Web3's Volatility Meets 7-Month Incubation: Fortify Labs Aims for Sustainable Growth

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Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025 9:33 am ET1min read
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- Fortify Labs, a Web3 accelerator backed by TZ APAC, launched its 2026 application cycle, offering up to $1.3M in funding and seven-month mentorship for sustainable blockchain projects.

- The program emphasizes long-term incubation over rapid scaling, leveraging Tezos and Etherlink ecosystems to balance scalability, compliance, and cross-chain interoperability for DeFi and gaming.

- Past successes include Questflow (156x user growth) and Sogni AI (90,000 mainnet users), highlighting tailored support in tokenomics, compliance, and investor readiness.

- Applications close January 30, 2026, with small cohorts (7 teams) ensuring deep engagement, though critics note Web3’s volatility and regulatory risks.

- Fortify’s focus on sustainable growth and ecosystem alignment positions it as a rare launchpad for startups navigating Web3’s challenges.

Fortify Labs, a Web3 startup accelerator backed by TZ APAC, has launched its 2026 application cycle, offering selected founders up to $1.3 million in funding and extended mentorship to build sustainable blockchain projects, according to a

FinanceFeeds report
. The program, set to begin in March 2026, extends over seven months—doubling the duration of traditional accelerators—and emphasizes long-term incubation over rapid scaling, as noted in
a CoinPaper report
. This approach aligns with the growing demand for Web3 solutions in decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and cultural innovation, with startups gaining access to a network of 30,000 ecosystem participants, including investors, exchanges, and developers, the FinanceFeeds report adds.

The initiative's focus on

Tezos
and Etherlink ecosystems highlights a strategic pivot toward balancing scalability and regulatory compliance. Tezos, a proof-of-stake blockchain, offers energy efficiency and on-chain governance, while Etherlink—a layer-2 solution compatible with
Ethereum
virtual machines (EVMs)—enables cross-chain interoperability. This dual-chain model, according to Yann Régis-Gianas of Nomadic Labs, "unlocks a broader design space for DeFi and gaming applications," allowing developers to deploy EVM-based smart contracts while leveraging Tezos' governance framework.

Past cohorts have demonstrated the program's efficacy. Questflow, a 2024 participant, saw a 156x surge in monthly active users, reaching a $50 million valuation, the FinanceFeeds coverage noted. Similarly, Sogni AI, part of the 2025 cohort, scaled from testnet to 90,000 mainnet users and completed a token generation event. These successes underscore the value of Fortify Labs' tailored support, which includes personalized guidance on tokenomics, investor readiness, and compliance, as described in the CoinPaper report.

Applications close on January 30, 2026, with early-stage projects eligible for fast-track access if they demonstrate readiness to begin development before March, the FinanceFeeds report states. The program's small cohorts—capped at seven teams—ensure deep engagement with TZ APAC's specialists, including in-person off-sites in Singapore, the CoinPaper report adds.

Critics note that while the funding and mentorship are robust, the Web3 sector remains volatile, with regulatory uncertainties and market fluctuations posing risks. However, Fortify Labs' emphasis on sustainable growth and ecosystem alignment positions it as a rare launchpad for startups seeking to navigate these challenges, according to coverage from both reports.

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