Runway Series (Venture Capital, Startups, Crypto, web3), in partnership with Olive Capital.

With Ilan Nabeth⁠⁠, PlayMakers Co-Founder and CEO. - This is an excerpt of the full episode available on our newsletter called "Venture Notes". Enjoy a LIFETIME 50% discount (45€ per annum instead of 90€) if you use this link https://upcomingvc.substack.com/playmakers - PlayMakers⁠ aims to redefine the traditional developer-player relationship by turning players into creators. This shift is a new market practice in the video game industry, where historically, players were consumers of content. With the rise of social media and player vocalization, studios now consider player engagement metrics as key performance indicators. Players contribute content, influencing game success and shaping the relationship dynamics. As games digitalize, players actively participate in game creation, offering new characters, stories, environments, and more. The advent of generative AI tools empowers players further. However, ethical questions arise, such as ownership of game success, decision-making authority, intellectual property rights, and income distribution. Balancing fairness and transparency is crucial to establishing a model that rewards creators while leveraging audience creativity to enhance games. Let’s deep dive in three parts into UGC, gaming and understand what PlayMakers is building in that space, together with our guest, ⁠Ilan Nabeth⁠, PlayMakers Co-Founder and CEO. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

PlayMakers aims to redefine the traditional developer-player relationship by turning players into creators. This shift is a new market practice in the video game industry, where historically, players were consumers of content. With the rise of social media and player vocalization, studios now consider player engagement metrics as key performance indicators. Players contribute content, influencing game success and shaping the relationship dynamics. As games digitalize, players actively participate in game creation, offering new characters, stories, environments, and more. The advent of generative AI tools empowers players further. However, ethical questions arise, such as ownership of game success, decision-making authority, intellectual property rights, and income distribution. Balancing fairness and transparency is crucial to establishing a model that rewards creators while leveraging audience creativity to enhance games. Let’s deep dive in three parts into UGC, gaming and understand what PlayMakers is building in that space, together with our guest, Ilan Nabeth, PlayMakers Co-Founder and CEO. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Many catalysts are in place for the MINA ecosystem to flourish in 2024 and beyond. Back in April 2023, I recorded with Kurt Hemecker a ⁠Runway Series (venture capital, crypto/web3 podcast, runwayseries.co)⁠ episode about the ⁠Mina Foundation⁠ and how it serves the MINA Protocol. Learn why the tech is unique on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://apple.co/41aUQEP⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://spoti.fi/41dFyiH⁠ -- Big crypto announcement for the Swiss / Geneva #crypto ecosystem. The Mina Foundation, a major crypto Foundation which serves the #zeroknowledge MINA Protocol, becomes a Swiss Foundation 🇨🇭, as it officially relocates from the US to Switzerland.. And for once, not headquartered in Zug but in Geneva! A rare occurrence, when usually Zug takes the lion share in the country when it comes to crypto attractivity and headquarters. Taking a step back, I even think that it is a strong signal for the benefit of the European crypto market vs. the US. Read more (in 🇫🇷) from Joan Plancade for Bilan Magazine: https://lnkd.in/ecKCw3BV Also, Kurt Hemecker (ex-PayPal, ex-Libra/Diem) is promoted from COO to CEO, taking over from MINA Founder Evan Shapiro who becomes President of the MINA Foundation. In 2022, MINA has raised more than $90M for its unique zero-knowledge protocol, notably for its constant size... of only 22kb. But there is much more to learn from the thriving MINA ecosystem and protocol. As a global pre-seed web3 investor focusing 100% on ZK with Olive Capital, and based in Geneva, I am really excited by this news for our ecosystem and about what Mina is building. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Slush 2023 Exclusive! Cracking the Code: Decoding Brand Building with ⁠Rahul Vohra⁠, Co-Founder & CEO at ⁠Superhuman⁠. --- "BUILD YOUR BRAND" EBOOK! This episode comes up with a 9-page step-by-step framework (ebook in PDF) to build your brand as an early stage startup founder, whether you're building in web2 or web3, based on Rahul's experience building Superhuman, the fastest email experience. This ebook in PDF will be available for our paid subscribers on our newsletter "Venture Notes". End of year 2023 offer!! Get 50% off and pay €45 instead of €90 for 12 months. Redeem link:⁠https://upcomingvc.substack.com/superhuman⁠ --- Founders often grapple with the stark realities of building a brand, achieving product-market fit, and nowadays integrating AI into their products. Rahul Vohra (⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/rahulvohra⁠⁠), Co-Founder & CEO at Superhuman (⁠⁠superhuman.com⁠⁠), provides pragmatic answers to these critical questions. In a world where success is measured not just in innovation but in practical execution, Rahul shares his insights from Superhuman's journey. Get ready for a no-nonsense exploration of the challenges and strategies that define the intersection of technology, business, and user experience, where Rahul delves into the philosophy of product design, emphasizing the early importance of building a brand for growth. In this episode, Rahul guides startups on crafting their ideal, positioning, and brand attributes before delving into names. Drawing on Superhuman's success, Rahul highlights the symbiotic relationship between brand building and achieving product-market fit. He also explores the intricacies of growing a brand through press, thought leadership, influencers, and virality, sharing valuable advice on each. Whether you're building a brand, seeking product-market fit, or envisioning the future of technology, Rahul's perspectives offer invaluable guidance. Let’s get into the episode right now. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Slush 2023 Exclusive! Cracking the Code: Decoding Brand Building with Rahul Vohra, Co-Founder & CEO at Superhuman. --- "BUILD YOUR BRAND" EBOOK! This episode comes up with a 9-page step-by-step framework (ebook in PDF) to build your brand as an early stage startup founder, whether you're building in web2 or web3, based on Rahul's experience building Superhuman, the fastest email experience. This ebook in PDF will be available for our paid subscribers on our newsletter "Venture Notes". End of year 2023 offer!! Get 50% off and pay €45 instead of €90 for 12 months. Redeem link: https://upcomingvc.substack.com/superhuman --- In this upcoming episode, Rahul Vohra (linkedin.com/in/rahulvohra), Co-Founder & CEO at Superhuman (superhuman.com), shares invaluable guidance on building a brand for startups, emphasizing its pivotal role in achieving growth and product-market fit. He challenges conventional views on virality, stressing the unseen force of brand in fostering word-of-mouth growth. Rahul outlines key steps in brand development, from defining ideals to selecting a resonant name, drawing on his experience with Superhuman. Notably, he addresses the symbiotic relationship between brand building and finding product-market fit, advocating for their simultaneous pursuit. Additionally, Rahul provides pragmatic advice for web3 founders, emphasizing the importance of creating compelling product experiences. Regarding AI, he envisions a future where technology seamlessly integrates with human identity, transforming how we access and utilize vast amounts of data... Let's get into the episode. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Building the Access Control & Granular Governance Layer for web3, with Greg Jessner from Narval, Building the Platform and the Future of Digital Assets. I am really excited about this episode with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Greg Jessner⁠ Co-founder & CEO @ ⁠Narval⁠. --- This is free, 15min excerpt of the full-length episode published in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠⁠⁠⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Dec 31, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem ⁠https://upcomingvc.substack.com/narval⁠⁠ --- We’ve entered the third era of the internet, as Chris Dixon says, from a16z. An internet owned by the builders and the users. web3 that blockchain will create a true decentralized data layer, centered around three main characteristics, including organizations around digital assets. In the future, every organization will own and utilize digital assets, the same way that every organization owns and utilizes physical assets today. According to the crypto startup Narval, secure usage and access control is the game in the digital property era. Key storage is maturing, with significant advancements in MPC, smart wallets, and HSMs, resulting in multiple options for securing keys - via a custodian or self-custody or decentralized-custody - depending on an organization’s needs and use-cases. As key generation & storage decouples from the rest of the wallet stack, ⁠Narval⁠'s core innovation is a granular governance and orchestration layer over any key storage and custody model, designed from the ground up to enable precise usage & access control over digital property. In this episode, we welcome ⁠Greg Jessner Co-founder & CEO @ Narval⁠. With a recent announcement of a $4 million seed round led by BlockTower, Narval is accelerating on its journey to build the wallet management platform for organizations. In this episode we explore the ethical considerations of such control, the philosophical implications of ownership in the web3 era, and the delicate balance between decentralization and control. We'll also examine Narval's core innovations, the technical intricacies behind their security measures, and how their platform addresses the challenges faced by organizations in securely using their digital assets. Let's get into the episode right now. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠).

Building the Access Control & Granular Governance Layer for web3, with Greg Jessner from Narval, Building the Platform and the Future of Digital Assets. I am really excited about this episode with ⁠Greg Jessner Co-founder & CEO @ Narval. --- A free, 15min excerpt will be published on the main public streaming platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify..) in the next few days. --- Meanwhile, this is a trailer of the full-length episode to be published in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠⁠⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠⁠⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Dec 31, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/narval⁠ --- We’ve entered the third era of the internet, as Chris Dixon says, from a16z. An internet owned by the builders and the users. web3 that blockchain will create a true decentralized data layer, centered around three main characteristics, including organizations around digital assets. In the future, every organization will own and utilize digital assets, the same way that every organization owns and utilizes physical assets today. According to the crypto startup Narval, secure usage and access control is the game in the digital property era. Key storage is maturing, with significant advancements in MPC, smart wallets, and HSMs, resulting in multiple options for securing keys - via a custodian or self-custody or decentralized-custody - depending on an organization’s needs and use-cases. As key generation & storage decouples from the rest of the wallet stack, Narval's core innovation is a granular governance and orchestration layer over any key storage and custody model, designed from the ground up to enable precise usage & access control over digital property. In this episode, we welcome Greg Jessner Co-founder & CEO @ Narval. With a recent announcement of a $4 million seed round led by BlockTower, Narval is accelerating on its journey to build the wallet management platform for organizations. In this episode we explore the ethical considerations of such control, the philosophical implications of ownership in the web3 era, and the delicate balance between decentralization and control. We'll also examine Narval's core innovations, the technical intricacies behind their security measures, and how their platform addresses the challenges faced by organizations in securely using their digital assets. Let's get into the episode right now. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠).

Social Good, Crypto, Bridging the Digital Divide: Deep Dive into the UNICEF CryptoFund, at the intersection of Ethics, Finance, Technology. I am really excited about this episode with Sanna Bedi and Arun Maharajan from the UNICEF Venture Capital Fund and UNICEF CryptoFund that goes deep into how they tackle complex issues at the intersection of finance, ethics, and technology. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Sep 30, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem ⁠https://upcomingvc.substack.com/300923 - The UNICEF Venture Fund was launched in 2016 specifically designed to finance early stage, open source technology that can benefit children. In October 2019, UNICEF launched the CryptoFund, a new financial vehicle allowing UNICEF to receive, hold, and disburse cryptocurrency - a first for the UN. The CryptoFund is a pooled fund of bitcoin and ether and the investments made through the CryptoFund are denominated in crypto. In the context of the UN Venture Fund, cryptocurrency is an additional way for UNICEF to make investments into early-stage startups in emerging and developing economies. The CryptoFund is a prototype fund for UNICEF to explore the use of digital currencies, and what it means to operate in a digitally financed future. Sanna and Arun discuss reconciling financial returns with the ethical imperative of prioritizing children's well-being and address equitable distribution of technological benefits. The conversation explores promoting open-source solutions, inclusivity for women in tech, and striking a balance between short-term gains and long-term sustainability. Sanna and Arun provide an overview of the UN CryptoFund's alignment with UN goals and its project selection criteria and cover what they understand by successful projects and their impact, geographic focus, cryptocurrency funding, transparency, and the concept of digital public goods. The episode concludes with a glimpse into the future plans of these funds, offering a comprehensive overview of how unique this UN initiative is. In summary: Balancing financial returns with the ethical imperative for children's well-being. Equitable distribution of technological benefits and addressing the digital divide. Promotion of open-source solutions and implications for intellectual property. Fostering inclusivity and empowerment for women in the tech industry. Balancing short-term financial gains with long-term sustainability. Geographic focus, cryptocurrency funding, transparency, and future plans of the UN CryptoFund and Venture Capital Fund. Let's get into the episode right now. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠).

The Balance between Data and Creativity. With Moderator: Olivier Desmoulin (Co-Founder at Sush.app / Ex-Co-Founder, Cappuccino.fm) Panel: Alexander Schmitt (Partner, Lightspeed / Ex- Cherry Ventures), Edouard Fiess (Co-Founder, Navily), Kevin Bourgeois (Co-Founder & President, Supermood) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (13th out of 13 talks in total) that was held during our second ⁠⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠⁠. Head to ⁠⁠summit.runwayseries.co⁠⁠ to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With ⁠⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠⁠, the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco, and in partnership with Olive Capital (⁠olivecapital.vc⁠).

I am really excited about this episode, which is a deep dive into DeFi (decentralized finance) and decentralized lending, web3 leadership and communities, and the transformative potential for communities of Kairos Loan. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Aug 15, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/150823 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome Joseph Bosselut⁠, Co-Founder & CEO at Kairos Loan. Kairos Loan is a new type of lending protocol allowing you to borrow instantly using an NFT as collateral and with the best rates on the market, according to Joseph. As the use of NFTs increases in various industries, NFT lending platforms are becoming increasingly important. This is due to the fact that NFTs are illiquid by nature, making it challenging for holders to access the value of their holdings. However, NFT loans offer a solution to this problem by allowing holders to use their assets as collateral to borrow funds. These platforms allow NFT holders to use their tokens as collateral for loans. This creates a new financial market for NFTs, as lenders can earn interest on their funds while borrowers can unlock the value of their NFTs without having to sell them. As the NFT market continues to grow, NFT loans have the potential to bring a new level of liquidity to the space and unlock even more use cases for these unique digital assets. As part of the recent €1M fundraise, Jo announced that “Kairos aims to democratize and revolutionize the finance surrounding NFTs. Their flagship tool, Kairos Loan, is a collateralized lending protocol that enables instant value mobilization without the need to sell your NFTs, offering the most favorable terms in the market.” According to Kairos, the startup wants to “prioritize improving the user experience for borrowers while maximizing capital efficiency for lenders. With just a few clicks, users can leverage any type of NFT to get a crypto loan, completely eliminating liquidation risk and ensuring the best terms available”. Kairos protocol initially supports the most popular NFT collections on the Ethereum network such as Bored Ape Yacht Club, Doodle or Azuki. In this podcast, we talk about: The principles of decentralization and empowering users to take control of their financial futures through Kairos Loan. Balancing innovation and progress with the potential risks and downsides of new financial technologies. The role of NFTs in the future of gaming and how Kairos Loan is shaping that future. The evolution of Kairos Loan in the next 5-10 years and its impact on the world of finance. The broader landscape of DeFi and blockchain-based finance, including opportunities and challenges for the industry. Defining and communicating a compelling shared mission for community-first companies, building thriving communities, and measuring success beyond traditional financial metrics. Let's get into the episode right now. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com)

I am really excited about this episode, a deep dive into the mission and vision at DFNS, exploring their custodial solutions, ZK-based cryptography, web3 interoperability, and the evolving landscape of DeFi. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until July 15, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/150723 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome Clarisse Hagège, Co-Founder & CEO at DNFS. - - - DFNS is a cybersecurity company providing wallet infrastructure for web3. From banks to gaming studios, developer teams rely on their decentralized custody network to build seamless applications and deliver smooth experiences for crypto. DFNS develops a custodial wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) protocol for developers to build on top of “highly secure” cloud environments, by leveraging MPC, ZK- based cryptography, and modern networking technology. DFNS is today able to decentralise custody in a unique fashion. This episode is a deep dive into DFNS’s own definition of security and freedom when protecting crypto assets and how the companies executes to strike the right balance between the two. In this podcast, we're: exploring DFNS's revolutionary custodial solutions and the technology behind their wallet-as-a-service protocol. understanding the benefits of ZK-based cryptography in decentralized custody solutions like DFNS's protocol. unraveling how DFNS ensures privacy and security using ZK-based cryptography for user transactions and data. discussing the challenges and advancements in ZK-based cryptography and their impact on decentralized custody and the broader crypto ecosystem. delving into the design decisions and trade-offs made by DFNS to balance security, usability, and scalability in their wallet infrastructure. examining the role of interoperability in web3 projects and the evolving landscape of DeFi in the web3 context, including opportunities and challenges that arise as DeFi continues to mature. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠https://olivecapital.vc⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://www.raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠)

Diversity and Inclusion. With Moderator: Catherine Treyz (Head of Communications & Platform, Cherry Ventures) Panel: Alice Default (Co-Founder & CEO, Double), Edouard Gouin (Co-Founder & CEO, Convelio), Olivier Mougenot (Partner, Citizen Capital) and Camille Kriebitzsch (Co-Founder & Partner, Eutopia) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (12th out of 13 talks in total) that was held during our second ⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠. Head to ⁠summit.runwayseries.co⁠ to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With ⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠, the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco, and in partnership with Olive Capital (olivecapital.vc).

I am really excited about this episode which is a deep dive into the topic of Zero Knowledge, through the lens of one of its main actor, the Mina Protocol and its ecosystem, supported by the Mina Foundation. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (https://venturenotes.co). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until April 25, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/100423 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome, Kurt Hemecker, who is the Chief Operating Officer at the MINA Foundation. Kurt Hemecker brings over two decades of global business experience, including roles at the Facebook-backed Diem stablecoin project, and PayPal, to his new role as Chief Operating Officer at Mina Foundation. With their holistic zero knowledge product suite including zkApps, zkBridges, and zkOracles, Mina is positioned to become the powerhouse for privacy and security in Web3. Mina has continuously shown signs of massive potential with one of the most efficient ZK proving technologies out there, world-class teams, and unparalleled success at building a global community. Mina is the world’s lightest blockchain, powered by participants. Rather than apply brute computing force, Mina uses advanced cryptography and recursive zk-SNARKs to design an entire blockchain that is about 22kb, the size of a couple of tweets. It is the first layer-1 to enable efficient implementation and easy programmability of zero knowledge smart contracts (zkApps). With its unique privacy features and ability to connect to any website, Mina is building a private gateway between the real world and crypto—and the secure, democratic future. In this episode we talk about: - what brought Kurt to crypto - the privacy in the digital age and the ethics of technology - decentralization, trust and power distribution - how MINA is different from other ZK players - we also go into the technical details of how to build on the MINA Protocol - use cases spanning DeFi, Gaming, AI, logistics and supply chain but also healthcare - the strategies to build and incentivize the MINA community Plus so much more. Let’s get into the episode right now. - - - MINA Foundation, MINA Protocol: https://minaprotocol.com/about zkIgnite: https://minaprotocol.com/zkignite-cohort1-signup 0(1) Labs: https://o1labs.org MINA Protocol on twitter: https://twitter.com/MinaProtocol MINA Foundation on twitter: https://twitter.com/MinaFoundation Kurt Hemecker on twitter: https://twitter.com/khem Diem Project: https://www.diem.com/en-us/ Novi, digital wallet, shutting down: https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/2/23192501/meta-shutting-down-digital-wallet-novi-diem-cryptocurrency - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠https://olivecapital.vc⁠ / ⁠https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co⁠ / ⁠https://www.raphael-grieco.com⁠ / ⁠https://rapha.elgrie.co⁠)

In this episode, we meet a “legacy” Middle-Eastern private bank that has a large wealth management entity in Switzerland that launched in 2019 digital asset services for its Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients a.k.a UHNW, including custody, trading, staking, cryptoart collecting and very soon DeFi. What is really unique is that Arab Bank Switzerland in 2019 was NOT expected at all to raise its profile up to the crypto game. But as expected by such an accountable wealth manager, its services are being developed really carefully with best-of-breed partners such as Taurus (for custody) or The NFT Factory (for crypto-art collecting)(disclaimer: I am one of the 128 Co-Founders of the NFT Factory) and other prime partners. In this episode I have the chance to host Rani Jabban, Member of the Executive Committee, in charge of Capital Markets, Digital Asset Services, Financial Institutions and Marketing at Arab Bank, whom I’ve known since 2019 when they launched their crypto-asset services. In this conversation, we dive intro Arab Bank’s mission when it comes to crypto assets, how to bank addresses risks and regulations in the space, and finally how the bank and its clients support digital and crypto artists. We talk about DeFi, education, digital and crypto art collecting plus so much more. Become a premium member to get the full episode (50% off for 12 months, €45/y vs €90/y normally). - - - Rani Jabban: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/rani-jabban-2594b25 NFT Factory Paris: https://nftfactoryparis.com Arab Bank Switzerland: https://www.arabbank.ch Art by Arab Bank: https://artbyarabbank.ch Prix d'art NFT par Arab Bank: https://artbyarabbank.ch/prix-dart-nft/candidature-artiste Non Fungible Conference: https://www.nonfungibleconference.com Taurus: https://www.taurushq.com - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (https://olivecapital.vc / https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co / https://www.raphael-grieco.com / https://rapha.elgrie.co)

The current context in the tech and startup landscape is a market correction, valuations being challenged, and most startups executing a RIF (reduction in force, meaning downsizing teams) and focusing on their runway. However, top talents remain scarce and expensive. Being part of engaged, supportive communities of peers is paramount. VCs need to strike the right balance between their portcos’ versatile needs, VCs’ own resources, and how that aligns with their branding. This is where Platform comes in. In the view of experienced Heads of Platform in prominent VC firms in the US, Europe, and Israel, a person assuming the role of Head of Platform at a VC fund should have a mix of skills set of entrepreneurship, execution, and business development. They need to see a holistic picture, connect the dots in places others would not notice, be a connector and a salesman. The Head of Platform needs to be agile, connected, and purposeful. They should have a mission-oriented, open mindset, and a zest for variety. They should be outgoing, communicative, and able to cope with different types of stakeholders they work with. To strike an alignment at scale between portcos needs, available resources at the VC, and the VC brand, the Head of Platform should start by identifying their unfair advantage that can drive the most value. For a newly appointed DOP/HOP, the first 90/100 days could include identifying the platform's core strengths and weaknesses, understanding the portfolio companies' needs, and building relationships with key stakeholders. A few weeks ago, I had the chance to talk to 4 Heads of Platform to get their prime insights. Catherine Treyz, Head of Comms & Platform, Cherry Ventures (Germany) Ashley Cravens, Head of Operations & Platform, Uncork Capital (SF, US) Simon Lohmann, Head of VC Platform & IR, Cavalry (Germany) Lior Goldenberg, Head of Platform, Collider (Israel) Read this fatastic discussion in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes. Good news, head to bit.ly/venturenotes to get 50% OFF forever on your annual plan (€45 per year instead of €90). - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Fintech and embedded finance. With Moderator: Valentine Baudouin-Barbelivien (ex-Partner, Founders Future) Panel: Sia Houchangnia (Partner, Seedcamp), Augustin Sayer (ex-Partner, Newfund, now Founding Partner, Ovni.vc), Bartosz Jakubowski (Partner, Alven) and Pascal Levy-Garboua (Venture Partner, Long Journey Ventures) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (11 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Startup in hyper growth: a new psychology? With Moderator: Bruno Raillard (Founding Partner, Frst) Panel: Kevin Bourgeois (Co-Founder & President, Supermood), Jean de La Rochebrochard (Managing Partner, Kima Ventures), Jonathan Userovici, (Partner, Headline) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (10 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Ep58, a community & web3 episode with Richard Draper, Co-Founder @ Mava.app -------- OFFER! 50% OFF FOR A 12-MONTH PLAN (YOU PAY ONLY €45 INSTEAD OF €90 FOR 12 MONTHS), DISCOUNT TO GRAB UNTIL 15-01-2023 on https://upcomingvc.substack.com/150123 -------- Building a community is vital for the success of any web3 project. Decentralization, innovation, and web3 development are only possible through people, and in order to make that happen, there must be a united community that fights for the initiative. On the other hand, the credibility of web3 projects is still negatively affected as a result of countless fraudulent schemes that persist in continuing and tainting an otherwise promising concept. Building a community not only benefits the project but also earns it more authority. It does come with its own set of challenges, though. Creating, managing, and growing a community is time-consuming and requires effort. In this episode we are discovering how customer support magnifies building a web3 community, with Richard Draper, co-founder at Mava. Across four parts, you will learn the similarities & differences between web2 and web3 how in web3 building a community should be the starting point, but also if successful web3 projects can start without a community Who needs to build the community in the earliest days and how to identify engaged users beyond what’s “visible” Before starting Mava, Richard and his co-founders built another venture and decided to pivot 6 months ago right at the begining of this bear market. Through his experience, you will learn the art of pivoting in a context of a bear market, namely keeping on building in the same direction or understanding fake PMF & toxic signals finding support from existing investors researching and validating various ideas, then choosing where to pivot to Finally you will learn about Mava, its market opportunity and how Richard is building it and the long term plan for growing Mava. This was a great and insightful episode with Richard where we’ve had the opportunity to understand how we can address and tackle the peculair challenges of building communities in web3. -------- Produced by UPCOMINGVC® upcoming.vc, created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

B2B Marketplaces. With Moderator: Clara Audry (ex-Partner, Cap Horn // now General Partner, Jolt Capital) Panel: Mathias Ockenfels (Partner, Speedinvest), David Sainteff (Partner, GFC), Ricardo Sequerra (Partner, Point Nine). - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (9 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Staying uncomfortable to embrace change. With Carlos Diaz (Co-Founder & CEO, Uncut.fm), François Véron (Founding Partner, Newfund), Philippe Klintefelt Collet (Partner, GFC), Marguerite de Tavernost (Investor, Cherry Ventures). - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (8 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.