Blockchain, Inc.
Facebook beheaded acqui-hired Chainspace: four out of five researchers responsible for Chainspace academic Whitepaper are, most likely, already enjoying the perks of being on the payroll of one of Facebook's sub-divisions; undoubtedly superior to those University College London researchers-turned-smart contract developers enjoyed previously.
Some of the former academics, perhaps, sincerely believed in the ideals behind the innovations made possible by the Blockchain technology.
Sources: Chainspace: A Sharded Smart Contracts PlatformMustafa Al-Bassam, Alberto Sonnino, Shehar Bano, Dave Hrycyszynand George Danezis University College London, United Kingdom