TRLab, a tech start-up focusing on fine art and digital experiences, has raised $5 million in seed round funding, co-led by blockchain technology innovators Hivemind Capital Partners and OKX Ventures, with participation from HashKey Capital.
TRLab, co-founded by Xin Li-Cohen, a non-executive Deputy Chairman at Christie’s, and led by CEO Audrey Ou, previously received early-stage support from major art collectors and tech entrepreneurs.
The company, based in New York and Hong Kong, collaborates with artists, estates, and art institutions to create digital-first art experiences for collectors.
TRLab’s platform has hosted projects in partnership with Vogue, the Calder Foundation, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Rhizome.
TRLab’s approach includes using online learning, competitive challenges, and digital collectibles to make fine art and art history more accessible to digital-centric audiences.
The funding will be used to onboard additional artists, foundations, and cultural institutions, expand the company’s global presence, and integrate new technologies to enhance the digital art collecting experience.
The company announced that several digital art experiences and TRLab’s first immersive digital art exhibition are slated for release in the coming months.
Both Hivemind and OKX Ventures highlighted TRLab’s differentiated value proposition and plan to offer strategic support in key markets worldwide.
TRLab Co-Founder and CEO, Audrey Ou, points out that TRLab is pioneering a new way to conceptualize and collect fine art.
It underscores the company’s innovative approach to art and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of how we interact with and appreciate artistic creations.
Traditionally, fine art collection has been a physical and exclusive endeavor, often limited to a select group of collectors and institutions. TRLab, however, is challenging this convention by leveraging technology, particularly Web3 and blockchain, to create novel and inclusive avenues for experiencing, understanding, and owning fine art.
“TRLab has always occupied a unique space among digital art and Web3 platforms, and the success of our mission-driven approach shows there is ample demand for digital-centric art experiences that foster a deeper understanding of fine art and individual artists,” Audrey said.
Matt Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner of Hivemind Capital Partners, sees the potential of long-form generative art and digital native art as the next major genre empowered by blockchain technology.
He believes TRLab is well-positioned to lead the digital art renaissance.
Jeff Ren, Partner of OKX Ventures, recognizes the transformative power of Web3 in the fine art world and sees TRLab as a pioneer in merging Web3 technology with timeless expression in the art industry.
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