Colors of Tech & EntrepreneurshipIn this 28th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam is joined by Ryan Nitz, the Head of Developer Relations at Base, a layer two blockchain built on Ethereum and backed by Coinbase. Ryan shares his journey from working at AWS to his passion for building in Web3, and dives deep into Base's mission of creating a global on-chain economy that fosters innovation, creativity, and freedom.
Get ready to explore the challenges and opportunities of scaling Ethereum with Base, why they chose the Optimism Stack, and the keys to onboarding the next billion users to Web3. From wallet solutions and identity management to bringing traditional businesses on-chain, this conversation covers the critical elements necessary for mass adoption.
⌛ Timestamps 00:00:00 Episode Intro 00:00:24 Introduction about the show and the guest: Ryan Nitz, Head of DevRel at Base 00:02:14 Ryan's professional background, leading up to his current role 00:11:39 Ryan's hobbies outside of Web3 00:13:40 Deep dive into Base 00:22:15 Vision and mission of Base 00:27:05 Collaboration with Coinbase and initiatives on Base 00:37:05 Popular apps on Base & the importance of stablecoins 00:38:46 The impact of gas fees on voting and DAOs movement to L2 00:40:53 Notable games and NFT projects on Base 00:43:05 The efficient and agile team at Base 00:45:42 The day-to-day work of a DevRel team member 00:48:16 Base's philosophy on hiring people - raising the bar 00:52:00 Challenges facing Base and the plan to scale Base further 00:59:20 Ryan's message for builders who are interested in building on Base - retroactive funding 01:02:08 His comment on Superchain's vision and the benefits of being on Superchain 01:05:43 How to onboard 1 billion people on-chain 01:11:20 Advice for people who want to build on Base 01:12:37 Where to follow Ryan 01:13:43 Episode outro and closing remarks
Follow Ryan and Base: His Twitter/X: https://x.com/consecutionx His Warpcast: warpcast.com/consecution.eth His company website: base.org His company Twitter/X: https://x.com/base
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 Global On-Chain Economy with Base - A Conversation with Ryan Nitz, Head of DevRelColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-05-29 | In this 28th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, Lam is joined by Ryan Nitz, the Head of Developer Relations at Base, a layer two blockchain built on Ethereum and backed by Coinbase. Ryan shares his journey from working at AWS to his passion for building in Web3, and dives deep into Base's mission of creating a global on-chain economy that fosters innovation, creativity, and freedom.
Get ready to explore the challenges and opportunities of scaling Ethereum with Base, why they chose the Optimism Stack, and the keys to onboarding the next billion users to Web3. From wallet solutions and identity management to bringing traditional businesses on-chain, this conversation covers the critical elements necessary for mass adoption.
⌛ Timestamps 00:00:00 Episode Intro 00:00:24 Introduction about the show and the guest: Ryan Nitz, Head of DevRel at Base 00:02:14 Ryan's professional background, leading up to his current role 00:11:39 Ryan's hobbies outside of Web3 00:13:40 Deep dive into Base 00:22:15 Vision and mission of Base 00:27:05 Collaboration with Coinbase and initiatives on Base 00:37:05 Popular apps on Base & the importance of stablecoins 00:38:46 The impact of gas fees on voting and DAOs movement to L2 00:40:53 Notable games and NFT projects on Base 00:43:05 The efficient and agile team at Base 00:45:42 The day-to-day work of a DevRel team member 00:48:16 Base's philosophy on hiring people - raising the bar 00:52:00 Challenges facing Base and the plan to scale Base further 00:59:20 Ryan's message for builders who are interested in building on Base - retroactive funding 01:02:08 His comment on Superchain's vision and the benefits of being on Superchain 01:05:43 How to onboard 1 billion people on-chain 01:11:20 Advice for people who want to build on Base 01:12:37 Where to follow Ryan 01:13:43 Episode outro and closing remarks
Follow Ryan and Base: His Twitter/X: https://x.com/consecutionx His Warpcast: warpcast.com/consecution.eth His company website: base.org His company Twitter/X: https://x.com/base
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 #scaling #base #L2 #ethereum #podcast #entrepreneurshipCertainty Killed BlackBerry - Dr. Debra Clary on the Curiosity CurveColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-08-23 | *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 trailer 00:00:30 Show & guest introduction 00:01:40 Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel's, and the pivot to a doctorate in leader development 00:05:12 The CEO question that changed everything: can curiosity be learned? 00:06:41 The engagement collapse: millennials, 39% of the workforce, and the pipeline problem 00:11:39 Certainty in doses: why the book is called “The Curiosity Curve” 00:13:01 Blackberry and Blockbuster: what certainty costs 00:15:20 Inside the assessment: the four factors and the imbalance most founders share 00:20:35 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 value 00:25:00 What to do when your founder won't budge 00:27:17 Curious organizations vs. companies that just buy AI tools 00:30:06 The question ambitious young leaders should ask themselves 00:31:20 AGI, and what humans still do better 00:35:38 One bold question to ask your team this week 00:37:12 Where to follow Debra & The Curiosity Curve 00:38:12 Episode outro and next episode preview
If 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 & Entrepreneurship2026-07-18 | 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 technology
Whether 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 trailer 00:00:30 Show & guest introduction 00:03:00 From day trading and e-commerce to founding a company in 2020 00:05:28 Challenges in real estate data management 00:10:21 Finding Bitcoin in 2016 and the slow conviction 00:12:33 Matthew’s hobbies 00:18:17 Three reasons real estate data management fails 00:20:37 Why trillions in real estate still aren't tokenized 00:23:52 Building.inc’s platform demo 00:32:08 Current stage of Building.inc: Private beta, early customers, and fundraising in the AI era 00:36:13 Going multi-chain: Hedera, Polygon, quantum-resistance chain 00:38:25 The business model and Web3 integrations 00:41:22 The tech behind the platform 00:48:49 The challenges facing his startup 00:50:56 The end game for RWAs and tokenized real estate 00:55:32 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:58:37 Where to follow Matthew and Building.inc 00:59:47 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Matthew & Building Inc: Building's Website (may still be under maintenance): building.inc Matthew's Twitter/X: https://x.com/mattschneid3r Building's Twitter/X: https://x.com/BuildingInc
If 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 DayColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-06-24 | 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 trailer 00:00:40 Show & guest introduction 00:03:30 First steps in Web3: DAOs, Tether, and building Alloy 00:06:11 Spotting Tether's cross-chain interoperability problem 00:08:05 Building USDT0 with LayerZero 00:11:06 Lorenzo's hobbies 00:15:20 How USDT0 works 00:20:00 Some predictions and tractions of USDT0 00:25:02 The user groups of USDT0 00:30:13 Lorenzo's take on gold and Tether Gold (XAUT) 00:34:21 How Tether Gold works under the hood 00:37:05 Inside the Switzerland vault 00:42:38 Competitors of USDT0 00:45:01 USDT0's business model & the cost of security 00:50:55 The biggest challenges: hackers, pitching & iterating 00:55:21 The future of stablecoins: one winner or many? 00:59:16 Non-obvious use cases: luxury watches & private jets 01:00:52 Agentic AI, stablecoins & the millions-of-TPS problem 01:04:06 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:06:33 Where to follow Lorenzo & USDT0 01:07:30 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Lorenzo Romagnoli & USDT0 : USDT0's Website: usdt0.to USDT0's Twitter/X: https://x.com/USDT0_to Lorenzo Romagnoli 's Twitter/X: https://x.com/zerolore
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!Can We Trust AI-Written Code? Why Executable Specs Are the Future of Software ft. Gabriela MoreiraColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-04-26 | 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 trailer 00:00:36 Show & guest introduction 00:02:04 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 specs 00:19:20 Real-world use cases: Malachite, Circle's Arc, Monad BFT 00:27:42 Biggest misconceptions engineers have about formal specs 00:33:35 Bugs that traditional testing misses but Quint catches 00:38:22 Formal verification for smart contracts and Web3 security 00:41:02 Where to follow Gabriela and Quint 00:42:02 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 AI for the Third Nation — 6M Users, $10M ARR from Singapore | Bruce Yang, Agnes AIColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-03-31 | 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 introduction 00:01:06 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 Valley 00:05:03 The PhD program that eventually led to founding Agnes AI 00:07:21 The time when he built a social media startup challenging Facebook 00:09:56 Fundraising lessons and speed as essence for consumer apps 00:12:01 Hobbies of Bruce 00:15:24 Agnes AI founding story 00:17:58 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 preview
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!The Stablecoin Guy (Ariel Eiberman): Testing 30+ Crypto Cards & The Future of On-Chain BankingColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-03-25 | 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 trailer 00:00:34 Show & guest introduction 00:02:01 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 hobbies 00:18:56 How Ariel became "The Stablecoin Guy" with 30+ crypto cards 00:21:00 How he positioned himself in a noisy Web3 payment space 00:23:58 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 opportunities 00:37:45 The future of on-chain banking 00:39:29 Some opportunities that Ariel sees for neobanks 00:42:15 Advice for people who want to break into Web3 00:43:52 Where to follow Ariel & Gnosis Pay 00:45:55 Episode outro and next episode preview
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!Zcash explainer track videoColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-03-20 | ...He Automated His Own Job and Got Into YC: Hudson Liao on the Future of Go-To-MarketColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-02-25 | 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-channel 00:31:50 Business model of The Hog 00:37:24 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.ai Hudson's Twitter/X: https://x.com/hudsonliao
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 America’s First Autism Therapy Franchise (80+ Locations) feat. Nichole DaherColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-01-27 | 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 trailer 00:00:35 Show & guest introduction 00:01:30 Origin story: from nuclear medicine to founding Success on Spectrum 00:06:07 Secret to successful business: Hiring passionate teams & aligning on mission 00:08:28 Nichole's hobby: high-performance car racing 00:12:03 What is autism? 3 main criteria & levels explained 00:16:05 How modern ABA therapy works 00:20:29 Debunking common ABA therapy misconceptions 00:26:38 Treatment duration, early intervention & insurance coverage 00:29:52 The affected autism population: 1 in 31 kids & huge demand gap 00:32:53 Why franchising? Empowering parents & entrepreneurs 00:36:10 The franchise playbook: from LLC to grand opening 00:38:50 Balancing profit with purpose in autism care 00:42:35 Future vision for autism treatment: adult services & workforce transition 00:46:13 Biggest lesson: people first in a mission-driven business 00:50:00 Mistakes to avoid for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:52:18 Where to follow Nichole Daher & Success on Spectrum 00:54:17 Episode outro
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 Agents as Teammates: Inside Express AI + the Future of Agent MarketplacesColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2026-01-10 | 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 trailer 00:00:37 Show & guest introduction 00:02:38 Early career in Japan: Panasonic and JBS 00:04:10 Joining Skymind and deep learning 00:07:23 AI training on clusters explained 00:12:24 Writing a book on deep learning 00:20:06 Eduardo's hobbies 00:23:30 Founding Xpress AI and AI shifts 00:25:06 Agentic fine-tuning and OpenAI competition 00:27:23 Making AI accessible for enterprises 00:47:24 Future of AI agents and computing 01:36:38 Envisioning AI agents' evolution 01:41:30 AI's impact on jobs and creativity 01:47:57 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:58:12 Where to follow Gonzalez & Xpress AI
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 Unbreakable Web3 Communities: Dan Rodmans GTC Strategy RevealedColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-12-21 | 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 Intro 00:00:36 Show & guest introduction 00:01:54 Dan's background: from engineering to Web3 00:12:44 Dan's hobbies 00:20:18 Deep dive into CoUnity's services 00:42:16 Explaining go to community (GTC) strategy 00:54:14 Challenges in Web3 community building 01:05:09 Future of Web3 communities 01:07:13 Advice for Web3 builders 01:08:46 Where to follow Dan and Co/Unity 01:10:05 Episode outro and next episode preview
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!Bitcoin Treasuries Are Naked: The TradFi Hedge That Changes Everything with Patrick Wood from DelphXColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-11-25 | 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 trailer 00:00:35 Show & guest introduction 00:02:00 30-year Wall Street journey & taking companies public in Canada 00:08:00 How Patrick discovered blockchain in 2013 00:13:20 Patrick explains how to hedge Bitcoin 00:16:16 Deep dive into DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product 00:22:45 DelphX new product's intended target users: hedge funds + treasuries 00:25:15 The product is designed to capture upside and protect downside 00:30:15 Patrick's thought on Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies 00:35:48 Competitors to DelphX's new Bitcoin hedge product 00:39:52 Current traction and business model 00:41:48 Challenges facing DelphX 00:43:55 Why treasuries should hedge (FTX-style risks still exist) 00:48:55 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:51:43 Where to follow Patrick & DelphX 00:52:44 Episode outro and next episode preview
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!The Hidden Rails of Web3: Halliday’s Unified Checkout (w/ Griffin Dunaif)Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-11-10 | 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 trailer 00:00:51 Show & guest introduction 00:04:29 How Griffin got into the world of Web3 00:10:30 Griffin's hobbies 00:11:25 Origin of Halliday 00:15:32 Multiple iterations needed to get to Product-Market Fit 00:20:13 How Halliday works: workflow engine & execution graphs 00:26:38 Intent-centric design: Failure handling, retries, fault tolerance 00:31:03 Market landscape & competitors/partnerships 00:38:16 The interdisciplinary team behind Halliday 00:43:09 Roadmap: Solana support & SVM↔EVM workflows 00:44:23 Agentic commerce: giving AI agents “arms & legs” 00:47:28 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:50:02 Where to follow Halliday & Griffin 00:50:40 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 a Hawaii-Born Founder Built 5 Businesses in Japan: Tyson Batino on Growth, Grit & Going LocalColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-11-03 | 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 introduction 02:18 From English teacher to founder: Tyson's career progression 07:35 Starting the English school: the origin story 10:45 Launching the Japanese language school 18:36 Product demo 21:43 Case studies of successful clients 26:06 Challenges facing foreign companies entering Japan market 33:47 New venture: Smart Start Japan 39:51 His plan to scale Smart Start Japan 41:28 Staying ahead: strategy & moat 43:33 New rules regarding business manager visa in Japan 50:51 Business challenges: team, ops, focus 58:00 AI Market: pay once, use for life marketplace 01:00:58 How to find the right co-founder(s) for a new business 01:03:48 Where to follow Tyson, Smart Start Japan & scaling your company 01:04:23 Episode outro and next episode preview
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!The two-way mirror: What DAOs and TradFi can learn from each other - EdCon Osaka 2025Colors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-10-26 | 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 & Overview 01:30 What DAOs Can Learn From TradFi 02:00 Treasury Diversification in Traditional Finance 04:02 The DAO Treasury Problem: 98% Native Token Risk 05:41 Risk Management Lessons: The $77M Beanstalk Hack 07:30 Operational Chaos vs Established Standards 10:15 Web3's Advantages: Composability & Open Source 12:15 The Modern DAO Governance Stack 13:00 Fast-Moving Culture & Global Contributors 14:00 Case Study: Nouns DAO Model 17:00 Key Takeaways for DAOs: Treasury Strategy 18:30 What TradFi Can Learn From DAOs 19:10 Conclusion
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 Telegram’s Gaming Boom: Koko Amin on Growth, AI, and GOAT Gaming PlaybookColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-10-20 | 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 trailer 00:33 Show & guest introduction 01:48 Koko's diverse career journey 08:51 Neo Tokyo gaming community 10:48 How to sustain community beyond rewards 12:19 Koko's hobbies 13:46 “Vibe coding” and an AI-native growth team 18:47 Mighty Bear Games origin story 23:48 Gameplay demo 29:34 Underground Pepe game on Telegram 32:12 Waifu Clash game demo 35:04 Goat Wars game demo 39:25 Explanation about GrabGifts on Telegram 48:36 Business models of the different games 49:07 How Koko thinks Telegram ecosystem will evolve 50:14 Where to follow Koko & GOAT gaming 51:00 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Koko (Komal) Amin & GOAT gaming: Koko (Komal) Amin's Twitter/X: https://x.com/komalamee GOAT gaming's Twitter/X: https://x.com/playgoatgaming GOAT gaming's Website: goatgaming.com
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!EtherFi Cash: The On-Chain Card Taking On Banks | feat. Slater Heil - Head of MarketingColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-10-11 | 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 trailer 00:48 Show & guest introduction 01:50 Early life & career 05:29 His previous experience at Blueberry 08:20 Hobbies & interests 10:05 EtherFi's founding story 16:34 Product demo 21:53 How users can obtain their EtherFi cards 25:44 Different tiers of EtherFi cards 27:45 Simple model of how EtherFi cards function 31:27 EtherFi's business model 36:00 How Web3 can unlock operational efficiency 37:00 Challenges facing the EtherFi team 39:34 How crypto cards will evolve in the future 43:26 Advice for people who want to enter Web3 45:30 Where to follow Slater & EtherFi 47:33 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow 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
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!Innovation in Game Development: A Conversation with Studio Vale CEO, Xanthos VouldisColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-09-26 | 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 trailer 00:00:35 Show & guest introduction 00:02:24 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 pipelines 00:13:29 Speedrunning solo dev: free assets & engine templates 00:15:58 D&D as the best game-design bootcamp 00:23:04 Founding Studio Vale; Houdini + selective AI for art 00:42:14 Fixing “multiplayer fatigue” & role clarity 00:46:49 Why early, ongoing player testing matters 00:54:54 The future: prioritize gameplay over spectacle 01:01:36 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 Stables: Bernie Bilotta on Building the “Stablecoin Bank” for the Real WorldColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-09-07 | 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 trailer 00:50 Show & guest introduction 02:37 How his early life shaped his career 11:12 Lessons from his Web3 journey 14:16 The hobbies that help him stay balanced 16:09 Stables product demo 28:22 Stablecoin as a new yet potentially fragile innovation 32:40 Discussion about yield-bearing stablecoin 34:26 Stablecoin as a way to beat inflation in developing country 39:20 Explanation about Web2 credit cards and how it works 41:28 How Visa & Mastercard will accelerate the adoption of stablecoins 44:13 His company's traction 51:57 The people behind Stables 54:29 The challenges of running a startup 59:52 Bernie's prediction on the future of stablecoins 1:03:03 Advice for Web3 founders 1:06:02 Where to follow Bernie & Stables 1:07:10 Episode outro
Follow Bernie & Stables: Bernie's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stablesbernie Stables 's Twitter/X: https://x.com/stables_money Stables '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!
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!Decoding Web3 Trust with AI + DID featuring Yusaku from Mind Palace AIColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-08-25 | 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 intro 00:00:32 Show & guest introduction 00:04:26 How Mind Palace started 00:08:45 Dive deep into Mind Palace's recent Project 00:13:46 The future of MindPalace and upcoming features 00:27:33 Filtering trustworthy Web3 info with AI 00:30:00 Mind Palace tech stack & UX demo 00:33:22 Credibility scoring with SNS + on-chain data 00:35:23 Memory chains & visual trust networks 00:39:25 Business model: API & sponsorships 00:45:13 Advice for Web3 founders 00:47:18 Where to follow Yusaku & Mind Palace 00:48:25 Episode outro
Follow 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
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 empireColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-07-20 | 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 trailer 00:00:31 Show & guest introduction 00:05:59 Leaving corporate life to find creative passion 00:09:52 Self learning: digital marketing and freelancing 00:11:50 Joining Pixels and early marketing work 00:17:36 Pixels gameplay walkthrough and live demo 00:30:10 Weekly AMA strategy and community culture 00:34:38 Building “farmer-friendly” values and scaling up 00:43:24 Challenges of Web3 gaming and evolving team dynamics 00:51:08 Advice for people who want to enter Web3 00:52:27 Where to follow Heidi & Pixels 00:53:21 Episode outro & brief announcement
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 SoundbeatsColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-07-06 | 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 trailer 00:00:30 Show & guest introduction 00:05:40 Taral's journey: From Finance to Tech 00:09:59 How Taral discovered Web3 00:13:04 Taral's hobbies 00:14:52 Origin story of Soundbeats 00:18:51 Deep dive into Soundbeats 00:26:32 Soundbeats community building & traction 00:33:41 Ethical concerns around dopamine loops in game design 00:36:35 Soundbeats product demo 00:39:47 How gameplay works in Soundbeats 00:40:49 Challenges facing Soundbeats 00:42:13 Future of the creator economy: fan engagement via Web3 00:45:19 How Soundbeats utilizes AI models 00:47:04 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 00:50:00 Where to follow Taral & Soundbeats 00:50:43 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 InnovationColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-06-22 | 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 trailer 00:01:06 Show & guest introduction 00:04:49 ETH Denver, Chainlink hackathon & early crypto days 00:07:29 What it takes to be a Chainlink node operator 00:12:47 Building and pivoting: Owl Protocol to Veraswap 00:14:53 Living nomadically & work setup 00:15:53 Leo’s hobbies 00:21:20 Demo of Veraswap 00:27:24 Intent-based systems vs. Veraswap architecture 00:29:44 Veraswap’s UX philosophy & token baskets 00:33:45 Uniswap v4 vs. v3: Hooks, upgrades & design 00:35:45 Future of AMMs & Uniswap 00:39:19 Account abstraction & multi-chain smart wallets 00:45:27 Competitors & differentiation in cross-chain DeFi 00:49:46 Veraswap’s business model & sticky UX strategy 00:56:34 Team structure, hackathons & building lean 01:01:58 The future of Web3 DEX and integration with TradFi 01:07:30 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:11:21 Where to follow Leo & Veraswap 01:12:16 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 BridgeColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-06-15 | 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 trailer 00:00:31 Show & guest introduction 00:05:38 How GPU Mining Works 00:14:32 Crypto’s growth and institutional involvement 00:15:33 Kevin's hobbies 00:17:06 Introducing RAAC 00:21:48 Integrating real estate with stablecoins in DeFi 00:27:16 Chainlink and oracle solutions powering RAAC 00:33:02 Understanding institutional interest 00:36:02 Bringing RWA on chain via stablecoins 00:38:51 Bridging TradFi and DeFi 00:40:51 Highlighting the core offering: Real estate meets NFTs 00:43:12 Closed loop ecosystem in DeFi 00:44:42 Legal challenges in real estate tokenization 00:47:03 What is Section 8 real estate 00:49:02 Risk management for RAAC's business model 00:52:06 Analyzing competitors in the RWA market 00:55:02 RAAC’s revenue model and business strategy 00:57:16 Team dynamics and operational agility 00:59:50 Challenges in articulating complex idea 01:02:21 Reputation issues in the Web3 space 01:05:36 Where RWA are headed in Web3 01:10:51 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:15:28 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 MAIGAColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-06-05 | 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 Trailer 00:00:24 Intro & Victor’s intro 00:05:28 First steps in crypto, mining & data analytics 00:08:02 Lessons learned from early startups 00:10:19 Pivoting into DeFi: Recognizing Market Opportunities 00:15:31 Hobbies of Victor 00:17:35 What is MAIGA? 00:19:56 The role of AI agents in simplifying DeFi 00:22:53 What MAIGA's AI agent actually does 00:25:41 The innovation behind Proof of Trading 00:28:30 What’s next for MAIGA and where it’s heading 00:33:39 How Proof of Trading really works 00:39:36 How AI is shaping tokenomics 00:46:15 Revenue model and monetization strategy 00:53:15 Comparison of Web3 AI agents 00:58:06 The future of AI agents 01:03:55 Advice for aspiring Web3 builders 01:06:06 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Victor Lee and MAIGA: MAIGA's Website: maiga.ai MAIGA's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Maiga_AI Victor Lee's Twitter/X: https://x.com/victorleejw
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 & NaomiColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-05-28 | 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 preview
Follow Catscope, Naomi Honda and Joel de Jesus : Catscope's Website: catscope.io Catscope's Twitter/X: https://x.com/catscope_io Joel de Jesus's Twitter/X: https://x.com/Molo81419714
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 GuaquetaColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-05-17 | 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 Trailer 00:00:28 Intro & Sebastian’s intro 00:01:24 Sebastian’s background: engineer to Web3 00:02:40 How Sebastian got into freelancing 00:06:18 Big gaming project in Singapore 00:09:23 Why Sebastian loves Hackathons 00:11:21 First hackathon win 00:12:35 Carbon offset project on Celo 00:15:13 ETHGlobal finalist story 00:18:39 Sebastian's Hobbies: FIFA & soccer 00:24:18 Deep dive on Rootstock 00:26:18 Merged mining concept explained 00:27:03 RBTC bridge 00:30:18 Some statistics of Rootstock 00:30:55 Some ideas to build on Rootstock 00:31:59 Dev tools & Hacktivator 00:34:55 Rootstock DAO grants 00:37:39 POWpeg bridge 00:39:05 Potential apps that can be built on Rootstock 00:41:17 Leveraging Bitcoin in DeFi use case 00:43:06 Rootstock Collective - Governance 00:48:39 People and team behind Rootstock 00:50:59 Team communication challenge 00:52:24 ZK integration challenge 00:54:25 Competition in Bitcoin L2s 00:55:53 Future of Bitcoin ecosystem 00:58:53 Limitations due to Bitcoin architecture 00:59:43 Mining reward sustainability 01:02:52 80% of Bitcoin hash rate go into merge mining 01:05:16 Breaking into Web3 advice 01:07:14 The importance of networking 01:09:13 Where to follow Sebastian 01:10:06 Outro & next episode preview
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 JonesColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-05-09 | 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 trailer 00:00:34 Show intro & Jon’s self-intro 00:03:13 Jon's background 00:06:07 Moving to Taiwan and building community 00:08:42 How Supra began, founding story and vision 00:11:26 Exploring the technology and infrastructure of Supra 00:14:20 The importance of open source in blockchain 00:16:56 Web3 through the lens of political economy 00:19:48 Personal interests and hobbies 00:25:50 What makes Supra stand out 00:33:22 Supra mainnet goes live with multi-virtual machine support 00:36:30 Seamless blockchain integration powered by Supra Nova 00:37:36 The rise of dapps and novel solutions on Supra 00:41:54 Gaming and blockchain 00:48:11 Stablecoins and the future of payments in Web3 00:52:03 Building a remote-first company culture 00:56:57 The role of research in advancing blockchain technology 00:59:54 Supra's business models 01:04:45 Future aspirations and advice for web3 entrepreneurship 01:09:38 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Jon and Supra: Supra's Website: supra.com Supra's Twitter/X: https://x.com/SUPRA_Labs Jon's Twitter/X: https://x.com/JonEvansJones
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 JefferysColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-04-30 | 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 tools 00:17:29 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 nodes 00:47:31 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 founders 01:14:54 Where to follow Session 01:16:17 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 & Entrepreneurship2025-04-22 | 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 trailer 00:00:24 Introduction and self-introduction of Joshua 00:01:05 Joshua’s background and how he got into health tech 00:05:43 His gig as a studio engineer 00:07:01 his journey to Japan for higher education 00:10:43 Joshua's Edtech platform business 00:14:05 Joshua's early entrepreneurial lessons in Japan 00:19:31 Joshua's stint as a saxophonist 00:20:53 His PhD in System Information Science 00:23:03 His first job in Japan working in autonomous driving 00:27:03 How Joshua got into the healthcare industry 00:30:32 The inefficiencies that the healthcare industry in Japan face 00:34:07 His time at Antler Japan as an entrepreneur 00:36:31 The unique characteristic of Antler 00:38:12 His existing idea when joining Antler Japan 00:43:22 An important question that every entrepreneur needs to answer 00:45:45 How long did it take Joshua to find the co-founder? 00:53:25 Details leading to Antler's graduation day 00:55:16 Building trust and navigating Japanese corporate culture 00:55:54 Joshua shares Modastera’s vision and medical AI solution 01:00:41 Pain points around annotation and data handling 01:01:47 The long-term vision for automated model training 01:05:13 Modastera product demo 01:07:40 The market size that Modastera is aiming at 01:09:33 Global competition of Modastera 01:11:44 The 5x improvement that Modastera aims to bring to medical device companies 01:15:22 Modastera business model 01:16:18 Modastera's upcoming roadmap 01:18:01 The importance of data in AI model training 01:19:27 Challenges in deploying AI models in production 01:21:15 Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 01:22:54 Where to follow Joshua and updates from Modastera 01:23:36 Closing thoughts and episode outro
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. SebastienColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-04-06 | 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 trailer 00:00:27 Show introduction and quick self-introduction of Sebastien 00:01:33 Seb’s professional career before Web3 00:03:37 How Seb first broke into Web3 00:07:01 The origin of Sophon 00:09:50 His experience working at a prestigious Web2 bank 00:12:53 His time at Nervos blockchain 00:15:44 His time at Matter Labs (core contributor of ZKSync) 00:16:35 Elastic chain of ZKSync and Interoperability plan 00:18:31 Sebastien's hobbies outside of work 00:20:48 Deep dive into Sophon, a Layer-2 zk blockchain 00:24:30 The features that make Sophon consumer-friendly 00:28:22 Sophon portal, the place where users can tap into everything 00:29:30 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 ticketing 00:35:42 How Sophon distinguishes from other general-purpose blockchains 00:38:04 Challenges facing Sophon team 00:39:01 Seb’s advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 00:40:17 Where to follow Sebastien and stay updated on Sophon 00:40:48 Episode outro and final thoughts
Follow Sebastien and Sophon: Sebastien's X/Twitter: https://x.com/0xsebastiena Sophon website: https://sophon.xyz/
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 LabsColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-03-29 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Marco van den Heuvel 00:02:00 Marco’s journey into Web3 and early Bitcoin discovery 00:03:06 Building communities in Web3 and lessons learned 00:09:05 How Marco discovered about Bitcoin 00:10:59 Marco's fascination with terrarium 00:16:32 Background of Beam Labs from Merit Circle days 00:20:00 What Beam does: a 360-degree overview 00:23:55 The significance of Beam Nodes and validator rewards 00:26:00 Origin of the name Merit Circle and the rebrand to Beam 00:31:04 Transition from an Avalanche subnet to Beam’s Layer 1 blockchain 00:36:24 Web3 tech requirements for games 00:39:05 Beam’s tech stack: NFT marketplace, wallet, and SDK 00:40:59 Beam Ventures: $150M gaming and AI investment fund in Abu Dhabi 00:44:31 Marco discusses competition and Beam’s unique approach 00:46:05 Beam's business models 00:50:24 Challenges facing Beam Labs 00:52:46 Evolution of Web3 gaming and the need for mainstream adoption 00:54:45 The people behind Beam Labs 00:59:30 Marco's take on a multi-chain world 01:01:30 How Web3 gaming will evolve in the future 01:04:16 Marco's favorite Web3 games 01:08:02 Marco’s advice for Web3 founders building gaming infrastructure 01:09:57 Where to follow Marco and stay updated on Beam Labs 01:11:01 Episode outro and final thoughts
Follow 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
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 CEOColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-03-10 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Charlie Feng 00:01:43 Charlie’s background: From finance to Web3 00:02:39 Building AI chatbots before modern AI advancements 00:03:36 Charlie’s first fintech startup and scaling to $100M revenue 00:08:54 Charlie shares how he first learned about Web3 00:10:16 Charlie shares his hobbies and what he enjoys outside of work 00:13:46 Building Agora for Web3 Governance 00:15:31 Understanding DAOs and decentralized governance 00:15:59 Why Web3 governance matters for decentralized ecosystems 00:18:38 Charlie explains Agora’s on-chain voting system 00:19:55 The role of smart contracts in automating decisions 00:21:15 Lifecycle of a DAO proposal 00:28:03 Role of Agora in DAO Governance 00:30:26 Competition of Agora in the DAO Governance landspace 00:33:05 How many people are working in Agora 00:37:03 Charlie's Take on DAO Governance Participation 00:40:57 Charlie explains the benefits of decentralization 00:43:14 Challenges Charlie’s team faces in building Agora 00:52:16 Charlie’s take on AI's Impact on Work and DAO Governance 01:01:11 Upcoming innovations and roadmap for Agora 01:02:09 Advice for Web3 founders looking to build governance solutions 01:04:25 Where to follow Charlie and learn more about Agora 01:05:26 Episode outro and closing remarks
Follow Charlie and Agora: Charlie's Twitter: https://x.com/charliecfeng Charlie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charliecf Agora platform: https://agora.xyz
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 LabColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-02-23 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Jean @ Crunch 00:01:36 Jean’s background in econometrics and entry into crypto 00:03:29 Shifting from computer science to machine learning 00:04:18 First ML hackathon and risk modeling for insurance 00:09:50 Jean's 1st exposure to Bitcoin and early trading experience 00:20:51 Jean shares his hobbies and how he spends time outside of work 00:23:56 Crunch: A machine learning DePIN powering decentralized intelligence 00:37:53 Crunch's collective intelligence model 00:56:44 Using differential privacy for secure data sharing 01:00:41 Jean explains Crunch’s incentive and reward system 01:03:55 Crunch is building on Solana 01:05:46 The team behind Crunch 01:07:10 Challenges that Crunch team faces 01:10:03 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 entrepreneurs 01:22:11 Where to follow Jean and Crunch 01:23:20 Closing remarks and next episode preview
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 KuzminColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-02-08 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Intro to the show and Sergey's self-introduction 00:01:56 Sergey's 3D printing business 00:03:35 Sergey's education in robotics and 3D printing 00:05:54 Products made in 3D printing business 00:06:50 Customer retention in the 3D printing business 00:09:28 Launch of an NFT collection on Theta Network 00:14:50 NFT marketplace development and a setback 00:17:13 Sergey's hobbies: American football 00:22:42 Introduction to Telegram mini apps and Zombie Train 00:27:03 Technical challenges of Unity games in Telegram 00:28:33 Demo of Zombie Train 00:33:42 Game play, how to progress in the game and rewards 00:37:26 The problem of TGE (Token Generation Event) in Telegram games and Sergey's plan to build a Zombie world hub 00:40:00 In-game business model and product placement 00:42:18 Bot farming and AI agents 00:47:09 Future of Web3 gaming 00:50:40 Telegram as a platform and why Sergey chose Telegram 00:51:45 Sergey's general advice on learning AI 00:56:09 Where to follow Sergey and Zombie Train 00:57:12 Disclaimer: Not financial advice 00:57:42 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Sergey and play Zombie Train: Sergey's Telegram handle: @sergeykuzmin Zombie Train game (on Telegram): https://t.me/zombietrainbot Zombie train website: https://zombietra.in/ Zombie Train Twitter/X: https://x.com/zombietraingame
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 & AlexColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-01-28 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Introduction and self-introduction of Shukhrat and Alex 00:02:15 Shukhrat’s journey from IT to Web3 00:03:05 Alex’s background in engineering and blockchain development 00:05:00 How Shukhrat and Alex met and started working together 00:06:50 First blockchain project: Building a gaming platform 00:12:45 Shukhrat and Alex’s hobbies: Traveling, sports, and water activities 00:17:38 Expanding blockchain education and adoption for non-crypto users 00:20:10 Account abstraction and simplifying wallet access 00:27:30 Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation: Blockchain services and ecosystems 00:28:11 RWA tokenization trends and projects 00:34:31 AI integration in blockchain for documentation and automation 00:39:10 Why the insurance industry is not yet ready for blockchain adoption 00:43:32 Web3 and AI focus: 80% Web3, 20% AI clients 00:45:06 Ultron Foundation: Layer 1 blockchain with an extensive ecosystem 00:49:15 Upcoming innovations in blockchain and AI 01:00:44 Fantom’s recent decision to migrate to Sonic 01:02:37 The teams behind Cyber Bee and Ultron Foundation 01:10:09 How AI and blockchain will evolve in the future 01:13:07 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:15:01 Where to follow Shukhrat, Alex, and their projects 01:15:38 Outro and closing remarks
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 VegaColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2025-01-12 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Introduction and brief self-introduction of Miguel De Vega 00:01:08 Miguel’s journey: From engineering and AI to Web3 00:04:34 Zero-knowledge proofs and the evolution of cryptography 00:05:51 How Miguel discovered Web3 and joined the crypto space in 2017 00:08:13 The shift from globalization to automation and Web3’s role in AI 00:10:09 Miguel’s hobbies: Traveling, snowboarding, and skateboarding 00:12:49 Introduction to Nillion and the concept of the “blind computer” 00:17:33 Decentralizing sensitive data with Nillion’s blind computer 00:20:35 Building production-ready systems: From academia to scale 00:22:15 Quantum security and the challenges of privacy-enhancing technologies 00:25:22 How Nillion simplifies PETs (privacy-enhancing technologies) for developers 00:31:29 Nillion’s support for Web2 and Web3 developers 00:37:10 Business model: Token incentives and building public infrastructure 00:40:47 How many people are currently working at Nillion Labs 00:43:18 What are the challenges facing Nillion Labs 00:44:45 The importance of marketing in complex Web3 projects 00:45:25 Nillion’s Tuk Tuk campaign: Bridging physical and digital marketing 00:51:36 Miguel’s take on the future of privacy in Web3 01:02:15 Nillion’s roadmap: Mainnet launch and developer success stories 01:04:34 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:08:54 Where to follow Miguel and stay updated on Nillion 01:10:27 Outro and closing remarks for the episode
Follow Miguel and his company: Nillion website: nillion.com Nillion Twitter/X: https://x.com/nillionnetwork For Nillion devs: masquerade.nillion.com Miguel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/miguel_de_vega
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 JourneyColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-12-31 | 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 trailer 00:00:31 Show introduction and brief self-introduction of Kim D Chai 00:01:30 Kim shares her journey from localization to founding AmphiSpace 00:03:50 How AI disrupted the translation industry and shaped Amphi’s vision 00:06:28 Working on global animation projects like One Piece and Naruto 00:07:11 Kim’s work in marketing and breaking into the Asian market 00:10:34 How Kim discovered Web3 through events and early Ethereum investments 00:12:46 Kim’s hobbies: Working out, reading, and exploring technology books 00:14:08 Introduction to AmphiSpace: A travel platform for Web3 and AI 00:15:41 NFT utilities in AmphiSpace for discounts and real-world value 00:16:15 AmphiSpace’s target customers: Web3 OGs, startups, and AI professionals 00:19:10 How AmphiSpace organizes and co-hosts global Web3 events 00:20:30 Overcoming data consistency challenges in the travel industry with Web3 tech 00:30:39 AmphiSpace’s next steps: Decentralized aggregator for hotels and events 00:38:00 What are the challenges Kim’s team faces while organizing Web3 events 00:39:05 The importance of events in Web3 for branding and networking 00:40:26 How Web3 events build trust and facilitate cooperation 00:44:03 Kim discusses RWA as the next big wave in Web3 adoption 00:50:54 Kim’s advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs: survive in any market 00:52:27 Where to follow Kim and stay updated on AmphiSpace 00:53:58 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Kim and her company: Amphi website: Amphi.space Official Amphi X/Twitter: https://x.com/globalkoon Official Amphi Telegram account: https://t.me/amphiofficial
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 UnderkongColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-12-15 | 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 Intro 00:00:34 Show intro and Ilya's quick intro 00:02:05 Ilya's professional background 00:03:47 Ilya's First Web2 Startup and his transition to Web3 00:08:34 Discovering Bitcoin Through the Darknet 00:10:52 Life in Kathmandu and Hobbies 00:15:42 Strong momentum for FileMarket AI 00:16:45 Deep Dive into FileMarket AI 00:20:20 User Flow and Marketing Strategies 00:24:20 The Ethics of User Data and FileMarket's Approach 00:26:01 Addressing the Need for Private Data in AI Training 00:29:34 Surprising Use Cases for AI Data: Palm Pictures, Voice Recordings 00:33:05 AI data annotation needs to be multi-chain and fun aside about the name "Ilya" 00:35:04 The Techstars Accelerator Experience 00:39:58 His team experience about finding product-market fit in Web3 00:45:05 The team behind FileMarket AI 00:49:25 Discussion about AI agents 00:53:30 Challenges faced by Ilya's team 00:57:50 FileMarket’s B2B2C Business Model 01:01:20 The future intersection of Web3 and AI according to Ilya 01:08:50 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs 01:11:48 Where to follow Filemarket and Ilya 01:12:52 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Ilya and his company: Filemarket AI website: filemarket.ai Ilya's Twitter/X: https://x.com/UnderKong
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 PolkadotColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-12-08 | 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 trailer 00:00:27 Show intro and brief self-intro from Jay Chrawnna 00:02:18 Jay’s journey from acting to Web3 00:02:59 How COVID changed Jay’s career and led him to finance 00:03:45 Discovering Bitcoin, DeFi Summer, and joining Polkadot 00:10:19 Polkadot video tutorials started with "Polkadot Kusama What The FAQ" 00:12:35 How "Polkadot Kusama What the FAQ” grew into The Kus 00:13:23 Jay’s hobbies: Running, music, and festivals 00:17:28 Intro to The Kus and its role in Polkadot 00:18:29 Space Monkeys podcast: Spotlighting Polkadot leaders 00:21:14 Attempts at Governance (AAG): Proposal debates platform 00:21:56 AAG’s role in managing $2M+ Polkadot proposals 00:27:23 Polkadot’s $150M treasury and shift to stablecoins 00:29:50 OpenGov: Building rep and engaging token holders 00:31:42 Voting power, locking, and delegations in OpenGov 00:36:43 How OpenGov drives decentralized decisions 00:41:31 Polkadot projects: Origin Trail, Mythical Games, and HyperBridge 00:45:44 Jay on upcoming games and projects in Polkadot Kusama 00:53:15 Jay on Polkadot’s future evolution 00:50:06 Challenges Jay’s team faces in the Polkadot ecosystem 00:59:39 Jay’s advice for breaking into Web3 and finding a niche 01:01:58 Where to follow Jay and join The Kus/Polkadot 01:03:43 Episode outro and preview
Follow 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
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 NetworkColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-12-02 | 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 preview
Follow 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
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 TezosColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-11-25 | 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 trailer 00:00:29 David's Background in FinTech and Robo Advisory 00:07:00 Different gigs in FinTech & Early Web3 Encounters 00:16:35 David’s First Experiences with Web3 and Bitcoin Mining 00:20:06 David's hobbies 00:21:10 Deep Dive into Tezos, the Tezos Foundation, and TZ APAC 00:28:05 Fortify Labs: TZ APAC's Startup Studio and Cohort Highlights 00:37:20 TZ APAC activities during Token2049 in Singapore 00:41:06 Programming Languages on Tezos: Michelson, Solidity, and the Future of Jstz ("Justice") 00:44:36 Etherlink: Tezos' Layer-2 Rollup and the Tezos X Roadmap 00:49:40 Tezos - a blockchain that can upgrade itself due to on-chain governance 00:51:10 The team behind TZ APAC 00:54:18 Core contributors (engineering teams) for Tezos 00:56:30 Challenges facing TZ APAC: how to attract more builders in Web3 00:59:44 David's hot take on how to onboard 1 billion users / 1 million developers into Web3 01:03:55 Predicting Web3’s evolution in the next few years 01:05:56 Advice for Breaking into Web3 01:07:58 Where to Follow David and TZ APAC 01:09:11 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow David and his company: David's Twitter: https://x.com/tng_david TZ APAC: https://x.com/TzApac TZ APAC Website: tzapac.com Fortify Labs: tzapac.com/fortifylabs
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 JourneyColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-11-18 | 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 trailer 00:00:28 Show introduction and brief self-introduction from Wilbert Johan 00:01:33 The experience of DeFi summer and early days in crypto 00:02:13 Wilbert discusses his transition from traditional finance to Web3 00:04:39 Challenges in founding a Web3 startup in rewards tokenization 00:10:43 Wilbert’s experience working with RWAs and DeFi strategies 00:12:47 How Wilbert discovered blockchain and his entry to Pendle 00:14:39 Wilbert explains the concept of private credit 00:20:07 Wilbert’s personal interests and how they keep him balanced 00:23:49 Overview of Pendle Finance and the mission to tokenize yields 00:24:39 Wilbert explains ETH restaking and BTC-Fi yield opportunities 00:28:24 Pendle’s approach to providing fixed returns with PT and YT tokens 00:30:49 An in-depth look at Pendle 00:31:28 Pendle’s BTC-Fi pools and their potential in the DeFi landscape 00:32:23 How Pendle enables yield opportunities for Bitcoin holders 00:33:42 Wilbert describes Pendle’s approach to building liquidity pools 00:34:08 Traction and growth of Pendle’s BTC-Fi pools in DeFi 00:37:59 An in-depth look at Pendle’s unique yield tokenization mechanism 00:42:19 Pendle’s ecosystem: Partnerships and collaborations in DeFi 00:50:50 How the VE tokenomics model boosts user engagement 00:54:26 The team behind Pendle and the company’s structure 00:58:38 Challenges facing Pendle and plans for future growth 00:59:43 Wilbert’s thoughts on security and risk management in Web3 01:01:57 How will BTC-Fi and DeFi evolve in the next few years 01:04:45 Advice for people who want to break into Web3 01:09:03 Where to follow Wilbert and learn more about Pendle 01:10:49 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow 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/
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 PhelpsColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-11-11 | 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 trailer 00:01:24 Show introduction and brief self-intro from William Phelps 00:01:57 William discusses his transition from traditional finance to Web3 00:05:20 How Saudi Arabia is supporting Web3 His favorite experiences in previous companies 00:06:53 What made William study philosophy and his PTSD from the writing day 00:09:33 His experience working at a financial broker 00:12:15 How William discovered blockchain 00:14:23 William talks about his experience working at Adiverse 00:20:14 William's take on Cardano’s role in emerging markets and the academic nature of Cardano 00:22:39 William shares his personal interests and language skills 00:28:51 An in-depth look at UmrahCash and its mission 00:32:18 Understanding the demand for pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia 00:32:55 Challenges related to currency for pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia 00:34:52 The solution that UmrahCash has built 00:36:29 How UmrahCash works under the hood 00:38:01 Traction of UmrahCash 00:41:28 Overview of the pilgrimage process and logistics 00:44:17 How technology supports pilgrimage operations 00:45:34 How the fund movement works in UmrahCash 00:48:16 Addressing capital flight and regulatory compliance 00:50:08 William's thought on designing a user-friendly experience for customers 00:54:07 The team behind UmrahCash and company structure 00:56:52 Challenges facing UmrahCash 01:01:30 Working permits in Saudi Arabia 01:03:52 Islamic finance and cryptocurrency 01:05:40 Where to follow William 01:06:16 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow William and his company: William's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wjphelps William's Twitter: https://x.com/wphelps_ UmrahCash website: umrahcash.com
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 ShardeumColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-11-04 | 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 trailer 00:00:34 Lam introduces the show and guest Chris Chabot 00:01:03 Chris's professional background and his inspiration 00:06:15 His favorite experience among the FAANG company 00:08:27 Role of Developer Relations 00:14:19 How Chris discovered Web3 00:18:12 Fun Fact: Chris's Hobbies 00:19:18 Introducing Shardeum: decentralization for everyone 00:23:20 Founding Story of Shardeum 00:25:20 The team behind Shardeum 00:28:50 Running a Shardeum Validator Node 00:30:02 Consensus algorithm of Shardeum 00:34:42 Security Audits and Bug Bounties with Immunefi 00:37:44 Shardeum's Unique Advantages 00:42:09 Challenges and Hurdles for Shardeum 00:44:44 Upcoming milestones for Shardeum and learnings from previous testnets 00:46:33 Partnerships and infrastructure for Shardeum 00:49:31 The decentralization plan for Shardeum 00:51:00 The Future of Web3: Exciting New Use Cases 00:54:47 Chris's take on dominant programming languages in Web3 00:58:09 How to onboarding 1 billion people in Web3 01:02:45 Advice for people who want to break into Web3 01:03:52 Where to follow Chris 01:04:58 Episode outro and next episode preview
Follow Chris and his company: Chris's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chabotc Chris's Twitter: https://x.com/chabotc Shardeum website: shardeum.org
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 JourneyColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-10-27 | 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 trailer 00:00:26 Lam introduces the show and guest Eddy Altman 00:01:44 Eddy’s background: From military intelligence to cybersecurity 00:02:25 Transition from military to government and startups 00:05:16 What the work of an intelligence analyst means 00:07:25 Eddy explains about the Five Eyes Alliance 00:13:07 Why Eddy moved to Bahrain in the past 00:15:15 Eddy's personal hobbies and interests 00:17:43 Introduction to Almata and the company’s mission 00:21:19 His company work in Web3 security 00:23:52 Impact of COVID on business and the shift to product development 00:27:01 His company product in vulnerability management in cybersecurity 00:30:27 Zero-Day vulnerabilities explained 00:36:42 HIs company products: Eagle Talon to secure supply chain and Eagle Eyes to identify cyber risks 00:42:50 How cyber insurance can help businesses manage risks 00:45:19 His company's preferred business model 00:49:32 The team behind Almata and the opportunity for cybersecurity in Japan 00:55:09 Challenges facing Almata 00:58:10 His company's competitors in the Japan market 01:01:56 AI’s rise and competitive advantage in business 01:05:58 How cybersecurity will evolve in the next few years 01:09:52 How can small and medium enterprises fight cybercrime to protect themselves 01:13:10 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 preview
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 NiekerkColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-10-20 | 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 trailer 00:00:58 Matthew's introduction and background 00:02:26 Discovering blockchain technology while working in banking 00:03:42 Matthew's Global Journey and the Transition to Belgium 00:06:26 His role as internal consultant at the bank 00:11:20 A Glimpse into Matthew's Hobbies 00:12:03 His snowboarding venture in Japan 00:13:34 The Origin Story of SettleMint 00:14:31 How Matthew met his co-founder of SettleMint, Roderik 00:15:52 The reason why his old bank with 5000 developers couldn't develop blockchain application in-house 00:17:31 SettleMint's Holistic Approach to Blockchain Transformation 00:23:03 SettleMint's platform as the complete solution to integrate blockchain applications 00:29:44 Integrate blockchain with existing systems 00:33:46 Use cases from past clients of SettleMint 00:45:10 SettleMint's Team and Culture 00:48:42 Business models of SettleMint 00:49:13 Challenges facing SettleMint 00:51:04 How Matthew sees the future of Web3 adoption and the role of hybrid solutions 00:54:03 Example of a "hybrid" solution - crowdfunding platform 00:56:33 How to onboard 10,000 Web2 Corporations into Web3 00:57:58 Lessons learned after years of building SettleMint 01:01:08 Where to follow Matthew and SettleMint 01:02:15 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 WalletColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-10-13 | 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 trailer 00:00:54 Veda's background and journey to Web3 00:01:41 Working at Tesla during the Model 3 Launch 00:03:58 Battery recycling and sustainability 00:06:34 Experience at Tesla's Gigafactory 00:09:37 Engineering roles and responsibilities at Teslas 00:12:11 How Veda entered the crypto space 00:16:17 Veda's personal hobbies and interests 00:19:28 The Founding Story of Ronyn Wallet 00:24:06 Building the MVP and scaling operations 00:30:15 The main target users of Ronyn Wallet 00:36:08 The team behind Ronyn Wallet 00:37:25 Building a hardware company remotely 00:40:40 Applying Tesla's Engineering Principles 00:45:40 Main challenges facing Veda's company 00:48:11 The Future of Web3 Hardware Wallets 00:58:39 Advice for Aspiring Web3 Entrepreneurs 01:01:40 Where to Follow Veda and Ronyn Wallet 01:04:48 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 W3CONN3CTColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-10-06 | 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 W3CONN3CT 00:01:38 Kornel's professional experience in translation and artificial intelligence (AI) 00:04:15 How Kornel learned about Web3 00:07:07 Becoming Head of Blockchain Recruitment for a Web2 company 00:11:57 Founding W3CONN3CT and its Mission 00:15:10 W3CONN3CT's organic approach to recruitment 00:17:01 The role of education in Web3 recruitment 00:19:20 Challenges of Hiring Fresh Graduates in Web3 00:24:46 The W3CONN3CT Team and their clients portfolio 00:27:30 Challenges facing W3CONN3CT and Kornel 00:30:07 W3CONN3CT's business model 00:31:30 What Kornel doesn't like about the traditional recruitment industry 00:34:35 The Future of Web3 Recruitment 00:36:36 Advice for Web3 Job Seekers 00:39:07 Where to Follow Kornel Kot 00:40:19 Episode outro and next episode preview
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 ShopColors of Tech & Entrepreneurship2024-09-29 | 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 Group 00:01:26 Bojan's professional experience in banking and finance 00:04:22 Bojan's big-fish, small-pond strategy that landed him in South Africa 00:06:47 How Bojan learned about Web3 00:09:38 His entrepreneurial experience mining Bitcoin and Ethereum 00:14:35 Bojan's experience "surviving" 2 crypto cycles 00:17:57 Bojan’s hobbies outside of Web3 00:22:05 His experience leading the credit and market risk department at a big bank in South Africa before Covid lockdown 00:23:57 Does a bank's department need 250 people? Discussion about productivity at Lambda Group 00:27:08 Deep dive into Lambda Group, from dev shop to staff augmentation 00:30:44 Early challenges, lessons learned, and pivoting the business model 00:33:44 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 corporations 00:42:05 A typical day in of an entrepreneur 00:43:15 The importance of having a strong sales funnel 00:43:48 Discussion about entrepreneurship 00:45:15 Successful marketing strategies: the power of cold emailing 00:49:11 Transferable skills that can be learned from entrepreneurship 00:51:22 Working a full-time job in investment banking while starting Lambda Group 00:54:01 Building a side hustle while holding a full-time job - Having optionality 00:57:01 Bojan's preference on how he prefers to run his business 01:01:58 Leveraging technology and automation to overcome solopreneurs' bottlenecks 01:06:37 Business is all about distribution 01:09:07 Discussion about selling a business 01:11:17 Qualities of a successful entrepreneur: perseverance, a "chip on your shoulder", resourcefulness 01:16:32 Where to follow Bojan online 01:17:42 Episode outro and next episode preview
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