Bits of Signum, Creator Stories

What happens when a retro gaming soul meets cutting-edge Web3 tools? In this episode of Bits of Signum, host Angela Dalton and co-host Eliza Jappinen sit down with Tobi Amann—better known as Deckard—the Co-Founder & CEO of Evrloot. Together they unpack the game’s unlikely origin story, which began not as a game at all, but as an NFT project born from deep community passion. Deckard shares how Evrloot evolved into a full-fledged RPG with lore-rich storytelling, on-chain mechanics, and a player base that built alongside the dev team. From his days in World of Warcraft and Deloitte to Season Two’s tactical gameplay and marketplace economy, this is a conversation about building slowly, ethically, and with purpose in the Web3 space.About the Guest: Tobi Amann, also known as Deckard, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Evrloot, a community-driven Web3 RPG. A lifelong gamer with a background in consulting and product management—including a stint leading a dev team at Deloitte—Tobi merged his love of gaming with blockchain technology to create one of the space’s most compelling indie titles.The second season of Evrloot JUST DROPPED, go play it here. Follow Deckard: X | LinkedIn -- -- -- -- --Follow Angela: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠Follow Eliza: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Twitter⁠Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor.Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa.

In this episode, Angela is joined by Co-founder of Look North World, Patrick Moran, to discuss his game studio, the work they’ve done, and the future of the gaming industry. During their conversation Patrick gives background to how Look North World came about, before diving into how game studios can operate successfully in a UGC environment, their launch of The Glitch, how best to integrate IP and large brands into these worlds, and more. Patrick Moran is the co-founder of Look North World, a pioneering UGC game studio and publisher. As trailblazers in the games industry, Look North World has established itself as an entertainment company focused on creating unique experiences by leveraging new and emerging creator platforms, including Fortnite UEFN and Curseforge, to build games for millions of existing players. Before founding Look North World, Patrick held product roles including Chief Product Officer at Kongregate, Franchise Lead at MobilityWare, and other companies like Amazon, Disney, and EA. Check out all things Look North World Follow Patrick: LinkedIn | Twitter Chapters:  Introduction (01:36) Hiring From Gen Z & Alpha (05:18) Creator Label Initiative (08:19) Balance of Differentiation within the UEFN Platform (10:25) Doing Brand Integrations Authentically (13:26) The Glitch (18:32) AI Potential In Game Design (23:18) Working with Large IPs (29:47) Pace of Development (34:44) Managing Simultaneous Builds (38:10) Wrap Up (41:23) Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode, Angela and Eliza are joined by Pocket Worlds Founder & CEO, Anton Bernstein, for a conversation about the evolution of Highrise from an immersive social experience to a full blown UGC gaming platform. They discuss the steps along that evolution, how to assist creators in building communities, how the unique demographics of Highrise users gives it an advantage, new and future creator tools on the platform, and much more! Anton Bernstein is the CEO and Founder of Pocket Worlds, a technology company that empowers shared experiences to connect the world. The company is a fast-growing YCombinator-backed company with over 50 million users and 10,000 creators. Currently, the company has two platforms: Highrise, the leading virtual world where people make avatars, express themselves, engage in shared experiences, and create deep friendships along the way, and Everskies, the leading pixel doll community where users dress up avatars and chat with friends. Learn more about Highrise Download Highrise from the App Store Follow Anton: LinkedIn | X Chapters: Introduction (00:00) Highrise Background (01:36) Social App Makers Not Game Designers (06:23) Everskies Acquisition (09:19) Helping Creators Build Communities (11:27) What’s Being Built in Highrise (17:34) Demographics on Highrise (21:40) Creator Economics on Highrise (25:24) Creator Tools of the Future (27:54) Discovery on the Platform (32:28) Privacy and Community Standards (36:04) Being Profitable and the Future of the Company (38:22) Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode, Angela is joined by Mythical President and COO, Arron Goolsbey, to discuss the vision for the future of gaming that Mythical is bringing to life. They discuss why gaming is the hero use case to take Web3 technologies mainstream, building universal secondary marketplaces, the Mythical x NFL deal, and much more. Arron is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in the digital gaming, consumer products, and big tech industries. As the President and COO at Mythical Games, Arron leads the strategy, vision, and execution of their games-first studio and marketplace platform that leverage Web3 technologies to create immersive and engaging AAA game experiences across all devices. Check out everything Mythical Games has going on right now. Follow Arron: LinkedIn | X Chapters:  (01:36) Introduction (04:05) Arron’s Background (07:00) First Party Games (09:16) Third Party Games (12:31) Web3 Foundations (16:07) Universal Marketplace (22:21) Mythical X NFL (27:46) Pudgy Penguins (30:26) Apple & Google Barriers Broken (32:06) Vision for the Future of Mythical Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter

How are gaming platforms like Roblox redefining consumer-brand interactions? In this episode of Bits of Signum Creator Stories, Michelle Goad joins hosts Angela and Eliza to delve into the intersection of consumer attention, UGC gaming, social media, and brand commercialization. The conversation covers Michelle’s career journey, insights into current brand engagement strategies, the potential of transmedia storytelling in brand development, takeaways from the Walmart x Roblox partnership, AI’s impact on these spaces, and much more. Michelle Goad is the founder of Greatest Of All Digital, a Social Commerce Studio helping IP owners build their brands into a household name and consumer brands grow their commerce and connection to the next generation through creators, influencers, social and gaming strategy, partnerships and consumer experience transformation. Previously, Michelle was an Operating Partner at The Chernin Group, Head of Global Branded Services and GM of Gen Z Innovation at Nike, Co-Founder and CEO of the pioneering social shopping app PS Dept. (named a “Breakthrough Brand” by Fast Company) and a merchant marketer for Marc Jacobs and Barneys New York. She has been featured as an authority on next-gen commerce in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vogue and more. Follow Michelle: LinkedIn | X | Instagram Subscribe to the Greatest of All Digital newsletter here Follow Greatest of All Digital: LinkedIn | X | Instagram Chapters: 00:00 Michelle’s Career Journey 06:03 Being an Early Mover in Digital Fashion & Commerce 09:20 Head of Digital Became a Role for Brands 10:42 Michelle’s Introduction to Roblox 14:59 Walmart x Roblox Partnership Takeaways 22:54 The Marketing/Branding Playbook on Roblox is Interactive 26:31 Pharrell, Lego, and the Need to Adopt a Transmedia Mindset 31:26 Explaining the Roblox Opportunity to Brands 37:41 How AI will Impact Gaming, IP, and Brands Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

How can games become spaces for safe exploration of failure, problem solving, and learning? In this episode of Bits of Signum Creator Stories, hosts Angela and Eliza welcome Sylvia Aguiñaga to discuss her journey into the gaming world and the development of Star Stuff. She shares how her childhood impacted the games she wanted to create, emphasizing the significance of creating environments where failure is part of the learning process. The conversation also touches on the influence of becoming a parent, potential future projects for Animo Games, and makes the case for integrating play, curiosity, and creativity into learning experiences. Sylvia grew up playing NES games in the backroom of her family’s bodega. She remembers telling her brothers she’d make them lunch for a week if they would beat levels in Mario for her. As a kid, she lacked the confidence to beat those games by herself, but later discovered a world of games that encouraged her to keep trying and made her feel safe to fail. Throughout her career as Director of Curriculum & Creative Director at nonprofits committed to empowering youth in computer science and engineering, she recognized that the world needed more safe spaces to fail, learn, and grow. When Sylvia founded Ánimo Games, she knew she wanted to create lovable adventures that did just that. She is currently pursuing her love for games, coding, science, writing, and teaching with the development of Ánimo Games’ first title, Starstuff, a programming puzzler. Play Star Stuff: Steam | Learn More Follow Sylvia: LinkedIn Chapters: (00:00) How Sylvia Found Her Way to Game Design (10:29) Star Stuff and Giving People the Agency to Solve Hard Problems (19:58) The Game Launch and Future Game Plans (25:10) Final Thoughts and Where to Find Sylvia Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode of Bits of Signum Creator Stories, hosts Angela and Keshav delve into the fascinating realm of Web3 gaming with guest Sam Peurifoy. They discuss the unique investment and development strategies of Hivemind, the innovative pirate MMO game 'Captain & Company,' and the future of Web3 Gaming including the continued integration of NFTs, in-game economies, and the evolving infrastructure. Sam shares insights on community building, the shift towards abstracted blockchain mechanics, and the future potential of these games in the broader gaming ecosystem. Sam Peurifoy, PhD, is a founding partner at Hivemind Capital, a multi-strategy firm which raised $1bn+ in 2022 to deploy across blockchain-related ventures and markets. Sam is additionally a founding core contributor of KAP Games, a web3 gaming studio & publisher behind the leading game on Blast L2, Captain & Company. Sam received his PhD in Organic Chemistry from Columbia University, his B.S. in Mathematics & Chemistry from the University of Miami, and is a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient in the venture capital category. Play or learn more about Captain & Company Follow Sam: LinkedIn | X  Chapters: 00:00 Sam’s Background and Captain & Company 06:27 Building a Distribution Platform 10:01 Is Web3 Its Own Genre of Game 14:55 Relationship of Web3 Gaming to Real World Financial Literacy 18:26 Building a Community in Web3 Gaming 23:43 Most Excited For Rest of Year Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Keshav: LinkedIn | Twitter

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital innovation, the worlds of gaming and artificial intelligence are not just fields of technological advancement but also arenas for societal reflection. The community structures within gaming provide intriguing blueprints for collaboration and leadership in professional environments, showcasing how virtual spaces can influence real-world workplace dynamics. As these technologies develop, the imperative to embed ethics and principles of equity from the start becomes clear. In this week’s episode of Bits of Signum: Creator Stories, Angela talks with Founder, Investor, and Author, Dr. Songyee Yoon, about her career navigating the intersection of technology, ethics, and play, while discussing the immense value gaming has as a model for other areas of society and why building equity and ethics into new technologies like AI is so paramount to get right from the start.  Songyee Yoon is a visionary leader, investor and author in the AI and gaming industry, with over 20 years of experience in developing and executing innovative strategies for global online game companies. After graduating from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Songyee went on to earn her Ph.D. from MIT in Computational Neuroscience. Her strong belief in the concept of “play” as a crucible for innovation eventually led her to NCSOFT, a leading global video game developer and publisher, where she served as president and chief strategy officer. In this role, she led the AI transformation of the company, applying AI for game development and various aspects of business operations. She also oversaw the company's growth from a 350-person company to a global organization across seven countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, driving strategic initiatives in monetization, marketing, branding, business development, licensing, ESG, and education. Songyee brings a unique lens to bridging countries’ approaches to technology and ethics and is an involved figure in the international business community. Songyee’s latest book, Push Play, explores the significance of play on innovation, drawing lessons from games, medicine, human resources and other industries. During their conversation, Angela and Dr. Yoon discuss why gaming is so valuable, the misguided aversion some parents have to gaming, building a third space for learning, asking for a seat at the table, why equity in AI matters, and much more. Follow Dr. Songyee Yoon: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:25) Where Songyee Sees Value in Gaming (06:55) Parents Aversion to Gaming (10:49) Projectory and the Third Space for Learning (16:14) Gaming Communities as a Model for the Workplace (20:21) Women in Gaming Asking for a Seat at the Table (24:48) Representation and Equity in Gaming (35:39) Parting Thoughts Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS.Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter

The value of beloved Intellectual Property has never been greater, but how to legislate, track, and benefit from its use has never been more complex. As User Generated Content continues to prosper, and platforms like Roblox and UEFN continue to break down barriers to entry for aspiring creators, the need (and opportunity) for modern Intellectual Property infrastructure grows. In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela is joined by guest co-host Nick Grous, Portfolio Manager at ARK Invest responsible for the gaming sector, as they welcome Founder and CEO of Spaceport, Le Zhang, to the show to discuss how Spaceport is tackling IP rights and usage across digital platforms, utilizing web3 technologies to build the infrastructure of the future. The vision of Spaceport is to become the IP licensing layer of the metaverse, not just for UGC platforms but for all gaming applications, all digital applications and even real world applications!  Le Zhang is a serial tech entrepreneur and angel investor. He is currently Founder and CEO of Spaceport, a web3 company building scalable IP licensing infrastructure for gaming and user-generated content (UGC) economies. Previously, Le was Founder & CEO of Squadle (acquired), the AI automation platform used by major brands like McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, and Hyatt Hotels. During their discussion, Angela, Nick, and Le go into Spaceport’s founding and how their licensing products work, before diving into how brands, creators, and consumers can all benefit from IP equally and legally, who the first adopters have and will continue to be, how digital products may soon outpace physical products, and much more. Signum Growth Thesis: IP rights will eventually matter. Currently, we are in a period of early experimentation, and we are seeing a lot of cool AI creations! We are also in a sea of IP rights infringements. The industries of video games and entertainment depend heavily on rights, which generate a lot of value - $350 billion referenced by Le Zhang in the podcast. We believe that IP rights protection will be baked into the technology at some point in the future. Blockchain technology is uniquely suited to solve this problem facing the $350 billion IP rights market. We are deep in the Polkadot ecosystem so please ask us about this too. Bottom line: if we thought that Cambridge Analytica was scary, AI will take the level of fake news and inauthenticity to a national security threat level. Why wouldn’t we seek a cryptographic backing of truly authentic digital IP? Learn more about Spaceport Follow Le: LinkedIn | Twitter Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Nick: LinkedIn | Twitter

Knowing and understanding your audience is a foundational principle to building a great game or great business. But how well do we all actually know and understand the people we are building for? How often are we straying and building games more for ourselves than our audience? And how much are we unknowingly building for the past version of our audience and not their future selves? In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela and Eliza are joined by Solsten Founder and CEO Joe Schaeppi to break down some of these questions and learn how he and Solsten are changing the way we analyze our audiences and better learn to build for them and what they most want.  Joe is a visionary in human psychology who wants to fundamentally change the way brands and audiences connect. As the CEO and founder of Solsten, an AI-powered platform for human-centric experiences, Joe is pioneering the use of video games for cognitive assessment, opening up new possibilities for not only the gaming industry but for mental health diagnostics and treatment. Armed with his experience leading UX strategy for Big Fish Games and MRM // McCann and his impactful work as a startup advisor, adventure-based psychotherapist, and ski ambassador for The North Face, Joe intrinsically understands the power of a people-first approach and is ready to help companies create healthier and livelier experiences for users without leaving them overstimulated and disconnected from the real world. During the conversation Angela, Eliza, and Joe discuss his unique skill set and background, why and how to build experiences around human resonance, what true understanding of your market (players) looks like and the benefits it brings, and much more.  Learn more about Solsten Follow Joe: LinkedIn | X Chapters: Joe’s Unique Background & Career (00:00) Building Experiences Around Human Resonance (13:19) Understanding Your Players as Human Beings (30:30) Overcoming Resistance While Building a New Category of Customer Avatars (38:26) Happiness vs Contentment (50:37) -- -- -- -- -- Signum Growth invests and advises at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. We believe that emerging technologies will continue to be born in video games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Areas of expertise include video games, entertainment, and emerging technologies like blockchain and AI. Most recently, the firm has focused on UGC (user generated content) platforms and creators. Signum Growth is comprised of Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, and Signum Growth Advisors, an investment advisor. Angela Dalton, Signum Growth’s Founder/CEO, served in Tech/Media leadership roles and as a Managing Director at three firms - Guggenheim Securities, Evercore Partners, and UBS. At Evercore Partners, Angela was an initial investor and Co-Founder of Evercore Equities. Signum Growth acts as the Lead Advisor to ARK Invest, and Angela serves as the Co-Founder of the Women in Gaming Zoom (WIGZ), and recently served on the corporate board of FaZe Clan. She earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. and B.S. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Follow Keshav Holani, Signum Growth Gaming Analyst: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

Where people go, money follows. That is an age-old trend that we are now seeing play out with metaverse platforms, in particular Roblox. As the number of users continues to rise so too does the attention the commercial world places on these new digital landscapes.  In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela and Eliza are joined by Matthew Warneford, CEO of Dubit, who is one of the original pioneers of bringing 3D communal platforms to life, and has been a leading voice and innovator in the metaverse in all its incarnations ever since. During their conversation the trio go through Matthew and Dubit’s history, discuss collaborating with major brands to bring them into the metaverse, why fast fashion is the obvious entry point for commerce in these spaces, the third wave of UGC disruption, the virtual world beginning to influence the physical world, and much more! Matthew Warneford is the Founder and CEO of Dubit, the company building the future of commerce in Roblox. Dubit has been around for over two decades with major successes all along the way. Most recently they have created Gamer Rewards, the first loyalty program for Roblox that lets players earn in-game rewards and redeem them off-platform. Dubit also created Gamer Retail to power immersive in-game retail experiences for brands. Dubit, in collaboration with Adidas, Unilever, H&M, NASCAR, and Kraft, has redefined the art of the possible in the Roblox metaverse. Learn all about Dubit Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter Chapters: Dubit’s History (00:00) Gaining Conviction About Roblox (03:17) Popularity and Opportunity of In Game Retail (08:00) Using AI to Create Feedback and Item Curation (10:55) Collaborating with Major Brands (13:56) Fashion May Be the Wrong Word (16:36) Holidays and Seasonality Differences in Virtual vs Physical World (18:16) Virtual World Begins to Influence the Physical World (21:01) Third Wave of UGC Disruption (24:58) Platform Competition and the Movement Towards Interoperability (31:54) Recap & Wrap Up (37:43) -- -- -- -- -- Signum Growth is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities. Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Follow Keshav Holani, Signum Growth Gaming Analyst: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

We are celebrating International Women’s Day by spotlighting Renee Gittins, the CEO of Stumbling Cat and former Executive Director of the International Game Developers Association, to celebrate the launch of her game - Potions: A Curious Tale! It is described as an adventure and crafting game where wit is your greatest weapon and combat is not always the answer. Luna, a young witch who overcomes obstacles with the potions she brews, as she gathers items from enchanted lands and conquers devious puzzles on her quest. We are so excited to spread the word on the game, and we encourage everyone to play- it is 8 years in the making! It was a lot of fun for Eliza and I to get to know Renee during this podcast - she is very academically oriented, and started her career as the field of biology as a GM at Phoenix Lab. So how fitting that her game is based on the idea of brewing potions! Renee is outspoken about initiatives to increase diversity both within the game industry and gaming overall to help the game industry grow and improve for everyone. During the conversation Angela, Eliza, and Renee discuss forging their own paths as women in gaming, the mentors and life experiences that influenced Renee’s new game, how going viral on TikTok boosted Renee’s feedback loop, community building, a potential golden age of creator driven content, and much more. Learn more about Stumbling Cat Check out Potions: A Curious Tale on Steam Follow Renee: TikTok | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Chapters: 00:00 Renee’s Journey Into and Through the Gaming Industry 06:16 Forging Own Path as a Woman in Gaming 10:12 Mentors and Life Experiences that Influenced Characters in Potions 13:12 Trials & Tribulations Faced During 10 Year Journey of Development 17:31 Viral TikTok Boosting Game Feedback 20:48 The Folklore and Stories Woven Into Potions 26:44 Building Creator Communities for Young Girls 28:24 AI Generated Content & Creator Protections 33:06 Possibility of a Creator Driven Golden Age 38:44 Community Building and Putting Yourself Forward -- -- -- -- -- Signum Growth operates at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. Areas of expertise include video gaming, entertainment, digital payments, blockchain protocols, AI and social media. The firm believes that emerging technologies will continue to be born in games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Signum Growth comprises Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer founded in 2018, licensed in M&A, capital raising, and public markets, and Signum Growth Advisors, the firm’s investment business.  Learn more about Signum Growth Capital here. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Follow Keshav Holani, Signum Growth Gaming Analyst: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela and Eliza are joined for the second time on the show by Yon Raz-Fridman, Founder and CEO of Supersocial. During the conversation they discuss the shifting behaviors and locations of the youngest generations, building brand experiences on the 3D internet, the difference between brands and IP and how they should operate differently on platforms like Roblox, Epic Games second party strategy and entire company flywheel, and much more! Yon Raz-Fridman is the Founder and CEO of Supersocial, a metaverse company operating as a cutting-edge studio and next-generation agency, developing, producing, and publishing world-class games, experiences and brand worlds on Roblox and other emerging platforms.  Yon has his own podcast and newsletter, Into the Metaverse, where he is a leading industry voice on all things metaverse, 3D gaming, and beyond. The mission of Into the Metaverse is to help you understand what the metaverse is, how it will impact your life, and what opportunities it unlocks. If you are a marketer, entrepreneur, investor or simply a curious professional, definitely check out Into the Metaverse. Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter Chapters: Introduction (00:00) Welcoming Yon (01:57) Yon and Supersocial Background (04:01) Shifting Modalities of Behavior in Youth (07:36) Brand Building on the 3D Internet (11:16) Users Perception of Brands and Ads (19:56) Difference Between Brands and IP (29:46) Epic Games’ Second Party Building Strategy (31:51) Too Many Strategies or Incredible Flywheel (37:56) Maintaining a Developer Community for Decades (51:28) Supersocial’s 2024 Plans (54:34) -- -- -- -- -- Signum Growth operates at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. Areas of expertise include video gaming, entertainment, digital payments, blockchain protocols, AI and social media. The firm believes that emerging technologies will continue to be born in games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Signum Growth comprises Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer founded in 2018, licensed in M&A, capital raising, and public markets, and Signum Growth Advisors, the firm’s investment business.  Learn more about Signum Growth Capital here. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Follow Keshav Holani, Signum Growth Gaming Analyst: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela and Eliza are joined by Joe Ferencz, CEO of Gamefam. During their conversation they discuss how the most successful developers on Roblox have operated, how the Roblox currently mirrors the early days of YouTube, why active media like gaming is beginning to dominate time spent metrics, the evolution of transmedia, and much more. Joe Ferencz is currently the CEO of Gamefam, the leading metaverse game developer that creates connected experiences with gaming communities and well-known brands. Across 30+ live games on Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft, Gamefam records over 29 million daily game sessions and 215 million hours of engagement each month. Prior to running Gamefam, Joe spent time working in strategy and business development for companies such as Mattel, Nintendo, Disney, Sony, and more. Learn more about Gamefam. Follow Joe: LinkedIn  Chapters: Background on Joe and GameFam (00:00) Roblox Developer Community (04:04) Building Credibility as an Operator on Roblox Platform (07:46) Early Days of YouTube vs Early Days of Roblox (10:57) Opportunities on UEFN and Elsewhere (14:54) Passive vs Active Media and Roblox Dominating Time Spent (16:44) Roblox’s Time Advantage (24:15) Originals vs Branded Experiences (28:31) Evolution of Transmedia (32:59) Fitting Brands to Where They Can Win (36:43) Roblox Subgenre Slang (39:48) -- -- -- -- -- Signum Growth operates at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. Areas of expertise include video gaming, entertainment, digital payments, blockchain protocols, AI and social media. The firm believes that emerging technologies will continue to be born in games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Signum Growth comprises Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer founded in 2018, licensed in M&A, capital raising, and public markets, and Signum Growth Advisors, the firm’s investment business.  Learn more about Signum Growth Capital here. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Follow Keshav Holani, Signum Growth Gaming Analyst: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn | Twitter

In this episode of Bits of Signum, Angela and Eliza are joined by Pete Hawley, Founder & CEO of Joa, a new UGC studio building on Epic Games’ UEFN. Pete’s team built their first game, Bank Heist, in his most recent role as the Chief Product Officer at 100 Thieves. We discuss his career in game development, how UGC is changing the gaming landscape, his studio’s latest hit, Bank Heist, UEFN, the Gen Z and Alpha audiences, and much more. Pete Hawley is currently the Founder & CEO of Joa. Prior, Pete was at 100 Thieves, where he oversaw the creation and launch of the smash hit Bank Heist. Prior to 100 Thieves, Pete held positions at companies such as Mythical Games, Telltale Games, and Zynga, building a proven track record of launching and growing successful mobile and video game franchises across multiple genres and platforms. Play Bank Heist on Fortnite with Island Code: 3339-4063-3278 Follow Pete: LinkedIn | Twitter  Chapter Notes: (00:00) Pete’s Background and Career in Gaming (08:30) Building Bank Heist on UEFN (15:50) Challenges of Building UGC Content (24:00) New Beliefs to Adopt for the Gen Z and Alpha Audience (27:15) Shortening Attention Spans and Vying For Time (34:00) The Power of Unreal Engine 5 (37:40) Bringing Women into Gaming on UEFN (45:05) Epic’s Long-term Plan (53:05) Pete’s Industry Prediction (58:30) AI Systems and Building Games (01:06:20) Goodbyes Signum Growth operates at the intersection of mass market culture and new economies that are bubbling up in new digital communities. Areas of expertise include video gaming, entertainment, digital payments, blockchain protocols, AI and social media. The firm believes that emerging technologies will continue to be born in games and that ‘gaming’ will reach an increasingly broader swath of people, until it is simply known as entertainment. The firm focuses on creators and developers who are moving to the front of the line, where they will garner a greater slice of value creation. Signum Growth comprises Signum Growth Capital, a FINRA-registered broker dealer founded in 2018, licensed in M&A, capital raising, and public markets, and Signum Growth Advisors, the firm’s investment business.  Learn more about Signum Growth Capital here. Follow Angela: LinkedIn | Twitter  Learn more about Visible Realms here. Follow Eliza: LinkedIn 

Explore the creative power of generative AI with Marguerite Decourcelle, CEO at Blockade Labs. Angela, Evan, and Marguerite cover Blockade Labs' Skybox AI, a tool for generating panoramic, game-engine-ready worlds, as well as the landscape of AI tooling and its growing influence across creative spaces. Marguerite Decourcelle (aka coin_artist) Marguerite has committed her career to the democratization of creativity. Over 10+ years, she has cast a vision of a more egalitarian creative world which enable the everyperson to unlock their unique creative gifts. Currently Founder & CEO of Blockade Labs, Marguerite leads a talented group of purpose driven technologists and futurists aiming at allowing creatives to summon AI generated digital environments without the encumbrances of cost and speed. Their award winning technology is the future of digital environment development. Blockade Labs Blockade Labs is a leading AI Generative Environment Engine for creatives. A team of 15+ from around the world, Blockade has attracted the best and brightest to build a more egalitarian future for creatives.Blockade Labs aims to on-board millions creatives across the globe by enabling them to create digital environments with a few words and one click. Check out their tool Skybox AI here (and at 10:18 in the episode!) Signum Growth Signum Growth is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities.  Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com. Signum Growth's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SignumGrowth⁠⁠⁠ Angela's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/daltonan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signum Growth's Newsletter: ⁠⁠Bits of Signum⁠⁠ 

Angie, Evan, and surprise co-host DJ are joined by gmoney -- futurist, disruptor and the CEO & Founder of clothing company 9dcc and community Admit One. The conversations explore gmoney's first impressions of crypto and NFTs, his identity both online and IRL, and his experience building brands and communities in this new technological frontier. gmoney gmoney (@gmoneyNFT) is a renowned NFT cultural thought leader and educator – best known for anonymously sporting his iconic orange beanie, CryptoPunk, and establishing his metaverse community Admit One. gmoney sold Visa and Galaxy Digital the CryptoPunks they purchased for their collections, and he is the founder of 9dcc, the first crypto-native fashion luxury house to exist on the blockchain. gmoney was recognized by nftnow’s 2022 ‘NFT100,’ the Vogue Business Disruptors 100, and featured on Fortune as one of the 50 most important people in NFTs, thanks to his work educating people on why the largest global corporations – like adidas, Meta, Nike, Visa, or Pepsi – are rushing into crypto, and how blockchain and metaverse strategy will be critical for future success and monetization. gmoney has become an iconic symbol of success with consciousness in the blockchain arena who has cemented his reputation through multi-faceted business endeavors, investments, partnerships, collaborations, and transparent communication across various social channels, all while working to prominently uplift the voices of women, POC, and other minorities in the space.  9dcc Built for innovators, change-makers, and disruptors. 9dcc subscribes to the familiar ideals of historic luxury fashion houses and simultaneously reinterprets the codes of luxury and sophistication. The name reflects the web3 spirit at the heart of the brand - the cryptic letter and number set represents the last four digits of the Ethereum wallet of the House from which all product expressions of the brand will be born. While innovative from a tech perspective, under the creative direction of gmoney, the new label will subscribe to the architecture and ideals of iconic fashion houses: Uncompromising choices in designs, materials and craftsmanship, illustrative storytelling, and selective distribution that speaks directly to the luxury market. 9dcc simultaneously reinterprets centuries-old traditions of house codes and offers a fresh take on fashion for a digital-first consumer, whose views on fashion and design align with gmoney's own vision of timeless style. The brand promises to constantly innovate and develop past the binary and analog. Dancing between the digital vs physical realms through singular, surprising products and events, 9dcc will evoke an exciting and elevated experience. Let's reimagine the world of style. Admit One Admit One is your entry into the gmoney ecosystem. The journey begins here. See the full manifesto on g.money. Signum Growth Signum Growth is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities.  Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com. Signum Growth's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SignumGrowth⁠⁠ Angela's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/daltonan⁠⁠⁠ Signum's Newsletter: ⁠Bits of Signum⁠ 

This episode of Bits of Signum brings in Jason Chen, the former Executive VP of Digital at BRON Studios, an expert in movie production and visual effects. Jason describes how BRON is building out their Gossamer franchise using Epic Games' Unreal Engine and Fortnite creative platform, UEFN, as well as how Unreal Engine is changing the film/TV industry as a whole. About Jason Chen Jason Chen is a highly experienced industry veteran with a remarkable 15-year career in visual effects. His journey began at the age of 17 on the groundbreaking film Avatar, where he worked for Weta Digital and Lightstorm Entertainment, honing his skills in virtual production and live action integration. Throughout his career, Jason has collaborated with legendary creatives such as James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Stephen Spielberg, JJ Abrams, and Marvel Studios, contributing his technical expertise to projects like Jojo Rabbit, Real Steel, Star Wars: Episode VII, Bumblebee, and Thor: Ragnarok. His most recent role was executive producer and leading figure at BRON Digital, pioneering real-time digital workflows and remote virtual production animation techniques. With a passion for innovation and technology, Jason continues to shape the future of creative endeavors in the digital entertainment space. ⁠About BRON BRON Media Corp. (“BRON”) is the parent to two main operating hubs – BRON Studios and BRON Digital. Co-founded in 2010 by Aaron L. Gilbert and Brenda Gilbert, BRON is the prolific and award-winning studio behind some of the most high-profile films of the last decade, in both the independent and studio worlds. BRON has produced or executive produced more than 125 productions, and BRON companies have received hundreds of honors including 38 Academy Awards nominations (6 wins), 39 BAFTA Awards nominations, and more than 250 Film Festival Award nominations. BRON is well known for many culture-shifting and history-making productions over the years and the Company’s focus is on live-action and animated film and television production, leaning in heavily with interactive gaming, music, and culture. BRON Studios' creative team develops and produces live-action scripted and nonscripted film and series television content for global release including a direct-to-consumer model. BRON works with some of the industry’s top creators, filmmakers, and on-screen talent, leveraging its relationships across the film, television, music, and fashion space to build community-led content offerings. BRON has been a financial backer, back-office studio, and co-producing partner to some of the most notable start-up production companies, such as Kid Cudi’s Mad Solar, the team behind HBO’s EUPHORIA and HBO’s THE IDOL (starring the Weeknd), Apple’s BLACK BIRD and Focus’ TAR, Apple’s THE MORNING SHOW, and A24’s X. BRON Digital is a state-of-the-art virtual production company that uses Epic Games’ Unreal Engine at its core. We provide a comprehensive breakdown and development of IPs – matching them with the appropriate virtual production tools (motion capture, digital facial performance, and real-time shot production, etc.) to provide a seamless journey for creatives into the digital future across a variety of mediums and platforms. ⁠Signum Growth⁠ Signum Growth is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities.  Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com. Signum Growth's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SignumGrowth⁠⁠ Angela's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/daltonan⁠⁠⁠ Signum's Newsletter: ⁠Bits of Signum⁠ 

Angela and Evan speak with Kyu Lee, mobile game revolutionary and President of Com2uS USA. Topics include why Com2uS believes digital ownership is inevitable, the gaming & content platforms Com2uS is developing, and Kyu's own takes on where entertainment industry is heading. About Kyu Lee Kyu Lee is President of Com2uS USA Inc. Com2uS, a public company on the KOSDAQ Market, is one of the few mobile game publishers that still excels since pioneering the space in 1998. With over a billion game downloads and experience in publishing hundreds of titles including successful top grossing titles like Summoners War and MLB 9 Innings, Com2uS has been one of the most active and innovative mobile game companies in the world. Kyu, an industry veteran who has been with Com2uS since the beginning, has played a key role in the company’s global expansion, establishing its US office (2006), Europe office and SEA offices. With its new journey into the entertainment and blockchain business, Com2uS continues to lead the digital paradigm as a comprehensive content and platform company. Kyu has graduated Seoul National University with a B.S. in Physics. About Com2uS Established in 1998 as the first mobile game company in South Korea, Com2uS is making a new leap as a global comprehensive content and platform company incorporating blockchain and metaverse. Com2uS has proven its competitiveness in the global game industry through its beloved IP’s ranging in various genres, including Summoners War: Sky Arena, Baseball Superstars, MLB 9 Innings, and Ace Fishing: Wild Catch. Its flagship title, Summoners War: Sky Arena, has generated over 100 million downloads and global sales of $2.5 billion and ranked as the #1 grossing game in 86 countries. Com2uS continues to set a global digital paradigm by establishing a blockchain mainnet, XPLA, various Web 3.0 games based on a blockchain game platform, C2X, and an all-encompassing metaverse platform, ‘Com2Verse.’ About XPLA XPLA is the content-driven, universal gaming and entertainment blockchain. It is the next generation of Web3 mainnet, developed with gamers at the core of its design. Based on the idea of “Explore and Play”, XPLA is the newest innovation in the Web3 gaming space, using COSMOS SDK for optimization and features development support from Delight and ZenaAD. This new infrastructure serves as the bridge between Web2 and Web3 services, and will feature games, art, music and Dapps based on community-driven feedback from users. XPLA places heavy emphasis on User Experience and accessibility to craft the standard in game centric Web3 services, opening up limitless possibilities for blockchain gaming. Signum Growth Signum Growth is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities.  Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com. Signum Growth's Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SignumGrowth⁠⁠ Angela's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/daltonan⁠⁠⁠ Signum Growth's Newsletter: ⁠Bits of Signum⁠ 

Angela and Evan speak with Aber Whitcomb, Co-Founder of MySpace, Jam City, and now PLAI Labs - a next-generation social platform built with Web3 and AI. The three discuss Aber’s experiences in the early days of social media, how the gaming landscape has evolved since mobile gaming first took off, and how PLAI Labs is leveraging new technologies to elevate gaming and online social experiences. Aber Whitcomb Aber Whitcomb is the CTO and Co-Founder of Jam City, Inc (formerly SGN Games). As CTO of Jam City Inc, a multi-platform game developer and distributor, Aber Whitcomb oversaw the cross-platform technology strategy and played a key role in developing and operating Jam City titles on a global scale. Whitcomb is a recognized expert in large scale computing, networking and storage and frequently speaks on these topics at industry events. He has been profiled in publications such as VentureBeat, The New York Times, and SoCalTech. Prior to Jam City, Whitcomb's role was CTO and co-founder of MySpace where he was responsible for the engineering and technical operations groups. InfoWorld named Whitcomb as one of the "Top 25 CTOs of 2009." Whitcomb is a co-founder of Core Scientific, a blockchain and artificial intelligence hosting, transaction processing and application development company that has raised $100 million in funding. Whitcomb is also a co-founder of i/o Ventures, an early stage startup program that focuses heavily on mentorship. Currently, Aber Whitcomb is Co-Founder and CTO of PLAI Labs. He graduated from the University of Washington and was born and raised in Bellingham, WA. Aber’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aberwhitcomb/  PLAI Labs PLAI Labs is building the next generation of social platforms. The team is applying their proven track records in Social Media, Game Mechanics, and Advanced Technology to build products that are used by 100s of millions of people around the world. Their first experience is a game called Champions Ascension, a growing and transformative web3 universe that redefines entertainment, games, storytelling, and real world experiences through revolutionary blockchain technology; a go-to destination to play, mint, socialize and create new content for years to come. Signum Growth Signum Growth Capital is a registered broker-dealer member of FINRA, headquartered in New York. The firm provides M&A advisory services and engages in placements of both private and public company securities.  Focused on mass market applications underpinned by Bitcoin & other blockchain protocols, video gaming, tokenized digital art, and social networks, Signum Growth Capital strives to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and digital economies in the metaverse. Please reach out to us at hello@signumgrowthcapital.com Signum Growth's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/SignumGrowth⁠⁠⁠ Angela's Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/daltonan⁠⁠⁠⁠ Signum Growth's Newsletter: ⁠⁠Bits of Signum⁠⁠