Web3 with Sam Kamani

Dana Love, founder of PoobahAI (exited 5 companies, PhD in economics), breaks down why Web3 lags mainstream adoption and how AI-built software can unlock the space: “the future of Web3 is coding without coders.” We cover: the zero→one grind, macro shifts (globalization → nationalization), inflation realities, and why blockchains need to drop the barrier to projects, devs, and users. Dana shares Poobah’s approach—virtual co-founder, multi-chain no/low-code, pre-audited on-chain digital objects, and real showcases (NFT ticketing, RWA real estate, car auction). We also talk go-to-market (students & exec MBAs), chain partnerships, and their seed round.Timestamps[00:00] Dana’s thesis: coding without coders is Web3’s future[00:01] Background: exits, policy PhD, AI/ML → crypto since 2011[00:02] Patterns from 5+ exits: first $1 of revenue + investment; hearing “your baby is ugly”[00:04] Macro: globalization → nationalization; inflation dynamics & wages[00:07] Startup stages: 0→1 vs 1→10 vs 10→50—don’t over-process the first customer[00:08] Why Web3 adoption lags: tooling, UX, paucity of devs/projects/users[00:10] Public vs private chains; why transparency is a feature for upstarts[00:11] Naming Poobah & the “many hats” founder[00:12] Poobah overview: virtual co-founder, on-chain generation, digital objects (pre-audited contracts)[00:15] Code quality: making no-code generate good code; best-practice RAG/context[00:17] Focus: Web3 first—massive untapped value[00:18] GTM: students, MBAs, exec MBAs → enterprise wedge[00:19] Case: Princeton CS student ships NFT ticketing as a vibe-coder[00:20] B2B: chain licenses to drop coding barrier to near-zero[00:22] The “hackathon circus” & why broadening the builder base matters[00:23] Non-dev creators as founders: fine-arts → sticky NFTs[00:24] The Shopify moment for Web3 (payments/regulatory context)[00:27] RWAs: real estate fractionalization; car auctions; built in weeks[00:30] Will AI replace devs? Senior vs junior leverage; law firm analogy[00:36] Market will rebalance skills & pay; seniors x AI = force multiplier[00:37] Roadmap (6–12 mo): low-code launch → no-code, multi-chain MCP, virtual co-founder[00:38] The ask: chain partnerships, seed syndication, universities & exec MBAsConnecthttps://poobah.ai/https://www.linkedin.com/company/poobahai/https://www.linkedin.com/in/danalove/https://x.com/DanaFLoveDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Adam (advisor at Byrrgis, fka Wolf Coin) breaks down how the team is building a vetted DeFi investing platform on Solana: curated, whitelist-only “Packs” (think crypto index baskets) that include audited tokens across chains—plus fees that buy back & burn the Wolf token.We cover:Why most microcaps are risky, and how contract + team audits can filter the junkPacks: curated baskets by risk profile; Wolf token included to create structural demandFees, buybacks & burns, staking, PnL automation, auto-rebalancingLI.FI aggregation for multi-chain swaps; roadmap to tokenized stocks/commoditiesGovernance, fair-launch origins, and trust-building with transparent commsWhat top Web3 teams do differently (and why “build in public” still wins)Timestamps[00:00] Why micro/nanocaps are risky; the case for a vetted list [00:02] Adam’s path: Samsung B2B → community → advisor → Wolf/Byrrgis [00:04] Byrrgis in one line: vetted DeFi platform with curated Packs [00:05] How it differs from DEX listings/CEXs; whitelist-only tokens [00:06] Wolf token utility: included in most Packs + fees → buyback & burn [00:07] Beyond listing: analytics, PnL, auto & manual rebalancing [00:08] Fair launch via Pump.fun (no team pre-allocation); governance plans [00:10] Revenue: ~2% swap fee; LI.FI aggregator; staking to boost rewards [00:13] Example: how a Pack works vs vaults/index funds[00:16] Growth drivers: capital backing, consistent delivery, visible buybacks [00:18] Fundraising tip: show product first, ask for feedback, not money [00:20] Biggest hurdle: trust (self-hosted app, wallet connect) → win via transparency [00:22] Roadmap: tokenized stocks/indices, automated tax, contract & team audits [00:24] What winning teams do: nothing to hide, ship updates weekly, stay current [00:27] Call to action: join TG, kick the tires; try Packs post-launchConnecthttps://coin.byrrgis.app/https://t.me/wolf_on_solhttps://x.com/wolf_on_sol/photoDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

John, VP of Product at Horizen Labs, breaks down how Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) shift us from “trust” to “zero doubt.” We cover what ZK is (with an intuitive cave/password analogy), why ZK rollups matter, and how ZK Verify aims to be a dedicated, hyper-efficient proof-verification blockchain (think “B2B chain” living behind apps). We discuss tradeoffs (security/decentralization/throughput), SNARKs vs STARKs, real use cases (logins, proof of personhood, high-frequency trading privacy), why some things are over-hyped (prediction markets), and what’s next (mainnet, grants, API tools, and massive proof scalability). If you care about scaling Web3 without sacrificing trustlessness, this one’s for you.Timestamps[00:00] John’s path from banking product to ZK & Horizen Labs[00:03] What Horizen Labs builds; the through-line of ZK across products[00:05] ZK explained: proving without revealing (the cave & secret door)[00:08] Why ZK rollups: decongesting Ethereum and lowering gas[00:10] ZK Verify: a dedicated chain for proof verification (Celestia-style specialization)[00:13] Product vision: mainnet, throughput, efficiency; exploring more of the ZK stack[00:14] Who uses it: “B2B blockchain” for high-volume proofs (DEX/HFT, logins, identity)[00:16] The trilemma still exists; where ZK helps and where tradeoffs remain[00:18] SNARKs vs STARKs; trusted setups & security nuance[00:21] Scaling challenges: fast-moving ZK landscape; substrate upgrades; mainstream timing[00:24] Adoption: UX, stablecoins, institutions, and avoiding another FTX moment[00:31] “Zero doubt” > “trust”: why ZK removes the need to trust[00:32] Most over-hyped now? Prediction markets (and a caveat)[00:36] Roadmap: capacity, aggregation, sample apps, grants, dev onboarding[00:40] Ask: builders, followers, grant applicants, API usersConnecthttps://horizenlabs.io/https://www.linkedin.com/company/horizenlabs/https://x.com/horizenlabshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johncamardo/https://x.com/john_camardoDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

David Kay (Chief Legal Officer, Pundi AI) brings four decades of experience at the intersection of law, technology, and Asia — from drafting China’s first copyright laws to advising Ethereum’s early board and now building tokenized data marketplaces at Pundi AI. We cover how AI, IP, and blockchain collide: data ownership, regulation gaps, China’s AI priorities, lessons from Web3 adoption cycles, and why Pundi AI wants data annotators fairly rewarded. David also explains legal landmines in AI training data, regulatory lag, and what decentralized AI legislation might need next.Timestamps[00:00] David’s journey: law, China, IP, Microsoft, Ethereum board → Pundi AI[00:05] Early blockchain scene in China; why conferences disappeared, why AI is booming[00:09] US vs China: crypto regulation, AI incentives, stablecoins & geopolitics[00:13] Data annotation sweatshops → Pundi AI’s tokenized data marketplace model[00:16] Who owns AI-generated content? Legal uncertainty & emerging lawsuits[00:21] Anthropic’s class-action settlement & future royalty frameworks for AI data[00:23] Pundi AI’s business model: on-chain data marketplace fees & incentives[00:25] Legal risks: siloed regulations, cross-border conflicts, decentralized AI gaps[00:28] AI disruption: law, counseling, jobs & the coming talent bottleneck[00:32] Competition in data marketplaces & how Pundi AI differentiates[00:34] Next 3–5 years: AI agents, ethics, universal basic income, human adaptation[00:38] Roadmap: partnerships, platform growth, tokenized data adoptionConnecthttps://pundi.ai/https://www.linkedin.com/company/pundix/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbenkay/https://x.com/PundiAIhttps://x.com/davidbenkayDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Wesley Crook (CEO, FP Block) has been shipping hard tech since 1985 and rescuing Web3 builds for years. His team audited Cardano early, served as the public auditor for Hedera for 7 years, and has delivered 110+ projects: L1s, oracles, DeFi, games, and more. We dig into why ~70% of FP Block’s work is “rescues,” what enterprise-grade really means (security, throughput, reliability), why many teams pick the wrong chain, and how FP Block’s chain-agnostic framework Kolme lets founders treat the application as the blockchain—then bridge anywhere. Also: Rust over vibe-coding, AI for speed (without debt), talent bottlenecks, and where Web3 consolidates next.Timestamps[00:00] Wesley’s 40-year tech journey; ops leader turned Web3 builder[00:02] From FP Complete & Haskell → first Cardano auditors; Hedera public auditor[00:04] 110+ deliveries: chains, oracles, DeFi, games; enterprise clients (FS, healthcare, Big Tech)[00:05] Why ~70% of work is rescues; rebuilding for enterprise-grade reality[00:07] The core Web3 gap: few real users, weak UX, security debt, wrong chain choices[00:09] “Ecosystem first” vs user first; interoperability + security as blockers to adoption[00:11] Moving apps off earlier choices (e.g., Polygon) to Solana/Near/Sui when fit changes[00:17] Kolme thesis: the app is the blockchain + bridge out; devs focus on product/UX[00:19] Enterprise patterns: private/closed consortia; logistics, real estate flows, audit trails[00:23] Revenue model: small elite squads (CTO→DevOps); fiat + selective token/rev-share; long-term ops[00:25] AI: faster MVPs & iteration—without “vibe coding” debt[00:30] Tech stack: Rust backend, React frontend; why JavaScript/Python backends bite[00:28] Biggest scaling risk: senior talent > junior glut; teach formal methods, teamwork[00:33] Bold takes: consolidation, common standards, some chains fade; gov & enterprise enter[00:38] The ask: founders needing enterprise-grade builds; partners for KolmeConnecthttps://www.fpblock.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpblock/https://x.com/FP_Blockhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wesleycrook/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Today’s “cloud” is concentrated in a handful of mega data centers. Acurast is flipping that model by turning smartphones into a confidential, verifiable compute network—made for Web3 and AI. Founder Dr. Christian Killer explains how they verify hardware, encrypt workloads end-to-end, and deliver trust-minimized compute for price feeds, bridging, LLM inference, web scraping, residential proxy/VPN, and even distributed agent indexing (MIT NANDA).Timestamps[00:00] Intro & the problem: compute is centralized in ~5 companies[00:02] Christian’s path (gaming → Bitcoin Lightning NFC → Web3 infra)[00:04] Why decentralize compute? Cost, control, and data misuse risk[00:05] Phones vs servers: performance-per-watt, economics, upcycling[00:07] The hard bit: verifying hardware + trusted execution environments[00:08] How Acurast works (supply/demand, encrypted jobs, scheduling)[00:09] Web3 demand: price feeds & bridging done trust-minimized[00:10] Web2 demand: scraping + residential IP/VPN for AI startups[00:11] AI focus: inference today, confidential LLMs, agent guardrails[00:13] “Agentic AI” hype vs practice—what actually matters[00:16] Distributed agent indexing (MIT NANDA) explained simply[00:18] What most people miss about LLMs (probabilistic behavior)[00:20] Quantum computing: progress, hype, and reality[00:21] Biggest technical challenges ahead (clustering, MPC, DKG)[00:24] Moore’s Law → performance per watt (phones keep winning)[00:25] DePIN’s real challenge: organic demand & dev UX[00:27] North star metrics & real adoption vs spam[00:28] Roadmap: Cargo (containers), clustering, futures for compute[00:30] The ask: strategic partners & builders; grants/hackathons comingConnecthttps://acurast.com/https://x.com/acurasthttps://x.com/killercsecurityDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Andrei from Falcon Finance and DWF Labs joins Sam to share how Falcon Finance is building universal collateralization infrastructure—where users can deposit crypto blue chips like BTC, ETH, SOL, stablecoins, and select altcoins, or tokenized U.S. Treasuries to mint USDf, a synthetic dollar that can be staked to generate sustainable yield.He explains how Falcon combines basis trading, arbitrage, and cross-asset liquidity to power competitive yield, why it’s different from fiat-backed models, and how it plans to expand into tokenized stocks, bonds, and multi-chain collateral. We also cover risk management, transparency, regulation challenges, and advice for founders navigating Web3’s evolving landscape.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Andrei from DWF Labs & Falcon Finance. [00:02:00] Crypto Beginnings: Ethereum mining, early Huobi experience, DWF Labs launch. [00:04:00] Falcon Finance Origins: Need for sustainable yield & collateralization platform. [00:06:00] How It Works: Deposit assets, set liquidation & sale prices, mint synthetic dollars. [00:08:00] Yield Sources: Basis trading, arbitrage, volatility trading, token staking. [00:10:00] Universal Collateralization: From BTC to tokenized stocks & bonds. [00:12:00] Synthetic Dollar Explained: Risk-managed, asset-backed liquidity representation. [00:15:00] USDf Reserves: ~$1.6B backed by BTC, stables, blue chips, altcoins. [00:17:00] Stablecoin Evolution: More collateral types & use cases emerging. [00:19:00] USDf Utility: DeFi strategies, transfers, future fiat off-ramps. [00:21:00] Growth Factors: Teamwork, transparency, market-driven product updates. [00:23:00] Roadmap: Tokenized RWAs, fiat channels, audits, decentralized governance. [00:25:00] Founder Advice: Focus on clients, timing, and market readiness. [00:27:00] The Ask: Partnerships for USDf adoption & collateral expansion.Connecthttps://falcon.finance/https://x.com/falconstablehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/falconstable/https://x.com/ag_dwfhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewg77/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

The HumaTek team—Tommy (CEO), Daniel (CMO), Michael (CSO), and Ruhul (CTO)—shares how they’re building a full-stack ecosystem to bring transparency and efficiency to humanitarian aid. From Huma Coin (their dual-impact cryptocurrency) to HumaDash (their AI-powered, on-chain transparency dashboard) and Huma Club (a global platform for donors, NGOs, and communities), HumaTek is tackling fraud, inefficiency, and outdated systems in the $800B global aid industry.We discuss their upcoming Binance ICO launch, direct-aid disbursements, partnerships in homelessness and human trafficking, and how they plan to cut admin overhead while ensuring every dollar of aid reaches those who need it most.Key Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to HumaTek & the humanitarian aid problem [00:02] Founders’ backgrounds in finance, tech, and philanthropy [00:06] Vision: Huma Coin + HumaDash for on-chain transparency [00:09] Example: Direct aid disbursements & cross-border transfers [00:12] Tackling fraud, waste, and admin overhead with AI automation [00:16] How NGOs & partners can white-label HumaDash tools [00:20] Early partnerships: homelessness, human trafficking, medical aid [00:23] Huma Club: A global community platform for donors & impact tracking [00:27] Technical challenges: security, scalability, real-time reporting [00:30] Growth & marketing plans for adoption and trust-building [00:34] Big picture: transparency, efficiency, and humanitarian impact [00:42] Token launch details & call for early partners/investorsConnecthttps://humatek.io/https://x.com/TeamHumatekDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Runwago wants to make running pay—without ponzinomics. Founder Martin explains how their SportsFi app lets everyday runners monetize realistic goals using a transparent “challenge pool” model: everyone joins a challenge, finishers get 100% of their stake back plus rewards funded by those who don’t finish. No shoe NFTs, no inflationary reward token.Timestamps[00:00] Opening & why SportsFi still matters[00:03] Martin’s crypto OG journey (since 2012)[00:05] The problem: 300M daily runners, almost zero monetization[00:08] The model: pooled challenges; finishers earn from non-finishers[00:11] Devices & anti-cheat: Garmin/Apple/WearOS integrations[00:16] App Store realities: compliance, custody, reviews[00:19] Tokenomics done differently (RUNWAGO ≠ reward token)[00:22] Fiat challenges, company revenue, future revenue-share to holders[00:25] GTM: Puma tie-ins, offline activations, club strategy[00:29] Community > celebrities; micro-KOLs and run clubs[00:36] What they’re hiring/raising/partnering for next[00:39] How to try the app + meet at Token2049Connecthttps://www.runwago.com/https://x.com/runwagohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-lepka-12b51120b/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Alex (ex-BMO investment banker turned founder) shares how Futr.network is flipping the ad/data model with AI agents that pay you for training them. We dig into why the Web2 barter economy (free services for your data) is collapsing, how zero-party data and a data supply chain can route value back to consumers and data contributors (think: mortgage brokers, lenders), and why agentic advertising will disrupt Google/Meta style targeting.Timestamps[00:00] “Time for a new data model” — agents that pay you for training data [00:01] Alex’s path: BMO (M&A → FIG → Digital Assets), fund, stables, now AI agents [00:03] What’s broken: Web2 barter system, cookies/pixels, hidden training sets [00:05] Futr.network: self-sovereign AI agent + incentives for data contributors [00:06] Mortgage example: underwriting pack → agent training → recurring royalties [00:09] Why prior “get paid for your data” failed; why now works (AI agents = $$) [00:15] KPIs: users, dollars on rails, brand demand for zero-party data[00:16] Beachhead: auto loans (optimize payments, save interest, set-and-forget) [00:18] Rails: bank links, credit/debit, embedded wallet, stablecoin payments [00:19] Next verticals: mortgages, student loans; beyond finance → life data [00:21] What most miss about AI: it ran Web2 behind the scenes for years [00:24] High-fidelity AI: no hallucinations when money moves; enterprise-grade stacks [00:28] AI × crypto: machine-speed decisions need machine-speed value settlement [00:30] Data supply chain (like music royalties) via blockchain micropayments [00:32] The disruption: agentic advertising eats digital ads in 3–5 years [00:33] The ask: brands & enterprises; network effects; just raised $5.1M; more to come [00:37] Beta access coming; train your agent, earn tokensConnecthttps://futrnetwork.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefutrcorporation/https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mcdougall-290b0b39/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Billy, founder of Intuition Systems (ex–VC/early crypto), digs into the biggest risk in AI: models trained on garbage, regurgitated data and algorithm-shaped behavior. We unpack how attestations, signed data, and web-of-trust reputation can give both humans and AI better intuition at decision time — from picking a chair to routing agentic AI across platforms.Timestamps[00:00] We’re being shaped by algorithms; slop-in → slop-out AI [00:02] Billy’s path: distributed systems, fintech, game bots, early Bitcoin [00:05] The problem: fragmented info (web + people’s heads) & costly context-switching [00:06] What Intuition is: structured expression + rediscovery + rewards [00:08] Attestations & incentives (economic + reputational) without spam [00:12] Can bots game it? Bonding curves, loss for bad signal, web-of-trust filters [00:18] Best content should win: TikTok-style merit + trust primitives [00:19] Use case #1: AI agents—personalization, agent reputation, platform reputation [00:22] Why these reputations must be decentralized (avoid platform capture) [00:23] GTM: unopinionated dev platform + opinionated apps to show PMF [00:24] Biggest challenges: focus, hitting PMF, AI acceleration outpacing products [00:27] Mission: give AI “intuition” via signed, attributed, reputational data [00:28] Reducing AI’s recursive slop problem; verifiable attribution with keys [00:30] Humans act differently per platform; algorithms distort expression [00:33] Call to action: build at the AI × Web3 trust layer; join the community [00:35] Layer Zero Ventures origins (people = Layer 0); why Intuition exists [00:37] Events: Korea Blockchain Week & Token 2049; Intuition side eventsConnecthttps://www.intuition.systems/https://www.linkedin.com/company/0xintuition/https://x.com/0xintuitionhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/william-luedtke-b0a3bb5a/https://x.com/0xbillyDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Patrick (Tracer Labs) breaks down Trust ID, a consent + identity layer that replaces cookie pop-ups with a portable, user-owned identity (and embedded wallet). We dig into how Tracer helps brands unify siloed data without storing PII, verify real humans amid AI traffic, and enable one-click privacy that travels site-to-site.Timestamps[00:00] AI = most traffic; attribution is broken [00:01] Intro — Patrick, Tracer Labs & Trust ID [00:02] Patrick’s crypto origin story & prior ventures [00:05] The problem: siloed brand data + compliance burden [00:06] What Trust ID does: consent + identity + embedded wallet [00:07] One-click wedge: spin up wallet, tokenize consent, no more cookies [00:09] Brands get real humans, no PII; users keep privacy & control [00:12] GDPR/CCPA costs; why a new US standard is needed[00:15] AI search & bot traffic: restoring pre-intent signal[00:18] Federated identity, modular plug-in, keep existing auth[00:19] Agentic “child IDs” w/ wallets & rule sets (Q1 roadmap)[00:20] KYC/KYB as commoditized credentials that travel with you [00:22] Live MVP; replacing legacy consent managers; early clients [00:24] Who’s adopting: cards, casinos, banks, travel; multi-brand SSO [00:25] Unifying loyalty & rewards across properties [00:26] Founder advice: talk to customers on day one [00:31] Digital identity misconceptions; why this time is different [00:33] Abstraction for users; less friction, fewer decisions[00:36] Vision: 0.5–1B users; cut spam; programmatic commerce [00:38] The ask: hiring devs; enterprise intros; $15M seed openConnecthttps://www.tracerlabs.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/tracerlabs/https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmoynihan1/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Jay from AxonDAO breaks down decentralized science in plain English: giving people ownership of health data, enabling ethical AI insights, and funding research via a governed community. We cover live use cases like A+Voice (voice biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s/dementia signals) and CureRING+CureOS (a data vault + wearable), plus how AxonDAO supports external researchers and projects (e.g., LymeDAO). Jay also shares a sharp playbook for storytelling, positioning, and growth in frontier tech—who to learn from, what to avoid, and how to keep product, narrative, and feedback loops tight.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — science x AI x Web3 [00:01:05] Jay’s path: SA banking → security → tech → crypto[00:02:40] What AxonDAO is (and isn’t): DeSci, data ownership, ethical AI, funding [00:03:35] Projects: A+Voice (voice biomarker analysis)[00:04:35] CureRING + CureOS: wearable + personal health data vault [00:05:45] How AxonDAO supports researchers (network, platform, milestone funding) [00:07:05] Why not start with hospitals/gov data? Design partners and product truth [00:08:20] The hard part of marketing DeSci; proving the model [00:09:35] Explaining DeSci to family: “the commons for science” [00:10:45] Selecting projects: societal value, acceleration potential, founder grit [00:12:05] Storytelling that converts: category, positioning, emotional resonance [00:13:20] Shout-outs: Myosin’s Simon Yi; Celestia’s Ekram Ahmed; BioProtocol [00:14:40] Three growth tips: talk to users; avoid shiny pivots; roadmap with feedback [00:16:50] Host’s advice: ask better questions; product > marketing > sales [00:18:10] Vision (2–3 yrs): self-sovereign health data; infra for global researchers [00:20:05] Challenges ahead: crowded wearables; agentic AI UX; controlled growth [00:21:05] The Ask: Series A opening; looking for ML/AI talent; links & contactConnecthttps://www.axondao.io/https://x.com/Axondaohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrod-frankel/https://x.com/jay_franks91DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Live from Bali at Coinfest and ZIGChain Connect, Abdul (co-founder, ZIGChain) shares how he went from Standard Chartered → early crypto investor → co-founder of Zignaly → now launching a purpose-built L1 focused on wealth generation and access for the Global South.We get into: why bootstrapping a chain (no massive grant spigot) can work, backing independent founders (10+ dApps at mainnet), and why private credit will be the next breakout RWA after stablecoins. Abdul explains DIFC fund tokenization, sustainable yields, and mixing TradFi discipline with Web3 velocity.Founders: don’t miss his notes on finance fluency, AI-first ops, and using your token as a product marketing door-opener.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Coinfest Bali & ZIGChain Connect[00:01:10] Abdul’s path: Pakistan → banking → Bitcoin → Zignaly → ZIGChain [00:03:30] Access gap in emerging markets; why build rails, not just apps [00:05:20] TradFi skills in Web3: how capital really moves[00:06:15] Why another chain? Purpose-built for investment/yields (not generic L1)[00:07:10] Bootstrapping vs grants; investing in external founders (10+ dApps at TGE) [00:08:40] Culture & team: 60 ppl / 14 countries; resilience across cycles [00:10:05] Founder advice: business-first decisions; know your numbers; AI for leverage [00:12:20] Roadmap: testnet → public mainnet; DIFC tokenization; first tokenized fund [00:13:40] Bitcoin treasury yield use case; RWA infra as a service [00:14:30] Growth: token as GTM, mixing Web2 talent with Web3 speed [00:15:40] Events ahead: Token2049, BNB Chain Week, ADGM/FinTech, Switzerland Summit [00:16:40] RWA outlook: private credit as “next stablecoins” (12–16% in GCC) [00:18:10] The ask: builders > grants; strategic capital; play with (test/main)netConnecthttps://zigchain.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zignaly/https://zignaly.com/https://x.com/zigchainhttps://x.com/zignalyhttps://x.com/arafaygaditDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Pauline (CMO, ChangeNOW) joins Sam in Bali to unpack how ChangeNOW carved a distinct niche from big CEXs by serving retail users and wallets with instant, account-free swaps (flash custody, fixed/floating rates). She explains the B2B engine behind their growth (wallets, casinos, travel, payments), why direct traffic + brand beats blunt ads, and how LLM-SEO is changing discovery.They cover CEX vs DeFi UX, security tradeoffs, meme coin mania, stablecoin rails, and what Binance/Coinbase did right in brand and distribution. Practical gems for founders on partner-led growth, API monetization, and real content > AI content.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Bali session + setup [00:02:00] Pauline’s start: grad school → crypto → ChangeNOW (6 ppl → 400+) [00:04:30] What ChangeNOW does: instant swaps, flash custody, fixed vs floating [00:06:00] Business model, fees, and who it serves (retail, low-commitment swaps) [00:08:30] CEX UX vs retail needs; why simplicity wins[00:10:00] Growth levers: brand, direct traffic, PR, product marketing[00:11:30] B2B to C: wallets, casinos, travel; API rails to monetize wallets [00:13:00] Partner acquisition: plug-and-play swap/payments/nodes custody [00:14:30] Market trends: DeFi security, stablecoins, “newbie-friendly” pivots [00:16:30] Incidents & user protection: pause/rollback vs “pure” decentralization [00:20:00] Meme coins vs real communities; reputational drag and utility [00:23:00] Crypto’s real value: remittances, NGOs, private donations [00:24:30] Ethereum UX, ZK, gas, and why ETH needs PR (and grants) [00:26:30] Brand lessons: Binance community flywheel; Coinbase legitimacy play [00:30:00] Social tone without cringe; distribution > cleverness [00:31:30] The ask: partners (wallets, tokens, exchanges, payments, “crypto banks”) [00:33:00] Bonus: LLM-SEO tips & why humans must write your contentConnecthttps://changenow.io/http://linkedin.com/company/changenow-io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauline-shangett/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Tae Oh, founder of Gluwa and Spacecoin, joins Sam to share his vision of bringing internet and banking access to the unconnected billions. Tae explains how Spacecoin combines blockchain, telecommunications, and satellites to build a decentralized global network that enables lifeline services like financial transactions and messaging, even in regions without internet.He discusses the challenges of launching satellites, the cost breakthroughs driven by SpaceX, and why decentralization matters in connectivity. Tae also talks about adoption strategies through telcos, the financial model behind Spacecoin, and the long-term goal of creating a trustless, open internet from space.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Tae Oh and Spacecoin’s mission. [00:02:00] Early Crypto: Tae discovers Bitcoin in 2010 and founds Gluwa in 2012. [00:06:00] Spacecoin’s Goal: Connecting the unbanked by launching low-cost satellites. [00:10:00] Challenges: Building vs. launching satellites, and supply chain hurdles. [00:14:00] Decentralization: Competing with Starlink through open, trustless networks. [00:17:00] Adoption: Governments, telcos, and the natural pull of internet demand. [00:19:00] Constellation: First 10 satellites could serve millions per region. [00:21:00] Financial Model: Local telcos as gateways, Spacecoin as payment rail. [00:25:00] Bold Predictions: AI agents will dominate crypto transactions by 2030. [00:29:00] Roadmap: Spacecoin minting, three new satellites, hiring 200 people.Connecthttps://spacecoin.org/https://x.com/_Spacecoinhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/spacecoin-official/https://x.com/taelimohhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tae-lim-oh/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Farbod, founder of TheBlock, joins Sam to talk about tokenization, RWAs, and building Dubai’s first retail hub for virtual assets. He shares his journey from Europe to the UAE, how TheBlock helps projects with issuance, compliance, and liquidity, and why Dubai is emerging as a global crypto hub. Farbod also breaks down the misconceptions around tokenization, lessons for founders on transparency and retention, and his roadmap to expand TheBlock to 10 countries.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces the episode with Farbod from TheBlock.[00:01:00] Getting Started: Farbod shares his journey from software in Vienna to blockchain and Web3.[00:03:00] TheBlock’s Mission: Helping projects with token issuance, compliance, liquidity, and PR.[00:04:00] Virtual Asset Hub: Launching tokens at The Block’s Dubai event space.[00:06:00] RWA Strategy: Simplifying licensing, compliance, and tokenization processes.[00:08:00] Why Dubai: Farbod explains why UAE is a global leader in crypto adoption.[00:11:00] Differentiation: How The Block provides business development for its partners.[00:13:00] Leadership Lessons: Building teams based on passion, not just CVs.[00:14:00] Overhyped Trends: RWAs and why they aren’t an instant liquidity solution.[00:17:00] Founder Advice: Transparency, no fake roadmaps, and focusing on retention.[00:18:00] Misunderstood Tokenization: Why liquidity doesn’t come automatically with token issuance.[00:19:00] Roadmap: Expanding TheBlock to 10 countries in the next five years.[00:20:00] The Ask: Farbod invites advisors, partners, and collaborators to join TheBlock’s movement.Connecthttps://the-block.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-block-global/https://www.linkedin.com/in/farbodsadeghian/https://x.com/farbodsadeghianDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Tony Pham, Head of Marketing & Growth at Kava.io, joins Sam to share lessons on building and scaling in Web3. He explains how Kava combines Cosmos scalability with Ethereum compatibility, their push into decentralized AI, and why community-first marketing beats massive budgets. Tony also weighs in on what’s overhyped (meme coins) and underrated (wallets), plus Kava’s roadmap into DePIN and AI.Key Timestamps[00:00] Intro: Tony Pham joins to discuss growth, Kava, and industry trends.[00:01] Background: From Web2 marketing to crypto stablecoins in 2018.[00:03] Kava’s mission: low-cost, scalable L1 combining Cosmos + Ethereum.[00:04] Kava AI: blockchain-native, open-source AI for DeFi and Web3 tasks.[00:05] Web2 vs Web3 marketing: grassroots, community-first, cooperative.[00:07] Competing with giants: why budgets don’t win—community and content do.[00:09] Authentic growth: partnerships, AMAs, co-marketing as a scrappy strategy.[00:12] Tether on Kava: stability and adoption vs gimmicks.[00:15] Underrated trend: wallets as gateways for mainstream adoption.[00:18] Overhyped trend: meme coins—and the hype cycle around criticizing them.[00:20] Roadmap: expanding into DePIN and decentralized AI.[00:22] Inspirations: marketers at Chainlink, Avalanche, and Eco Stablecoin.[00:24] Partnerships: Binance relationship, future AI and DePIN collaborations.[00:25] Ask: Builders, partners, and community engagement—plus meet at Token 2049.Connecthttps://www.kava.io/https://x.com/KAVA_CHAINhttps://t.me/kavalabshttps://x.com/tonyphamDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Daniel Mueller from idea-L joins Sam to discuss how their AI + Web3 platform helps founders go from idea to live company. He explains how idea-L acts as a “co-founder in your pocket,” validates ideas with feasibility scoring, provides funding through a decentralized VC model, and helps prevent founder burnout. Daniel also shares insights on Web3 trends, AI’s overlooked potential, and bad startup advice to avoid.Key Timestamps[00:00] Intro: Helping founders validate ideas & grow from zero to one.[00:02] Daniel’s background: AI research in Singapore, Web3 connections with SingularityNET.[00:03] idea-L’s mission: overcoming systemic, financial, and psychological barriers for founders.[00:05] The scale of the problem: billions of unrealized ideas, 100M startups attempted yearly.[00:06] AI Co-Founder: personalized support, Duolingo-style roadmaps, nudging actions.[00:07] idea-L Tinder: gamified idea validation + community leaderboards.[00:09] Funding: democratizing VC, tokenized LP/GP units, DAO governance.[00:13] Preventing burnout: support via reinforcement, psychology, and NLP.[00:15] Investment scope: only backing companies through Idea-L’s platform at pre-seed/seed.[00:16] Web3 trends: regulation, stablecoins, internet capital markets, treasury companies.[00:20] AI insights: moving beyond LLMs into reasoning, probabilistic programming & evolutionary learning.[00:23] Bad startup advice: myths about needing a co-founder, quitting your job, or fully polished ideas.[00:25] Roadmap: building the realization platform, funding platform, governance token, case studies.[00:27] Ask: founders, investors, and overlooked regions to join the mission.Connecthttps://www.idea-l.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/idea-L/https://x.com/idea___Lhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-muller-sg-cfo/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Marc from Algorand joins Sam to unpack their 2025 roadmap, the push for mainstream adoption, and lessons he brings from his time at Google and Android. He explains Algorand’s unique developer-friendly features, its work on quantum security, and how AI integration will accelerate the next wave of blockchain applications.Key Timestamps[00:00] Intro & Marc’s journey: from Google/Android to Algorand.[00:03] The trilemma solved? Algorand’s verifiable random functions & instant finality.[00:04] Six years of uptime: reliability & scaling to real-world use cases.[00:05] The 4-pillar roadmap: values, mainstream adoption, tokenization/identity, research.[00:07] Competing with other L1s/L2s: reliability + dev-friendly built-ins.[00:09] Mainstream adoption: UX challenges, wallets, seed recovery, gas abstraction.[00:12] Balancing simplicity with self-custody & decentralization.[00:14] Algorand’s “North Star” metrics for adoption & growth.[00:15] Marketing that worked: “Can a Blockchain Do That?” campaign.[00:16] AI integration: Algorand 4.0, hackathons, LLM training, agents & payments.[00:20] If Marc could remove one thing from blockchain culture → rugging.[00:21] Lessons from Google: user-first, rapid iteration, shipping daily.[00:23] Respect in Web3: why Circle stands out.[00:24] Misconceptions: people underestimate Algorand’s DeFi UX.[00:25] Quantum security: state proofs, Falcon signatures, securing the ledger.[00:28] Roadmap execution: xGov community governance + ecosystem collaboration.[00:31] Hackathons, grants, accelerator/incubator funnel for startups.[00:33] Big ecosystem event: Decipher planned for 2025.Connecthttps://algorand.co/https://www.linkedin.com/company/algorandfoundation/https://x.com/AlgoFoundationhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/marcvl/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/