ARK, which is a fork of Lisk, is developing an interconnected blockchain ecosystem that will make it easier for users to develop their own blockchains. Ark emphasizes interoperability and usability. Their moto is “Point.Click.Blockchain” and their goal is to allow for easy deployment of DApps. Ark's "push button blockchains" can be easily created with minimal programming knowledge. Ark also hopes to encourage adoption by developers by accommodating 18 different programming languages.
Ark has a delegated Proof-of-Stake (dPoS) consensus mechanism. Their governance model allows users to vote for delegates that secure the network. The top 51 delegates voluntarily share there tokens with their voters.
Ark contract execution service (ACES) connects ARK with other blockchains and will enable exchanges of value between them.

APIS is developing a masternode mediation platform that will lower the barriers of entry for users wanting invest their coins on their own masternode of a network. A masternode is a type of node that has additional voting influence and block rewards, on a Proof-of-Stake network. Investors are able to place coins on a masternode and receive a stable interest from the block rewards; similar to interest that is given in a bank. APIS will allow users to invest in masternodes without having to deal with the technical requirements or stake a prohibitively large number of coins.
Their network is powered by the Ethereum-based APIS token.