MoneyNeverSleeps

Alejandro Gutierrez joins me to talk Solana in Ireland, stablecoins, and tokenized securities - plus I share the launch of Norio Ventures Fund I and what’s ahead for Episode 300.🔹 Scaling Solana Superteam Ireland and building community across the island🔹 Stablecoins moving mainstream + tokenized securities gaining momentum with Nasdaq🔹 My launch of Norio Ventures Fund I and what’s next for MoneyNeverSleeps🔹 Plus, we look ahead to the Payments Innovation Roundtable in Dublin, and CryptoMondays BelfastAbout MoneyNeverSleeps:I’m Pete Townsend, host of MoneyNeverSleeps and General Partner of Norio Ventures. With nearly 300 episodes, this show dives into the minds of entrepreneurs at the intersection of startups, finance, technology, and life as we know it.References:Solana Superteam IrelandNorio VenturesCryptoMondays Irelandrwa.xyz (on tokenized securities)LINKS:Solana Superteam Ireland:  Website  |  X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInAlejandro Gutierrez: X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, we're doing something different on MoneyNeverSleeps.You're coming inside the room for the Techstars Web3 Demo Day 2025, recorded live at Civic Hall in NYC during NY Tech Week, where we brought 5 incredible Web3 startups to the stage for a standing-room-only crowd of founders, investors, and builders.These aren’t founders chasing hype - they’re building with traction, with purpose, and with an eye on the next version of the internet.Along the way, you’ll hear:A powerful fireside chat with Clarisse Hagege, founder and CEO of Dfns, on her journey from TradFi to web3 and the reality of raising in tough marketsStartups introduced by their mentors and customers, not just the usual emcee banterClosing thoughts on what Techstars Web3 has meant to me and to Hugh McGirr, my partner in building this since 2021You’ll hear from:🧠 Autonom – web3’s first full-context real-world assets oracle🛡️ DABL – the essential risk layer for onchain hedging🔐 Nera Systems – privacy-enhancing tech for secure data sharing in AI workflows🌱 nodes.garden – one-click platform for running testnet nodes and earning token rewards🔍 TRUSTBYTES – bringing predictive intelligence to institutional walletsWhether you’re a founder, investor, or web3 builder—this one captures the energy, the ambition, and the conviction of what’s next.🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Techstars Web3 Demo Day 2025LINKS:Leave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I caught up with Jesse Phillips, co-founder and CEO of Trustware, and one of the most quietly determined founders I’ve ever backed.I invested in Jesse and his co-founder Jonathan Frazier through the Techstars Web3 accelerator in 2023, and since then, Trustware⁠ have done what most early-stage startups only dream of—shipping a real product, signing real customers, and generating real revenue… all on just $400K in capital and a team of six.In this conversation, Jesse and I get into what it really takes to build through the mud - when you’ve got more vision than runway, and the only way out of the mud is through the mud. We talk about the early decisions that shaped Trustware’s roadmap, the week Jesse had to tell his team he couldn’t promise their next paycheck, and why raising less money actually made them a stronger company.Trustware is building what Jesse calls “a switchboard for crypto” - a way for wallets and apps to exchange any asset for any other asset(s) across chains and identity layers. It’s a big vision with a deeply pragmatic approach - and one that’s already helping crypto-native teams clean up the mess under the hood.This one’s a masterclass in staying focused, tuning out the hype, and building for the long game.The early decision to bootstrap and stay leanHow Trustware helps wallets and apps simplify cross-chain opsWhy team culture matters even more when the money’s tightWhat Jesse learned about founder storytelling while fundraisingThe value of persistence over polish in the early inningsLINKS:Trustware:  Website  |  X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedIn |  DiscordJesse Phillips:   X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedIn Leave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn In this episode:MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I sat down with my longtime Techstars colleague and friend Allard Luchsinger, Managing Director of the ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance Accelerator in Amsterdam.Allard and I have been on each other’s investment committees for years, so this conversation hits a bit differently. We’ve traded notes across dozens of startups, and we’ve seen each other call the shots on what makes an unstoppable founder. That theme became the golden thread through this episode.We get into Allard’s journey from building startups during the dot-com era, to co-founding a zero-commission trading platform years before Robinhood, to leading one of Europe’s most respected fintech accelerators. We also dig into:His experience investing in African fintech and why mobile-first changed everythingThe early signals from AI and how they mirror fintech’s formative yearsThe conviction you need to invest at pre-seed when all you have is a deck, a founder, and a feelingThe power of mindfulness, presence, and early-morning meditationWhy stablecoins and tokenized assets are quietly rebuilding the financial rails from the inside outThis one’s full of hard-earned wisdom from someone who knows both sides of the founder–investor equation, and delivers it all with a calm clarity that hits home.LINKS:Connect with Allard Luchsinger on LinkedIn ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance Accelerator:  Website  |  LinkedInLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I’m joined by Scott Ashmore and Rob Halligan, co-founders of Shuttle - a platform giving individuals access to venture capital deals that have traditionally been reserved for the ultra-wealthy.Scott and Rob are best friends of 25 years, first-time founders, and the type of guys who rolled up their sleeves, built something that didn’t scale, tore it all down, and came back with something far more powerful - and regulated - with Shuttle.We get into:Their early days of investing together that kicked it all offThat raw turning point moment at Web Summit 2022 when they knew the original plan wasn’t going to workWhat it took to get regulated and launch a platform built for the digitally-native, tech-savvy retail investorWhy retail investors should have a front-row seat to venture capital opportunities—and how Shuttle is making that happenThis is a story of friendship, frustration with the status quo, and the belief that access to financial upside shouldn’t be limited by your net worth.Learn more about Shuttle: Shuttle enables busy professionals to co-invest alongside well-known venture capital firms, regardless of their knowledge, network or net worth. Since launching in December last year, they've already enabled their customers to invest alongside 15 VC funds.LINKS:Shuttle:  Website  |  X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedIn |  Unsophisticated Investor NewsletterScott Ashmore:  LinkedInRob Halligan:  LinkedInLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I’m joined once again by Alejandro Gutierrez, now officially leading Solana Superteam Ireland, a new initiative powered by the Solana Foundation to accelerate Web3 innovation across the entire island of Ireland.In this conversation, Alejandro and I go deep on how Solana Superteam Ireland came to life, why the momentum is building so quickly, and what this means for Ireland as a Web3 hub.Alejandro shares how he went from convincing Dogpatch Labs to give him a table and a few chairs to creating a thriving Talent Hub that’s now attracting builders every Friday. That energy evolved into the Dublin BuildStation, a collaborative space supporting 19 project submissions to the recent Solana Colosseum Hackathon.From stablecoin payments and agentic AI to health tech and startup funding, we talk about the intersection of talent, ecosystem development, and the future of digital finance on Solana in Ireland.In this episode:How Alejandro kicked off Solana Superteam Ireland from the ground upThe role of Dogpatch Labs and Solana Foundation in backing Irish buildersWhy Ireland is uniquely positioned for Web3 leadershipThe Dublin BuildStation and how it supports foundersEmerging verticals in Solana: payments, AI, and healthcareThe potential for a silent stablecoin revolution in the Irish payments landscapeThe importance of community, continuity, and open collaborationWhat’s next: Dublin Startup Village, university engagement, and moreEVENTS:Dublin Tech Week - May 23rd- 30th, 2025 - full event listingCryptoMondays Ireland with ETHDublin, Solana Superteam Ireland & Techstars - 26th May 2025Techstars Web3 2025 Demo Day at NYTechWeek (NYC) - 4th June 2025LINKS:Solana Superteam Ireland:  Website  |  X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInAlejandro Gutierrez: X/(Twitter)  |  LinkedInLeave a review & subscribe on: Apple Podcasts  |  Spotify  |  MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comPete Townsend:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

Simon Brown joins me to share how his role at Consensys has evolved since his last appearance in January 2024 and why he’s now leading the charge on the Consensys Network State. It’s all about reconnecting the sprawl of the Ethereum ecosystem, reinforcing the cultural gravity that made Ethereum magical in the first place, and creating a more cohesive network of builders, founders, and ecosystem experts.In this episode, we dive into how the Consensys Network State initiative is setting the stage for Ethereum’s next decade, how it’s bridging gaps between projects and people, and what it means for the future of decentralized coordination. We also get into some big-picture thinking around the evolution of Ethereum, the rise of network states, stablecoin growth, and what it takes to keep that cultural gravity intact as Ethereum continues to grow.Resources Mentioned:Sobol Agreements ProtocolConsensys Network State Flashbots BuilderNetPectra UpgradeConnect with Simon Brown and Consensys:Simon Brown: X(Twitter) |  LinkedIn  |  MediumConsensys:  Website  |  X(Twitter) Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comConnect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:Pete Townsend: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I’m welcoming back Ollie Walsh, formerly the co-founder and CEO of Pipit Global, and now, the President of Qenta, following Qenta’s recent acquisition of Pipit.  This is Ollie’s fourth appearance on MoneyNeverSleeps, making him the all-time guest record holder on the show.This conversation is a special one. Not only has Ollie been building something purpose-driven and globally relevant for over a decade, but I’ve also had the privilege of sitting on Pipit’s board since 2019 and seeing the full journey from the inside.In this episode, we dive into the first public conversation about Pipit’s acquisition by Qenta. US-based Qenta is rethinking how money moves around the world, blending fintech, blockchain, and impact into one powerful payments platform.In this episode, Ollie and I get into the weeds on what it really takes to build a startup with social impact at its core, what it feels like to finally get a deal across the line after years of trying, and how it all unfolds when you're leading with purpose rather than flash.We also get into:The “rollercoaster on fire” of startup lifeWhat makes a startup acquirable, especially in emerging marketsWhy leading with social impact turned out to be Pipit’s greatest strengthLessons learned the hard way: cap tables, crowdfunding, and mental resilienceOllie’s unexpected deep dive into Daoism and Tai Chi, and how it shaped his founder mindsetThis one’s packed with honest reflections, tactical insights, and a rare look inside the real M&A journey from a founder who lived every second of it.If you're building with purpose, fundraising under pressure, or just trying to stay centered through it all, this one’s for you.Connect with Ollie Walsh and Qenta:Ollie Walsh: LinkedInQenta: LinkedIn  |  Website⁠Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comConnect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:Pete Townsend: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Fergal McGovern, founder and CEO of VisibleThread, for one of the most enlightening founder chats I’ve had in a while.Fergal’s been building for decades—starting with enterprise systems in the '90s, then launching and selling his first startup SteelTrace, and eventually pivoting VisibleThread through the 2008 crash into a trusted platform serving global leaders like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Comcast, and government agencies across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.What I loved about this conversation is how practical and honest Fergal is—especially when it comes to the real story behind fundraising. He’s been through the early seed round, the post-pivot rebuild, and the tough decision to fuel growth with debt instead of chasing a VC path that didn’t quite fit.In this episode, we get into:- Why 50% growth year-over-year is solid—but not VC-sexy- What makes a startup truly “VC-eligible” (and what doesn’t)-How Fergal built a repeatable sales playbook before hiring reps—and why that mattered more than headcount- The thinking behind VisibleThread’s expansion into a second product—basically Grammarly for secure, regulated environments- Why GenAI and agents aren’t always the right tool—and when logic still wins- And yes, how designing gardens relates to building great UXIf you’re a founder figuring out your funding path—or just trying to scale without losing your mind—this one’s for you.Resources:The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben HorowitzEpisode 170 of the Full Ratchet podcast:  Craig Wortmann - Sales Mastery & Storytelling at Scaling StartupsConnect with Fergal McGovern and VisibleThread:Fergal McGovern: LinkedInVisibleThread: LinkedIn  |  Website⁠Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comConnect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:Pete Townsend: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I sat down with Yev Broshevan, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer at Hacken, a leading blockchain security firm focused on making Web3 a safer, more trustworthy place for everyone. Even better? Yev’s birthday is the same day this episode drops - happy birthday, Yev!Yev’s story goes way back to her early days as a cybersecurity engineer in Ukraine, where weak institutions and a hacker’s curiosity led her deep into the world of Bitcoin back in 2014. Since then, she and her Hacken co-founders have been building a mission-driven business around ethical hacking—using a mindset of creativity and values to secure everything from smart contracts to crypto exchanges.In this episode, we get into:Why the hacker mindset isn’t just about code, it’s a way of living—and solving problemsHow HackenProof, their bug bounty platform, now has over 45,000 ethical hackers keeping Web3 projects secureWhy smart contract audits are just one layer—operational security and key management matter just as muchHow AI is reshaping both sides of the security equation: as a powerful ally and a new threat vectorWhy Yev’s now channeling her hacker brain into biohacking—optimizing health and performance like it’s just another system to tuneWe also talk about Hacken’s move into the US, how the security landscape has evolved since the early days of crypto, and what the industry still needs to get right to earn back trust.From Web2 to Web3 to Human 2.0, this one’s got layers.Connect with Yev Broshevan and Hacken:Yev Broshevan:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedInHacken:  X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Website⁠Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comConnect with Pete Townsend and MoneyNeverSleeps:Pete Townsend: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn MoneyNeverSleeps: X/Twitter  |  LinkedIn  |  Newsletter

This week, I’m joined by the ever-insightful and gloriously unfiltered Laura Walsh for a whirlwind spin through the crypto-political multiverse. From BlackRock’s Larry Fink flirting with Bitcoin as the next global reserve currency to Trump-World and Cowboy State stablecoins, this episode has more layers than a Siberian haplogroup.What’s inside?Larry Fink’s crypto come-up – From “index of money laundering” to “Bitcoin might dethrone the dollar”? BlackRock’s shifting narrative and what it really means.Bitcoin as collateral – Is BTC ready to step into the reserve asset big leagues, or are we still in the pool noodle phase of macroeconomic modeling?The Trump Token-verse – Meme coins, stablecoins, and the political gamification of crypto. Spoiler: It’s not a joke just because it’s April Fool’s.The great stablecoin expansion – From USD1 to USYC, Pete and Laura unpack where stablecoins are headed, why transparency matters, and how to make sense of the growing crowd — without losing your shirt.Ondo’s liquidity leap – Tokenized treasuries meet real-time settlement. Is this the workaround we’ve been waiting for?Digital identity vs. digital anonymity – Institutional KYC meets privacy paranoia. Can we have both?Wyoming’s legal side-quest – The Cowboy State wants its own stablecoin. The Constitution might have a word.The 23andMe acquisition rumor – Is your genome going on-chain? What could possibly go wrong?Plus: Canadian election shout-outs, doomsday memes, and Laura’s adventures dodging gun racks and memecoins.Also in this episode:CryptoMondays Ireland is back on April 7th, with a fireside chat (or maybe just vibes) between Pete and Alejandro Gutierrez from Solana Superteam Ireland.ETH Dublin is heating up with Vitalik Buterin and Stani Kulechov joining the speaker lineup from May 23–25.And yes, Sam Bankman-Fried wants to be friends with Diddy again. That’s... a whole thing.Connect with Laura Walsh:  LinkedIn  |  X(Twitter) Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comFollow on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend | MoneyNeverSleeps Follow on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend | MoneyNeverSleeps MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack

Anthony Rose is the co-founder and CEO of SeedLegals, the #1 platform for startup funding and legals in the UK. But long before he was helping tens of thousands of founders raise capital and avoid legal potholes, Anthony was in the digital trenches – first turning the music industry on its head with Kazaa, then helping reinvent online streaming at the BBC with iPlayer, before building and selling a few startups of his own.In this episode, we go deep into what it really means to have founder-problem fit, the magic of applying a product mindset to gnarly challenges like startup legal docs, and how Anthony is now taking SeedLegals across the pond to crack the US market.We also talk about reinventing yourself as a founder, knowing when to build vs. when to sell, and why your legal docs should be like the owner’s manual in your car – built on all the ways things can go wrong.If you’ve ever tried to sell an unfinished product, pitched into skepticism, or had a strange love affair with a weirdly specific problem – this one’s for you.KEY POINTS FROM THIS EPISODEFounder-Problem Fit: Anthony thrives on solving the problems nobody else wants—like turning legal complexity into a smooth, scalable product experience for startups.The Productization of Law: From auto-generated funding docs to clauses like “No Pay, No Play,” SeedLegals is redefining how legals should work at early stage.From iPlayer to Legal Tech: The shift from media to law wasn’t planned—it was sparked by a party in Rome and a technical founder’s obsession with inefficiency.Scaling the Right Way: Anthony explains why raising too much money too soon can kill your startup’s focus—and how lean execution wins.Going Global, One Event at a Time: With SeedLegals now expanding into the US, Anthony is pounding the pavement in NYC to build community-led growth from the ground up.Selling as a Founder: Why the first sales hire outperformed Anthony—and how he learned to switch from “builder brain” to “buyer focus.Connect with Anthony Rose and SeedLegals:SeedLegals WebsiteFollow SeedLegals on LinkedIn Connect with Anthony Rose on LinkedInKEYWORDS:SeedLegals, Anthony Rose, Pete Townsend, MoneyNeverSleeps, startup legal docs, founder problem fit, UK startups, US expansion, startup funding, cap tables, term sheets, startup founder tips, legal tech, product development, startup fundraising, iPlayer, Kazaa, venture capital, VC advice, New York startups, scaling globally, early stage startups, startup mistakes, how to pitch, founder legal protection, Techstars Web3, startup acceleratorLeave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comFollow on X(Twitter):Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnvMoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshowFollow on LinkedIn:Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by my good friend and returning guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez, and we get into the thick of what I like to call “worlds colliding” — the convergence of Web3 and TradFi that’s playing out in real time.From Robinhood stepping into prediction markets, to ETF filings for Solana, XRP, and even Sui, and even the Fed making front-page crypto headlines, this one's packed with all the signs that the walls between the old and the new are coming down fast.What we cover this week:ETH Dublin is back and bigger than ever – With Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Aave founder Stani Kulechov confirmed to speak, the Irish Web3 scene is officially on the global map.Crypto Mondays Ireland kickoff – We kicked things off with a great crowd, bridging Web2, Web3, TradFi and crypto over pints and pizza (note to self: apply for a PizzaDAO grant next time).Robinhood enters prediction markets – A natural next step as U.S. regulatory winds start shifting, and another signal that mainstream fintech is eyeing the Web3 playbook.ETFs and tokenized RWAs are on the rise – With filings for DOGE, XRP, and SUI ETFs, and $18B+ in RWAs already on-chain, the signs are clear — TradFi is getting comfy with digital rails.Crypto’s macro moment – When CoinDesk leads with “Fed holds rate steady,” you know we’ve officially crossed over into traditional markets territory.Why FIFA Coin is a terrible idea – Props to Pet Berisha for breaking it down. We don’t need a FIFA token when stablecoins already do the job (with way less drama).Solana Talent Hub in Ireland – Alejandro and the team are building a home for the Solana ecosystem at Dogpatch Labs every Friday. If you're Solana-curious and based in Ireland, get involved.Links & Resources:ETH Dublin – May 23–25, Solana Talent Hub @ Dogpatch LabsSporting Crypto by Pet BerishaBrian Armstrong’s Farcaster postTokenized RWA tracker – rwa.xyzCentrifuge/BlockTower report on tokenizationFollow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez:X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/A_gutierroLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-gutierrez-98979b43/Leave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comFollow on X(Twitter):Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnvMoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshowFollow on LinkedIn:Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

In this episode, we’re announcing the Techstars Web3 Accelerator Class of 2025 featuring founders from the six web3 startups that Techstars are investing in and accelerating in 2025 and beyond.  Get ready for insights from:Satyam Agrawal, founder of 0xBridge, enabling seamless, non-custodial, and efficient two-way Bitcoin movement across blockchains, allowing users to mint 1:1 pegged BTC without relinquishing control of their original assets.Ry Leong, co-founder of Autonom, powering perpetual trading of real-world assets (RWAs) by incorporating a decentralized system to detect and resolve data inaccuracies, enabling seamless integration of market utilities into crypto economies.Mike Maguire, co-founder of DABL, a real-time monitoring and automated hedging platform that uses institutional-grade models to enhance risk management for crypto lending platforms and traditional financial institutions in digital assets.Rami Akeela, co-founder of Nera Systems, a comprehensive Privacy Enhancing Technology (PET) platform that enables enterprises to securely deploy AI and machine learning on sensitive data through encrypted, decentralized solutions that keep data within enterprise boundaries while maintaining utility⁠.Ilya Lebedev, co-founder of nodes.garden, a one-click multichain node management platform that simplifies the complex process of setting up and managing blockchain nodes for both testnet and mainnet environments, requiring no technical expertise from users⁠.Jeremy Prasetyo, co-founder of TRUSTBYTES, creating the world’s first security operations system allowing projects to see, understand and act on their risk posture with confidence.All of these founders just completed Week 1 of the 13-week Techstars Web3 accelerator.  As all of the founders for the six startups are scattered around the world, they all traveled to Dublin for Week 1 as Ireland is a fantastic place to build relationships fast.In the pressure cooker of a mostly virtual 13-week accelerator program, it’s crucial for the founders to get their relationships off the ground with the Techstars team and with each other, as their accelerator classmates should become the best founder support group they’ll ever have.After an intense first week of workshops, mentors, pitch-building, and then live pitching at the big Techstars Web3 launch night at Toners in Dublin which doubled as the very first CryptoMondays Ireland event, the founders decamped to go virtual for the next 5 weeks before meeting in London in April and then NYC during NYTech Week for Demo Day in the first week of June 2025.LINKS & RESOURCES:Learn more about the Techstars Web3 Accelerator:WebsiteLinkedInX/(Twitter)Connect with each startup:Satyam Agrawal, founder & CEO of 0xBridge, Mason Burkhalter, co-founder & CEO of AutonomMike Maguire, co-founder & CEO of DABLRami Akeela, co-founder & CEO of Nera Systems.Ilya Lebedev, co-founder & CEO of nodes.garden.Jeremy Prasetyo, co-founder & CEO of TRUSTBYTESKeywords: #techstars #mentors #web3 #accelerators #entrepreneurship #podcast #startupecosystem #cryptolending # #privacy #oracles #bitcoinliquidity #security #blockchainnodesLeave a review and subscribe on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Email us: info@norioventures.comFollow us on X(Twitter):Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnvMoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshowFollow us on LinkedIn:Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week, we’re taking a look back at some of my favorite moments from the past year—the conversations that stuck with me long after we hit stop on the recording. If you missed them the first time around, now’s your chance to catch the highlights!And here’s the kicker—every one of the eight segments I pulled together features a mentor from the Techstars Web3 Accelerator that I lead. It’s part highlight reel, part "thank you" to these incredible people who help founders navigate the startup grind. A huge shoutout to Mai Santamaria, Patrick Pinschmidt, Hesus Inoma, Rita Martins, Alejandro Gutierrez, Laura Walsh, Philipp Pieper, Timo Lehes, and Arabian Prince from NWA for sharing their wisdom.A number of these guests will also be joining us at the Techstars x Crypto Mondays Ireland event that Hugh McGirr and I are hosting in Dublin on Monday, March 10th at Toner’s Pub. If you’re around, come reconnect with old friends, meet new builders, investors, and operators across Web2, Web3, and enterprise, and hear from our Techstars Web3 Class of 2025. You might even enjoy a pint of Guinness while you’re at it. Check out the Luma linkto register here.LINKS:Keywords: #techstars #mentors #web3 #cbdc #beststartupinsights #entrepreneurship #podcast #startupecosystem #venturecapitalinsights #blockchaintrends #AI #crypto #fintechinnovationsLeave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website)Check out all of the original episodes we featured: 241: Money Talks with Mai Santamaria | Binance and CZ | Argentina's New President | Vitalik's Techno-Optimism Manifesto | Blockchain and AI Intersect 248: Venture Investing and Connecting the Dots with Patrick Pinscmidt 257: How I Got To Techstars on a Flywheel | Hesus Inoma Interviews Pete Townsend | Venture With Hesus 264: Rita Martins | Author of Web3 in Financial Services 269: Working in Web3 | Real World Asset Tokenization in Finance and Beyond | Guest Co-Host Alejandro Gutierrez 266: Crypto Politics: Unpacking Trump's Campaign Promises with Laura Walsh 277: Straight Outta Crypton | Swarm and the Rise of RWAs | Timo Lehes and Philipp Pieper 283: Arabian Prince | The N.W.A Pioneer Empowering the Next Tech GenerationEmail us: info@norioventures.comFollow us on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend:https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv MoneyNeverSleeps:https://twitter.com/MNSshowFollow us on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend:https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/ MoneyNeverSleeps:https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter:https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

Alejandro Gutierrez joins me once again to dive into some of the biggest conversations in crypto right now, including:The fallout from Operation Chokepoint 2.0 and the debanking of crypto startups—what it means for the industry and how regulatory shifts in the U.S. and Europe could reshape the future of digital assets.Why Solana is having its moment—how Solana's DEX volume is outpacing Ethereum’s and what this means for the long-term viability of the network.The rise of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and why Uniswap launching its own Layer 2, Unichain, could be a game changer.Institutionalization of crypto—how Solana ETFs and BitGo’s rumored IPO are bringing more traditional finance players into the space.The evolving regulatory landscape—what the SEC’s new stance on crypto, led by Commissioner Hester Peirce, could mean for the industry’s future.Plus, we share the details on an exciting new event—Techstars and CryptoMondays Ireland are teaming up for a first-of-its-kind gathering in Dublin on March 10th (register here).Alejandro Gutierrez is a leading figure in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space and an early adopter of real-world asset tokenization. Alejandro has contributed to the growth of DeFi through his work with MakerDAO, Tokeny, Securitize, and Centrifuge, as well as his co-founding of Consolfreight, Defactor, and ETH Dublin.EPISODE LINKS:Operation Chokepoint 2.0 / DebankingCoinbase - the facts are the facts FDIC (X, 6-Feb-25)Operation Chokepoint 2.0 - Nic Carter, Castle Island Ventures (Pirate Wires, 8-Feb-23) Marc Andreessen on Joe Rogan (Joe Rogan Experience, 27-Nov-24)Fed's Powell Says He's Also Worried About Debanking (Coindesk, 11-Feb-25)Graham Rodford from Archax on the UK situation (Linkedin, recently)New Era in the SEC with CryptoThe Journey Begins - SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (SEC, 4-Feb-25)Other TopicsSolana DEX Volume Tops $60M as It Looks to Extend 4-Month Winning Streak Over Ethereum (Coindesk, 11-Feb-25)BitGo Mulling IPO This Year (Coindesk, 11-Feb-25)Uniswap Labs Officially Launches Layer-2 ‘Unichain’ (Coindesk, 10-Feb-25)Keywords:  #OperationChokepoint2 #debanking #SolanaDEXvolume #UniswapLayer2 #Cryptoregulation2025 #DeFI #Institutionalcryptoadoption #SolanaETFs #seccryptopolicyLeave a review and subscribe onApple PodcastsSpotifyMoneyNeverSleeps (website)Follow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez:X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/A_gutierroLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-gutierrez-98979b43/Email us: info@norioventures.comFollow us on X(Twitter):Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnvMoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshowFollow us on LinkedIn:Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week, we’re tapping into the intersection of hip-hop, technology, education and startups with a true pioneer—Arabian Prince. If you know your rap history, you know Arabian Prince as one of the founding members of N.W.A, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rap group that redefined music and culture. But what you might not know is that he’s also a lifelong technologist, entrepreneur and futurist—a kid from Compton who got his hands on a computer early and never looked back. From songwriting, rapping and DJ-ing to producing electro-funk beats and Grammy-nominated #1 hit song Supersonic to leading innovation in 3D animation, video games, and blockchain, he’s been pushing the boundaries of technology for decades. In this episode, we talk about how a chance encounter with an N.W.A-inspired crypto-merch baseball cap led to this conversation, and from there, we cover everything—his early love for tech, how music and technology shaped his career, and his mission as founder of INov8 Next Open Labs and co-founder of INov8 Capital to bring the next generation of kids into the world of tech. Form beats to bytes, Arabian’s story is all about curiosity, hustle, creativity, and breaking boundaries—whether it’s in music, business, or technology, so this is one you don’t want to miss. EPISODE LINKS Follow OGArabianPrince on social: Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter Learn more about iNov8 Next Open Labs Learn about Arabian Prince’s music and past work here Check out Arabian Prince’s GGGOAT Golf and GGGOAT PC brands  Check out Swarm, the crypto real-world asset platform that started this conversation: www.swarm.com QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE “I was just a kid with a computer in Compton. That changed everything for me.” “If you want to make real change, you have to give kids access—not just knowledge, but tools, networks, and opportunities.” “Most of the people running tech companies today grew up on our music. That connection helps me open doors to push innovation forward.” SHOW NOTES  01:45 – The backstory: A crypto merch cap leads to this conversation 04:10 – Growing up in Compton, discovering computers, and early influences 08:50 – Blending music and technology: from electro-funk to hip-hop 11:15 – The birth of N.W.A and leveraging tech in the studio 14:40 – Why Arabian Prince left N.W.A and pivoted into animation and video games 16:20 – Working on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Silver Surfer, and Casper 18:30 – Founding iNov8 Next Open Labs and building tech education initiatives 21:05 – The regional approach: Adapting tech education to different U.S. communities 24:15 – Leveraging relationships and hip-hop’s legacy to open doors in tech 27:40 – Thoughts on blockchain, AI, and the future of digital ownership 29:50 – The impact of teaching kids about technology and entrepreneurship 32:00 – Fun facts about Arabian Prince: his love for SpongeBob and video games 34:00 – Arabian’s connection to Ireland and plans for visiting soon 35:00 – Closing thoughts and where to find Arabian Prince online Keywords: #arabianprince #nwa #rap #hiphop #tech #education #inov8next Shout-outs and hat-tips: Amor Sexton, Philipp Pieper, Timo Lehes, Katie Evans, Kene Ezeji-Okoye Leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website) Email us: info@norioventures.com Follow on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow Follow on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/ MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

Laura Walsh returns this week to help me unpack the whirlwind of events shaking up crypto, finance, and politics—from Trump’s memecoin antics to regulatory shifts and the ever-increasing adoption of crypto by institutional finance. Laura Walsh is a Techstars All Star Mentor, advisor, founder, web3 OG and friend, and in this episode, we dive into: Trump’s Memecoin Playbook – How the former U.S. president’s memecoins raked in millions in fees and what it says about crypto speculation today. Gary Gensler’s Exit from the SEC – What his departure means for the regulatory landscape and whether this signals a new era for crypto. Institutional Finance Embracing Blockchain – The latest on Circle’s acquisition of Hashnote’s tokenized money market fund and why crypto natives, not TradFi, are fueling the real-world asset movement. Regulatory Clarity & Crypto Adoption – How the SEC’s new crypto task force led by Hester Peirce is changing the conversation around compliance and innovation. Lessons from the Irish Whiskey Trade Battle – A fascinating parallel between crypto lobbying and how the Irish whiskey industry successfully pushed for tariff exclusions in the U.S. Canada’s Response to Trump’s Trade Threats – The geopolitical implications of America’s shifting trade policies and how Canadians are rallying against expansionist rhetoric. There’s no shortage of action in this episode—memecoins, market shifts, regulatory updates, and some fascinating history lessons all packed into one conversation! Resources & Mentions: Gary Gensler Leaves SEC, and Cryptocurrency-Friendly Mark Uyeda Is Appointed (Binance, 20-Jan-25) SEC Forms New Crypto Task Force Spearheaded by Hester Peirce (CoinDesk, 21-Jan-25) Trump’s meme coin is a reminder of crypto’s dumbest use case (CNN, 21-Jan-25) Alternative viewpoint on memecoins from Kevin DeGods (X/Twitter, 20-Jan-25) Canada has threatened ‘dollar for dollar’ retaliatory tariffs and ‘nothing is off the table’ (National Post, 21-Jan-25) The Irish whiskey playbook: an insider’s guide to how firms must navigate Trump’s DC (Business Post, 20-Jan-25) Dfns Raises $16 Million to Expand Crypto Wallet Infrastructure (Pymnts.com, 17-Jan-25) Circle buys tokenized money market fund Hashnote-USYC (Finextra, 21-Jan-25) Tornado Cash off OFAC List (Cointelegraph, 22-Jan-25) Ross Ulbricht pardoned (X, 21-Jan-25) Connect with Laura Walsh on social media: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralwalsh/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheOGLauraWalsh Keywords: Trump, memecoins, crypto, regulations, SEC, tokenized assets Leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website) Email us: info@norioventures.com Follow on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow Follow on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/ MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

Brian McDonald is a partner at Bay Advisory, a corporate finance firm helping founders navigate funding, scaling, and exiting their businesses. Brian first joined the show in 2021, and now, four years later, he returns to share updated insights on startup exits, valuations, and the evolving market landscape. From the importance of staying true to your business identity to understanding deal structuring and negotiation tactics, Brian breaks down what founders need to know before, during, and after an exit. He also shares his thoughts on current trends, including valuation shifts, the rise of AI-driven businesses, and the significance of knowing when to walk away from a deal. If you’re a founder planning your next fundraising round or thinking about an exit, this episode is packed with actionable advice and real-world examples that you won’t want to miss. Key Takeaways 1. Stay True to Your Business Identity: Many founders feel pressured to present their business as a SaaS or AI-driven venture to attract investors, but Brian emphasizes the importance of positioning your business based on what it truly is rather than shaping it to fit investor expectations. 2. Avoid Venture Capital If You Plan to Keep Your Business Long-Term: If you’re building a business to own and operate for life, taking on investors expecting a return may not be the right move. Transparency about your vision is crucial in aligning with the right partners. 3. Consider Alternatives to Full Exits: Founders don’t have to sell their entire company to achieve financial security. Partial exits or taking some cash off the table while continuing to scale can be viable options. 4. Valuation Challenges in Today’s Market: Valuations fluctuate, and generic revenue multiples can be misleading. Founders should focus on comparable deals and be realistic about their company’s value in the current market conditions. 5. Earnouts and Deal Structuring: Few exits involve a full cash payout at closing. Earnouts based on future performance are common, and founders should aim for turnover-based earnouts rather than EBITDA-based, as buyers can manipulate EBITDA figures.. 6. Know Your ‘No’ and Be Ready to Walk Away: Understanding your bottom line in negotiations is critical. If a deal isn’t right, having the confidence to walk away can save founders from making costly mistakes. Market Trends and Strategic Insights: Longer Deal Timelines: Exit processes that once took six months are now stretching to 9-12 months due to market shifts. AI Bubble: Many businesses are branding themselves as AI-driven when they’re not, which mirrors past trends seen with blockchain startups. Corporate vs. PE Buyers: Corporates focus on strategic fit, while PE firms prioritize financials and growth potential. Importance of Data Rooms: Keeping updated documentation can streamline fundraising or an acquisition process when the time comes. Guest Details: Email: brian@bayadvisory.ie Website: BayAdvisory.ie LinkedIn: Brian McDonald Listen to Brian’s first appearance on MoneyNeverSleeps in 2021 (episodes 118 and 119, Words of Advice, Parts 1 &2) Learn more about Bay Advisory and their advisory services for founders Brian referred to the book A Slight Edge by Jeff Olson in focusing on your niche at the earliest stages Leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website) Email us: info@norioventures.com Follow on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow Follow on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/ MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

In this special year-end episode, Pete Townsend is joined by returning guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez for a wide-ranging conversation about what the future may hold in 2025. Together, they explore transformative ideas, emerging trends, and groundbreaking technologies that could shape industries, disrupt norms, and redefine global innovation. From traditional finance’s embrace of tokenization to the rise of AI agents, the duo covers it all—including a bonus prediction from a mysterious contributor. Tune in for an exciting glimpse into 2025 and get ready to peer into the crystal ball with Pete and Alejandro. What You’ll Learn: Tokenization Takes Center Stage: How traditional finance is poised to fully embrace tokenization, opening up new markets and investment opportunities. Stablecoins in E-commerce: The role of stablecoins in reshaping online payments and the potential for major adoption by e-commerce giants. Decentralized Identity: Why verifiable credentials and self-sovereign identity could become mainstream. Blockchain and Gaming: Predictions for how large gaming studios might integrate blockchain into their IP to empower users with ownership. AI Meets Blockchain: The emergence of AI agents in Web3 and their potential to revolutionize decision-making and commerce. Regulatory Milestones: The Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT21) Act and its potential to establish a clear framework for digital assets in the U.S. Global Bitcoin Adoption: How BRICS nations and others might accelerate Bitcoin mining and adoption for financial sovereignty. Memecoins and AI Agents: The possibility of AI agents driving the next wave of meme coin mania and their implications for the ecosystem. Bonus Predictions: Eoin Motherway, fintech and funds industry legend, shared his take on 2025: Proliferation of Stablecoins: Beyond USD-pegged options, expect growth in other fiat-backed stablecoins (e.g., HKD, JPY). Tokenization of Funds: The tokenization of money market funds could gain momentum, paving the way for more accessible and efficient investments. Digital Assets Ireland: The emergence of Ireland as a hub for digital assets under MiCAR regulations. Resources Mentioned: Electric Capital Developer Report 2024 Castle Island Ventures: Stablecoins and Emerging Markets a16zcrypto: A few of the things we’re excited about in crypto (2025) a16zcrypto’s Chris Dixon on Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin Bankless Podcast on AI Agents and Finance Call to Action: If this episode sparked your curiosity about 2025, we’d love to hear your predictions! Share your thoughts on X/(Twitter) at @MNSShow or email us at info@norioventures.com. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review MoneyNeverSleeps on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—and share this episode with a friend. Keywords: Alejandro Gutierrez, Pete Townsend, 2025 tech trends, Blockchain and AI, Crypto trends 2025, Stablecoins future, Decentralized identity solutions, Bitcoin mining expansion, Tokenization in finance, web3 trends 2025 Leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website) Follow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez: X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/A_gutierro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-gutierrez-98979b43/ Email us: info@norioventures.com Follow us on X(Twitter): Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow Follow us on LinkedIn: Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/ MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/