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Podcast Episode

VC Investments In A Publicly Traded Fund? Meet Dr. Naj – CEO C1 Fund - $CFND

Smart Money Circle··7 October 2026·23 min

About this episode

VC Investments In A Publicly Traded Fund - Meet Dr. Naj – CEO C1 Fund - $CFND GuestDr. Najamul Kidwai, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer C1fund --CFNDNajam Kidwai - CompanyC1 Fund (NYSE: CFND)www.c1fund.com Guest BioDr. Kidwai is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and operator with a deep passion for innovation and emerging technologies. As a co-founder, he has served as President, CEO, and Director of the company since its inception, helping shape its strategic vision from the ground up. He brings a rich track record of building and backing transformative ventures. From 2021 to 2022, Dr. Kidwai served as Chairman and Director of Crypto 1 Acquisition Corp, a SPAC focused on digital assets, blockchain, and crypto infrastructure, where he led a successful $230 million raise. He is also a Venture Partner and Investment Committee Member at Frontier Ventures, an early-stage venture fund investing in next-gen tech and blockchain startups.Since 2017, Dr. Kidwai has been a co-founder and Executive Committee member of EQUIAM, a leading venture capital fund focused on private markets. Through EQUIAM and other platforms, he has invested in a wide range of pioneering companies, including TransFi, Klickl, Forge Global, and Destiny XYZ, among others. He continues to actively back and advise startups operating at the intersection of technology and finance. An early believer in digital assets, Dr. Kidwai has been investing in crypto and blockchain since 2016. His operating experience includes founding Real Time Content, a dynamic media personalization platform that was acquired by NASDAQ-listed Pitney Bowes.Earlier in his career, he held investment roles at Edge Venture Capital and AtomicTangerine, a venture consultancy spun out of SRI International. Dr. Kidwai holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Technology Management from Staffordshire University and honorary doctorates from both Lincoln University and Staffordshire University. Company BioC1 Fund (NYSE: CFND) C1 Fund Inc. is a closed-end investment fund designed to give investors access to the private digital asset ecosystem. Managed by C1 Advisors, the fund targets a handpicked portfolio of the leading, late-stage private companies driving the future of digital asset services and technology. C1 Fund is built for investors seeking more than market exposure — it offers early access to the next generation of category-defining companies and aims to bridge the gap between public and private markets and give investors access to the leading private companies with the safeguards of a NYSE listed fund that is regulated and liquid. With a disciplined focus on innovation, scale, and institutional-grade governance, C1 Fund positions investors at the forefront of digital asset evolution. For more information about C1 Fund, please visit the Company’s website at www.c1fund.com.