Maple Finance: Bridging Traditional and Crypto Lending with Martin De Rijke, Growth Lead Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-09-20 | Maple Finance: Bridging Traditional and Crypto Lending with Martin De Rijke, Growth Lead
Certainty Killed BlackBerry - Dr. Debra Clary on the Curiosity Curve Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-08-23 | *What happens when leaders become too certain that they already know the answer?* In this episode of *Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship*, Lam sits down with Deborah Clary, a former Fortune 50 executive and leadership expert who has spent decades working across companies including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel's, and Humana. Deborah's work today focuses on one deceptively simple idea: *curiosity can be learned and it can transform how organizations and leaders perform.*Deborah explains why experience and confidence can sometimes become a liability when they turn into certainty. We explore what happened to companies like BlackBerry and Blockbuster when leaders stopped questioning their assumptions, how leaders can create cultures where employees feel safe challenging ideas, and how the *Curiosity Curve* helps teams understand their strengths and blind spots. We also discuss a particularly important question for startup founders: how can a small team with limited time and resources build more curiosity into everyday decision-making?The conversation then turns to AI. When everyone can access abundant information and generate plausible answers in seconds, what becomes the real competitive advantage? Deborah argues that *discernment and judgment become even more important—and that the leaders of the future may be those who are willing to explore better questions rather than simply having all the answers.* We also discuss AI, young leaders, changing your mind, psychological safety, and the one question every leader should ask their team: *“When was the last time you changed your mind?”*⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:30 Show & guest introduction00:01:40 Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel's, and the pivot to a doctorate in leader development00:05:12 The CEO question that changed everything: can curiosity be learned?00:06:41 The engagement collapse: millennials, 39% of the workforce, and the pipeline problem00:11:39 Certainty in doses: why the book is called “The Curiosity Curve”00:13:01 Blackberry and Blockbuster: what certainty costs00:15:20 Inside the assessment: the four factors and the imbalance most founders share00:20:35 Short runway, no time for workshops: the founder who said "that's me"00:23:52 Making it safe to ask hard questions: dissent as a C-suite core value00:25:00 What to do when your founder won't budge00:27:17 Curious organizations vs. companies that just buy AI tools00:30:06 The question ambitious young leaders should ask themselves00:31:20 AGI, and what humans still do better00:35:38 One bold question to ask your team this week00:37:12 Where to follow Debra & The Curiosity Curve00:38:12 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Debra Clary and get her book:1. Website: debraclary.com2. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drdebraclar3. Facebook: facebook.com/drdebraclary4. YouTube: youtube.com/@debraclary/videos5. Instagram: instagram.com/the_curiosity_curve6. Book: amazon.com/Curiosity-Curve-Leaders-Transformation-Questions/dp/1639081380/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11RB378F03YPT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ObjObL7kpWPYm7F6xO2UI7gk-tqinwBmMHa105D9K8m7VePNPDYi1p8U9SKDI9L0rNqBBtPcjDUBm24D1wdWzaCd04KU2ZJ2S6NIKqVTLhKX6wqEFbu2yj2QXgkFVriXDwVc3dituNNYrv86qiWIyh7vjW-SAj8LOM2UaPLsz-SD3qQfj9xcq6G1cEJfWZcUs9h7SLVhiMXpAXRqH7oDmw.H02UepDZJaRVCfD39Xcsatoy9u596UllaE9LMpmGgoQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+curiosity+curve&qid=1786085209&sprefix=the+curiosity+curv%2Caps%2C392&sr=8-1Our social media:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCZkB6EsFenFzIm1-a01cfswSpotify: open.spotify.com/show/4H61B1PBJ9eeFz8U6tYwJYTwitter/X: https://x.com/ColorsofTechpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-tech-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Tech and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Real Estate’s Data Problem: Why Tokenization Keeps Failing | Matthew Schneider, Building Inc. Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-07-18 | Real estate is one of the world’s largest asset classes, yet it remains surprisingly difficult to tokenize. In this episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, Matthew Schneider, CEO and founder of Building Inc., explains why the bottleneck was never simply blockchain. It was the data.Real estate still relies on paper records, fragmented systems, and figures that can be difficult to verify independently. A token cannot make unreliable collateral trustworthy. Before real estate can support dependable oracles, tokens, and digital markets, the underlying information needs to be accurate, current, and traceable.Matthew explains Building Inc.’s approach: using blockchain as a lightweight “receipts layer” that records who uploaded information, when it was uploaded, and whether the source can be trusted. Combined with AI for extraction, comparison, and monitoring, this could create a more reliable data layer for tokenized real estate.We also discuss:- Why failed tokenized real-estate projects expose the risks of unverifiable collateral- The uncomfortable parallel between unreliable property data and the FTX collapse- How AI could help monitor properties for banks and lenders- What verified data could mean for oracles, RWAs, and tokenization- Building Inc.’s private beta, early customers, fundraising, and multi-chain strategy- Hedera, Polygon, and quantum-resistant blockchain infrastructure- Why founders should start with the problem instead of the technologyWhether you work in Web3, real estate, capital markets, proptech, or another legacy industry, this conversation is a practical look at the infrastructure required to make digital assets trustworthy.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:30 Show & guest introduction00:03:00 From day trading and e-commerce to founding a company in 202000:05:28 Challenges in real estate data management00:10:21 Finding Bitcoin in 2016 and the slow conviction00:12:33 Matthew’s hobbies00:18:17 Three reasons real estate data management fails00:20:37 Why trillions in real estate still aren't tokenized00:23:52 Building.inc’s platform demo00:32:08 Current stage of Building.inc: Private beta, early customers, and fundraising in the AI era00:36:13 Going multi-chain: Hedera, Polygon, quantum-resistance chain00:38:25 The business model and Web3 integrations00:41:22 The tech behind the platform00:48:49 The challenges facing his startup00:50:56 The end game for RWAs and tokenized real estate00:55:32 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:58:37 Where to follow Matthew and Building.inc00:59:47 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Matthew & Building Inc:Building's Website (may still be under maintenance): building.incMatthew's Twitter/X: https://x.com/mattschneid3rBuilding's Twitter/X: https://x.com/BuildingIncOur social media:Spotify: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/colorsoftechpodTwitter/X: https://x.com/ColorsofTechpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-tech-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoyed the episode, subscribe for more conversations with founders and experts working across Web3, AI, entrepreneurship, and emerging technology.
How USDT0 Moves $150M Across Blockchains Every Day Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-06-24 | What does it take to move over $150 million in stablecoins across blockchains every single day? In Episode 90 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, host Lam sits down with Lorenzo Romagnoli, co-founder of USDT0, the interoperability layer that has quietly become one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in the Tether ecosystem. At just 27, Lorenzo has spent his entire professional life in DeFi from LARPing on Discord during the 2020 bull run to co-founding Alloy (Tether's gold-backed stablecoin) and ultimately building USDT0 alongside the Layer Zero team.Lorenzo walks us through USDT0's meteoric rise: launching in January 2025, surviving the most stressful month of his life, and scaling from a few hundred thousand dollars a day to moving over $100 billion in total volume in just 16 months all with a team of around 20 people. He explains why Tether historically avoided DeFi, how the team finally cracked their first big partnership with Kraken's Ink chain, and why some of the world's largest hedge funds and exchanges (including an unannounced $800M Binance treasury move at 4am) now run on the rails they built.The conversation also goes deep on Tether Gold (XAUT) and why Lorenzo believes gold-backed stablecoins could one day rival the US dollar, the real product-market fit for stablecoins in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, the relentless security threats from North Korean hacking groups, his philosophy on not being greedy in crypto, and how the coming agentic AI economy could demand millions of transactions per second. Whether you're a builder, an investor, or just curious about the plumbing behind the stablecoin economy, this episode is packed with insight from someone building at the frontier.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:40 Show & guest introduction00:03:30 First steps in Web3: DAOs, Tether, and building Alloy00:06:11 Spotting Tether's cross-chain interoperability problem00:08:05 Building USDT0 with LayerZero00:11:06 Lorenzo's hobbies00:15:20 How USDT0 works 00:20:00 Some predictions and tractions of USDT000:25:02 The user groups of USDT000:30:13 Lorenzo's take on gold and Tether Gold (XAUT)00:34:21 How Tether Gold works under the hood00:37:05 Inside the Switzerland vault00:42:38 Competitors of USDT000:45:01 USDT0's business model & the cost of security00:50:55 The biggest challenges: hackers, pitching & iterating00:55:21 The future of stablecoins: one winner or many?00:59:16 Non-obvious use cases: luxury watches & private jets01:00:52 Agentic AI, stablecoins & the millions-of-TPS problem01:04:06 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs01:06:33 Where to follow Lorenzo & USDT001:07:30 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Lorenzo Romagnoli & USDT0 :USDT0's Website: usdt0.toUSDT0's Twitter/X: https://x.com/USDT0_toLorenzo Romagnoli 's Twitter/X: https://x.com/zeroloreOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Can We Trust AI-Written Code? Why Executable Specs Are the Future of Software ft. Gabriela Moreira Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-04-26 | In this episode, we sit down with Gabriela Moreira, CEO of Quint Co and a passionate advocate for formal methods in software development. Gabriela shares her journey from compiler research and teaching formal methods at university in Brazil to building Quint — a language that makes formal specification accessible to everyday developers. She explains how Quint was born inside Informal Systems to solve a real problem: TLA+ was powerful but too hard for most engineers to read and adopt.The conversation dives into how AI is changing the economics of formal verification. Writing specs used to require learning a new language and investing significant time upfront, but with LLMs, developers can now generate Quint specifications in hours instead of weeks. At the same time, as AI writes more and more of our code, the need for confidence and correctness has never been higher — making executable specifications more relevant than ever.Gabriela also walks through real-world use cases, including AWS's use of TLA+, Circle's Arc L1 blockchain built on Quint-verified consensus, and work with Monad's BFT protocol. Whether you're building smart contracts, distributed systems, or any software where bugs can cost real money, this episode will change how you think about the gap between "it works on my machine" and "I know it's correct."⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:36 Show & guest introduction00:02:04 From compilers and type systems to TLA+ and formal methods 00:06:23 Gabriela's first encounter with AI and data science 00:08:32 Gabriela’s hobbies 00:09:54 The origin story of Quint and Informal Systems 00:13:29 Deep dive into Quint and formal specs00:19:20 Real-world use cases: Malachite, Circle's Arc, Monad BFT00:27:42 Biggest misconceptions engineers have about formal specs00:33:35 Bugs that traditional testing misses but Quint catches00:38:22 Formal verification for smart contracts and Web3 security00:41:02 Where to follow Gabriela and Quint 00:42:02 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Quint Co & Gabriela Moreira:Gabriela's Twitter/X: https://x.com/bugarelaQuint Twitter/X: https://x.com/quint_lang Quint Github: github.com/informalsystemsGabriela's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bugarela?originalSubdomain=brGabriela's Github: github.com/bugarelaOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building AI for the Third Nation — 6M Users, $10M ARR from Singapore | Bruce Yang, Agnes AI Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-03-31 | In this episode, we sit down with Bruce Yang, co-founder and CEO of Agnes AI, a homegrown AI company from Singapore that has already amassed over 6 million registered users and reached $10 million in annual recurring revenue all within less than a year of launching. Bruce shares how his team built a cluster of cost-efficient AI models that deliver near state-of-the-art performance at one-tenth the cost, making advanced AI accessible to the 99% who are currently locked out by paywalls and infrastructure gaps.Bruce takes us through his journey from a scholarship student arriving in Singapore at age 15, to studying math and computer science at UC Berkeley, building LinkedIn's first subscription product, launching a "Snapchat before Snapchat" social media startup in Silicon Valley, and eventually returning to Singapore to pursue a PhD at NUS right as the generative AI revolution exploded. That unique combination of startup grit, big tech experience, and academic depth fuels his bold vision for Agnes AI.The conversation goes deep into Bruce's thesis on the AI geopolitical landscape: why the world cannot afford a US-China duopoly in AI, and why Southeast Asia and the rest of the emerging world need their own sovereign AI capabilities a "third nation" in the AI race. We also explore how Agnes AI leverages post-training on open-source models, their agentic routing architecture, the future of SaaS in an AI-agent world, and Bruce's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: keep your ego low, fail fast, and become an adaptive learner.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode intro & guest introduction00:01:06 Bruce Yang's introduction and Agnes AI overview 00:02:26 From China to Singapore to UC Berkeley 00:03:19 Working at Microsoft and LinkedIn 00:04:06 Startups experience in Sillicon Valley00:05:03 The PhD program that eventually led to founding Agnes AI00:07:21 The time when he built a social media startup challenging Facebook00:09:56 Fundraising lessons and speed as essence for consumer apps00:12:01 Hobbies of Bruce00:15:24 Agnes AI founding story00:17:58 Building cost-efficient models with post-training 00:21:50 Live product demo: research, slides, and character AI 00:35:54 AI inclusion and the "third nation" vision 00:42:06 Challenges facing Agnes AI: educating investors in emerging markets 00:47:17 Enterprise solutions and Model as a Service (MaaS) 00:50:42 Future of Gen AI, SaaS disruption and AGI predictions 00:56:38 Diminishing returns, GPU costs, and the road ahead 01:01:50 AI models training themselves — the evolution cycle 01:04:14 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:07:04 Where to follow Agnes AI 01:08:02 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Agnes AI:Web app: agnes-ai.comDownload on App Store: apps.apple.com/sg/app/agnes-ai-your-daily-copilot/id6746299015Download on Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sobrr.agnesAgnes AI LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agnesaisapiensAgnes AI Twitter/X: https://x.com/agnesai_sapiensOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
The Stablecoin Guy (Ariel Eiberman): Testing 30+ Crypto Cards & The Future of On-Chain Banking Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-03-25 | In this episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam Trinh sits down with Ariel Eiberman, the Latin American director at GnosisPay, also known in the industry as "the Stablecoin guy". Ariel share his fascinating journey into the crypto space, which began in 2013 when he used Bitcoin as his primary banking infrastructure to facilitate international payments for polyglot meetups.The conversation dives deep into the frustrations of traditional banking, particularly in Argentina, where users face multiple exchange rates, physical bank limitations, and inefficient systems. Ariel explains why he has personally tested over 30 different crypto cards and neobanks, offering a unique perspective on which platforms offer the best fees, trust, and usability for those looking for a banking alternative.Finally, Ariel shares his vision for the future of on-chain banking. He discusses the importance of self-custody, the rise of niche neobanks, and how blockchain technology can eventually provide better financial tools for families and businesses without necessarily replacing traditional banks entirely.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:34 Show & guest introduction00:02:01 How tools and neobanks have exploded in crypto 00:02:54 The rabbit hole story, Bitcoin as a first bank 00:04:30 From ICOs to smart contract wallets and decentralized RPCs 00:06:48 Working in crypto accounting and the pain of blockchain bookkeeping 00:08:23 Why banking in Argentina is a nightmare 00:11:30 Argentina's five different dollar exchange rates 00:14:23 QR payments vs. card payments in Latin America 00:17:38 Ariel's hobbies00:18:56 How Ariel became "The Stablecoin Guy" with 30+ crypto cards 00:21:00 How he positioned himself in a noisy Web3 payment space00:23:58 Trust vs. fees what users actually care about 00:25:00 Why most crypto neobanks will fail in the next bear market 00:27:33 Neobanks need to go niche - The barbershop analogy 00:31:06 Best cards for zero FX fees: EtherFi, Gnosis Pay, and more 00:32:58 QR code payments with stablecoins in Bolivia 00:34:53 Vietnam's incredible banking system and crypto card opportunities00:37:45 The future of on-chain banking 00:39:29 Some opportunities that Ariel sees for neobanks00:42:15 Advice for people who want to break into Web300:43:52 Where to follow Ariel & Gnosis Pay00:45:55 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Ariel & Gnosis Pay:Ariel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/AriEibermanAriel's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/arieleibermanGnosis Pay Website: gnosispay.comGnosis Pay Twitter/X: https://x.com/gnosispayOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
He Automated His Own Job and Got Into YC: Hudson Liao on the Future of Go-To-Market Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-02-25 | What happens when a head of growth decides to automate himself out of a job before AI does it for him? You get TheHog, a YC-backed AI go-to-market platform built by Hudson Liao that listens to real buyer conversations across LinkedIn, X, and Reddit to find genuine purchase intent.Hudson joins Lam to break down his path from California firefighter to YC W25 founder, why spray-and-pray outreach is destroying brands, and what "scaling authenticity" actually means when AI is doing the work.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:35 Show & guest introduction 00:04:50 Transitioning from finance to the startup world 00:07:22 The universal framework behind growth 00:08:25 Hudson's hobby 00:09:50 The origin story of TheHog.ai 00:12:07 Getting into Y Combinator and the YC experience 00:15:17 Ideal customer profile: who is The Hog built for? 00:16:50 Example of how the platform works 00:20:05 Scaling authenticity with AI 00:22:53 Traction: 160+ customers in 3 months 00:26:50 Will AI replace growth teams? 00:30:30 The future of go-to-market: agents, AEO, and omni-channel00:31:50 Business model of The Hog00:37:24 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:39:45 Where to follow Hudson and The Hog 00:41:11 Episode outro and next episode preview Follow Hudson & The Hog:The Hog's Website: thehog.aiHudson's Twitter/X: https://x.com/hudsonliaoOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building America’s First Autism Therapy Franchise (80+ Locations) feat. Nichole Daher Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-01-27 | What happens when a personal family challenge turns into a national mission-driven business? In Episode 85 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sits down with Nichole Daher, founder of Success on the Spectrum (SOS), the first autism treatment franchise in the United States. Nichole shares how becoming a stepmom to a child with autism pushed her to learn everything she could, and how a painful “aging out” moment in therapy became the catalyst to build something bigger than she ever imagined.Nichole also breaks down autism in a clear, practical way what the diagnostic criteria look like, what ABA therapy is (and isn’t), and why misconceptions still exist. We talk about the scale of demand, why families face long waitlists, and how SOS designed systems to deliver consistent quality across locations without losing sight of the mission.Finally, this episode goes deep on entrepreneurship: franchising as a force-multiplier, “profit with a purpose,” and the leadership lessons Nichole learned going from one clinic to 80+ locations across 20 states. Plus Nichole shares how to learn more about SOS franchising (including a special “discovery day” bonus for listeners).⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:35 Show & guest introduction00:01:30 Origin story: from nuclear medicine to founding Success on Spectrum00:06:07 Secret to successful business: Hiring passionate teams & aligning on mission00:08:28 Nichole's hobby: high-performance car racing00:12:03 What is autism? 3 main criteria & levels explained00:16:05 How modern ABA therapy works00:20:29 Debunking common ABA therapy misconceptions00:26:38 Treatment duration, early intervention & insurance coverage00:29:52 The affected autism population: 1 in 31 kids & huge demand gap00:32:53 Why franchising? Empowering parents & entrepreneurs00:36:10 The franchise playbook: from LLC to grand opening00:38:50 Balancing profit with purpose in autism care00:42:35 Future vision for autism treatment: adult services & workforce transition00:46:13 Biggest lesson: people first in a mission-driven business00:50:00 Mistakes to avoid for aspiring entrepreneurs00:52:18 Where to follow Nichole Daher & Success on Spectrum00:54:17 Episode outroFollow Nichole Daher & Success on Spectrum (SOS):Success on Spectrum's Website: successonthespectrum.comSuccess on Spectrum's contact us (mention that you hear about SoS from "Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship" podcast for a free round-trip ticket):sosfranchising.com/contact-usSuccess on Spectrum's Linkedin:linkedin.com/company/success-on-the-spectrumOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
AI Agents as Teammates: Inside Express AI + the Future of Agent Marketplaces Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2026-01-10 | What happens when AI agents stop being “private chatbots” and start acting like actual teammates? In this episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sits down with Eduardo Gonzalez (Co-founder & CEO of Express AI) a longtime Japan-based builder who’s worked across enterprise AI and deep learning production to unpack what it takes to run agents reliably inside real organizations.Eduardo walks through how Express AI is designed around collaboration: shared chat rooms where multiple humans can work with the same agent, a task/Kanban system for assigning work, integrations (Google, GitHub, Jira/Confluence, etc.), plus on-prem deployment options for teams that need tighter control. We also get a clear, beginner-friendly explanation of vector databases and why “meaning-based retrieval” is the backbone of agent memory.Finally, the conversation goes beyond tooling into agent operations: turning SOPs into repeatable “skills,” reducing hallucinations with multi-agent verification and human-in-the-loop checks, and Eduardo’s vision for a decentralized agent marketplace where specialized agents can compete for tasks, stake reputation, and even transact with wallets for agent-to-agent commerce.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:37 Show & guest introduction00:02:38 Early career in Japan: Panasonic and JBS00:04:10 Joining Skymind and deep learning00:07:23 AI training on clusters explained00:12:24 Writing a book on deep learning00:20:06 Eduardo's hobbies 00:23:30 Founding Xpress AI and AI shifts00:25:06 Agentic fine-tuning and OpenAI competition00:27:23 Making AI accessible for enterprises00:47:24 Future of AI agents and computing01:36:38 Envisioning AI agents' evolution01:41:30 AI's impact on jobs and creativity01:47:57 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:58:12 Where to follow Gonzalez & Xpress AIFollow Eduardo Gonzalez & Xpress AIXpress AI's Website: xpress.aiXpress AI's Twitter/X: https://x.com/xpressaiEduardo Gonzalez's Twitter/X: https://x.com/wm_eddie?lang=jaOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building Unbreakable Web3 Communities: Dan Rodmans GTC Strategy Revealed Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-12-21 | In Episode 83 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, our host Lam sits down with Dan Rodman, CEO and Co-Founder of CoUnity, a pioneering firm specializing in community strategy for Web3 projects. Dan shares his fascinating journey from mechanical engineering and professional soccer to becoming a leader in Web3 community building. They dive into CoUnity's innovative "Go to Community" (GTC) strategy, which emphasizes value creation, gamification, and intrinsic motivation over traditional marketing tactics. Discover how CoUnity helps projects like EigenLayer build loyal, engaged communities through analytics, ambassador programs, and custom tools.Dan also opens up about his adrenaline-fueled hobbies like paragliding and backcountry skiing, drawing parallels to the high-stakes world of Web3 entrepreneurship. Whether you're a founder looking to scale your community or an enthusiast curious about the future of blockchain ecosystems, this episode offers actionable insights on segmentation, retention, and turning users into advocates. Learn why community is the new cornerstone of sustainable growth in crypto and beyond.Don't miss this deep dive into the art and science of community building. This episode is suitable for builders, innovators, and anyone navigating the evolving Web3 landscape.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode Intro00:00:36 Show & guest introduction00:01:54 Dan's background: from engineering to Web300:12:44 Dan's hobbies00:20:18 Deep dive into CoUnity's services00:42:16 Explaining go to community (GTC) strategy00:54:14 Challenges in Web3 community building01:05:09 Future of Web3 communities01:07:13 Advice for Web3 builders01:08:46 Where to follow Dan and Co/Unity01:10:05 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Dan and Co/Unity:Co/Unity's Website: https://counity.xyz/ Co/Unity's Twitter/X: https://x.com/counity_Dan's Twitter/X: https://x.com/thedanrodmanChatGPT grid prompt that helps communities discover their Go-To-Community strategy: docs.google.com/document/d/1U-6I7FZSZQ6BeQqphhMFkcSWKsIuWzFs8l7APD0Ro28/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.ba2g5r7vgz0aOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Bitcoin Treasuries Are Naked: The TradFi Hedge That Changes Everything with Patrick Wood from DelphX Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-11-25 | What if the biggest risk to Bitcoin treasuries isn’t a bear market… it’s the fact that almost none of them are actually hedged like real treasuries?In episode 82, Patrick Wood, President & CEO of DelphX Capital Markets (CSE: DELX | OTCQB: DPXCF), reveals the structured-finance product his team spent years perfecting. The new product is a fully collateralized, transparent, yield-generating downside hedge built specifically for Bitcoin corporate treasuries. No counterparty risk, no opaque OTC deals, no retail-style iBit puts. Just institutional-grade protection that still captures unlimited upside.Patrick shares his 30-year Wall Street journey, how he cleaned up a failing public shell, why Canada was once the go-to listing venue for U.S. growth companies, and why he believes most of today’s 200+ digital-asset treasuries are behaving more like leveraged speculators than fiduciaries. If you’re wondering why MNAV is collapsing, why leverage is quietly piling up again, and how one company plans to bring real risk management to crypto treasuries, then this episode is for you.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:35 Show & guest introduction00:02:00 30-year Wall Street journey & taking companies public in Canada00:08:00 How Patrick discovered blockchain in 201300:13:20 Patrick explains how to hedge Bitcoin00:16:16 Deep dive into DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product00:22:45 DelphX new product's intended target users: hedge funds + treasuries00:25:15 The product is designed to capture upside and protect downside00:30:15 Patrick's thought on Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies00:35:48 Competitors to DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product00:39:52 Current traction and business model00:41:48 Challenges facing DelphX00:43:55 Why treasuries should hedge (FTX-style risks still exist)00:48:55 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:51:43 Where to follow Patrick & DelphX00:52:44 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow DelphX Capital Markets:DelphX's Website: delphx.com DelphX's Twitter/X: https://x.com/delphx_ DelphX's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/delphx-capital-markets-incOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
The Hidden Rails of Web3: Halliday’s Unified Checkout (w/ Griffin Dunaif) Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-11-10 | Halliday is building the “plumbing” most Web3 apps don’t have the time (or budget) to build: a unified, self-custodial checkout that lets users deposit from crypto wallets, fiat on/off-ramps, and even centralized exchanges then orchestrates the cross-chain steps under the hood. Griffin Dunaif walks us through the pivot from (Buy Now Pay Later) BNPL-for-NFTs to an intent-centric workflow engine that abstracts chains, bridges, DEXs, and ramps into one API and smart-contract runtime.We talk origins (Stanford systems + ZK), lessons from ConstitutionDAO privacy research, why robust multi-chain orchestration is the real bottleneck, and how Halliday now powers deposits for 40+ partners including Avalanche Core, ApeChain’s portal, and Story Protocol. Griffin also shares what’s next (Solana support), hiring for rare protocol talent, and how agentic commerce might use Halliday as the “arms & legs” for on-chain actions.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:51 Show & guest introduction00:04:29 How Griffin got into the world of Web300:10:30 Griffin's hobbies00:11:25 Origin of Halliday00:15:32 Multiple iterations needed to get to Product-Market Fit00:20:13 How Halliday works: workflow engine & execution graphs00:26:38 Intent-centric design: Failure handling, retries, fault tolerance00:31:03 Market landscape & competitors/partnerships00:38:16 The interdisciplinary team behind Halliday00:43:09 Roadmap: Solana support & SVM↔EVM workflows00:44:23 Agentic commerce: giving AI agents “arms & legs”00:47:28 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:50:02 Where to follow Halliday & Griffin00:50:40 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Halliday & Griffin:Halliday's Website: https://halliday.xyz/Halliday's Twitter/X: https://x.com/HallidayHQGriffin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/griffintierOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
How a Hawaii-Born Founder Built 5 Businesses in Japan: Tyson Batino on Growth, Grit & Going Local Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-11-03 | Tyson Batino has spent 21 years in Japan, built five companies, and helped 30+ clients grow ranging from language schools to SaaS. In this episode, he breaks down Japan’s “longevity over hype” market, why translation ≠ localization, and how he scaled schools to multi-location chains (and even used meme ads to crush CAC). We also dig into Smart Start Japan, his one-stop shop for incorporation, visas, bank accounts, and more. We get tactical: channel selection (Google Search/Maps, websites, cold email), pricing, converting with Japanese buyers, and building teams when you can’t afford senior hires yet plus how Tyson exports his know-how into AI workflows so juniors can execute at a higher level. He also shares a candid take on recent talk about stricter business manager visa capital requirements and why now may be the best window for founders considering Japan.If you’re eyeing Japan or just want a masterclass on disciplined growth, this is your playbook.⌛ Timestamps:00:38 Show & guest introduction02:18 From English teacher to founder: Tyson's career progression07:35 Starting the English school: the origin story10:45 Launching the Japanese language school18:36 Product demo21:43 Case studies of successful clients26:06 Challenges facing foreign companies entering Japan market33:47 New venture: Smart Start Japan39:51 His plan to scale Smart Start Japan41:28 Staying ahead: strategy & moat43:33 New rules regarding business manager visa in Japan50:51 Business challenges: team, ops, focus58:00 AI Market: pay once, use for life marketplace01:00:58 How to find the right co-founder(s) for a new business 01:03:48 Where to follow Tyson, Smart Start Japan & scaling your company01:04:23 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Tyson & SmartStart Japan & Scaling Your CompanyTyson's Twitter/X: https://x.com/TysonbatinoTyson's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tysonbatinoSmartStart Japan's website: smartstartjapan.comScaling Your Company's website: scalingyourcompany.comOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
The two-way mirror: What DAOs and TradFi can learn from each other - EdCon Osaka 2025 Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-10-26 | What happens when 98% of your treasury is in your own token and the market crashes? In this eye-opening episode, Lam Trinh breaks down the critical lessons DAOs need to learn from Traditional Finance and what TradFi can learn from the world of decentralized organizations.From the shocking $77 million Beanstalk hack to treasury diversification strategies that could save DAOs from extinction, this talk reveals why most DAOs are one bear market away from a liquidity crisis. Lam explores the stark differences between TradFi's battle-tested risk management practices and the operational chaos many DAOs face today, while also highlighting the innovative advantages DAOs bring to the table such as transparent governance, modular composability, and borderless contributor networks.Whether you're managing a DAO treasury, working in Web3, or curious about the future of organizational structures, this episode offers actionable insights on treasury diversification, risk management frameworks, and how the hybrid organizations of tomorrow will combine the best of both worlds. Featuring real-world examples like Nouns DAO and practical strategies for sustainable growth across crypto cycles.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Introduction & Overview01:30 What DAOs Can Learn From TradFi02:00 Treasury Diversification in Traditional Finance04:02 The DAO Treasury Problem: 98% Native Token Risk05:41 Risk Management Lessons: The $77M Beanstalk Hack07:30 Operational Chaos vs Established Standards10:15 Web3's Advantages: Composability & Open Source12:15 The Modern DAO Governance Stack13:00 Fast-Moving Culture & Global Contributors14:00 Case Study: Nouns DAO Model17:00 Key Takeaways for DAOs: Treasury Strategy18:30 What TradFi Can Learn From DAOs19:10 ConclusionLam's social media:Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Inside Telegram’s Gaming Boom: Koko Amin on Growth, AI, and GOAT Gaming Playbook Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-10-20 | What does it take to build hit mini-games inside a billion-user messenger and actually grow them sustainably? In this episode, Koko Amin, Head of Growth & Marketing at Mighty Bear Games (makers of Goat Gaming on Telegram), unpacks her journey from finance → FMCG → TV acting → Web3, and why Telegram mini-apps flipped the distribution game for studios. We dig into community-led growth (Neo Tokyo), “vibe coding” with AI agents, and how the team rapidly ships titles like Kitty Solitaire, Waifu Clash, and Goat Wars plus a peek at Grab Gifts, their instant-gratification prize experience on TON. This conversation draws directly from the episode transcript.Koko also gets tactical: Telegram UA, scrapers and automations for channel discovery, compliance-minded AI sub-agents, designing PVP for quick sessions, and the revenue mechanics behind crowns, leaderboards, and return-to-player models. We cover what worked, what didn’t (sunsetting Mighty Action Heroes), and why “distribution is destiny” for Web3 gaming in 2025.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:33 Show & guest introduction01:48 Koko's diverse career journey08:51 Neo Tokyo gaming community10:48 How to sustain community beyond rewards12:19 Koko's hobbies13:46 “Vibe coding” and an AI-native growth team18:47 Mighty Bear Games origin story23:48 Gameplay demo 29:34 Underground Pepe game on Telegram32:12 Waifu Clash game demo35:04 Goat Wars game demo39:25 Explanation about GrabGifts on Telegram48:36 Business models of the different games49:07 How Koko thinks Telegram ecosystem will evolve50:14 Where to follow Koko & GOAT gaming51:00 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Koko (Komal) Amin & GOAT gaming:Koko (Komal) Amin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/komalameeGOAT gaming's Twitter/X: https://x.com/playgoatgamingGOAT gaming's Website: goatgaming.comOur social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: https://x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
EtherFi Cash: The On-Chain Card Taking On Banks | feat. Slater Heil - Head of Marketing Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-10-11 | From ICO lessons and a DeFi hack recovery to leading growth at EtherFi, Slater Heil shares how EtherFi’s on-chain cards aim to outcompete banks. We dig into borrow-as-you-swipe, instant cashback, Visa acceptance, Apple/Google wallet support, global availability, and the surprising travel perks crypto folks are raving about.We also cover the business side: interchange economics, staking performance fees, profitability, scaling pains (including a sudden 10× user surge), and why privacy + UX parity with TradFi are the next battlegrounds. If you’re building in Web3 or just want your money to be more useful this one’s packed with signal. ⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:48 Show & guest introduction01:50 Early life & career05:29 His previous experience at Blueberry08:20 Hobbies & interests10:05 EtherFi's founding story16:34 Product demo21:53 How users can obtain their EtherFi cards25:44 Different tiers of EtherFi cards27:45 Simple model of how EtherFi cards function31:27 EtherFi's business model36:00 How Web3 can unlock operational efficiency37:00 Challenges facing the EtherFi team39:34 How crypto cards will evolve in the future43:26 Advice for people who want to enter Web345:30 Where to follow Slater & EtherFi47:33 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Slater & EtherFi :EtherFi Website: https://www.ether.fi/ EtherFi Twitter/X: https://x.com/ether_fi Slater's Twitter/X: https://x.com/SlaterHeil Sign up for an EtherFi card and get some sign-up bonus points: https://www.ether.fi/app/cash/referral?ref_code=cbc56f16 Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Innovation in Game Development: A Conversation with Studio Vale CEO, Xanthos Vouldis Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-09-26 | From AAA stints at Cygames, tri-Ace, EA, and more to founding his own studio, Xanthos Vouldis joins Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship to unpack how great games are made and why his next title is an invitation-only real-time multiplayer dieselpunk airship battle game. We dive into his design framework, team roles, and why he’s building an invitation-only game community with squad-based online battles and a single-player campaign for every ship. Expect deep systems (armor, firing angles, crew management), PC-first plans, and a release target sometime next year.Xanthos also explains pricing (a premium buy-in), natural-language NPCs that can brief you mid-mission, and a wild perk: finish a campaign and they’ll ship you a physical model of your customized airship. At the end, he also shares how early players can snag invites. ⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:35 Show & guest introduction00:02:24 Why Japan & early career (Cygames, EA, Tri-Ace, DMM)00:04:05 A simple game design framework (the “chair” analogy)00:09:30 Who builds a game? Roles, teams, and pipelines00:13:29 Speedrunning solo dev: free assets & engine templates00:15:58 D&D as the best game-design bootcamp00:23:04 Founding Studio Vale; Houdini + selective AI for art00:42:14 Fixing “multiplayer fatigue” & role clarity00:46:49 Why early, ongoing player testing matters00:54:54 The future: prioritize gameplay over spectacle01:01:36 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Xanthos & Studio Vale:Studio Vale's Website: stvale.com/about-us Xanthos's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/xanthosvouldis For gamers that are interested in testing the real-time multiplayer airship game, you can book a meeting with Xanthos here: meetings-na2.hubspot.com/xanthos Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Inside Stables: Bernie Bilotta on Building the “Stablecoin Bank” for the Real World Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-09-07 | The banking rails we all use were built for the 1970s yet money now moves at internet speed. In this episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, Stables co-founder & CEO Bernie Bilotta explains how his team is building a mobile-first stablecoin bank that lets anyone hold a “digital dollar,” send it globally, and spend it at 140M+ merchants with a card while abstracting away chains, gas, and wallet complexity. He argues Visa/Mastercard won’t kill stablecoins they’ll accelerate them and predicts a future where QR-based, 24/7 payments pressure banks to modernize. Bernie walks through a live demo, shares traction, and discusses the rise of yield-bearing stablecoins and why a “one balance that goes up in real time” could unlock mass adoption. We also cover his fintech path, compliance headaches, competitors (Revolut/Wise), and founder lessons: play long-term games with long-term people.⌛ Timestamps:00:00 Episode trailer00:50 Show & guest introduction02:37 How his early life shaped his career11:12 Lessons from his Web3 journey14:16 The hobbies that help him stay balanced16:09 Stables product demo28:22 Stablecoin as a new yet potentially fragile innovation32:40 Discussion about yield-bearing stablecoin34:26 Stablecoin as a way to beat inflation in developing country39:20 Explanation about Web2 credit cards and how it works41:28 How Visa & Mastercard will accelerate the adoption of stablecoins44:13 His company's traction51:57 The people behind Stables54:29 The challenges of running a startup59:52 Bernie's prediction on the future of stablecoins1:03:03 Advice for Web3 founders1:06:02 Where to follow Bernie & Stables1:07:10 Episode outroFollow Bernie & Stables:Bernie's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stablesbernieStables 's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stables_moneyStables 's Website: https://stables.money/Use our referral code "STABLES-7DVM62" when applying for a Stables card. By using this code when registering, you will get Stable Points to earn future rewards!Our social media: Crypto card guide: cryptocardguide.comTwitter/X: x.com/ColorsofWeb3podLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/colors-of-web3-entrepreneurshipIf you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Decoding Web3 Trust with AI + DID featuring Yusaku from Mind Palace AI Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-08-25 | In the 75th episode, we sit down with Yusaku Numa, also known as "Nomad" on X to explore his journey from college entrepreneur to founder of Mind Palace , an innovative Web3 platform redefining how we trust information online. Yusaku shares how he was drawn into the crypto space, inspired by information overload and the difficulty of filtering trustworthy sources in Web3 ecosystems.Mind Palace uses AI agents, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), and on-chain + social media data to assign credibility scores and aggregate insights, helping users navigate trends, research projects, and avoid misinformation. Whether you’re a developer, investor, gamer, or just curious about how trust in decentralized ecosystems can be rebuilt this episode is for you.Yusaku also talks about his passion for travel, language learning, and how his experiences at FinLab and upcoming appearances at WebX and EdCon are helping shape the future of decentralized identity and social credibility scoring.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode intro00:00:32 Show & guest introduction00:04:26 How Mind Palace started00:08:45 Dive deep into Mind Palace's recent Project00:13:46 The future of MindPalace and upcoming features00:27:33 Filtering trustworthy Web3 info with AI00:30:00 Mind Palace tech stack & UX demo00:33:22 Credibility scoring with SNS + on-chain data00:35:23 Memory chains & visual trust networks00:39:25 Business model: API & sponsorships00:45:13 Advice for Web3 founders00:47:18 Where to follow Yusaku & Mind Palace00:48:25 Episode outroFollow Yusaku & Mind Palace:Yusaku's Twitter/X: https://x.com/nomad_css Mind Palace's Website: mindpalace.jp Mind Palace's Twitter/X: https://x.com/MindPalace_ai My social media: Find the best crypto cards for you: cryptocardsguide.com Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Inside the world of Pixels: building a social Web3 gaming empire Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-07-20 | In the 74th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Heidi Christine, CMO and Head of Community at Pixels, joins us to talk about Pixels vibrant Web3 farming game with over 10 million users. Heidi takes us through her journey from studying electrical engineering to leading one of the most community-driven Web3 games in the space.We dive deep into what makes Pixels unique, how it has cultivated a loyal and engaged user base, and the powerful role community plays in its ongoing success. Heidi also shares her views on the evolution of Web3 gaming, why retention trumps growth, and how experiments and user sentiment drive strategy in an industry that never sleeps.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:31 Show & guest introduction00:05:59 Leaving corporate life to find creative passion00:09:52 Self learning: digital marketing and freelancing00:11:50 Joining Pixels and early marketing work00:17:36 Pixels gameplay walkthrough and live demo00:30:10 Weekly AMA strategy and community culture00:34:38 Building “farmer-friendly” values and scaling up00:43:24 Challenges of Web3 gaming and evolving team dynamics00:51:08 Advice for people who want to enter Web300:52:27 Where to follow Heidi & Pixels00:53:21 Episode outro & brief announcement Follow Pixels & Heidi:Pixels's Website: pixels.xyzPixels's Twitter/X: https://x.com/pixels_online Heidi's Twitter/X: https://x.com/heidichristne Pixels' Discord: discord.com/invite/pixels My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Rebuilding the Creator Economy with AI, Music & Web3 | Taral Gurung of Soundbeats Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-07-06 | In this episode, Taral Gurung, founder and CEO of Soundbeats, shares with us a groundbreaking platform at the intersection of AI, music, gaming, and Web3. Taral’s journey from finance student to serial entrepreneur is anything but ordinary. From launching an education center in Hong Kong to working on metaverse initiatives for Bollywood award shows, his story is filled with resilience, reinvention, and vision.We explore the motivations behind Soundbeats and why the current creator economy is broken, and how blockchain, NFTs, and AI can empower both artists and fans through co-creation and ownership. Taral also dives deep into the platform's mechanics: gamified music experiences, AI-generated songs from photos, creator monetization, and their thoughtful approach to building utility-first music NFTs.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:30 Show & guest introduction00:05:40 Taral's journey: From Finance to Tech00:09:59 How Taral discovered Web300:13:04 Taral's hobbies00:14:52 Origin story of Soundbeats00:18:51 Deep dive into Soundbeats00:26:32 Soundbeats community building & traction00:33:41 Ethical concerns around dopamine loops in game design00:36:35 Soundbeats product demo00:39:47 How gameplay works in Soundbeats00:40:49 Challenges facing Soundbeats00:42:13 Future of the creator economy: fan engagement via Web300:45:19 How Soundbeats utilizes AI models00:47:04 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs00:50:00 Where to follow Taral & Soundbeats00:50:43 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Soundbeats & Taral:Soundbeats's Website: soundbeats.ioSoundbeats's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Soundbeats_Taral's Twitter/X: https://x.com/taralgrgMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building the Future of Cross-Chain DeFi with Leo Vigna | Veraswap, Chainlink & Web3 Innovation Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-06-22 | In episode 72 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we chat with Leo Vigna, CEO and Co-founder of Veraswap. Leo shares his incredible journey into Web3, starting from his early days in crypto in 2017, winning third place at ETH Denver 2020, and scaling Chainlink node operations with Vulcan Link. He dives into the technical details of what it means to be a Chainlink node operator, providing critical data feeds for DeFi protocols like Aave, and how this infrastructure helps secure billions in collateralized lending.The conversation then pivots to Veraswap, Leo's current venture, a cross-chain DEX that allows users to seamlessly buy any cryptocurrency from any chain, leveraging Uniswap and Hyperlane. He demonstrates Veraswap's one-button swap functionality, discusses the intricacies of bridging protocols like Hyperlane, and offers insights into the future of user experience in DeFi, including intent-based bridging and the potential for "basket" purchases of assets. Leo also delves into the significant improvements brought by Uniswap V4, such as Hooks and native Ethereum pools, and the groundbreaking advancements in account abstraction with features like session keys and multi-chain user operations.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:01:06 Show & guest introduction 00:04:49 ETH Denver, Chainlink hackathon & early crypto days00:07:29 What it takes to be a Chainlink node operator00:12:47 Building and pivoting: Owl Protocol to Veraswap00:14:53 Living nomadically & work setup00:15:53 Leo’s hobbies00:21:20 Demo of Veraswap00:27:24 Intent-based systems vs. Veraswap architecture00:29:44 Veraswap’s UX philosophy & token baskets00:33:45 Uniswap v4 vs. v3: Hooks, upgrades & design00:35:45 Future of AMMs & Uniswap00:39:19 Account abstraction & multi-chain smart wallets00:45:27 Competitors & differentiation in cross-chain DeFi00:49:46 Veraswap’s business model & sticky UX strategy00:56:34 Team structure, hackathons & building lean01:01:58 The future of Web3 DEX and integration with TradFi01:07:30 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs01:11:21 Where to follow Leo & Veraswap01:12:16 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Veraswap & LeoVeraswap's Website: https://www.Veraswap.io/Veraswap's Twitter/X: https://x.com/verabridge_ioLeo's Twitter/X: https://x.com/ProofOfLeoMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Tokenizing Real Estate & Gold: Kevin Rusher on RAACs Seamless TradFi-DeFi Bridge Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-06-15 | Kevin Rusher, founder and CEO of Regnum Aurum Acquisition Corp (RAAC), joins us in episode 71 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship. Kevin, a Web3 native with a background in accounting and finance, shares his fascinating journey from writing a fintech paper about Bitcoin to becoming a power user in DeFi and eventually leading RAAC. He recounts his early experiences moonlighting for a crypto exchange doing KYC/AML checks and helping build a medium-scale GPU mining facility, managing one of the largest Ravencoin and ETH miners in the world at the time. This deep dive into the practical side of crypto laid the foundation for his current innovative ventures.RAAC's core mission is to provide the most seamless bridge between TradFi (Traditional Finance) and DeFi. Kevin explains that RAAC is built on four main pillars: lending, borrowing, collateral liquidity, and rewards. The company addresses the inherent volatility in DeFi by offering stable collateral, starting with one-to-one backed real estate NFTs that are redeemable for the underlying title. Beyond real estate, RAAC has secured commitments for $3 billion in assets, primarily gold, to mint stablecoins, turning traditionally illiquid assets into revenue-producing ones pre-production. RAAC’s approach is unique, being a DeFi product built by DeFi natives for DeFi natives, yet harnessing traditional finance.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:31 Show & guest introduction 00:05:38 How GPU Mining Works00:14:32 Crypto’s growth and institutional involvement00:15:33 Kevin's hobbies00:17:06 Introducing RAAC00:21:48 Integrating real estate with stablecoins in DeFi00:27:16 Chainlink and oracle solutions powering RAAC00:33:02 Understanding institutional interest00:36:02 Bringing RWA on chain via stablecoins00:38:51 Bridging TradFi and DeFi00:40:51 Highlighting the core offering: Real estate meets NFTs00:43:12 Closed loop ecosystem in DeFi00:44:42 Legal challenges in real estate tokenization00:47:03 What is Section 8 real estate00:49:02 Risk management for RAAC's business model00:52:06 Analyzing competitors in the RWA market00:55:02 RAAC’s revenue model and business strategy00:57:16 Team dynamics and operational agility00:59:50 Challenges in articulating complex idea01:02:21 Reputation issues in the Web3 space01:05:36 Where RWA are headed in Web301:10:51 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:15:28 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow RAAC & Kevin:RAAC's Website: raac.ioRAAC's Twitter/X: https://x.com/RegnumAurumKevin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/kkrusherrMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Reinventing DeFi with AI: Victor Lee’s Bold Vision Behind MAIGA Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-06-05 | In this episode, we talk with Victor Lee, co-founder and CEO of MAIGA, about his journey from a fintech and banking background into the world of crypto and Web3 since 2018. He shares valuable insights from building machine learning startups, navigating DeFi cycles, and emphasizes the importance of creating monetization models that go beyond hype in Web3.Victor introduces MAIGA, an AI agent for DeFi designed to simplify crypto trading using AI signals and automated execution via a Telegram bot. He explains their unique "Proof of Trading" token model that ties token release to trading volume, which helps to solve the problem of token dumping and enabling sustainable revenue. With over 100k organic users and growing traction, MAIGA is paving a new path for user-friendly DeFi tools.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Trailer00:00:24 Intro & Victor’s intro00:05:28 First steps in crypto, mining & data analytics00:08:02 Lessons learned from early startups00:10:19 Pivoting into DeFi: Recognizing Market Opportunities 00:15:31 Hobbies of Victor00:17:35 What is MAIGA?00:19:56 The role of AI agents in simplifying DeFi00:22:53 What MAIGA's AI agent actually does00:25:41 The innovation behind Proof of Trading00:28:30 What’s next for MAIGA and where it’s heading00:33:39 How Proof of Trading really works00:39:36 How AI is shaping tokenomics00:46:15 Revenue model and monetization strategy00:53:15 Comparison of Web3 AI agents00:58:06 The future of AI agents01:03:55 Advice for aspiring Web3 builders01:06:06 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Victor Lee and MAIGA:MAIGA's Website: maiga.aiMAIGA's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Maiga_AIVictor Lee's Twitter/X: https://x.com/victorleejwMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Inside the Future of MEV on Solana: With Catscope’s Joel & Naomi Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-05-28 | In this 69th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Joel de Jesus & Naomi Honda to uncover the hidden world of Maximum Extractable Value (MEV) on Solana. MEV is generating hundreds of millions in fees monthly—yet remains elusive and inaccessible to most traders and validators. That’s where Catscope comes in.Naomi and Joel share their unconventional journey into the crypto world—Naomi from fashion and sociology, and Joel from Bitcoin mining—and how they joined forces to build the first decentralized MEV marketplace. You’ll learn about the technical and business challenges of building in the Solana ecosystem, their unique validator-trader model, and how their tooling aims to democratize high-frequency trading.⌛ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:27 Intro: Joel De Jesus & Naomi Honda 00:06:15 Naomi’s entry into tech and Solana ecosystem 00:07:10 How Joel and Naomi met and launched Catscope 00:08:27 Pivoting Catscope after Radar hackathon 00:09:33 Hobbies of Joel & Naomi 00:12:05 What is Catscope? 00:12:33 MEV explained and why it matters 00:15:04 Catscope’s unique approach to MEV 00:17:09 Validator costs and Catscope’s accessibility 00:18:18 Marketplace model: linking traders & validators 00:25:55 Why Solana is the best chain for this solution 00:29:56 Geyser plugin and Catscope’s custom setup 00:33:31 Bandwidth allocation via on-chain auctions 00:37:56 Catscope's business model 00:39:20 Catscope’s challenge on Solana 00:45:03 Go-to-market and community engagement 00:51:35 Advice for new Web3 founders 00:53:15 Where to follow Catscope 00:53:55 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Catscope, Naomi Honda and Joel de Jesus :Catscope's Website: catscope.ioCatscope's Twitter/X: https://x.com/catscope_ioJoel de Jesus's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Molo81419714 My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Unlocking Bitcoins Potential: Rootstock, EVM, and DeFi with Sebastian Guaqueta Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-05-17 | In Episode 68 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we dive into the Bitcoin ecosystem with Sebastian Guaqueta, software engineer at Rootstock. Sebastian’s story is inspiring—from mechanical engineer in Colombia to game dev, to Web3 hacker, and now helping bring DeFi to Bitcoin through Rootstock.We explore how Rootstock brings smart contract functionality to Bitcoin using an EVM-compatible Layer 2, powered by merge mining. Sebastian breaks down how the protocol works, the innovative Hacktivator program for developers, and the unique DAO-powered grants for builders. For those curious about real Bitcoin use cases beyond store of value, this is an episode packed with technical depth and real-world applications.Whether you’re a Bitcoin OG, an Ethereum dev, or someone curious about where DeFi is headed, this episode is your bridge between the chains.⏳ Timestamps: 00:00:00 Trailer00:00:28 Intro & Sebastian’s intro00:01:24 Sebastian’s background: engineer to Web300:02:40 How Sebastian got into freelancing00:06:18 Big gaming project in Singapore00:09:23 Why Sebastian loves Hackathons00:11:21 First hackathon win00:12:35 Carbon offset project on Celo00:15:13 ETHGlobal finalist story00:18:39 Sebastian's Hobbies: FIFA & soccer00:24:18 Deep dive on Rootstock00:26:18 Merged mining concept explained00:27:03 RBTC bridge00:30:18 Some statistics of Rootstock00:30:55 Some ideas to build on Rootstock00:31:59 Dev tools & Hacktivator00:34:55 Rootstock DAO grants00:37:39 POWpeg bridge00:39:05 Potential apps that can be built on Rootstock00:41:17 Leveraging Bitcoin in DeFi use case00:43:06 Rootstock Collective - Governance00:48:39 People and team behind Rootstock00:50:59 Team communication challenge00:52:24 ZK integration challenge00:54:25 Competition in Bitcoin L2s00:55:53 Future of Bitcoin ecosystem00:58:53 Limitations due to Bitcoin architecture00:59:43 Mining reward sustainability01:02:52 80% of Bitcoin hash rate go into merge mining01:05:16 Breaking into Web3 advice01:07:14 The importance of networking01:09:13 Where to follow Sebastian01:10:06 Outro & next episode previewFollow Sebastian Guaqueta and Rootstock:Rootstock's Website: rootstock.ioRootstock DAO: https://rootstockcollective.xyz/Rootstock hacktivator: dev.rootstock.io/resources/contribute/hacktivatorSebastian's Twitter/X: https://x.com/scguaquetam Rootstock's Twitter/X: https://x.com/rootstock_ioRootstock Github: github.com/rsksmartMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
How Supra is Building the Most Versatile Blockchain feat. Jon Jones Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-05-09 | In the 67th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Jon Jones, co-founder and CBO of Supra, shares his fascinating and unconventional journey, starting from his upbringing in upstate New York to a transformative two-year experience in Cameroon, Africa. He recounts how this unique period shaped his perspective and ultimately led him to the dynamic world of Web3.Dive deep into the story behind Supra as Jon discusses its mission and the team's focused approach. He elaborates on the importance of zero optionality in achieving ambitious goals and building a resilient company in the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape. This episode offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs and anyone curious about the diverse paths that lead to innovation in the decentralized web.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:34 Show intro & Jon’s self-intro 00:03:13 Jon's background 00:06:07 Moving to Taiwan and building community00:08:42 How Supra began, founding story and vision00:11:26 Exploring the technology and infrastructure of Supra00:14:20 The importance of open source in blockchain00:16:56 Web3 through the lens of political economy00:19:48 Personal interests and hobbies 00:25:50 What makes Supra stand out00:33:22 Supra mainnet goes live with multi-virtual machine support00:36:30 Seamless blockchain integration powered by Supra Nova00:37:36 The rise of dapps and novel solutions on Supra00:41:54 Gaming and blockchain00:48:11 Stablecoins and the future of payments in Web300:52:03 Building a remote-first company culture00:56:57 The role of research in advancing blockchain technology00:59:54 Supra's business models 01:04:45 Future aspirations and advice for web3 entrepreneurship01:09:38 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Jon and Supra:Supra's Website: supra.comSupra's Twitter/X: https://x.com/SUPRA_Labs Jon's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JonEvansJones My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building the Worlds Most Private Messaging App: Sessions Decentralized Journey with Kee Jefferys Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-04-30 | In the 66th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, host Lam Trinh is joined by Kee Jefferys, the technical co-founder of Session. Kee shares his journey from university dropout to building a decentralized, censorship-resistant messaging network with over 2,200 global nodes and 1.2M+ monthly users. We dive deep into onion routing, proof-of-stake infrastructure, the economics behind Session’s token incentives, and how privacy-focused tools are crucial in the age of surveillance and AI.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:28 Intro & Kee’s self-intro 00:01:53 Kee’s background 00:02:56 Privacy tech & Session idea 00:04:13 Internship & company launch 00:05:27 Why degrees matter less 00:07:11 Getting into Web3 without CS degree 00:08:32 How Kee first learned about Web3 (Mt. Gox) 00:10:57 Early Bitcoin education 00:12:51 Market cycles in crypto 00:13:42 Kee's hobbies: Coding & rock climbing 00:15:01 Favorite programming language & AI tools00:17:29 AI's role in developer work 00:20:00 What is Session? 00:21:44 Decentralized network architecture of session 00:25:35 Censorship resistance property of Session 00:27:24 How metadata is stored in Session 00:29:47 Onion routing explained 00:32:55 Tor vs. Session 00:34:12 Privacy in routing 00:35:40 Spam protection 00:37:37 Token farming issues in messaging apps 00:39:11 Organic user growth 00:40:15 Who uses Session? 00:45:06 Consensus mechanism for the nodes00:47:31 Why Session decided to fork Monero 00:48:25 Technical challenges in early days building Session 00:49:53 Rewards on the node network 00:52:13 Node economics 00:55:05 Tokenomics over time 00:56:26 Team & contributors 00:57:38 How Session co-founders meet 01:00:55 Business model: Session Pro 01:03:02 Name system & monetization 01:04:27 Scaling challenges 01:07:02 Growth comparison to Web2 messaging apps 01:08:14 Web3 messaging apps' future 01:10:31 Possible future of AI in messaging apps 01:12:57 Kee's advice for Web3 founders01:14:54 Where to follow Session01:16:17 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Kee and Session:Session Website: getsession.org Session Twitter/X: https://x.com/session_app Kee's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JefferysKee My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
How Modastera is Using AI to Fix Healthcare (ft. Joshua Owoyemi) Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-04-22 | In episode 65 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Joshua Owoyemi, PhD and co-founder of Modastera, to explore how AI is being used to improve medical diagnostics, reduce healthcare costs, and empower doctors.From his early beginnings in Nigeria and a PhD in Japan to building Modastera, Joshua’s story is packed with hustle, vision, and purpose. He shares lessons from his edtech startup, the realities of healthtech adoption, and how Modastera is helping medical device companies develop AI tools 60% faster and at a fraction of the cost.Whether you're curious about AI in medicine, entrepreneurship across borders, or the future of healthcare innovation, this episode will keep you inspired and informed.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:24 Introduction and self-introduction of Joshua 00:01:05 Joshua’s background and how he got into health tech00:05:43 His gig as a studio engineer00:07:01 his journey to Japan for higher education00:10:43 Joshua's Edtech platform business00:14:05 Joshua's early entrepreneurial lessons in Japan00:19:31 Joshua's stint as a saxophonist00:20:53 His PhD in System Information Science00:23:03 His first job in Japan working in autonomous driving00:27:03 How Joshua got into the healthcare industry00:30:32 The inefficiencies that the healthcare industry in Japan face00:34:07 His time at Antler Japan as an entrepreneur00:36:31 The unique characteristic of Antler00:38:12 His existing idea when joining Antler Japan00:43:22 An important question that every entrepreneur needs to answer00:45:45 How long did it take Joshua to find the co-founder?00:53:25 Details leading to Antler's graduation day00:55:16 Building trust and navigating Japanese corporate culture00:55:54 Joshua shares Modastera’s vision and medical AI solution01:00:41 Pain points around annotation and data handling01:01:47 The long-term vision for automated model training01:05:13 Modastera product demo01:07:40 The market size that Modastera is aiming at01:09:33 Global competition of Modastera01:11:44 The 5x improvement that Modastera aims to bring to medical device companies01:15:22 Modastera business model01:16:18 Modastera's upcoming roadmap01:18:01 The importance of data in AI model training01:19:27 Challenges in deploying AI models in production01:21:15 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs01:22:54 Where to follow Joshua and updates from Modastera01:23:36 Closing thoughts and episode outroFollow Joshua and Modastera:Joshua's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshua-owoyemiModastera website: modastera.comMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Web3 innovation with Sophon - the future of consumer crypto feat. Sebastien Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-04-06 | In Episode 64 of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, host Lam chats with Sebastien, the co-founder and CEO of Sophon, a consumer-oriented blockchain shaking up the Web3 space. Sebastien shares his fascinating journey—from studying history and philosophy to working in finance and eventually diving deep into crypto during the 2018-2019 boom. He walks us through his time at Rocket Internet, a prestigious bank, Nervos, and Matter Labs (ZK Sync), before founding Sophon with a mission to make crypto accessible to everyone. With a $10M seed round and a $65M node sale, Sophon launched its mainnet in December 2024 and has already processed 50 million transactions in just three months!This episode dives into Sophon’s innovative approach, including its seamless user experience, the Sophon Home platform, and the groundbreaking Sophon Data Hub powered by ZKTLS technology. Sebastien explains how Sophon aims to onboard the next billion users by bridging Web2 and Web3, offering features like account abstraction and gasless transactions. Whether you’re a crypto newbie or a seasoned builder, this conversation offers insights into the future of blockchain and entrepreneurship. Tune in to hear Sebastien’s advice for aspiring Web3 founders and get a sneak peek at Sophon’s exciting ecosystem, from on-chain gaming to ticketing.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:27 Show introduction and quick self-introduction of Sebastien00:01:33 Seb’s professional career before Web300:03:37 How Seb first broke into Web300:07:01 The origin of Sophon 00:09:50 His experience working at a prestigious Web2 bank00:12:53 His time at Nervos blockchain00:15:44 His time at Matter Labs (core contributor of ZKSync)00:16:35 Elastic chain of ZKSync and Interoperability plan00:18:31 Sebastien's hobbies outside of work00:20:48 Deep dive into Sophon, a Layer-2 zk blockchain00:24:30 The features that make Sophon consumer-friendly00:28:22 Sophon portal, the place where users can tap into everything00:29:30 Sophon Data Hub using zkTLS that helps to prove existing (Web2) consumer data onchain 00:32:48 Some example applications on Sophon: games, AI agents, onchain ticketing00:35:42 How Sophon distinguishes from other general-purpose blockchains00:38:04 Challenges facing Sophon team00:39:01 Seb’s advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs00:40:17 Where to follow Sebastien and stay updated on Sophon00:40:48 Episode outro and final thoughtsFollow Sebastien and Sophon: Sebastien's X/Twitter: https://x.com/0xsebastiena Sophon website: https://sophon.xyz/ My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building the Future of Web3 Gaming feat. Marco van den Heuvel from Beam Labs Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-03-29 | In the 63rd episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sits down with Marco van den Heuvel, co-founder of Beam Labs, to discuss the evolving landscape of Web3 gaming. Marco shares his fascinating journey—from discovering Bitcoin during college to co-founding Beam Labs—and highlights the incredible innovations driving the future of gaming and blockchain integration.Together, they dive into the challenges and breakthroughs in Web3, including building decentralized gaming infrastructures, fostering vibrant communities, and creating ecosystems that empower developers and gamers alike. Marco also unveils exciting announcements for 2025: Beam Layer 1 upgrades, Beam Ventures, and the role of AI in gaming.Whether you're a Web3 enthusiast, an entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of gaming and blockchain, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss!⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Marco van den Heuvel00:02:00 Marco’s journey into Web3 and early Bitcoin discovery00:03:06 Building communities in Web3 and lessons learned00:09:05 How Marco discovered about Bitcoin00:10:59 Marco's fascination with terrarium00:16:32 Background of Beam Labs from Merit Circle days00:20:00 What Beam does: a 360-degree overview00:23:55 The significance of Beam Nodes and validator rewards00:26:00 Origin of the name Merit Circle and the rebrand to Beam00:31:04 Transition from an Avalanche subnet to Beam’s Layer 1 blockchain00:36:24 Web3 tech requirements for games00:39:05 Beam’s tech stack: NFT marketplace, wallet, and SDK00:40:59 Beam Ventures: $150M gaming and AI investment fund in Abu Dhabi00:44:31 Marco discusses competition and Beam’s unique approach00:46:05 Beam's business models00:50:24 Challenges facing Beam Labs00:52:46 Evolution of Web3 gaming and the need for mainstream adoption00:54:45 The people behind Beam Labs00:59:30 Marco's take on a multi-chain world01:01:30 How Web3 gaming will evolve in the future01:04:16 Marco's favorite Web3 games01:08:02 Marco’s advice for Web3 founders building gaming infrastructure01:09:57 Where to follow Marco and stay updated on Beam Labs01:11:01 Episode outro and final thoughtsFollow Marco and Beam: Beam Labs X/Twitter: https://x.com/buildonbeam Beam Foundation X/Twitter: https://x.com/BeamFDN Marco's X/Twitter: https://x.com/Marco_Beam Beam website: onbeam.com Beam telegram: t.dot/buildonbeam My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Agora: Making Decentralized Web3 Governance a Reality feat. Charlie Feng, co-founder and CEO Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-03-10 | In the 62nd episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, Lam chats with Charlie Feng, co-founder of Agora.xyz, an end-to-end governance platform for leading Ethereum protocols like Optimism, Uniswap, and ENS. Charlie shares his journey from early coding projects and FinTech ventures to building a platform that helps internet-first businesses coordinate and make decisions.Charlie dives into the world of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), explaining how they function as organizations with governance mechanisms that are becoming increasingly programmatic. He discusses the lifecycle of a DAO governance proposal, from ideation and discussion to temperature checks, voting, and execution. Charlie also touches on the challenges and opportunities DAOs face, including the importance of progressive decentralization and the potential impact of AI on governance.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Charlie Feng00:01:43 Charlie’s background: From finance to Web300:02:39 Building AI chatbots before modern AI advancements00:03:36 Charlie’s first fintech startup and scaling to $100M revenue00:08:54 Charlie shares how he first learned about Web300:10:16 Charlie shares his hobbies and what he enjoys outside of work00:13:46 Building Agora for Web3 Governance00:15:31 Understanding DAOs and decentralized governance00:15:59 Why Web3 governance matters for decentralized ecosystems00:18:38 Charlie explains Agora’s on-chain voting system00:19:55 The role of smart contracts in automating decisions00:21:15 Lifecycle of a DAO proposal00:28:03 Role of Agora in DAO Governance00:30:26 Competition of Agora in the DAO Governance landspace00:33:05 How many people are working in Agora00:37:03 Charlie's Take on DAO Governance Participation00:40:57 Charlie explains the benefits of decentralization00:43:14 Challenges Charlie’s team faces in building Agora00:52:16 Charlie’s take on AI's Impact on Work and DAO Governance01:01:11 Upcoming innovations and roadmap for Agora01:02:09 Advice for Web3 founders looking to build governance solutions01:04:25 Where to follow Charlie and learn more about Agora01:05:26 Episode outro and closing remarksFollow Charlie and Agora: Charlie's Twitter: https://x.com/charliecfeng Charlie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliecf Agora platform: https://agora.xyz My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Web3, Machine Learning, and the Future of Collective Intelligence with Jean Herelle from Crunch Lab Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-02-23 | In this 61st episode, Jean Herelle, CEO of Crunch Lab, shares his journey into Web3 and machine learning. Jean discusses the challenges of applying machine learning to financial markets and how it led to the creation of Crunch, a machine learning DePIN with thousands of engineers and PhDs. Crunch enables companies to build better models at a lower cost by using an obfuscated version of their data. The platform also allows individuals to contribute by building new kinds of time series, generating trading signals using LLMs.The conversation explores the potential of Web3 to create trust and ownership, as well as new coordination mechanisms. Jean shares his insights on the evolving landscape of Web3 and machine learning, including the importance of privacy and community-driven innovation. He also touches on the future of work, where AI agents and robots may play a significant role.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Jean @ Crunch00:01:36 Jean’s background in econometrics and entry into crypto00:03:29 Shifting from computer science to machine learning00:04:18 First ML hackathon and risk modeling for insurance00:09:50 Jean's 1st exposure to Bitcoin and early trading experience 00:20:51 Jean shares his hobbies and how he spends time outside of work00:23:56 Crunch: A machine learning DePIN powering decentralized intelligence00:37:53 Crunch's collective intelligence model00:56:44 Using differential privacy for secure data sharing01:00:41 Jean explains Crunch’s incentive and reward system01:03:55 Crunch is building on Solana01:05:46 The team behind Crunch01:07:10 Challenges that Crunch team faces01:10:03 What is the future of Web3 and machine learning? 01:14:07 Will robots outnumber human workers in the future?01:19:43 Advice for aspiring Web3 and ML entrepreneurs01:22:11 Where to follow Jean and Crunch01:23:20 Closing remarks and next episode previewFollow Jean and Crunch: Crunch website: crunchdao.comCrunch Twitter: https://x.com/crunchDAOCrunch Discord: discord.gg/y2Re2hKu9nMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Zombie Train: A New Era of Gaming on Telegram feat. Sergey Kuzmin Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-02-08 | In this 60th episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we dive deep into the journey of Sergey Kuzmin, co-founder of Zombie Train, a groundbreaking 3D game built within Telegram. Sergey shares his unique path from an engineer with a 3D printing business producing personalized light shades, to a Web3 entrepreneur navigating the world of NFTs, and now a game developer. He discusses his experiences with building NFT collections and marketplaces, and how those experiences shaped his perspective on community building within Web3.Sergey also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the development of Zombie Train, highlighting the technical challenges of optimizing a Unity game for Telegram. He discusses the game's unique features, including its leaderboard and in-game economy, as well as the importance of creating a fun and engaging experience to retain users. Sergey also touches upon the future of Web3 gaming and how it will evolve. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of AI and utilizing AI tools for growth and learning.Finally, he shares the future plans for Zombie Train and how the game intends to address the common problem of post-TGE user disengagement. Sergey's insights provide a valuable perspective on the current state of Web3, emphasizing community building, user experience and product utility and not just hype.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Intro to the show and Sergey's self-introduction00:01:56 Sergey's 3D printing business00:03:35 Sergey's education in robotics and 3D printing00:05:54 Products made in 3D printing business00:06:50 Customer retention in the 3D printing business00:09:28 Launch of an NFT collection on Theta Network00:14:50 NFT marketplace development and a setback00:17:13 Sergey's hobbies: American football00:22:42 Introduction to Telegram mini apps and Zombie Train00:27:03 Technical challenges of Unity games in Telegram00:28:33 Demo of Zombie Train00:33:42 Game play, how to progress in the game and rewards00:37:26 The problem of TGE (Token Generation Event) in Telegram games and Sergey's plan to build a Zombie world hub00:40:00 In-game business model and product placement00:42:18 Bot farming and AI agents00:47:09 Future of Web3 gaming00:50:40 Telegram as a platform and why Sergey chose Telegram00:51:45 Sergey's general advice on learning AI00:56:09 Where to follow Sergey and Zombie Train00:57:12 Disclaimer: Not financial advice00:57:42 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Sergey and play Zombie Train: Sergey's Telegram handle: @sergeykuzminZombie Train game (on Telegram): https://t.me/zombietrainbotZombie train website: https://zombietra.in/Zombie Train Twitter/X: https://x.com/zombietraingameMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Building Web3 Solutions with Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation feat. Shukhrat & Alex Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-01-28 | Join us in this 59th episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship as we delve into the fascinating journeys of Shukhrat Shadibekov, CEO, and Alex Topal, CTO of Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation, as they share their experiences in the Web3 and blockchain space. From their early days in IT development to leading two companies in the cutting-edge world of blockchain, they offer a wealth of insights into the industry. They discuss their initial foray into Web3, driven by a client request for a gaming platform, and how they navigated the complexities of blockchain development despite their lack of experience. Their story is one of adapting, learning, and innovating at a rapid pace in an industry that never stands still.This episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone interested in Web3, entrepreneurship, and the future of technology. Shukhrat and Alex provide an in-depth look into their journey, their companies, and their vision for the future, making this a must-listen for anyone wanting to learn more about the world of blockchain.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Shukhrat and Alex00:02:15 Shukhrat’s journey from IT to Web300:03:05 Alex’s background in engineering and blockchain development00:05:00 How Shukhrat and Alex met and started working together00:06:50 First blockchain project: Building a gaming platform00:12:45 Shukhrat and Alex’s hobbies: Traveling, sports, and water activities00:17:38 Expanding blockchain education and adoption for non-crypto users00:20:10 Account abstraction and simplifying wallet access00:27:30 Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation: Blockchain services and ecosystems00:28:11 RWA tokenization trends and projects00:34:31 AI integration in blockchain for documentation and automation00:39:10 Why the insurance industry is not yet ready for blockchain adoption00:43:32 Web3 and AI focus: 80% Web3, 20% AI clients00:45:06 Ultron Foundation: Layer 1 blockchain with an extensive ecosystem00:49:15 Upcoming innovations in blockchain and AI01:00:44 Fantom’s recent decision to migrate to Sonic01:02:37 The teams behind Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation 01:10:09 How AI and blockchain will evolve in the future01:13:07 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs01:15:01 Where to follow Shukhrat, Alex, and their projects01:15:38 Outro and closing remarksFollow Shukhrat, Alex and their company: Cyber Bee website: https://cyberbee.dev/ Cyber Bee LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cyberbee-dev Shukhrat's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shadibekov Alex's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-topal My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Decentralizing Everything: Building Humanitys First Blind Computer with Miguel de Vega Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2025-01-12 | In this 58th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Miguel de Vega, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Nillion, to explore the groundbreaking concept of a blind computer and its implications for Web3 privacy.With a background in engineering, mathematics, and AI, Miguel's journey led him to zero-knowledge proofs and the world of cryptography. In 2021, recognizing the urgent need for privacy-enhancing technologies in Web3, he co-founded Nillion, a company pioneering the development of a decentralized infrastructure for handling personal and private information. We delve into the intricacies of Nillion's blind computer, a decentralized network that allows computation on data without revealing the underlying information. Miguel explains how this innovative technology leverages a combination of privacy-enhancing techniques, such as multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption, to empower users and developers with unprecedented security and control over their data.Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a decentralized company, the evolution of Web3 privacy, and the potential for Nillion's blind computer to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare to finance. Discover how this cutting-edge technology is paving the way for a future where privacy and decentralization are paramount.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Introduction and brief self-introduction of Miguel De Vega00:01:08 Miguel’s journey: From engineering and AI to Web300:04:34 Zero-knowledge proofs and the evolution of cryptography00:05:51 How Miguel discovered Web3 and joined the crypto space in 201700:08:13 The shift from globalization to automation and Web3’s role in AI00:10:09 Miguel’s hobbies: Traveling, snowboarding, and skateboarding00:12:49 Introduction to Nillion and the concept of the “blind computer”00:17:33 Decentralizing sensitive data with Nillion’s blind computer00:20:35 Building production-ready systems: From academia to scale00:22:15 Quantum security and the challenges of privacy-enhancing technologies00:25:22 How Nillion simplifies PETs (privacy-enhancing technologies) for developers00:31:29 Nillion’s support for Web2 and Web3 developers00:37:10 Business model: Token incentives and building public infrastructure00:40:47 How many people are currently working at Nillion Labs00:43:18 What are the challenges facing Nillion Labs00:44:45 The importance of marketing in complex Web3 projects00:45:25 Nillion’s Tuk Tuk campaign: Bridging physical and digital marketing00:51:36 Miguel’s take on the future of privacy in Web301:02:15 Nillion’s roadmap: Mainnet launch and developer success stories01:04:34 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs01:08:54 Where to follow Miguel and stay updated on Nillion01:10:27 Outro and closing remarks for the episodeFollow Miguel and his company: Nillion website: nillion.com Nillion Twitter/X: https://x.com/nillionnetwork For Nillion devs: masquerade.nillion.comMiguel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/miguel_de_vegaMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Language Expert to Web3 Travel Disruptor: Kim D Chais Journey Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-12-31 | Kim D Chai, co-founder and CEO of AmphiSpace, joins the Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship show to share her journey from language expert and localization specialist to Web3 travel disruptor. Kim discusses her early work on anime localization, including popular titles like One Piece and Naruto, and her transition into the world of Web3.Discover how Kim's passion for languages and her experience building centralized translation platforms led her to create Amphi.Space, a decentralized aggregator for Web3 and AI events. Kim explains how Amphi.Space aims to revolutionize the travel industry by streamlining bookings, offering real-world asset integration, and fostering connections within the Web3 community.Dive into the world of Web3 travel and the future of event experiences with Kim D Chai on this insightful episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship!⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:31 Show introduction and brief self-introduction of Kim D Chai00:01:30 Kim shares her journey from localization to founding AmphiSpace00:03:50 How AI disrupted the translation industry and shaped Amphi’s vision00:06:28 Working on global animation projects like One Piece and Naruto00:07:11 Kim’s work in marketing and breaking into the Asian market00:10:34 How Kim discovered Web3 through events and early Ethereum investments00:12:46 Kim’s hobbies: Working out, reading, and exploring technology books00:14:08 Introduction to AmphiSpace: A travel platform for Web3 and AI00:15:41 NFT utilities in AmphiSpace for discounts and real-world value00:16:15 AmphiSpace’s target customers: Web3 OGs, startups, and AI professionals00:19:10 How AmphiSpace organizes and co-hosts global Web3 events00:20:30 Overcoming data consistency challenges in the travel industry with Web3 tech00:30:39 AmphiSpace’s next steps: Decentralized aggregator for hotels and events00:38:00 What are the challenges Kim’s team faces while organizing Web3 events00:39:05 The importance of events in Web3 for branding and networking00:40:26 How Web3 events build trust and facilitate cooperation00:44:03 Kim discusses RWA as the next big wave in Web3 adoption00:50:54 Kim’s advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs: survive in any market00:52:27 Where to follow Kim and stay updated on AmphiSpace00:53:58 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Kim and her company: Amphi website: Amphi.space Official Amphi X/Twitter: https://x.com/globalkoon Official Amphi Telegram account: https://t.me/amphiofficialMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
AI Meets Blockchain – The Vision Behind FileMarket AI feat. Ilya Underkong Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-12-15 | Ilya Orlov aka Underkong, CEO and founder of FireMarket AI, joins us on Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship to discuss his journey from Web2 startups to his pivotal role in building FileMarket AI.Ilya's journey began with a web2 startup and a fascination with Bitcoin's potential. This led him to explore the world of Web3, eventually founding FileMarket, an innovative platform that leverages blockchain technology to ethically collect and label data for AI development. Ilya's passion for technology and his belief in the power of human-in-the-loop systems drive his mission to empower users and provide AI companies with high-quality datasets.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode Intro00:00:34 Show intro and Ilya's quick intro00:02:05 Ilya's professional background00:03:47 Ilya's First Web2 Startup and his transition to Web300:08:34 Discovering Bitcoin Through the Darknet00:10:52 Life in Kathmandu and Hobbies00:15:42 Strong momentum for FileMarket AI 00:16:45 Deep Dive into FileMarket AI00:20:20 User Flow and Marketing Strategies00:24:20 The Ethics of User Data and FileMarket's Approach00:26:01 Addressing the Need for Private Data in AI Training00:29:34 Surprising Use Cases for AI Data: Palm Pictures, Voice Recordings00:33:05 AI data annotation needs to be multi-chain and fun aside about the name "Ilya" 00:35:04 The Techstars Accelerator Experience00:39:58 His team experience about finding product-market fit in Web300:45:05 The team behind FileMarket AI00:49:25 Discussion about AI agents00:53:30 Challenges faced by Ilya's team00:57:50 FileMarket’s B2B2C Business Model01:01:20 The future intersection of Web3 and AI according to Ilya01:08:50 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs01:11:48 Where to follow Filemarket and Ilya01:12:52 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Ilya and his company: Filemarket AI website: filemarket.ai Ilya's Twitter/X: https://x.com/UnderKong My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Stage to Blockchain: Jay Chrawnnas Journey to Running the #1 News Source on Polkadot Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-12-08 | In this 55th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, host Lam welcomes Jay Chrawnna, founder of The Kusamarian, the #1 news resource for the Polkadot ecosystem. Jay shares his journey from a career in live theater to becoming a voice in Web3, and how his platform empowers Polkadot’s global community to navigate its decentralized governance system.Jay dives deep into Polkadot’s innovative OpenGov model, the role of The Kusamarian in facilitating discussions, and the importance of live interactions in governance. From managing a $150 million treasury to pioneering a system that aligns diverse stakeholders, Polkadot’s DAO represents a fascinating leap in decentralized collaboration. Whether you’re a Polkadot enthusiast, a Web3 builder, or simply curious about DAOs, this episode is packed with insights about community, governance, and the future of blockchain.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:27 Show intro and brief self-intro from Jay Chrawnna00:02:18 Jay’s journey from acting to Web300:02:59 How COVID changed Jay’s career and led him to finance00:03:45 Discovering Bitcoin, DeFi Summer, and joining Polkadot00:10:19 Polkadot video tutorials started with "Polkadot Kusama What The FAQ"00:12:35 How "Polkadot Kusama What the FAQ” grew into The Kus00:13:23 Jay’s hobbies: Running, music, and festivals00:17:28 Intro to The Kus and its role in Polkadot00:18:29 Space Monkeys podcast: Spotlighting Polkadot leaders00:21:14 Attempts at Governance (AAG): Proposal debates platform00:21:56 AAG’s role in managing $2M+ Polkadot proposals00:27:23 Polkadot’s $150M treasury and shift to stablecoins00:29:50 OpenGov: Building rep and engaging token holders00:31:42 Voting power, locking, and delegations in OpenGov00:36:43 How OpenGov drives decentralized decisions00:41:31 Polkadot projects: Origin Trail, Mythical Games, and HyperBridge00:45:44 Jay on upcoming games and projects in Polkadot Kusama 00:53:15 Jay on Polkadot’s future evolution00:50:06 Challenges Jay’s team faces in the Polkadot ecosystem00:59:39 Jay’s advice for breaking into Web3 and finding a niche01:01:58 Where to follow Jay and join The Kus/Polkadot01:03:43 Episode outro and previewFollow Jay and his company: The Kus website: https://thekus.xyz/ The Kus Twitter/X: https://x.com/TheKusamarian Jay's Twitter/X: https://x.com/GldnCalf My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Decentralizing Web3: Building the Trustless Future with Moosh Network Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-12-02 | In the 54th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Josh Cowell, the founder of Moosh Network, a decentralized cloud marketplace. Josh shares his insights on the importance of decentralized infrastructure in Web3 and how Moosh Network is working to solve this critical problem.With over 14 years of experience in the blockchain space, Josh has seen the evolution of the industry firsthand. He shares his journey from traditional finance to Web3, including his work on a crypto-first neo bank and contributions to various DAOs. Josh emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to decentralization, encompassing data, infrastructure, and people. Moosh Network aims to provide a truly decentralized alternative to traditional cloud providers, empowering users to own their data and participate in a trustless network.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:32 Show introduction and brief self-introduction of Josh Cowell 00:01:01 Josh discusses his 14-year journey in Web3 and early Bitcoin discovery 00:01:52 From traditional finance consulting to blockchain technology 00:03:09 Why Josh left traditional finance to pursue decentralized solutions 00:05:28 The vision for a crypto-first NeoBank and challenges in implementation 00:06:33 How centralized infrastructure remains a bottleneck in Web3 growth 00:12:44 Why Josh believes some banks claim to be NeoBanks but aren’t truly innovative 00:13:49 Josh’s early contributions to DAOs and community-driven blockchain projects 00:17:45 Exploring real-world applications of peer-to-peer payments in unbanked regions 00:19:10 Josh’s first experiences with decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) 00:23:42 Josh shares his hobbies: building guitars, cycling, and surfing 00:27:16 Introduction to Moosh Network’s resource-sharing marketplace 00:28:05 Decentralized cloud computing bridging trustless and trust-dependent systems 00:31:58 Josh explains the concept of the social graph and mesh overlay networks 00:37:53 How Moosh Network combines decentralized computing and governance models 00:44:11 The role of Moosh DAO in decentralized governance and dispute management 00:53:33 How Moosh Network aims to ensure fairness through innovative tokenomics 00:58:26 Tackling Web3’s distribution challenges and gaining user adoption 00:59:40 Josh’s insights on decentralizing physical infrastructure for Web3 01:05:44 Exploring the broader potential of Moosh in the Web3 ecosystem 01:09:29 How AI and IoT advancements could help Moosh Network scale in Web3 01:18:02 Josh’s thoughts on how Web3 will evolve in the next few years 01:28:40 Josh’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs starting their own Web3 company 01:32:19 Where to follow Josh and learn more about Moosh Network 01:33:36 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Josh and his company: Moosh website: moosh.gg Moosh Twitter/X: https://x.com/mooshnet Moosh blog: blog.moosh.gg Josh's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JoshCowellX My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Traditional Finance to Web3: David Tngs Journey with Tezos Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-11-25 | David Tng, the Managing Director of TZ APAC, a key player in the Tezos blockchain ecosystem, makes an appearance on the 53rd episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship. David charts his path from traditional finance to the world of Web3, reflecting on his experiences in robo-advisory, payments, and lending. He unpacks the origins of Tezos, a layer-one blockchain known for its unique on-chain governance system that facilitates upgrades without contentious hard forks.David outlines the mission of TZ APAC, an organization funded by the Tezos Foundation to promote the adoption of Tezos. He details their work with Fortify Labs, a startup studio designed to guide and support Web3 startups built on Tezos or its EVM-compatible layer-two solution, Etherlink. The conversation explores the diverse programming languages within the Tezos ecosystem, including Michelson, Solidity, and the upcoming Jstz ("Justice") language, aiming to attract a wider range of developers. David provides his insights on the challenges and opportunities within the Web3 landscape and how regulatory clarity could unlock mainstream adoption.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:29 David's Background in FinTech and Robo Advisory00:07:00 Different gigs in FinTech & Early Web3 Encounters00:16:35 David’s First Experiences with Web3 and Bitcoin Mining00:20:06 David's hobbies00:21:10 Deep Dive into Tezos, the Tezos Foundation, and TZ APAC00:28:05 Fortify Labs: TZ APAC's Startup Studio and Cohort Highlights00:37:20 TZ APAC activities during Token2049 in Singapore00:41:06 Programming Languages on Tezos: Michelson, Solidity, and the Future of Jstz ("Justice")00:44:36 Etherlink: Tezos' Layer-2 Rollup and the Tezos X Roadmap00:49:40 Tezos - a blockchain that can upgrade itself due to on-chain governance00:51:10 The team behind TZ APAC00:54:18 Core contributors (engineering teams) for Tezos00:56:30 Challenges facing TZ APAC: how to attract more builders in Web300:59:44 David's hot take on how to onboard 1 billion users / 1 million developers into Web301:03:55 Predicting Web3’s evolution in the next few years01:05:56 Advice for Breaking into Web301:07:58 Where to Follow David and TZ APAC01:09:11 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow David and his company: David's Twitter: https://x.com/tng_david TZ APAC: https://x.com/TzApac TZ APAC Website: tzapac.comFortify Labs: tzapac.com/fortifylabs My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From DeFi Summer to Yield Tokenization at Pendle Finance: Wilberts Web3 Journey Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-11-18 | In this 52nd episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sits down with Wilbert Johan, BD Ecosystem Team Lead at Pendle Finance, a leading yield tokenization protocol. Wilbert takes us on his Web3 journey, starting with the heady days of the 2020 DeFi Summer to building his own Web3 startup, and his current role at Pendle Finance. He provides insightful commentary on the evolution of decentralized finance, the potential of RWA, and the intricacies of yield trading.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:28 Show introduction and brief self-introduction from Wilbert Johan00:01:33 The experience of DeFi summer and early days in crypto00:02:13 Wilbert discusses his transition from traditional finance to Web300:04:39 Challenges in founding a Web3 startup in rewards tokenization00:10:43 Wilbert’s experience working with RWAs and DeFi strategies00:12:47 How Wilbert discovered blockchain and his entry to Pendle00:14:39 Wilbert explains the concept of private credit00:20:07 Wilbert’s personal interests and how they keep him balanced00:23:49 Overview of Pendle Finance and the mission to tokenize yields00:24:39 Wilbert explains ETH restaking and BTC-Fi yield opportunities00:28:24 Pendle’s approach to providing fixed returns with PT and YT tokens00:30:49 An in-depth look at Pendle 00:31:28 Pendle’s BTC-Fi pools and their potential in the DeFi landscape00:32:23 How Pendle enables yield opportunities for Bitcoin holders00:33:42 Wilbert describes Pendle’s approach to building liquidity pools00:34:08 Traction and growth of Pendle’s BTC-Fi pools in DeFi00:37:59 An in-depth look at Pendle’s unique yield tokenization mechanism00:42:19 Pendle’s ecosystem: Partnerships and collaborations in DeFi00:50:50 How the VE tokenomics model boosts user engagement00:54:26 The team behind Pendle and the company’s structure00:58:38 Challenges facing Pendle and plans for future growth00:59:43 Wilbert’s thoughts on security and risk management in Web301:01:57 How will BTC-Fi and DeFi evolve in the next few years01:04:45 Advice for people who want to break into Web301:09:03 Where to follow Wilbert and learn more about Pendle01:10:49 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Wilbert and his company: Wilbert's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wilbertjohan Wilbert's Twitter: https://x.com/_whalebird Pendle Twitter: https://x.com/pendle_fi Pendle website: https://www.pendle.finance/ My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Philosophy to Fintech: Building UmrahCash for Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia feat. William Phelps Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-11-11 | In the 51st episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with William Phelps, the founder and CEO of UmrahCash. William, originally from London with a background in philosophy and traditional finance, found his passion in emerging markets and the potential of blockchain technology.After working with an Africa-focused Web3 fund, William saw a significant gap in the market for financial services catering to pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia. He founded UmrahCash to address the challenges pilgrims face in accessing local currency, particularly those from emerging markets with currency restrictions.Join us as William explains how UmrahCash leverages stablecoins to simplify access to Saudi Riyals for pilgrims, working within the existing financial and cultural landscape to provide a seamless and secure experience.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:01:24 Show introduction and brief self-intro from William Phelps00:01:57 William discusses his transition from traditional finance to Web300:05:20 How Saudi Arabia is supporting Web3 His favorite experiences in previous companies00:06:53 What made William study philosophy and his PTSD from the writing day00:09:33 His experience working at a financial broker00:12:15 How William discovered blockchain00:14:23 William talks about his experience working at Adiverse00:20:14 William's take on Cardano’s role in emerging markets and the academic nature of Cardano00:22:39 William shares his personal interests and language skills00:28:51 An in-depth look at UmrahCash and its mission00:32:18 Understanding the demand for pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia00:32:55 Challenges related to currency for pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia00:34:52 The solution that UmrahCash has built00:36:29 How UmrahCash works under the hood00:38:01 Traction of UmrahCash00:41:28 Overview of the pilgrimage process and logistics00:44:17 How technology supports pilgrimage operations00:45:34 How the fund movement works in UmrahCash 00:48:16 Addressing capital flight and regulatory compliance00:50:08 William's thought on designing a user-friendly experience for customers00:54:07 The team behind UmrahCash and company structure00:56:52 Challenges facing UmrahCash01:01:30 Working permits in Saudi Arabia01:03:52 Islamic finance and cryptocurrency01:05:40 Where to follow William01:06:16 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow William and his company: William's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wjphelps William's Twitter: https://x.com/wphelps_ UmrahCash website: umrahcash.com My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Solving the Blockchain Trilemma: Chris Chabot on the Future of Shardeum Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-11-04 | In the 50th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we chat with Chris Chabot, VP of Developer Relations at Shardeum. Chris has spent over two decades in the tech industry, building communities and fostering innovation at companies like Google, Twitter, and Amazon.Chris shares his insights on the evolution of technology and the transformative potential of Web3. We discuss Shardeum's unique approach to solving the blockchain trilemma, the importance of open source development, and their mission to make decentralization accessible to everyone. Tune in to hear Chris's inspiring vision for a more inclusive and equitable future powered by Web3!⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:34 Lam introduces the show and guest Chris Chabot00:01:03 Chris's professional background and his inspiration00:06:15 His favorite experience among the FAANG company 00:08:27 Role of Developer Relations00:14:19 How Chris discovered Web300:18:12 Fun Fact: Chris's Hobbies00:19:18 Introducing Shardeum: decentralization for everyone00:23:20 Founding Story of Shardeum00:25:20 The team behind Shardeum00:28:50 Running a Shardeum Validator Node00:30:02 Consensus algorithm of Shardeum00:34:42 Security Audits and Bug Bounties with Immunefi00:37:44 Shardeum's Unique Advantages00:42:09 Challenges and Hurdles for Shardeum00:44:44 Upcoming milestones for Shardeum and learnings from previous testnets00:46:33 Partnerships and infrastructure for Shardeum00:49:31 The decentralization plan for Shardeum00:51:00 The Future of Web3: Exciting New Use Cases00:54:47 Chris's take on dominant programming languages in Web300:58:09 How to onboarding 1 billion people in Web301:02:45 Advice for people who want to break into Web301:03:52 Where to follow Chris 01:04:58 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Chris and his company: Chris's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chabotc Chris's Twitter: https://x.com/chabotc Shardeum website: shardeum.org My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Signals Intelligence to Cybersecurity Startup: Eddy Almands Journey Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-10-27 | In episode 49 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Eddy Almand, the founder and CEO of Almata, a cybersecurity company based in Japan. Eddy takes us on a fascinating journey through his career, starting from his days as a Signals Intelligence Analyst for the US Army to his foray into the world of entrepreneurship. We discuss his transition from services to product-based business, the challenges of building a tech startup in Japan, and the importance of cybersecurity in today's interconnected world.Eddy also sheds light on Almata’s innovative products, Eagle Talon and Eagle Eye, which utilize AI and automation to provide effective and affordable cybersecurity solutions for businesses of all sizes. Tune in to learn valuable insights about the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the future of tech innovation in Japan.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:26 Lam introduces the show and guest Eddy Altman00:01:44 Eddy’s background: From military intelligence to cybersecurity00:02:25 Transition from military to government and startups00:05:16 What the work of an intelligence analyst means00:07:25 Eddy explains about the Five Eyes Alliance 00:13:07 Why Eddy moved to Bahrain in the past00:15:15 Eddy's personal hobbies and interests00:17:43 Introduction to Almata and the company’s mission00:21:19 His company work in Web3 security00:23:52 Impact of COVID on business and the shift to product development00:27:01 His company product in vulnerability management in cybersecurity00:30:27 Zero-Day vulnerabilities explained00:36:42 HIs company products: Eagle Talon to secure supply chain and Eagle Eyes to identify cyber risks00:42:50 How cyber insurance can help businesses manage risks00:45:19 His company's preferred business model00:49:32 The team behind Almata and the opportunity for cybersecurity in Japan00:55:09 Challenges facing Almata00:58:10 His company's competitors in the Japan market01:01:56 AI’s rise and competitive advantage in business01:05:58 How cybersecurity will evolve in the next few years 01:09:52 How can small and medium enterprises fight cybercrime to protect themselves01:13:10 Eddy’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in tech in Japan 01:14:37 Where to follow Eddy 01:16:00 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Eddy and his company: Eddy's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eddy-almand Almata website: almata.co.jp My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Blockchain Transformation: Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3 with Matthew Van Niekerk Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-10-20 | In episode 48 of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, join us for an insightful discussion with Matthew Van Niekerk, co-founder and CEO of SettleMint, a pioneering platform that's simplifying the integration of blockchain technology for businesses. Matthew's journey, from traditional finance to embracing the transformative power of blockchain, offers a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of Web3.In this episode, we'll explore SettleMint's approach to blockchain transformation, which goes beyond just the technology. We'll discuss the importance of addressing the people and process aspects of integration, closing skill gaps and enabling businesses to seamlessly harness the benefits of blockchain. Matthew shares real-world examples of how SettleMint is empowering clients like Lexus, Coca-Cola, and Standard Chartered, showcasing the diverse applications of blockchain across industries. Discover how SettleMint's platform is bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3, enabling businesses to enhance efficiency, unlock new revenue streams, and navigate the exciting world of blockchain.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:58 Matthew's introduction and background00:02:26 Discovering blockchain technology while working in banking00:03:42 Matthew's Global Journey and the Transition to Belgium00:06:26 His role as internal consultant at the bank 00:11:20 A Glimpse into Matthew's Hobbies00:12:03 His snowboarding venture in Japan00:13:34 The Origin Story of SettleMint00:14:31 How Matthew met his co-founder of SettleMint, Roderik00:15:52 The reason why his old bank with 5000 developers couldn't develop blockchain application in-house00:17:31 SettleMint's Holistic Approach to Blockchain Transformation00:23:03 SettleMint's platform as the complete solution to integrate blockchain applications 00:29:44 Integrate blockchain with existing systems00:33:46 Use cases from past clients of SettleMint00:45:10 SettleMint's Team and Culture00:48:42 Business models of SettleMint00:49:13 Challenges facing SettleMint00:51:04 How Matthew sees the future of Web3 adoption and the role of hybrid solutions00:54:03 Example of a "hybrid" solution - crowdfunding platform00:56:33 How to onboard 10,000 Web2 Corporations into Web300:57:58 Lessons learned after years of building SettleMint01:01:08 Where to follow Matthew and SettleMint01:02:15 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Matthew and check out his company products: Matthew's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ceosettlemint SettleMint website: settlemint.com My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984 If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Tesla Engineer to Web3 CEO: Building the Ronyn Wallet Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-10-13 | In the 47th episode of Colors of Web3 & Entrepreneurship, Veda Sadhak, the CEO and founder of Ronyn Wallet, joins the show to discuss his fascinating journey from electrical engineering to the world of Web3. Learn about his experience working at Tesla during the launch of the Model 3, his early interest in Bitcoin, and the inspiration behind creating Ronyn Wallet. Veda shares his insights on the future of self-custody, the challenges and opportunities of the Web3 space, and his advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs. Discover why he believes hardware wallets are crucial for onboarding the next billion users into Web3 and how Ronyn Wallet is making self-custody simple, accessible, and user-friendly. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the evolving landscape of Web3 and the role of innovative solutions like Ronyn Wallet in shaping the future of finance and technology.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer00:00:54 Veda's background and journey to Web300:01:41 Working at Tesla during the Model 3 Launch00:03:58 Battery recycling and sustainability00:06:34 Experience at Tesla's Gigafactory00:09:37 Engineering roles and responsibilities at Teslas00:12:11 How Veda entered the crypto space00:16:17 Veda's personal hobbies and interests00:19:28 The Founding Story of Ronyn Wallet00:24:06 Building the MVP and scaling operations00:30:15 The main target users of Ronyn Wallet00:36:08 The team behind Ronyn Wallet00:37:25 Building a hardware company remotely00:40:40 Applying Tesla's Engineering Principles00:45:40 Main challenges facing Veda's company00:48:11 The Future of Web3 Hardware Wallets00:58:39 Advice for Aspiring Web3 Entrepreneurs01:01:40 Where to Follow Veda and Ronyn Wallet01:04:48 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Veda and check out his company products: Mobile app: ronynwallets.com/mobile Hardware Wallet: ronynwallets.com/vault 15% Discount link for Vault (hardware wallet):buy.stripe.com/00g5nU9LRgXt9JS5km Veda's Twitter/X: https://x.com/vs4dhak Veda's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/veda-sadhak His free e-book: ronynwallets.com/bookMy social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy latest article: lamweb3.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-decentralized-science If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
Organic Web3 Recruiting: Building Authentic Connections feat. Kornel Kot from W3CONN3CT Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-10-06 | In the 46th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sit down with Kornel Kot, founder and CEO of W3CONN3CT, a unique recruitment agency specializing in the Web3 space. Kornel shares his journey from the world of artificial intelligence to becoming a leading figure in connecting top talent with exciting Web3 projects.Discover what sets W3CONN3CT apart as an "organic" recruitment agency. Kornel explains their hands-on approach, emphasizing real-life engagement through workshops, hackathons, and building genuine relationships within the Web3 community. Learn how this strategy benefits both job seekers and employers, fostering a more meaningful and effective recruitment experience.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:28 Introduction to the show and guest - Kornel Kot, founder and CEO of W3CONN3CT00:01:38 Kornel's professional experience in translation and artificial intelligence (AI) 00:04:15 How Kornel learned about Web300:07:07 Becoming Head of Blockchain Recruitment for a Web2 company00:11:57 Founding W3CONN3CT and its Mission00:15:10 W3CONN3CT's organic approach to recruitment00:17:01 The role of education in Web3 recruitment00:19:20 Challenges of Hiring Fresh Graduates in Web300:24:46 The W3CONN3CT Team and their clients portfolio00:27:30 Challenges facing W3CONN3CT and Kornel00:30:07 W3CONN3CT's business model00:31:30 What Kornel doesn't like about the traditional recruitment industry00:34:35 The Future of Web3 Recruitment00:36:36 Advice for Web3 Job Seekers00:39:07 Where to Follow Kornel Kot00:40:19 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Kornel:Kornel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/kxrnel Kornel's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kornel-kot-121b17174 My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy latest article: lamweb3.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-decentralized-science If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
From Finance to Tech: Bojans Journey to Building a Global Dev Shop Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship 2024-09-29 | In this 45th episode of Colors Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam sits down with Bojan Najdov, founder of Lambda Group, a staff augmentation company specializing in connecting businesses with top tech talent from South Africa and the Balkans.Bojan takes us on his entrepreneurial journey, beginning with his background in finance and his transition to the world of technology. He shares his experiences with cryptocurrency trading and mining, including both the highs of the 2017 bull run and the lows of market crashes and scams. We learn about the genesis of Lambda Group, his transition from a traditional dev shop to a staff augmentation model, and the strategic reasons behind focusing on talent from South Africa and the Balkans. Bojan provides valuable insights on the challenges and rewards of running a fully remote, contractor-based business and how he leverages technology like AI and automation to maximize efficiency and scale his operations.⌛ Timestamps:00:00:00 Episode trailer 00:00:25 Introduction to the show and guest - Bojan Najdov, founder of Lambda Group00:01:26 Bojan's professional experience in banking and finance00:04:22 Bojan's big-fish, small-pond strategy that landed him in South Africa00:06:47 How Bojan learned about Web300:09:38 His entrepreneurial experience mining Bitcoin and Ethereum00:14:35 Bojan's experience "surviving" 2 crypto cycles00:17:57 Bojan’s hobbies outside of Web300:22:05 His experience leading the credit and market risk department at a big bank in South Africa before Covid lockdown00:23:57 Does a bank's department need 250 people? Discussion about productivity at Lambda Group00:27:08 Deep dive into Lambda Group, from dev shop to staff augmentation00:30:44 Early challenges, lessons learned, and pivoting the business model00:33:44 A Web3 project that his company took on 00:35:24 The original founders of Lambda Group and the team behind the company 00:36:36 His rationale for focusing on SME's and not on big corporations00:42:05 A typical day in of an entrepreneur00:43:15 The importance of having a strong sales funnel00:43:48 Discussion about entrepreneurship00:45:15 Successful marketing strategies: the power of cold emailing00:49:11 Transferable skills that can be learned from entrepreneurship 00:51:22 Working a full-time job in investment banking while starting Lambda Group00:54:01 Building a side hustle while holding a full-time job - Having optionality00:57:01 Bojan's preference on how he prefers to run his business01:01:58 Leveraging technology and automation to overcome solopreneurs' bottlenecks01:06:37 Business is all about distribution01:09:07 Discussion about selling a business01:11:17 Qualities of a successful entrepreneur: perseverance, a "chip on your shoulder", resourcefulness01:16:32 Where to follow Bojan online01:17:42 Episode outro and next episode previewFollow Bojan and his company:Bojan's Twitter/X: https://x.com/bojan_najdov Bojan's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bojan-najdov Lambda Group website: lambdagroup.io My social media: Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/Website: https://lamtrinh.xyzMy latest article: lamweb3.substack.com/p/the-importance-of-decentralized-science If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
