Management.
Alex has an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business and an MS/BS in Computer Science/Applied Math and Physics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
Dave Perrill, Operating Partner
Dave Perrill is a seasoned executive with 28 years of experience spanning the data center, Bitcoin mining, energy, and information security sectors. A four-time technology founder, Mr. Perrill’s fervor for innovation and his commitment to fostering talent are evident in his achievements. He’s been honored as an Inc. 100 award recipient, named EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and ranked #1 in the Fast 50 in Minnesota.
Mr. Perrill is a Board Member of the Nasdaq-listed Hive Digital Technologies. As the founder of Compute North, Dave spearheaded what became one of the largest high-performance compute and bitcoin mining infrastructure companies, boasting a peak capacity of 750 megawatts (MW). From August 2017 to September 2022, under his leadership, the company flourished, and he managed a dedicated team of over 150 employees.
Mr. Perrill earned his BS in Management Information Systems and an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota.
Faisal Baig, Venture Partner
Faisal Baig brings over 25 years of rich experience in private equity, venture capital, and M&A. Throughout his career, he’s held influential roles at leading companies such as Aramco, Investcorp, JPMorgan, Citi, and esteemed venture capital firm, NEA. Collectively, these roles have seen him oversee an exceptional $75B+ in investment transactions.
Mr. Baig taps into his expansive network that includes family offices, global venture funds, and investment banks, forging meaningful partnerships for New Layer Capital. He’s an avid supporter of tech innovation, often advising emerging startups, mentoring in accelerators, and making strategic angel investments.
Mr. Baig holds an MBA from Yale University and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University.