Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship

In Episode 83 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, our host Lam sits down with Dan Rodman, CEO and Co-Founder of CoUnity, a pioneering firm specializing in community strategy for Web3 projects. Dan shares his fascinating journey from mechanical engineering and professional soccer to becoming a leader in Web3 community building. They dive into CoUnity's innovative "Go to Community" (GTC) strategy, which emphasizes value creation, gamification, and intrinsic motivation over traditional marketing tactics. Discover how CoUnity helps projects like EigenLayer build loyal, engaged communities through analytics, ambassador programs, and custom tools.Dan also opens up about his adrenaline-fueled hobbies like paragliding and backcountry skiing, drawing parallels to the high-stakes world of Web3 entrepreneurship. Whether you're a founder looking to scale your community or an enthusiast curious about the future of blockchain ecosystems, this episode offers actionable insights on segmentation, retention, and turning users into advocates. Learn why community is the new cornerstone of sustainable growth in crypto and beyond.Don't miss this deep dive into the art and science of community building. This episode is suitable for builders, innovators, and anyone navigating the evolving Web3 landscape.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode Intro00:00:36 Show & guest introduction00:01:54 Dan's background: from engineering to Web300:12:44 Dan's hobbies00:20:18 Deep dive into CoUnity's services00:42:16 Explaining go to community (GTC) strategy00:54:14 Challenges in Web3 community building01:05:09 Future of Web3 communities01:07:13 Advice for Web3 builders01:08:46 Where to follow Dan and Co/Unity01:10:05 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Dan and Co/Unity:Co/Unity's Website: https://counity.xyz/ Co/Unity's Twitter/X: https://x.com/counity_Dan's Twitter/X: https://x.com/thedanrodmanChatGPT grid prompt that helps communities discover their Go-To-Community strategy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U-6I7FZSZQ6BeQqphhMFkcSWKsIuWzFs8l7APD0Ro28/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ba2g5r7vgz0aOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

What if the biggest risk to Bitcoin treasuries isn’t a bear market… it’s the fact that almost none of them are actually hedged like real treasuries?In episode 82, Patrick Wood, President & CEO of DelphX Capital Markets (CSE: DELX | OTCQB: DPXCF), reveals the structured-finance product his team spent years perfecting. The new product is a fully collateralized, transparent, yield-generating downside hedge built specifically for Bitcoin corporate treasuries. No counterparty risk, no opaque OTC deals, no retail-style iBit puts. Just institutional-grade protection that still captures unlimited upside.Patrick shares his 30-year Wall Street journey, how he cleaned up a failing public shell, why Canada was once the go-to listing venue for U.S. growth companies, and why he believes most of today’s 200+ digital-asset treasuries are behaving more like leveraged speculators than fiduciaries. If you’re wondering why MNAV is collapsing, why leverage is quietly piling up again, and how one company plans to bring real risk management to crypto treasuries, then this episode is for you.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:35 Show & guest introduction00:02:00 30-year Wall Street journey & taking companies public in Canada00:08:00 How Patrick discovered blockchain in 201300:13:20 Patrick explains how to hedge Bitcoin00:16:16 Deep dive into DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product00:22:45 DelphX new product's intended target users: hedge funds + treasuries00:25:15 The product is designed to capture upside and protect downside00:30:15 Patrick's thought on Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies00:35:48 Competitors to DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product00:39:52 Current traction and business model00:41:48 Challenges facing DelphX00:43:55 Why treasuries should hedge (FTX-style risks still exist)00:48:55 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:51:43 Where to follow Patrick & DelphX00:52:44 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow DelphX Capital Markets:DelphX's Website: https://www.delphx.com/ DelphX's Twitter/X: https://x.com/delphx_ DelphX's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/delphx-capital-markets-incOur social media: Crypto card guide: https://cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: https://x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

Halliday is building the “plumbing” most Web3 apps don’t have the time (or budget) to build: a unified, self-custodial checkout that lets users deposit from crypto wallets, fiat on/off-ramps, and even centralized exchanges then orchestrates the cross-chain steps under the hood. Griffin Dunaif walks us through the pivot from (Buy Now Pay Later) BNPL-for-NFTs to an intent-centric workflow engine that abstracts chains, bridges, DEXs, and ramps into one API and smart-contract runtime.We talk origins (Stanford systems + ZK), lessons from ConstitutionDAO privacy research, why robust multi-chain orchestration is the real bottleneck, and how Halliday now powers deposits for 40+ partners including Avalanche Core, ApeChain’s portal, and Story Protocol. Griffin also shares what’s next (Solana support), hiring for rare protocol talent, and how agentic commerce might use Halliday as the “arms & legs” for on-chain actions.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:51 Show & guest introduction00:04:29 How Griffin got into the world of Web300:10:30 Griffin's hobbies00:11:25 Origin of Halliday00:15:32 Multiple iterations needed to get to Product-Market Fit00:20:13 How Halliday works: workflow engine & execution graphs00:26:38 Intent-centric design: Failure handling, retries, fault tolerance00:31:03 Market landscape & competitors/partnerships00:38:16 The interdisciplinary team behind Halliday00:43:09 Roadmap: Solana support & SVM↔EVM workflows00:44:23 Agentic commerce: giving AI agents “arms & legs”00:47:28 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:50:02 Where to follow Halliday & Griffin00:50:40 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Halliday & Griffin:Halliday's Website: https://halliday.xyz/Halliday's Twitter/X: https://x.com/HallidayHQGriffin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/griffintierOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

Tyson Batino has spent 21 years in Japan, built five companies, and helped 30+ clients grow ranging from language schools to SaaS. In this episode, he breaks down Japan’s “longevity over hype” market, why translation ≠ localization, and how he scaled schools to multi-location chains (and even used meme ads to crush CAC). We also dig into Smart Start Japan, his one-stop shop for incorporation, visas, bank accounts, and more. We get tactical: channel selection (Google Search/Maps, websites, cold email), pricing, converting with Japanese buyers, and building teams when you can’t afford senior hires yet plus how Tyson exports his know-how into AI workflows so juniors can execute at a higher level. He also shares a candid take on recent talk about stricter business manager visa capital requirements and why now may be the best window for founders considering Japan.If you’re eyeing Japan or just want a masterclass on disciplined growth, this is your playbook.⌛ Timestamps:00:38 Show & guest introduction02:18 From English teacher to founder: Tyson's career progression07:35 Starting the English school: the origin story10:45 Launching the Japanese language school18:36 Product demo21:43 Case studies of successful clients26:06 Challenges facing foreign companies entering Japan market33:47 New venture: Smart Start Japan39:51 His plan to scale Smart Start Japan41:28 Staying ahead: strategy & moat43:33 New rules regarding business manager visa in Japan50:51 Business challenges: team, ops, focus58:00 AI Market: pay once, use for life marketplace01:00:58 How to find the right co-founder(s) for a new business 01:03:48 Where to follow Tyson, Smart Start Japan & scaling your company01:04:23 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Tyson & SmartStart Japan & Scaling Your Company:Tyson's Twitter/X: https://x.com/TysonbatinoTyson's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonbatino/SmartStart Japan's website: https://smartstartjapan.com/Scaling Your Company's website: https://scalingyourcompany.com/Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

What happens when 98% of your treasury is in your own token and the market crashes? In this eye-opening episode, Lam Trinh breaks down the critical lessons DAOs need to learn from Traditional Finance and what TradFi can learn from the world of decentralized organizations.From the shocking $77 million Beanstalk hack to treasury diversification strategies that could save DAOs from extinction, this talk reveals why most DAOs are one bear market away from a liquidity crisis. Lam explores the stark differences between TradFi's battle-tested risk management practices and the operational chaos many DAOs face today, while also highlighting the innovative advantages DAOs bring to the table such as transparent governance, modular composability, and borderless contributor networks.Whether you're managing a DAO treasury, working in Web3, or curious about the future of organizational structures, this episode offers actionable insights on treasury diversification, risk management frameworks, and how the hybrid organizations of tomorrow will combine the best of both worlds. Featuring real-world examples like Nouns DAO and practical strategies for sustainable growth across crypto cycles.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Introduction & Overview01:30 What DAOs Can Learn From TradFi02:00 Treasury Diversification in Traditional Finance04:02 The DAO Treasury Problem: 98% Native Token Risk05:41 Risk Management Lessons: The $77M Beanstalk Hack07:30 Operational Chaos vs Established Standards10:15 Web3's Advantages: Composability & Open Source12:15 The Modern DAO Governance Stack13:00 Fast-Moving Culture & Global Contributors14:00 Case Study: Nouns DAO Model17:00 Key Takeaways for DAOs: Treasury Strategy18:30 What TradFi Can Learn From DAOs19:10 ConclusionLam's social media:Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

What does it take to build hit mini-games inside a billion-user messenger and actually grow them sustainably? In this episode, Koko Amin, Head of Growth & Marketing at Mighty Bear Games (makers of Goat Gaming on Telegram), unpacks her journey from finance → FMCG → TV acting → Web3, and why Telegram mini-apps flipped the distribution game for studios. We dig into community-led growth (Neo Tokyo), “vibe coding” with AI agents, and how the team rapidly ships titles like Kitty Solitaire, Waifu Clash, and Goat Wars plus a peek at Grab Gifts, their instant-gratification prize experience on TON. This conversation draws directly from the episode transcript .Koko also gets tactical: Telegram UA, scrapers and automations for channel discovery, compliance-minded AI sub-agents, designing PVP for quick sessions, and the revenue mechanics behind crowns, leaderboards, and return-to-player models. We cover what worked, what didn’t (sunsetting Mighty Action Heroes), and why “distribution is destiny” for Web3 gaming in 2025.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:33 Show & guest introduction01:48 Koko's diverse career journey08:51 Neo Tokyo gaming community10:48 How to sustain community beyond rewards12:19 Koko's hobbies13:46 “Vibe coding” and an AI-native growth team18:47 Mighty Bear Games origin story23:48 Gameplay demo 29:34 Underground Pepe game on Telegram32:12 Waifu Clash game demo35:04 Goat Wars game demo39:25 Explanation about GrabGifts on Telegram48:36 Business models of the different games49:07 How Koko thinks Telegram ecosystem will evolve50:14 Where to follow Koko & GOAT gaming51:00 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Koko (Komal) Amin & GOAT gaming:Koko (Komal) Amin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/komalameeGOAT gaming's Twitter/X: https://x.com/playgoatgamingGOAT gaming's Website: https://goatgaming.com/Our social media: Crypto card guide: https://cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: https://x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

From ICO lessons and a DeFi hack recovery to leading growth at EtherFi, Slater Heil shares how EtherFi’s on-chain cards aim to outcompete banks. We dig into borrow-as-you-swipe, instant cashback, Visa acceptance, Apple/Google wallet support, global availability, and the surprising travel perks crypto folks are raving about.We also cover the business side: interchange economics, staking performance fees, profitability, scaling pains (including a sudden 10× user surge), and why privacy + UX parity with TradFi are the next battlegrounds. If you’re building in Web3 or just want your money to be more useful this one’s packed with signal. ⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:48 Show & guest introduction01:50 Early life & career05:29 His previous experience at Blueberry08:20 Hobbies & interests10:05 EtherFi's founding story16:34 Product demo21:53 How users can obtain their EtherFi cards25:44 Different tiers of EtherFi cards27:45 Simple model of how EtherFi cards function31:27 EtherFi's business model36:00 How Web3 can unlock operational efficiency37:00 Challenges facing the EtherFi team39:34 How crypto cards will evolve in the future43:26 Advice for people who want to enter Web345:30 Where to follow Slater & EtherFi47:33 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Slater & EtherFi:EtherFi Website: https://www.ether.fi/ EtherFi Twitter/X: https://x.com/ether_fi Slater's Twitter/X: https://x.com/SlaterHeil Sign up for an EtherFi card and get some sign-up bonus points: https://www.ether.fi/app/cash/referral?ref_code=cbc56f16 Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

From AAA stints at Cygames, tri-Ace, EA, and more to founding his own studio, Xanthos Vouldis joins Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship to unpack how great games are made and why his next title is an invitation-only real-time multiplayer dieselpunk airship battle game. We dive into his design framework, team roles, and why he’s building an invitation-only game community with squad-based online battles and a single-player campaign for every ship. Expect deep systems (armor, firing angles, crew management), PC-first plans, and a release target sometime next year.Xanthos also explains pricing (a premium buy-in), natural-language NPCs that can brief you mid-mission, and a wild perk: finish a campaign and they’ll ship you a physical model of your customized airship. At the end, he also shares how early players can snag invites. ⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:35 Show & guest introduction00:02:24 Why Japan & early career (Cygames, EA, Tri-Ace, DMM)00:04:05 A simple game design framework (the “chair” analogy)00:09:30 Who builds a game? Roles, teams, and pipelines00:13:29 Speedrunning solo dev: free assets & engine templates00:15:58 D&D as the best game-design bootcamp00:23:04 Founding Studio Vale; Houdini + selective AI for art00:42:14 Fixing “multiplayer fatigue” & role clarity00:46:49 Why early, ongoing player testing matters00:54:54 The future: prioritize gameplay over spectacle01:01:36 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Xanthos & Studio Vale:Studio Vale's Website: https://stvale.com/about-us/ Xanthos's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthosvouldis/ For gamers that are interested in testing the real-time multiplayer airship game, you can book a meeting with Xanthos here: https://meetings-na2.hubspot.com/xanthos Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

The banking rails we all use were built for the 1970s yet money now moves at internet speed. In this episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, Stables co-founder & CEO Bernie Bilotta explains how his team is building a mobile-first stablecoin bank that lets anyone hold a “digital dollar,” send it globally, and spend it at 140M+ merchants with a card while abstracting away chains, gas, and wallet complexity. He argues Visa/Mastercard won’t kill stablecoins they’ll accelerate them and predicts a future where QR-based, 24/7 payments pressure banks to modernize. Bernie walks through a live demo, shares traction, and discusses the rise of yield-bearing stablecoins and why a “one balance that goes up in real time” could unlock mass adoption. We also cover his fintech path, compliance headaches, competitors (Revolut/Wise), and founder lessons: play long-term games with long-term people.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:50 Show & guest introduction02:37 How his early life shaped his career11:12 Lessons from his Web3 journey14:16 The hobbies that help him stay balanced16:09 Stables product demo28:22 Stablecoin as a new yet potentially fragile innovation32:40 Discussion about yield-bearing stablecoin34:26 Stablecoin as a way to beat inflation in developing country39:20 Explanation about Web2 credit cards and how it works41:28 How Visa & Mastercard will accelerate the adoption of stablecoins44:13 His company's traction51:57 The people behind Stables54:29 The challenges of running a startup59:52 Bernie's prediction on the future of stablecoins1:03:03 Advice for Web3 founders1:06:02 Where to follow Bernie & Stables1:07:10 Episode outroFollow Bernie & Stables:Bernie's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stablesbernieStables 's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stables_moneyStables 's Website: https://stables.moneyUse our referral code "STABLES-7DVM62" when applying for a Stables card. By using this code when registering, you will get Stable Points to earn future rewards!Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In the 75th episode, we sit down with Yusaku Numa, also known as "Nomad" on X to explore his journey from college entrepreneur to founder of Mind Palace , an innovative Web3 platform redefining how we trust information online. Yusaku shares how he was drawn into the crypto space, inspired by information overload and the difficulty of filtering trustworthy sources in Web3 ecosystems.Mind Palace uses AI agents, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), and on-chain + social media data to assign credibility scores and aggregate insights, helping users navigate trends, research projects, and avoid misinformation. Whether you’re a developer, investor, gamer, or just curious about how trust in decentralized ecosystems can be rebuilt this episode is for you.Yusaku also talks about his passion for travel, language learning, and how his experiences at FinLab and upcoming appearances at WebX and EdCon are helping shape the future of decentralized identity and social credibility scoring.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode intro00:00:32 Show & guest introduction00:04:26 How Mind Palace started00:08:45 Dive deep into Mind Palace's recent Project00:13:46 The future of MindPalace and upcoming features00:27:33 Filtering trustworthy Web3 info with AI00:30:00 Mind Palace tech stack & UX demo00:33:22 Credibility scoring with SNS + on-chain data00:35:23 Memory chains & visual trust networks00:39:25 Business model: API & sponsorships00:45:13 Advice for Web3 founders00:47:18 Where to follow Yusaku & Mind Palace00:48:25 Episode outroFollow Yusaku & Mind Palace:Yusaku's Twitter/X: https://x.com/nomad_css Mind Palace's Website: https://mindpalace.jp/ Mind Palace's Twitter/X: https://x.com/MindPalace_ai My social media: Find the best crypto cards for you: https://cryptocardsguide.com/ Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠⁠If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In the 74th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Heidi Christine, CMO and Head of Community at Pixels, joins us to talk about Pixels vibrant Web3 farming game with over 10 million users. Heidi takes us through her journey from studying electrical engineering to leading one of the most community-driven Web3 games in the space.We dive deep into what makes Pixels unique, how it has cultivated a loyal and engaged user base, and the powerful role community plays in its ongoing success. Heidi also shares her views on the evolution of Web3 gaming, why retention trumps growth, and how experiments and user sentiment drive strategy in an industry that never sleeps.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:31 Show & guest introduction00:05:59 Leaving corporate life to find creative passion00:09:52 Self learning: digital marketing and freelancing00:11:50 Joining Pixels and early marketing work00:17:36 Pixels gameplay walkthrough and live demo00:30:10 Weekly AMA strategy and community culture00:34:38 Building “farmer-friendly” values and scaling up00:43:24 Challenges of Web3 gaming and evolving team dynamics00:51:08 Advice for people who want to enter Web300:52:27 Where to follow Heidi & Pixels00:53:21 Episode outro & brief announcement Follow Pixels & Heidi:Pixels's Website: pixels.xyzPixels's Twitter/X: https://x.com/pixels_online Heidi's Twitter/X: https://x.com/heidichristne Pixels' Discord: https://discord.com/invite/pixels My social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, Taral Gurung, founder and CEO of Soundbeats, shares with us a groundbreaking platform at the intersection of AI, music, gaming, and Web3. Taral’s journey from finance student to serial entrepreneur is anything but ordinary. From launching an education center in Hong Kong to working on metaverse initiatives for Bollywood award shows, his story is filled with resilience, reinvention, and vision.We explore the motivations behind Soundbeats and why the current creator economy is broken, and how blockchain, NFTs, and AI can empower both artists and fans through co-creation and ownership. Taral also dives deep into the platform's mechanics: gamified music experiences, AI-generated songs from photos, creator monetization, and their thoughtful approach to building utility-first music NFTs.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:30 Show & guest introduction00:05:40 Taral's journey: From Finance to Tech00:09:59 How Taral discovered Web300:13:04 Taral's hobbies00:14:52 Origin story of Soundbeats00:18:51 Deep dive into Soundbeats00:26:32 Soundbeats community building & traction00:33:41 Ethical concerns around dopamine loops in game design00:36:35 Soundbeats product demo00:39:47 How gameplay works in Soundbeats00:40:49 Challenges facing Soundbeats00:42:13 Future of the creator economy: fan engagement via Web300:45:19 How Soundbeats utilizes AI models00:47:04 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:50:00 Where to follow Taral & Soundbeats00:50:43 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Soundbeats & Taral:Soundbeats's Website: https://www.soundbeats.io/Soundbeats's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Soundbeats_Taral's Twitter/X: https://x.com/taralgrgMy social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In episode 72 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we chat with Leo Vigna, CEO and Co-founder of Veraswap. Leo shares his incredible journey into Web3, starting from his early days in crypto in 2017, winning third place at ETH Denver 2020, and scaling Chainlink node operations with Vulcan Link. He dives into the technical details of what it means to be a Chainlink node operator, providing critical data feeds for DeFi protocols like Aave, and how this infrastructure helps secure billions in collateralized lending.The conversation then pivots to Veraswap, Leo's current venture, a cross-chain DEX that allows users to seamlessly buy any cryptocurrency from any chain, leveraging Uniswap and Hyperlane. He demonstrates Veraswap's one-button swap functionality, discusses the intricacies of bridging protocols like Hyperlane, and offers insights into the future of user experience in DeFi, including intent-based bridging and the potential for "basket" purchases of assets. Leo also delves into the significant improvements brought by Uniswap V4, such as Hooks and native Ethereum pools, and the groundbreaking advancements in account abstraction with features like session keys and multi-chain user operations.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:01:06 Show & guest introduction 00:04:49 ETH Denver, Chainlink hackathon & early crypto days00:07:29 What it takes to be a Chainlink node operator00:12:47 Building and pivoting: Owl Protocol to Veraswap00:14:53 Living nomadically & work setup00:15:53 Leo’s hobbies00:21:20 Demo of Veraswap00:27:24 Intent-based systems vs. Veraswap architecture00:29:44 Veraswap’s UX philosophy & token baskets00:33:45 Uniswap v4 vs. v3: Hooks, upgrades & design00:35:45 Future of AMMs & Uniswap00:39:19 Account abstraction & multi-chain smart wallets00:45:27 Competitors & differentiation in cross-chain DeFi00:49:46 Veraswap’s business model & sticky UX strategy00:56:34 Team structure, hackathons & building lean01:01:58 The future of Web3 DEX and integration with TradFi01:07:30 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs01:11:21 Where to follow Leo & Veraswap01:12:16 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Veraswap & Leo: Veraswap's Website: https://www.Veraswap.io/Veraswap's Twitter/X: https://x.com/verabridge_ioLeo's Twitter/X: https://x.com/ProofOfLeoMy social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

Kevin Rusher, founder and CEO of Regnum Aurum Acquisition Corp (RAAC), joins us in episode 71 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship. Kevin, a Web3 native with a background in accounting and finance, shares his fascinating journey from writing a fintech paper about Bitcoin to becoming a power user in DeFi and eventually leading RAAC. He recounts his early experiences moonlighting for a crypto exchange doing KYC/AML checks and helping build a medium-scale GPU mining facility, managing one of the largest Ravencoin and ETH miners in the world at the time. This deep dive into the practical side of crypto laid the foundation for his current innovative ventures.RAAC's core mission is to provide the most seamless bridge between TradFi (Traditional Finance) and DeFi. Kevin explains that RAAC is built on four main pillars: lending, borrowing, collateral liquidity, and rewards. The company addresses the inherent volatility in DeFi by offering stable collateral, starting with one-to-one backed real estate NFTs that are redeemable for the underlying title. Beyond real estate, RAAC has secured commitments for $3 billion in assets, primarily gold, to mint stablecoins, turning traditionally illiquid assets into revenue-producing ones pre-production. RAAC’s approach is unique, being a DeFi product built by DeFi natives for DeFi natives, yet harnessing traditional finance.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:31 Show & guest introduction 00:05:38 How GPU Mining Works00:14:32 Crypto’s growth and institutional involvement00:15:33 Kevin's hobbies00:17:06 Introducing RAAC00:21:48 Integrating real estate with stablecoins in DeFi00:27:16 Chainlink and oracle solutions powering RAAC00:33:02 Understanding institutional interest00:36:02 Bringing RWA on chain via stablecoins00:38:51 Bridging TradFi and DeFi00:40:51 Highlighting the core offering: Real estate meets NFTs00:43:12 Closed loop ecosystem in DeFi00:44:42 Legal challenges in real estate tokenization00:47:03 What is Section 8 real estate00:49:02 Risk management for RAAC's business model00:52:06 Analyzing competitors in the RWA market00:55:02 RAAC’s revenue model and business strategy00:57:16 Team dynamics and operational agility00:59:50 Challenges in articulating complex idea01:02:21 Reputation issues in the Web3 space01:05:36 Where RWA are headed in Web301:10:51 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs　01:15:28 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow RAAC & Kevin:RAAC's Website: https://raac.io/RAAC's Twitter/X:  https://x.com/RegnumAurumKevin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/kkrusherrMy social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, we talk with Victor Lee, co-founder and CEO of MAIGA, about his journey from a fintech and banking background into the world of crypto and Web3 since 2018. He shares valuable insights from building machine learning startups, navigating DeFi cycles, and emphasizes the importance of creating monetization models that go beyond hype in Web3.Victor introduces MAIGA, an AI agent for DeFi designed to simplify crypto trading using AI signals and automated execution via a Telegram bot. He explains their unique "Proof of Trading" token model that ties token release to trading volume, which helps to solve the problem of token dumping and enabling sustainable revenue. With over 100k organic users and growing traction, MAIGA is paving a new path for user-friendly DeFi tools.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:24 Intro & Victor’s intro00:05:28 First steps in crypto, mining & data analytics00:08:02 Lessons learned from early startups00:10:19 Pivoting into DeFi: Recognizing Market Opportunities 00:15:31 Hobbies of Victor00:17:35 What is MAIGA?00:19:56 The role of AI agents in simplifying DeFi00:22:53 What MAIGA's AI agent actually does00:25:41 The innovation behind Proof of Trading00:28:30 What’s next for MAIGA and where it’s heading00:33:39 How Proof of Trading really works00:39:36 How AI is shaping tokenomics00:46:15 Revenue model and monetization strategy00:53:15 Comparison of Web3 AI agents00:58:06 The future of AI agents01:03:55 Advice for aspiring Web3 builders01:06:06 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Victor Lee and MAIGA:MAIGA's Website: https://www.maiga.ai/MAIGA's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Maiga_AIVictor Lee's Twitter/X: https://x.com/victorleejwMy social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In this 69th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Joel de Jesus & Naomi Honda to uncover the hidden world of Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) on Solana. MEV is generating hundreds of millions in fees monthly—yet remains elusive and inaccessible to most traders and validators. That’s where Catscope comes in.Naomi and Joel share their unconventional journey into the crypto world—Naomi from fashion and sociology, and Joel from Bitcoin mining—and how they joined forces to build the first decentralized MEV marketplace. You’ll learn about the technical and business challenges of building in the Solana ecosystem, their unique validator-trader model, and how their tooling aims to democratize high-frequency trading.⌛ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:27 Intro: Joel De Jesus & Naomi Honda 00:06:15 Naomi’s entry into tech and Solana ecosystem00:07:10 How Joel and Naomi met and launched Catscope00:08:27 Pivoting Catscope after Radar hackathon 00:09:33 Hobbies of Joel & Naomi 00:12:05 What is Catscope? 00:12:33 MEV explained and why it matters 00:15:04 Catscope’s unique approach to MEV 00:17:09 Validator costs and Catscope’s accessibility 00:18:18 Marketplace model: linking traders & validators 00:25:55 Why Solana is the best chain for this solution 00:29:56 Geyser plugin and Catscope’s custom setup 00:33:31 Bandwidth allocation via on-chain auctions 00:37:56 Catscope's business model 00:39:20 Catscope’s challenge on Solana 00:45:03 Go-to-market and community engagement 00:51:35 Advice for new Web3 founders 00:53:15 Where to follow Catscope 00:53:55 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Catscope, Naomi Honda and Joel de Jesus :Catscope's Website: https://catscope.io/Catscope's Twitter/X: https://x.com/catscope_ioJoel de Jesus's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Molo81419714 Naomi Honda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-honda-83062522b/ My social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In Episode 68 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we dive into the Bitcoin ecosystem with Sebastian Guaqueta, software engineer at Rootstock. Sebastian’s story is inspiring—from mechanical engineer in Colombia to game dev, to Web3 hacker, and now helping bring DeFi to Bitcoin through Rootstock.We explore how Rootstock brings smart contract functionality to Bitcoin using an EVM-compatible Layer 2, powered by merge mining. Sebastian breaks down how the protocol works, the innovative Hacktivator program for developers, and the unique DAO-powered grants for builders. For those curious about real Bitcoin use cases beyond store of value, this is an episode packed with technical depth and real-world applications.Whether you’re a Bitcoin OG, an Ethereum dev, or someone curious about where DeFi is headed, this episode is your bridge between the chains.⏳ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Trailer00:00:28 Intro & Sebastian’s intro00:01:24 Sebastian’s background: engineer to Web300:02:40 How Sebastian got into freelancing00:06:18 Big gaming project in Singapore00:09:23 Why Sebastian loves Hackathons00:11:21 First hackathon win00:12:35 Carbon offset project on Celo00:15:13 ETHGlobal finalist story00:18:39 Sebastian's Hobbies: FIFA & soccer00:24:18 Deep dive on Rootstock00:26:18 Merged mining concept explained00:27:03 RBTC bridge00:30:18 Some statistics of Rootstock00:30:55 Some ideas to build on Rootstock00:31:59 Dev tools & Hacktivator00:34:55 Rootstock DAO grants00:37:39 POWpeg bridge00:39:05 Potential apps that can be built on Rootstock00:41:17 Leveraging Bitcoin in DeFi use case00:43:06 Rootstock Collective - Governance00:48:39 People and team behind Rootstock00:50:59 Team communication challenge00:52:24 ZK integration challenge00:54:25 Competition in Bitcoin L2s00:55:53 Future of Bitcoin ecosystem00:58:53 Limitations due to Bitcoin architecture00:59:43 Mining reward sustainability01:02:52 80% of Bitcoin hash rate go into merge mining01:05:16 Breaking into Web3 advice01:07:14 The importance of networking01:09:13 Where to follow Sebastian01:10:06 Outro & next episode previewFollow Sebastian Guaqueta and Rootstock:Rootstock's Website: https://rootstock.io/Rootstock DAO: https://rootstockcollective.xyz/Rootstock hacktivator: https://dev.rootstock.io/resources/contribute/hacktivator/Sebastian's Twitter/X: https://x.com/scguaquetamRootstock's Twitter/X: https://x.com/rootstock_ioRootstock Github: https://github.com/rsksmartMy social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In the 67th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Jon Jones, co-founder and CBO of Supra, shares his fascinating and unconventional journey, starting from his upbringing in upstate New York to a transformative two-year experience in Cameroon, Africa. He recounts how this unique period shaped his perspective and ultimately led him to the dynamic world of Web3.Dive deep into the story behind Supra as Jon discusses its mission and the team's focused approach. He elaborates on the importance of zero optionality in achieving ambitious goals and building a resilient company in the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape. This episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs and anyone curious about the diverse paths that lead to innovation in the decentralized web.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:34 Show intro & Jon’s self-intro 00:03:13 Jon's background 00:06:07 Moving to Taiwan and building community00:08:42 How Supra began, founding story and vision00:11:26 Exploring the technology and infrastructure of Supra00:14:20 The importance of open source in blockchain00:16:56 Web3 through the lens of political economy00:19:48 Personal interests and hobbies 00:25:50 What makes Supra stand out00:33:22 Supra mainnet goes live with multi-virtual machine support00:36:30 Seamless blockchain integration powered by Supra Nova00:37:36 The rise of dapps and novel solutions on Supra00:41:54 Gaming and blockchain00:48:11 Stablecoins and the future of payments in Web300:52:03 Building a remote-first company culture00:56:57 The role of research in advancing blockchain technology00:59:54 Supra's business models 01:04:45 Future aspirations and advice for web3 entrepreneurship01:09:38 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Jon and Supra:Supra's Website: https://supra.comSupra's Twitter/X: https://x.com/SUPRA_Labs Jon's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JonEvansJones My social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In the 66th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, host Lam Trinh is joined by Kee Jefferys, the technical co-founder of Session. Kee shares his journey from university dropout to building a decentralized, censorship-resistant messaging network with over 2,200 global nodes and 1.2M+ monthly users. We dive deep into onion routing, proof-of-stake infrastructure, the economics behind Session’s token incentives, and how privacy-focused tools are crucial in the age of surveillance and AI.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:28 Intro & Kee’s self-intro 00:01:53 Kee’s background 00:02:56 Privacy tech & Session idea 00:04:13 Internship & company launch 00:05:27 Why degrees matter less 00:07:11 Getting into Web3 without CS degree 00:08:32 How Kee first learned about Web3 (Mt. Gox) 00:10:57 Early Bitcoin education 00:12:51 Market cycles in crypto 00:13:42 Kee's hobbies: Coding & rock climbing 00:15:01 Favorite programming language & AI tools00:17:29 AI's role in developer work 00:20:00 What is Session? 00:21:44 Decentralized network architecture of session 00:25:35 Censorship resistance property of Session 00:27:24 How metadata is stored in Session 00:29:47 Onion routing explained 00:32:55 Tor vs. Session 00:34:12 Privacy in routing 00:35:40 Spam protection 00:37:37 Token farming issues in messaging apps 00:39:11 Organic user growth 00:40:15 Who uses Session? 00:45:06 Consensus mechanism for the nodes00:47:31 Why Session decided to fork Monero 00:48:25 Technical challenges in early days building Session 00:49:53 Rewards on the node network 00:52:13 Node economics 00:55:05 Tokenomics over time 00:56:26 Team & contributors 00:57:38 How Session co-founders meet 01:00:55 Business model: Session Pro 01:03:02 Name system & monetization 01:04:27 Scaling challenges 01:07:02 Growth comparison to Web2 messaging apps 01:08:14 Web3 messaging apps' future 01:10:31 Possible future of AI in messaging apps 01:12:57 Kee's advice for Web3 founders01:14:54 Where to follow Session01:16:17 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Kee and Session:Session Website: https://getsession.org/ Session Twitter/X: https://x.com/session_app Kee's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JefferysKee My social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!

In episode 65 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Joshua Owoyemi, PhD and co-founder of Modastera, to explore how AI is being used to improve medical diagnostics, reduce healthcare costs, and empower doctors.From his early beginnings in Nigeria and a PhD in Japan to building Modastera, Joshua’s story is packed with hustle, vision, and purpose. He shares lessons from his edtech startup, the realities of healthtech adoption, and how Modastera is helping medical device companies develop AI tools 60% faster and at a fraction of the cost.Whether you're curious about AI in medicine, entrepreneurship across borders, or the future of healthcare innovation, this episode will keep you inspired and informed.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:24 Introduction and self-introduction of Joshua 00:01:05 Joshua’s background and how he got into health tech00:05:43 His gig as a studio engineer00:07:01 his journey to Japan for higher education00:10:43 Joshua's Edtech platform business00:14:05 Joshua's early entrepreneurial lessons in Japan00:19:31 Joshua's stint as a saxophonist00:20:53 His PhD in System Information Science00:23:03 His first job in Japan working in autonomous driving00:27:03 How Joshua got into the healthcare industry00:30:32 The inefficiencies that the healthcare industry in Japan face00:34:07 His time at Antler Japan as an entrepreneur00:36:31 The unique characteristic of Antler00:38:12 His existing idea when joining Antler Japan00:43:22 An important question that every entrepreneur needs to answer00:45:45 How long did it take Joshua to find the co-founder?00:53:25 Details leading to Antler's graduation day00:55:16 Building trust and navigating Japanese corporate culture00:55:54 Joshua shares Modastera’s vision and medical AI solution01:00:41 Pain points around annotation and data handling01:01:47 The long-term vision for automated model training01:05:13 Modastera product demo01:07:40 The market size that Modastera is aiming at01:09:33 Global competition of Modastera01:11:44 The 5x improvement that Modastera aims to bring to medical device companies01:15:22 Modastera business model01:16:18 Modastera's upcoming roadmap01:18:01 The importance of data in AI model training01:19:27 Challenges in deploying AI models in production01:21:15 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs01:22:54 Where to follow Joshua and updates from Modastera01:23:36 Closing thoughts and episode outroFollow Joshua and Modastera:Joshua's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-owoyemi/Modastera website: https://modastera.com/My social media: Twitter/X: ⁠https://www.twitter.com/LamWeb3⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/⁠Website: ⁠https://lamtrinh.xyz⁠My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: https://substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!