ADIN Points: The New Scoreboard for Network‑Native Venture
PriyankaToday we're launching ADIN Points -- a system that tracks and rewards the two highest‑leverage activities in any venture network: surfacing deals and bringing exceptional people into the network.
How ADIN Points Work
The mechanics are simple:
- 5,000 Points for submitting a deal
- 20,000 Points for referring a new Scout who gets approved
ADIN Points work alongside existing carry arrangements as a separate contribution tracking system. Points are automatically tracked within ADIN and displayed on the network Leaderboard, giving members full visibility into their contributions and standing.
We're starting with Points as a pure contribution tracking system. That's intentional. If you've been paying attention to the last decade of internet platforms, you know it's important to build a strong community first.
ADIN Points are a long‑term layer. They're designed to grow organically alongside the network itself. As ADIN expands -- 920+ scouts, 180 deals/month -- with more deal flow, research tools, and capital, Points will plug into that expanding surface area. This is just the beginning. We'll have many more actions that may award points over time.
Why Traditional Venture Scout Programs Haven't Worked
The scout program is dead. Not officially -- firms still run them, still hand out small checks and smaller carry to operators who send deals their way. But everyone knows the math doesn't work.
With a standard 2 and 20 fund, a 10% scout carry on a $25K check into a company that 100x's nets you roughly $50K after a decade of waiting. You've been compensated like a finder's fee in a real estate transaction, except the timeline was longer and the risk was yours.
Meanwhile, the GP collects 2% management fees and 20% carry on a fund that wouldn't exist without the network that sourced half the deals. This is the original sin of modern venture: the people who create value for funds are structurally disconnected from the economics.
The problem isn't that VC structure is inherently bad. The problem is that traditional fund structures have no way to price network contributions. Carry goes to partners. Management fees go to the firm. The network gets thanked in a tweet.
The Shift That's Already Happening
The last decade of venture was about having money when others didn't. Valuations were predictable, competition was manageable, and success meant getting into the right deals and waiting. That playbook is breaking down.
The next decade belongs to people who know things first. When every fund has the same tools and the same speed, the only edge left is seeing opportunities before they become obvious. That edge doesn't come from algorithms or data feeds. It comes from networks.
And networks that don't reward contribution eventually lose to networks that do.
What's Next With Points
Phase 1 (Live): Deal submissions and member referrals establish the foundation.
Phase 2 (Coming Soon): Points for more actions taken on ADIN -- joining the Weekly Scout calls, tipping other Scouts, helping with portfolio company marketing and hiring, and more.
Phase 3 (2026): Integration with ADIN's expanding platform.
Long‑term: Points become the infrastructure layer for network‑native venture capital. Every tapped‑in person you know is an ADIN Scout or Investor, building value through their network contributions.
It's simple: if you're early and you're good, your influence will grow with the network as it evolves.
Get Started
- If you're already in ADIN: Submit deals. Bring in good people. The Leaderboard is live.
- If you're not yet in the network: Apply to become a Scout.
ADIN Points have no monetary value and are not cash, equity, securities, or financial compensation. Points do not represent ownership rights or profit participation. ADIN reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Points program at any time without notice. Participants are solely responsible for any tax implications. Points are a contribution tracking system that will increasingly inform access, prioritization, and participation as the network expands.