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Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Centrality is a technology venture platform and ecosystem that supports startups developing decentralized applications using blockchain, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things technologies. The organization operates as a venture studio focused on mainstream consumer applications across the transportation, software, SaaS, healthcare, work-life balance, and travel sectors. Centrality facilitates collaboration among these decentralized applications to reduce user friction, utilizing a human-centric approach to promote mass blockchain adoption across global markets. Operating as a decentralized network, the platform currently serves a user base of approximately one million active users across its broader digital ecosystem. To finance its operations and ecosystem development, the enterprise successfully raised $80 million through an initial coin offering in January 2018, with executives like Andy Higgs driving commercial sales. Centrality was officially founded in 2016 by entrepreneur Aaron McDonald.
Key people at Centrality.
Centrality was founded in 2016 by Jerry Yuan (Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer).
Key people at Centrality.
Centrality is a New Zealand-based technology company and venture platform focused on blockchain, AI, IoT, and emerging technologies to build user-centric ecosystems for mass adoption.[1][4] It provides developers with capital, open-source tools, and libraries to bring blockchain-enabled apps to market, serving approximately 1 million active users while partnering with entities like Lightning Lab, Jasmy, McDonald's, and Moonstake.[1][4] The company emphasizes innovation without formal credentials, prioritizing quick learning, collaboration, and real-world impact in a fun, fast-paced environment.[4]
Note: A separate UK-based Centrality, a Microsoft Solutions Partner specializing in M365, Azure, Power Platform, and cybersecurity, was acquired by Intercity after over 25 years of operation; this profile focuses on the New Zealand blockchain entity matching the query's tech company description.[2][5]
Centrality emerged as a New Zealand-headquartered venture platform leveraging blockchain for app development, with Aaron McDonald as CEO.[1][4] The idea stemmed from a mission to prioritize users in blockchain ecosystems, driving mass adoption through tools, capital, and partnerships like the 2025 strategic alliance with Moonstake, where McDonald joined as an advisor to advance CENNZ token implementation.[1][4] Early traction built around an open-source library and developer support, growing to 83 employees and $15.6 million in revenue, with a culture rejecting degrees in favor of innovative thinking and collaboration.[1][4]
Centrality rides the wave of blockchain mass adoption, combining it with AI and IoT to solve scalability and usability barriers in decentralized apps.[1][4] Timing aligns with rising demand for user-friendly Web3 tools amid partnerships like Moonstake's CENNZ push, capitalizing on market forces such as token ecosystems and enterprise blockchain integration (e.g., McDonald's).[1] It influences the ecosystem by democratizing development capital and open-source resources, lowering entry barriers for startups and accelerating everyday blockchain use in New Zealand's tech scene and beyond.[1][4]
Centrality is poised to expand its 1 million-user base through deeper partnerships and CENNZ advancements, targeting broader AI-blockchain fusion amid global Web3 growth.[1][4] Trends like decentralized AI and enterprise tokenization will shape its path, potentially amplifying influence via more strategic alliances and ecosystem tools. As a user-centric pioneer, it stands to drive mass adoption, evolving from developer enabler to a cornerstone of accessible blockchain infrastructure—tying back to its core mission of empowering apps that truly serve people first.[4]
Centrality was founded in 2016 by Jerry Yuan (Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer).
Centrality has 3 tracked investments across 3 companies. The latest tracked deal is $6.0M Series A in ZenLedger in August 2021.