MoneyNeverSleeps

We're diving deep into the fundamentals of fundraising for Web3 startups and early-stage ventures navigating their first capital raise. Fundraising is always challenging, but in web3, it’s a whole new frontier with unique hurdles. This session, originally presented at a Techstars Web3 Accelerator event, is packed with actionable insights that apply to most tech startups, especially those aiming to raise their first round. IN THIS EPISODE: The Art of Readiness: Fundraising is a high-stakes campaign that requires focus, preparation, and a solid plan. I’ll walk you through the basics of getting yourself – and your co-founders – ready to tackle your first fundraise head-on. Investor Pipeline Strategy: Building and managing an investor pipeline is critical to success. Learn about identifying the right investors, setting up warm intros, and the nuances of pitching to both web3 and web2.5 investors. Legal Matters and Structures: In web3, navigating the legal landscape is a must. I cover key considerations for structuring your raise, choosing between token and equity allocations, and why a strong legal strategy is essential. Storytelling and Positioning: We discuss the importance of clearly articulating your vision, setting ambitious yet realistic milestones, and presenting a credible plan to investors. Execution and Perseverance: Fundraising can be a marathon filled with tough feedback, but execution is key. I share tips on how to handle investor conversations, refine your pitch, and ultimately close your round. Resources: Access a variety of fundraising resources, including pitch deck examples, document templates, and strategic guides in the show notes on MoneyNeverSleeps.ie. Slides from the Techstars session: Fundraising in web3 A16z crypto: 5 rules for token launches NFX:  The 23 Rules of Storytelling For Fundraising Pitchdecky: Crypto / Web3 (and beyond) pitch deck LegalNodes: Choosing a web3 fundraising document Techstars Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Video version of Web3 Fundraising Playbook (this episode) Applications Now Open: If you’re a web3 founder ready to scale, applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class of the Techstars Web3 Accelerator! Deadline is November 20, so don’t miss out. Visit techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to learn more and apply. TIMESTAMPS: 01:40 The Challenges of Fundraising 02:32 Preparing for Your First Fundraise 03:56 Determining Your Fundraising Amount 07:32 Legal Considerations in Web3 Fundraising 11:43 Socializing Your Fundraise 13:27 Building Your Fundraising Materials 15:52 Targeting and Pitching Investors 20:27 Executing and Closing the Fundraise 23:21 Final Thoughts and Recap LINKS: Leave a review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Spotify MoneyNeverSleeps (website) MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ 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/

René Pinnell is the founder of Artizen, a match-funding platform for human creativity, helping creators match fund new projects at the frontier of art, science, technology and culture. With over two decades of experience, René has helped creators raise more than $50 million for groundbreaking projects, including securing the first seven-figure VR film deal at the Sundance Film Festival. As an executive producer, René has worked on acclaimed projects like BATTLESCAR, starring Rosario Dawson, and SPHERES, featuring Jessica Chastain, Millie Bobby Brown, and Patti Smith. Additionally, René has directed the feature documentary The King of Texas, sold a TV pilot to MTV, and founded two companies, reflecting his deep commitment to supporting and elevating creative talent.  In this episode, I sat down with René to explore his transformative journey from filmmaker to startup founder. Delving into the evolution of creative funding, René discusses Artizen's innovative model, which blends traditional match funding with crypto and community-driven support.  We cover pivotal moments from his VR project days with Kaleidoscope to forming high-profile partnerships, such as with Viola Davis during the BLM movement. Discover how Artizen's dual strategy of enterprise sales and grassroots initiatives is set to reshape the creative industry. Plus, learn about the role of AI and no-code tools in revolutionizing product development, the benefits of community match funds, and the potential of crypto within the creator economy. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the past, present, and future of creative project financing. René is also an alum of the Techstars Web3 accelerator class of 2024, investing in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply.  TIMESTAMPS: 00:36 Meet René Pinnell: A Creative Force 01:17 René's Creative Journey and Family Heritage 03:54 The Birth of Artizen 05:52 Challenges in Funding Creative Projects 08:11 From Kaleidoscope to Artizen 10:22 Scaling Artizen with Community Curation 19:05 Artizen's Triple-Sided Marketplace 26:35 Support for Black Artists in Immersive Media 27:25 Fundraising and Future Plans for Artizen 28:22 High-Profile Partnerships and Match Funds 29:34 Challenges and Insights from Creators 32:32 René's Journey: From Filmmaker to Founder 37:31 Rebuilding Artizen with No-Code Tools 41:10 The Future of Product Development and Network Effects 44:10 The Importance of Fundraising Skills 45:41 Optimism and Personal Reflections 51:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts LINKS: Follow René Pinnell -X/(Twitter): https://x.com/RJPinnell -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjpinnell/ Learn more about: -Artizen: https://artizen.fund/ -René'ss ‘Wayback Machine’:  http://renepinnell.com/homepage.html -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Niall Dennehy is an Irish entrepreneur and the co-founder and COO of AID:Tech, who are bringing traceability and transparency to the flow of funds for governments, NGOs and charities with their payments and digital identity infrastructure bridging web2 to web3.  In this episode, Pete Townsend reconnects with Niall to explore the groundbreaking journey of their mission-driven company since Niall was last on MoneyNeverSleeps in 2018 (episode 11 linked here and below). The conversation spans the company's digital identity and payments innovations, especially through their Kare Wallet which accelerates financial assistance to disaster survivors. Leveraging blockchain technology, the platform ensures transparent, traceable, and secure distribution of relief funds, partnering with entities like Walmart to prevent misuse. Niall reflects on the emotional impact on both survivors and AID:Tech employees, underscoring the mission that deeply resonates with their team. The discussion delves into strategic approaches to funding, including securing non-dilutive grants, engaging with VCs, and the valuable experiences from accelerator programs like Techstars.  Niall and Pete also touch upon the 'Five H's' of success - happy, hungry, humble, helpful, and healthy - emphasizing the importance of holistic wellbeing in driving sustained impact and growth for AID:Tech. Overall, this episode offers an insightful look into AID:Tech's ethos, their strategic growth, and the pivotal role of technology in enhancing disaster relief efforts. The Techstars Web3 accelerator invests in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply.   TIMESTAMPS: 00:36 Meet Niall Dennehy: Co-Founder of AID:Tech 01:48 AID:Tech's Impact and Innovations 03:19 The Evolution of AID:Tech  04:22 The Core Mission: Identity and Payments 07:44 Real-World Applications and Success Stories 11:18 Challenges and Perseverance in the Startup World 13:08 Future of Payments and Digital Identity 14:19 The Kare Survivor Wallet in Action 20:02 Community Impact and Personal Stories 24:55 The Flywheel of a Mission-Driven Startup 26:02 Philosophical Insights and Team Alignment 27:36 Navigating Fundraising for Impact Ventures 30:56 The Importance of Non-Dilutive Capital 33:50 Personal Growth and Mindset 36:37 The Five H's for Founders 39:27 Final Thoughts and Gratitude LINKS: Follow Niall Dennehy -X/(Twitter): https://twitter.com/dennehyniall -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-dennehy-bb311016/ Learn more about: -AID:Tech: https://www.aid.technology/ -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Links referenced in the episode: Post on the Kare Survivor Wallet’s deployment for hurricane relief aid  Episode 11 of MoneyNeverSleeps from August 2018:  Matt Keller’s X/(Twitter) post on Algorand and the Kare Wallet Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Luca Franchi is the CEO and a co-founder of Ambient, a decentralized network of air quality sensors.  Luca brings to Ambient over two decades of leading growth at several startups and large corporations in the US and Europe (O2 UK, Telefónica, Sky) across enterprise and consumer verticals.  In this episode, Luca shares his fascinating journey from working in startups and corporates like Sky in Silicon Valley to leading a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). The conversation delves into Ambient's strategic pivot from Algorand to Solana, their $2 million seed round led by Borderless Capital, and the operational challenges of launching a decentralized network. Luca elaborates on how Ambient’s air quality sensors and the AmbiGo! app aim to engage the community and commercialize data. We also discuss the importance of founder experience, particularly in recruiting industry experts to navigate enterprise sales and legal structuring in DePIN projects. The episode concludes with Luca reflecting on the importance of passion and perseverance in entrepreneurship, and what it takes to approach the founders’ journey with longevity in mind. Ambient is a DePIN at the leading edge of decentralized environmental monitoring, harnessing the power of its vast sensor network to deliver real-time, hyper-local, actionable environmental data. By utilizing distributed technologies and a community-focused participation model, Ambient not only enhances environmental awareness but also drives impactful change across the globe. The Techstars Web3 accelerator invests in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply.   TIMESTAMPS: 02:03 Luca's Career Journey and Founding Ambient 08:21 Challenges and Strategies in Building Ambient 11:51 How Ambient Works and Future Plans 13:15 The AmbiGo! App: Enhancing User Experience 16:10 The Importance of Data in Decentralized Networks 19:12 The Importance of DePIN in Web3 22:44 Raising the $2 Million Seed Round 25:24 The Startup Journey: Moving Fast and Staying Passionate 28:43 Balancing Work and Life: Advice for Founders 33:42 Conclusion and Contact Information TIMESTAMPS: Follow Luca Franchi -X/(Twitter): https://x.com/luckyluca -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucafranchi/ Learn more about: -Ambient: https://ambient.network/ -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Luis Ramirez is the Founder and CEO of Mawari, a pioneer in cloud rendering and streaming technology.  The Mawari team got started in Tokyo in 2017, and since then, the team has effectively built the foundation for the 3D internet. Mawari enables real-time 3D content streaming to spatial computing devices like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 through a global network of GPUs, leveraging Web3 elements such as DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) to overcome the limitations of traditional centralized networks. Uniquely positioned to address one of the core challenges in the spatial computing industry, formerly known as XR (eXtended Reality), Mawari focuses on delivering scalable infrastructure for real-time 3D applications. Mawari has since launched the Mawari Network — a DePIN and the only full-stack spatial computing platform offering decentralized compute and storage resources optimized for AR/VR experiences.  As a side note and in the spirit of transparency, Mawari recently announced the closing of their $10.8mn strategic funding round, and I’m thrilled to be part of the round as an angel investor.  In this episode, Luis and I riff on his journey from music to technology, the inception of the Mawari vision, building the team and overcoming challenges, the role of decentralization in the Mawari Network, Luis’ lessons learned from raising $17.3mn across two rounds in 3 years, and the essence of persistence, creativity, and the strategic foresight required to scale a tech startup in the evolving landscape of AR, VR, and Web3. TIMESTAMPS: 00:39 Meet Luis Ramirez: From Music to Technology 06:18 The Birth of Mawari and Its Vision 15:02 Challenges and Innovations in XR and Web3 21:40 Building and Scaling the Mawari Team 32:20 Fundraising Journey and Future Milestones 38:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Follow Luis Ramirez -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismawari/ Learn more about: -Mawari: https://mawari.net/ -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Linda Jeng is the Founder and CEO of Digital Self Labs, and she joins me in exploring the evolving landscape of stablecoins. Our discussion focuses on our key takeaways from Castle Island Ventures' latest stablecoin report, 'Stablecoins: the Emerging Market Story'. Linda shares her background in financial regulation, blockchain, and AI, and offers critical insights into how stablecoins are reshaping financial systems in emerging markets. Through a detailed analysis of the Castle Island Ventures report written with Brevan Howard Digital, the conversation reveals the growing use of stablecoins for cross-border payments, currency conversion, and as a stable store of value, reflecting their importance beyond crypto trading. We also touch on regulatory perspectives, why non-dollar stablecoin volumes are so meager, and the potential impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on the stablecoin market. Linda Jeng, is a trailblazing leader in the digital economy through ‘shaping a self-empowered future through blockchain and AI technologies’. Digital Self Labs is a regulatory and policy advisory firm combining blockchain expertise with policy and regulatory strategy. With over 15 years of government experience, she has held key roles at institutions like the U.S. Federal Reserve, US Treasury Department, the SEC and the Bank for International Settlements. Linda is also a Visiting Scholar at Georgetown Law, a Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law School, and a Bank for International Settlements Research Fellow. Her deep expertise in financial systems and her advocacy for data transparency and decentralized technology make her a pivotal figure in shaping the future of finance. TIMESTAMPS: 02:57 Linda Jeng's Career Journey 05:36 Castle Island Ventures and ‘Stablecoins: The Emerging Market Story’ 09:59 Understanding Stablecoins in Emerging Markets 14:15 The Role of Stablecoins in Global Finance 19:38 Challenges and Opportunities for Stablecoins 20:59 The Future of Stablecoins and Digital Identity 46:23 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways 48:50 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements REFERENCE LINKS: Stablecoins: The Emerging Market Story (Castle Island Ventures & Brevan Howard Digital, 12-Sep-24)  The Finternet: The financial system for the future (Bank for International Settlements, 19-Apr-24) International Association of Deposit Insurers Overview of the Bancor Proposal from Bretton Woods (Wikipedia) Stablecoin companies now 16th largest holder of U.S. treasuries globally (CryptoSlate, 18-Oct-23) Follow our guest co-host, Linda Jeng: -X(Twitter):  https://x.com/LindaJeng1 -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-jeng-4682b3/ Learn more about: -Digital Self Labs: https://www.digitalselflabs.com/ -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Alejandro Gutierrez, CEO of npayme Labs and co-founder of ETH Dublin joins me again as guest co-host this week. In this episode, we recap our recent panel on ‘Finding Web3 Talent’ at Dogpatch Labs, touching on market sentiment, the cyclical nature of crypto investments, and strategies for early-stage startups. We delve into the concept of real-world asset tokenization, highlighting key initiatives by firms like Provenance, PayPal, Circle and Centrifuge. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape for content creators in Web3, emphasizing the use of tokenization for new revenue streams and the role of AI in content creation. STORIES WE COVERED: Recap of ‘Finding Talent in Web3’ last week at Dogpatch Labs (Owen Healy on LinkedIn, 15-Sep-24) Friday Fund Tokenization Update (Eoin Motherway on Linkedin, 13-Sep-24) Provenance Blockchain Labs launches Fund Issuance platform, to tokenize, list, & lend RWA funds on Figure Markets (Marketwatch, 20-Aug-24) PayPal's stablecoin hits $1B market cap (Cointelegraph, 26-Aug-24) MakerDAO, rebranded as SKY to roll out new stablecoin USDS (The Block, 27-Aug-24) Circle's USDC in Brazil and Mexico Now Available to Businesses Via Banking System (CoinDesk, 17-Sep-24) Stablecoins: The Emerging Market Story (Nic Carter @ Castle Island Ventures, 12-Sep-24) Centrifuge launches a RWA lending market leveraging tokenized U.S. Treasury bills.(CoinDesk, 27-Aug-24)  AAVE (Avara) onboards BUIDL Shares as Collateral for GHO stablecoin (The Defiant, 29-Aug-24) Natixis launch €100M Digital Bond, secured by mortgage loan pools & operated by SC Ventures, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale & LBBW (Ledger Insights, 28-Aug-24). Siemens issues €300M digital bond, as the largest bond issued under Germany’s eWpG. (Ledger Insights, 4-Sep-24)  Creators’ content is a real-world asset (Alejandro Guterrez on X, 17-Sep-24) TIMESTAMPS 01:40 Insights from the Web3 Talent Panel 04:11 Market Sentiment and Investment Strategies 07:02 The Role of Tokenization in Web3 14:31 Real-World Asset Tokenization 28:24 Content Creation in the Web3 Era 34:01 Closing Thoughts and Farewell LINKS: Follow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez: -X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/A_gutierro -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-gutierrez-98979b43/ Learn more about: -npayme Labs: https://npayme.com/ -ETH Dublin:  https://ethdublin.io/ -Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ 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/admin/feed/posts/

Garvan Callan is the founder of OneZero1, a company that’s redefining how startups and enterprises alike can navigate the complex world of digital strategy and transformation. Garvan is a strategist, innovator and transformation advisor whose career spans leadership roles in major corporations and working hands-on with startups, giving him a unique perspective on both sides of the entrepreneurial divide. Garvan is also a lecturer and the author of Digital Business Strategy, a must-read for anyone serious about innovation and growth in today’s fast-moving world. We explore lessons from Obama's quote 'We are the change that we seek,' the significance of adaptability, the concept of the 'three V's: vision, values, and velocity,' and their application in both large corporations and startups. The episode also covers the challenges and strategies for fostering innovation, the importance of building strong, adaptive teams, and practical advice for startup founders looking to scale. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a corporate leader, or just someone interested in the future of business, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss TIMESTAMPS: 01:52 The Power of Change: Lessons from Barack Obama 02:23 Garvin's Journey: From Rural Roots to Corporate Leadership 07:15 Embracing Uncertainty: A Key to Success 12:08 The Three V's: Vision, Values, and Velocity 19:51 Applying Startup Lessons to Large Enterprises 21:02 Leadership and Stress Management 22:13 Founders' Challenges and Letting Go 24:07 Enterprise Dynamics and Managerial Roles 24:59 Understanding Organizational Currencies 27:29 Corporate Innovation Labs and Startup Founders 36:35 Building Relationships and Synchronization LINKS: Follow Garvan Callan on socials: -Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garvan-callan-b4634323/ -Twitter/X: https://x.com/gpcallan Learn more about and follow OneZero1 -Website: https://onezero1.ie/ -LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/onezero1/ Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Mark McLaughlin is an Irish entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of the ticketing industry since 2006. Mark is the co-founder and CEO of Coras, a company that's been revolutionizing the ticketing landscape with its powerful API solutions, boasting clients like Ryanair. But Mark’s journey doesn’t stop there—he’s now leading Coras into a new frontier with Fida, a cutting-edge loyalty platform that's merging the best of web2 and web3 worlds. In this episode, we’ll explore Mark’s entrepreneurial journey from founding Ticket Text and Ticket ABC to building Coras, and now, innovating with Fida. We’ll dive into the recent €1.3 million funding round led by Irish VC DataOp and the unique challenges of navigating the web2 and web3 investment landscape. Mark will share insights on balancing traditional and forward-thinking approaches for those straddling the web2 and web3 worlds, and what it means for getting these businesses funded. 00:36 Meet Mark McLaughlin: Revolutionizing Ticketing 03:24 The Ticketmaster Saga 05:52 Building Ticketing Solutions: Challenges and Innovations 07:02 Navigating Financial Crises and Raising Funds 10:59 The Evolution of Coras and the Impact of COVID-19 15:50 Introducing Fida: The Future of Loyalty Programs 25:48 Tokenized Commerce and Loyalty Programs 27:12 Building a Universal Loyalty Program 28:05 Challenges in Raising Funds for Web3 Projects 29:54 Pitching to Investors: Lessons Learned 36:04 The Importance of Timing and Luck in Fundraising 38:20 Exploring New Applications for Blockchain 39:05 Advice for Founders in Web2 and Web3 43:02 Mark's Journey from Music to Tech Entrepreneurship 46:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts LINKS: Follow Mark McLaughlin on socials: -Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmclaughlin1/ -Twitter/X: https://x.com/markwmcl Learn more about and follow Coras & Fida -Website: https://www.coras.io/ -Website: https://www.fidaapp.io/ -X-Twitter: @corasdotio | https://x.com/corasdotio -X-Twitter: @fidaapp | https://x.com/fidaapp -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coras-io/ -LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/fidaapp/ Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Returning from our summer hiatus, Laura Walsh joins the show again this week as guest co-host as we dive into Crypto Politics by unpacking Donald Trump's campaign promises involving bitcoin and crypto. Laura and I worked together closely in the first two years of the Techstars Web3 accelerator, and she is a Techstars All-Star Mentor, advisor, founder, web3 O.G. and friend.   In this episode, Laura and I are diving into a hot topic that's been making waves in both the political and crypto spheres. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Donald Trump has been making some bold promises regarding the future of crypto in the United States—from boosting Bitcoin mining to shaking up the regulatory landscape. We take a close look at each of Trump's crypto promises, evaluating their feasibility and potential impact. We explore his claims about ending the so-called ‘crypto crackdown,’ his controversial pledge to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, and his ambitious goal of making the U.S. a dominant player in Bitcoin mining. We also discuss Trump's proposal to build a national Bitcoin stockpile and defend self-custody rights, along with his strong stance against the introduction of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). But how much of this actually holds water? Can these promises be realistically fulfilled, or are they just campaign rhetoric designed to win over the crypto community? We break down each promise, tally up the results, and consider who in the tech and crypto space is lining up to support Trump—and why. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer picture of what’s at stake and whether these promises could shape the future of crypto in America, or if they’re just a play for votes. Jump right in as we unpack the reality behind the rhetoric. TIMESTAMPS:  03:38 Debate Reactions and Crypto Politics 05:03 Trump's Bitcoin Conference Appearance 14:13 Crypto Regulation and Political Maneuvering 16:42 Trump's Crypto Crackdown and Mining Proposals 26:47 Crypto and Politics: A Misunderstood Relationship 29:01 Bitcoin Stockpile: A Baffling Proposal 34:12 Self Custody and Legislative Processes 35:49 The Controversy of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) 40:46 Ross Ulbricht: A Presidential Promise 42:17 Evaluating Trump's Crypto Promises 49:07 Final Thoughts and Farewell LINKS: Connect with Laura Walsh on social media: -Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralwalsh/ -Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheOGLauraWalsh Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Pranav Kanade, Portfolio Manager of VanEck's Digital Assets Alpha Strategy joins the show this week. VanEck is an American investment management firm headquartered in New York City with over $100bn in assets under management. Although they’re well known for their passive exchange-traded funds or ETFs, they also manage active portfolios such as Pranav’s Digital Assets Alpha Strategy.   Pranav Kanade joined VanEck in 2022 from Millennium Management where he was a Credit Portfolio Manager working closely with a team of six investment professionals. Prior to Millennium, he was the founding member of the Head of Research for the Liquid Credit investing business at Angelo, Gordon & Co. and also spent time with Hutchin Hill Capital focused on technology and energy. In this episode, Pranav and I dig into his transition from traditional finance (TradFi) to the crypto world, his investment philosophy, and the catalysts for growth in digital assets. Pranav details his journey, the differences between traditional and liquid token investments, and how stablecoins, decentralized physical infrastructure, gaming, and social finance can drive mass adoption. We also delve into regulatory landscapes, tokenomics, and the challenges and opportunities in token project investments. TIMESTAMPS:  00:18 Meet Pranav Kanade: From TradFi to Crypto 01:55 The Evolution of Digital Assets 04:10 Understanding Tokenomics and Market Dynamics 16:20 The Future of Stablecoins and Tokenized Securities 21:13 Managing a Liquid Venture Portfolio 26:03 The Role of Regulation in Crypto Adoption 38:05 Closing Thoughts and Personal Insights LINKS: Follow Pranav Kanade on socials: -Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkanade1/ -Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/vaneckpk -Substack: https://killerapps.substack.com/ Learn more about and follow VanEck: -X-Twitter: @vaneck_us  |  https://twitter.com/vaneck_us -LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaneck/ Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Rita Martins joins the show to discuss her new book, Web3 in Financial Services, which explores how blockchain, digital assets, and cryptocurrency are disrupting traditional financial services.  In this episode, Rita and I riff on her inspiration for writing Web3 in Financial Services and how she tackled the process of writing a book for the first time.  We also talk about the present and the future of Web3 technologies in finance, the book’s key messages, and how Rita aimed to make the content evergreen with the fast pace of change in web3. Rita was kind enough to feature a conversation with me in the book, so thank you Rita for including my thoughts.  Rita Martins is a strategic senior leader with a distinguished track record in financial services, fintech and Web3. She serves on the advisory boards of a range of startups at the intersection of finance and DeFi, blockchain, digital assets and crypto, and is a mentor for the Techstars Web3 accelerator. Previously, Rita was the Global Head of Fintech Partnerships at HSBC, where she played a key role in incubating and accelerating disruptive technologies, creating significant advancements in the fintech landscape. Her extensive background also includes strategy and digital transformation roles at Accenture and Ernst & Young, where she led large-scale digital transformation projects, helping clients achieve strategic milestones. TIMESTAMPS:   00:43 Meet Rita Martins: Author, Financial Services Executive and Board Member 01:20 Diving into Web3 and Financial Services 02:43 Rita's Journey in Financial Services 05:23 The Inspiration Behind the Book 06:52 Understanding Blockchain and Its Impact 10:58 Writing the Book: Challenges and Insights 15:07 The Future of Web3 in Finance 26:16 Evolving Ecosystem and Challenges 28:10 Dynamic Nature of Writing in Crypto 29:05 Podcasting vs. Publishing 30:31 Killer Apps in Crypto 31:18 Political Influence on Crypto 34:07 Global Impact and Future Predictions 38:09 Reactions and Feedback 41:22 Marketing and Promotion Efforts 44:34 Personal Insights and Experiences LINKS: Connect with Rita Martins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamartins2/ Follow Rita Martins on X: https://x.com/RitaMartinsUK Buy/download Rita Martin’s book Web3 in Financial Services:  Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Web3-Financial-Services-Blockchain-Traditional/dp/1398615714 KoganPage https://www.koganpage.com/accounting-finance-banking/web3-in-financial-services-9781398615717 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

This week, we dive into decentralization with Kenny Ezeji-Okoye and Stella Dyer from Millicent, Ilya Orlov from FileMarket, alongside Rita Martins, author and Techstars Web3 mentor. The discussion covers the journey from centralized to decentralized models, the impact of decentralization on users and developers, and insights into decentralization in financial services. The episode also includes a sneak peek into Rita Martins' new book, Web3 in Financial Services. Decentralization generally refers to the transfer of control of an enterprise from a small group of stakeholders to a distributed network. At the earliest stages of a startup’s life, the co-founders usually put a plan in motion to keep the control of the business within the hands of the co-founders as a centralized business.  With many web3 projects, however, the project leads or co-founders decide to create a distributed network, where the enterprise value accrues to a token rather than to the equity of a centralized operating company. Decentralization is not a point-in-time decision, however. For example, it took 5 years for the Maker Protocol to fully decentralize.  Most web3 projects that do become decentralized originally start as a centralized operating company and then decentralize over time, like Maker Protocol became Maker DAO.   Does this matter to users whether or not a project is decentralized or plans to decentralize?  Do they actually care?  What about developers, i.e., those building apps/dapps on top of web3 protocols?  What’s in it for them? Kene and Stella from Millicent, Ilya from FileMarket, and author Rita Martins tell us what they think about decentralization and when it matters and when it doesn’t. TIMESTAMPS: 00:57 Understanding Decentralization 02:12 Perspectives from Millicent and FileMarket 03:31 In-Depth Discussion on Decentralization 10:36 User and Developer Perspectives 18:33 Advice for Web3 Founders 23:18 Rita Martins on Decentralization in Financial Services 32:35 Conclusion and Closing Remarks LINKS: Connect with this week’s guests on LinkedIn: -Kene Ezeji-Okoye: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pronouncedkenny/ -Stella Dyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stelladyer/ -Ilya Orlov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlov-ilya/ -Rita Martins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamartins2/ Follow this week’s guests on X/Twitter: -Kene Ezeji-Okoye: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pronouncedkenny/ -Stella Dyer: https://x.com/MillicentLabs/ -Ilya Orlov: https://x.com/UnderKong -Rita Martins: https://x.com/RitaMartinsUK Learn more about each founder’s business: -Millicent Labs: https://www.millicent.io/  |  https://x.com/MillicentLabs -FileMarket: https://filemarket.xyz/  |  https://x.com/FileMarket_xyz -Rita Martins’ book: Web3 in Financial Services https://www.amazon.co.uk/Web3-Financial-Services-Blockchain-Traditional/dp/1398615714 Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Alejandro Gutierrez, CEO of npayme Labs and co-founder of ETH Dublin joins me again as guest co-host this week. We start with Alejandro's Token2049 Dubai ‘tsunami-in-a-yacht’ story, the upcoming ETH Dublin 2024, and the Techstars Web3 demo day on June 6th in NYC. We then cover the challenging venture capital funding market for Web3 projects, political and regulatory developments in the U.S. concerning crypto, and the in-flight approval of Ethereum ETFs. As we recorded this episode a few hours before the SEC took the first step in authorizing Ethereum ETFs, we unpacked the political and legislative climate towards crypto in the U.S., and how things like SAB121 and the FIT21 Act are driving real change.  We also touch on the broader impact of blockchain technology on financial markets and the context of tokenization, consumerization, and infrastructure improvements in the crypto space. TIMESTAMPS: 01:53 Alejandro's Dubai Adventure at Token 2049 04:40 ETH Dublin 2024 Preview and Techstars Web3 Demo Day 07:16 npayme Labs and the Future of Web3 12:14 The State of Venture Capital in Crypto 23:00 The Impact of Political Climate on Crypto 25:04 Trump's Crypto Strategy 26:18 Crypto Donations and Political Influence 28:43 Ethereum ETFs and Regulatory Challenges 32:25 Political Shifts and Crypto Regulation 37:19 The Future of Crypto Legislation 45:09 Pizza Day and Bitcoin's History STORIES WE COVERED: VC Funding in Crypto Galaxy Ventures bemoans ‘challenging’ market as crypto VC funding set for measly 27% gain (DL News, 20-May-24) CryptoRank:  Recent Crypto Investments and Fundraising Rounds (early stage only) ETH ETF Approval Expectations Ether jumps 20% on renewed optimism for an ETF, bitcoin also rallies (CNBC, 20-May-24) Ether ETFs Filing Process Sees Abrupt Progress, Though Approval Not Guaranteed: Sources (CoinDesk, 20-May-24) Fidelity Drops Staking Plans in Updated Ether ETF Filing (CoinDesk, 21-May-24 Blockworks’ BTC ETF Tracker US Crypto Regulatory Ups and Downs House To Vote On Who Will Regulate Crypto (21-May-24) Proposed DeFi Carve-out from Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Hayden Adams on X/Twitter, 20-May-24) Uniswap Labs Urges SEC to Drop Pending Enforcement Action in Wells Response (CoinDesk, 21-May- LINKS: Follow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez: -X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/A_gutierro -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-gutierrez-98979b43/ Learn more about: -npayme Labs: https://npayme.com/ -ETH Dublin:  https://ethdublin.io/ Register for the Techstars Web3 Demo Day:   -Livestream: https://lu.ma/usaj1l7k -In-Person (NYC): https://lu.ma/3wlbvrih Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ 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/admin/feed/posts/

This week, we dive into Aleph Zero, a privacy-enhancing layer one blockchain renowned for prioritizing scalability, security and speed, with co-founder Antoni Zolciak and Head of Investments Piotr Saczuk.  Antoni discusses his transition from technology marketer to blockchain, emphasizing the humanist aspect of technology and the broad scope of blockchain's potential applications. Piotr shares his journey from TradFi to blockchain investments, highlighting the importance of values and adaptability in the fast-paced crypto industry.  The discussion explores the challenges and strategies involved in building the Aleph Zero community, driven by transparency, support, and a user-focused approach. We also talk about the nuances of ecosystem investing, the importance of UX, and the integral role of a strong community in fostering innovation and adoption. Additionally, we look inside Aleph Zero’s relationship with the Techstars Web3 accelerator, and the related benefits to web3 founders. 00:24 Introducing Aleph Zero: A Privacy-Enhancing Blockchain 01:16 The Journey to Aleph Zero: Antoni’s and Piotr’s Stories 01:24 Building a Thriving Ecosystem and Community in Web3 05:30 The Art of Keeping Up with Blockchain's Pace 10:48 From Concept to Ecosystem: The Growth of Aleph Zero 21:27 Investing in the Future: The Ecosystem Funding Program 25:05 The Importance of UX and Security in Web3 Development 32:34 Finding the Right Founders to Build on Aleph Zero 38:33 Closing Thoughts and Personal Revelations Antoni Zolciak is co-founder of the Aleph Zero Foundation and Cardinal Cryptography, the core developer of the Aleph Zero blockchain.  Antoni is a technology marketer with over 10 years of professional experience in public relations and content creation projects for global brands such as ING, Samsung, Sony, Olympus and Nikon.  But now, he’s here to tell the story of incredibly smart people working on decentralized innovations. Piotr Saczuk is the Head of Investments at the Aleph Zero Foundation.  After university, Piotr had a short spell in TradFi before going down the crypto rabbit hole with Finoa, Unmind DAO, Soonami, and then finally to Cardinal Cryptography and Aleph Zero, first as ecosystem investments manager and then into his current role as Head of Investments. LINKS: Follow this week’s guests on X/Twitter: -Antoni Zolciak:  https://twitter.com/antonizolciak -Piotr Saczuk:  https://twitter.com/Piotr_Saczuk Learn more about and follow Aleph Zero: -X-Twitter:  @aleph__zero  |  https://x.com/aleph__zero -Linktree:   https://linktr.ee/alephzero   Connect with this week’s guests on LinkedIn: -Antoni Zolciak:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonizolciak/ -Piotr Saczuk:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/piotr-saczuk-0347521bb/ Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

This week, I’m joined by guest co-host Mai Santamaria, the head of the financial advisory unit for the Department of Finance in Ireland. We delve into the world of digital identity, discussing the projects of World ID and TON, iris and palm scanning, and how humans are incentivized to digitalize their identity. Mai and I explore the broader implications of digital identity on economic freedoms and the geopolitical landscape that influences the sovereignty of digital infrastructure.  Additionally, we touch upon the impact of digital identity in securing basic human rights and the potential shifts towards universal basic income facilitated by emerging technologies. The discussion also includes insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by decentralization, the significance of maintaining digital infrastructure sovereignty, and the ongoing regulatory hurdles faced by companies at the intersection of finance and technology. TIMESTAMPS: 02:54 The Evolution and Impact of Digital Identity Technologies 03:31 World ID, TON and Digital Identity: A Closer Look 08:45 Exploring the Future of Universal Basic Income and Digital Identity 14:07 The Ethical and Practical Implications of Digital Identity Verification 15:57 Reflecting on the Broader Implications of Digital Identity and Personhood 20:34 Exploring Mobile Wallet Security and User Comfort 21:26 Revolutionizing SIM Technology with eSIMs and Wallet Integration 23:10 The Future of Identity: From Physical to Digital 24:29 Digital Infrastructure and Sovereignty: A European Perspective 30:01 Innovations in Mapping and the Importance of Open Infrastructure 35:03 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in the Crypto Space 36:58 Optimism for the Future of Digital Identity and Infrastructure Mai originally featured on episode 5 of MoneyNeverSleeps back in 2018, she made a cameo on our 200th episode, and she’s a Techstars mentor.  Two of the episodes that I did with Mai recently, episode 241 on the crossover of blockchain and AI and episode 247 on the crossover of blockchain and digital identity, have been very popular with our most loyal listeners, so make sure you check those out. STORIES WE COVERED: Worldcoin tightens privacy checks, allows users to unverify World ID (9-Apr-24, Cointelegraph) TON’s $5M incentive program aims to drive digital ID verification (Cointelegraph, 8-Apr-24) Two new satellites join the Galileo constellation (ESA, 29-Apr-24) SEC issues Robinhood Crypto with Wells Notice, citing alleged securities violations (The Block, 6-May-24) LINKS: Follow our guest co-host Mai Santamaria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mai07/ Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

I’m joined by three of the founders from the Techstars Web3 class of 2024 to help me identify the mainstream adoption path for blockchain technology, including Andrea Miele, Co-Founder and CEO of The Colony, Fabien Arneodo, Co-Founder and CEO of SportSyncTech, and Nick Mason, Co-Founder and CEO of ProofSpace. As William Gibson, author of the 1984 book Neuromancer, famously said: “The future is already here, it’s just not that evenly distributed”.  I think of this quote every time I get pushback from naysayers on the long-term usability of blockchain technology. In the intro to a recent episode with the first group of 4 founders from Techstars Web3 we talked to about common misconceptions about web3, I referred to the estimated less than 20 million daily active users of crypto. Crypto in all of its shapes and forms is accountable for the overwhelming majority of the use of blockchain technology around the world today. Recently, Lex Sokolin from the Fintech Blueprint (shout out to Lex!) summarized things nicely by pointing out that the daily active users of major blockchain protocols such as Ethereum, Binance Chain, Polygon, and Solana increased from 5 million to nearly 8 million this year.  Whether we’re talking about 8 million daily active users or 20 million users, with blockchain, we’re only in the ballpark of the number of Robinhood daily active users or the population of the Netherlands. Given how much of my time I spend in crypto and blockchain it feels like we’re already mainstream, and that the future is already here. But, back to the reality of today and our 20 million daily active users, we have some work to do. We’re on a trajectory with crypto adoption similar to that of the internet in the 1990’s, and if the growth projections hold water, blockchain by association will become ‘mainstream’ during the 2030s. That’s a 10-year range, so what’s the timeline to where more of humanity with internet access are using blockchain daily than not? In terms of adoption, what are the things we need to do more of (or less of) in web3 to trigger blockchain adoption by web2-only users? Do they even need to know they’re using blockchain? To answer these questions and more this week, I asked Andrea Miele from The Colony, Fabien Arneodo from SportSyncTech, and Nick Mason from ProofSpace what they think about the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology. LINKS: Connect with this week’s guests on LinkedIn: -Andrea Miele:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/agriffin717/ -Fabien Arneodo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabien-arneodo/ -Nick Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-mason-762316b/ Follow this week’s guests on X/Twitter: -Andrea Miele: https://twitter.com/NFTeafor2 -Fabien Arneodo: https://twitter.com/FabienArneodo -Nick Mason: https://twitter.com/nick__mason Learn more about each founder’s business: -The Colony: https://thecolony.xyz/   |   https://twitter.com/thecolonyxyz -SportsyncTech: https://www.sportsynctech.com/  |   https://twitter.com/SportSyncTech -ProofSpace: https://www.proofspace.id/  |   https://twitter.com/proof_space Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

Gray Webb is co-founder and CTO at Liquibit Capital, and we kick things off with a look at what’s happened with BTC since the latest bitcoin halving.  Gray and I then riff on the evolution of bitcoin into a long-term holding with huge opportunities for financial innovation.  We also look at the mainstreaming of stablecoins as the killer app for crypto and how stablecoins have only scratched the surface by nudging past Visa in quarterly settlement volume. Gray Webb is an entrepreneur and technology professional specializing in Digital Asset & Equity Capital Markets. With over 20 years of experience, he has expertise in high-frequency trading, risk management, and post-trade systems. He is currently the Co-Founder and CTO of Liquibit Capital, an algorithmic-driven trading and asset management company. Gray is also involved in mentoring, teaching, and startup mentoring in the blockchain and Web3 space, and is one of the fantastic mentors for founders in the Techstars Web3 accelerator program. He has a strong background in product management and technology delivery, having worked with companies like Digital Asset and JPMorgan.  Liquibit Capital⁠ is a best-in-class investment management firm focused on producing consistent and uncorrelated returns in the emerging digital asset class. You can also listen to more of Gray’s backstory and that of his Liquibit co-founder Joseph Chang in episode 138 from 2021.  STORIES COVERED: BTC as a long-term holding Hong Kong's six spot bitcoin, ether ETFs see $11 million in volume on first trading day (The Block, 30-Apr-24) Blockworks’ BTC ETF Tracker Stablecoins mainstreaming PV01 Issues First Digital Bond to Blue-Chip Stablecoin Investors (PRNewswire, 16-Apr-24) Tether, USDC and DAI transaction volume surpasses Visa's 2023 monthly average: Nansen (The Block, 29-Apr-24) Stripe Brings Back Crypto Payments Via USDC Stablecoin (Yahoo Finance, 25-Apr-24) Making sense of stablecoins (Visa, 25-Apr-24) LINKS: Learn more about Liquibit Capital:  https://liquibit.io/ Connect with Gray Webb on socials: -LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/graywebb/ -X(Twitter):  https://twitter.com/cryptopacific Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

This week, I’m sharing an episode of the ‘Venture with Hesus’ podcast that I recorded recently with the unstoppable Hesus Inoma, as he interviews me on lessons learned from being part of the startup ecosystem the last 8 years, the power of networks, 2022 token sale aspirations, customer validation, building for users vs building for yourself, usability vs. security in crypto, funding your go to market, pre-seed rounds vs seed rounds, what I look for in founders, mental models, flywheels, how to be successful in an accelerator, how to get excited about regulation, real-world assets and more! As Hesus wrote in his original ‘Venture with Hesus’ shownotes, “Buckle up and join us on this thrilling episode with our special guest, Pete, who brings his rich experiences from Boston to Ireland, and Bermuda to Galway. Witness firsthand the often-untold story of the startup ecosystem, the nitty-gritties of co-founder relationships and the transformative potential of Web3 technologies, as Pete lays it all bare.” Hesus Inoma is the founder and Head of Strategy & Innovation at i13 Ventures, a venture studio supporting entrepreneurs, startups, universities, corporates and governments to ideate, strategize, build, launch and scale products. Hesus originally founded an award-winning global fintech with WeSavvy, and is a well-respected leader within the Irish and European fintech ecosystem.  Hesus is passionate about the digitalization of financial services and the collaboration between the financial services and technology sectors with an excellent understanding of financial products and smart technologies underpinning emerging fintech solutions. LINKS: Original ‘Venture with Hesus’ episode page on i13 Ventures YouTube channel https://www.i13ventures.com/media/v/-venture-with-hesus-pete-townsend-and-the-techstars-web3-story- Connect with this Hesus Inoma on social media: -LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hesusci/ -X(Twitter) - https://twitter.com/hesusci? Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/

I’ve brought together 4 of the founders from the Techstars Web3 class of 2024 to help me dispel some of the common misconceptions about web3 with the general public, including Julia Kemp, founder and CEO of Pawpass, Daniel Uribe, founder and CEO of  GenoBank. Tiago Ferreira, co-founder and CEO of FairAI, and Tom Daniel, co-founder and CEO of Ember AI. Even with an estimated 500 million crypto users around the world, the number of daily active users of crypto is less than 20 million, compared to 2 billion daily active users of Facebook, for example.  So, for those around the world who have heard of web3, blockchain, crypto, DeFi, digital collectibles, NFTs, etc., the vast majority are uninformed at best, and negative or fearful at worst.  However, they don't really need to be informed about how it works, in the same way you don’t need to understand SMTP to send an email or HTTPS to use a website.     In general, as early-stage founders, if you do put your head down and build, find customers and grow your user base, and hit the metrics to raise your round, you don’t have to worry too much about the general public for now - or do you?   What if you’ve just decided that building on blockchain technology and leveraging the trustless component of blockchain is the best way to deliver your value proposition to consumers? How will the uninformed react? How have you seen them react and what do you do about it? If what you’re building is more for the crypto-native, does it matter what the general public thinks about web3? To answer these questions and more, I asked Julia Kemp, founder and CEO of Pawpass, Daniel Uribe, founder and CEO of GenoBank. Tiago Ferreira, co-founder and CEO of FairAI, and Tom Daniel, co-founder and CEO of Ember AI, what they wish the general public knew about web3. LINKS: Connect with this week’s guests on LinkedIn -Julia Kemp from Pawpass:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kempjulia/ -Daniel Uribe from GenoBank:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/uribedaniel/ -Tiago Ferreira from FairAI:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlostiagoferreira/ -Tom Daniel from Ember AI:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/0xtomdaniel/ Follow this week’s guests on other social media: -Julia Kemp from Pawpass:  https://www.instagram.com/usepawpass/  -Daniel Uribe from GenoBank:  https://twitter.com/genobank_io?lang=en -Tiago Ferreira from FairAI:  https://twitter.com/getFairAI -Tom Daniel from Ember AI:  https://twitter.com/EmberAGI Leave a review and subscribe on  -Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294 -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd -Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/ MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/ Email us at 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/admin/feed/posts/