A recent tweet from @StarPlatinum_ has sparked discussions in the crypto community, outlining what the poster calls a "suspicious pattern" in Ben Pasternak's startup ventures. As a former teen prodigy who's hopped from app development to vegan food tech and now crypto, Pasternak's story is a rollercoaster of hype, funding, and controversy—especially relevant for meme token enthusiasts tracking projects like LaunchCoin on Solana.

Let's break it down step by step, starting from his early days.

The Teen Founder Era (2015–2016)

Pasternak kicked off his career young, coding apps at just 13. Bored in science class, he built Impossible Rush in a single day, and it climbed to #16 on the U.S. App Store, outperforming giants like Tinder and Vine.

He then launched Flogg, billed as a "Tinder for buying and selling" among friends. It raised $2 million from investors like Binary Capital and Greylock, hit #1 in the Social category on the App Store, but shut down within a year. Quick pivot: He shifted to a video chat app for teens.

Monkey App Boom (2016–2018)

Next up was Monkey, a FaceTime-style app tailored for Gen Z. Another $2 million raise from Binary Capital and Greycroft propelled it to 20 million users and 20 billion calls. In 2018, he sold it to Holla for a reported seven- to eight-figure sum. Solid exit, but the pattern of quick builds and sales was emerging.

The Fake Chicken Phase (2018–2023)

Pasternak pivoted to food tech with Simulate, the company behind NUGGS—vegan nuggets marketed as "the Tesla of chicken." Funding poured in: $57 million total, including a $50 million Series B from big names like Alexis Ohanian, Jay-Z, and McCain Foods. Valuation soared over $250 million.

But drama hit: He stepped down as CEO in December 2023 amid internal disputes, remaining as chairman. Not the smoothest transition.

Entering Crypto (2024–2025)

This is where it gets juicy for meme token watchers. Pasternak founded Believe, a SocialFi app on Solana letting users mint tokens by replying to tweets. Out came LaunchCoin ($LAUNCHCOIN), which skyrocketed +90,000% in days, hitting $140 million in volume within 48 hours and $6.3 million in daily fees at its peak. Over 100 tokens "graduated" from the platform.

Sounds like meme token magic, right? But controversy followed fast.

The LaunchCoin Controversy

A token migration added 33% new supply (from 1B to 1.33B), with the foundation unlocking 3%. The community cried "soft rug" after a 29% instant dump. Pasternak promised transparency, but top 100 wallets still hold over 50% of supply.

Then there's the "flywheel"—a promised mechanism that allegedly left some investors stuck and losing money. Critics claim it was never real. Today, the token's down more than 90%, and Pasternak's X account has been silent since October 20.

Today's Announcement

The tweet wraps up with Pasternak announcing a new startup on LinkedIn—Agentic Labs, an AI company focused on intelligent agents and automation for small businesses. It ties into quantum computing and targets blue-collar SMBs. He's hiring co-founders and interns, emphasizing tangible impact.

But given his history, the crypto crowd is skeptical. Is this another hype cycle, or a genuine pivot?

In the world of meme tokens, stories like LaunchCoin remind us of the highs and lows. Rapid pumps can lead to equally fast dumps, especially with concentrated holdings and migration issues. If you're diving into Solana memes, always DYOR—check wallet distributions, team transparency, and community sentiment.

What do you think? Is Pasternak a serial innovator or a hype machine? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. For more on meme token trends and blockchain news, stick with Meme Insider.