Spotlight

Arie Trouw, CEO of XY Labs, discusses the company’s self-sovereign data network, which functions as an oracle for blockchain. XY Labs has been in the data space since 2012 and started focusing on crypto in 2018. The company’s system incorporates thousands of blockchains linked together and connects to external blockchains like Polygon or Ethereum. Arie Trouw also reflects on the similarities between the dot-com boom and the current landscape of blockchain companies, predicting that the useful aspects of blockchain technology will prevail.

Tony Hawk is a professional skateboarder, philanthropist, and Bitcoin investor. He compares the trajectories of skateboarding, gaming, and Bitcoin, noting the rapid mainstream acceptance of Bitcoin within the last ten years. Tony’s skatepark project, formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation, focuses on creating public skateparks in underserved areas and has been accepting cryptocurrency for a couple of years. He believes that Bitcoin can contribute to financial equality, provide access to other countries, and allow for direct assistance to those in need without unnecessary filters or intermediaries.

Baron Davis is the founder of More Than US, a Web3 maker studio that represents designers, engineers, meta architects, and talent. More Than US creates IP as a collective while focusing on utility and community as one ecosystem. The company is involved in innovation, sports, lifestyle culture, media diversity, and other opportunities within the Web3 space. More Than US aims to build its own marketplace for selecting the right projects and people while supporting a diverse range of creators, including people of color and women. Davis is passionate about using technology, ecosystem, and utility to address real-world problems and empower creators to own their IP.

Anthony Scaramucci, the managing partner and founder of SkyBridge Capital, shares his interest in cryptocurrency and how it led to the creation of cryptocurrency funds within his diversified money management firm. After meeting with Treasury officials discussing the digitization of the US dollar, Scaramucci’s curiosity was piqued, leading him to explore blockchain technology further. SkyBridge then made significant investments in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Algorand, and the FTX token during the pandemic.

Jerry Fragiskatos serves as the Chief Commercial Officer of Input Output, the technology provider and one of the founding members of the Cardano platform. Cardano is a scientifically peer-reviewed layer one blockchain built using cryptographic research, formal methods, and the functional programming language Haskell. Its main goal is to help bank the unbanked and provide financial services to underserved populations in emerging markets. Jerry’s role involves working with enterprises and governments to integrate blockchain technology into their systems, allowing for value-added services that address the needs of under-banked and under-serviced communities.

Crypto Wendy O is the founder of The O Show, the largest female-run crypto YouTube channel in the world. She started her YouTube channel to livestream her free crypto networking meetup events, which she began organizing after noticing the high cost of attending similar events. The O Show covers various topics in the crypto space, including news, trading, interviews, and reviews. Crypto Wendy O uses her platform to be a voice for the underdogs, valuing the importance of using it for good. She has grown her influence by networking, attending conferences, and sharing her opinions on crypto Twitter.

Matt Cross is a member of the Blockchain Founders Fund, an early-stage venture fund that focuses on pre-seed to seed investments in blockchain-based startups. He shares his unconventional journey into the world of blockchain, starting as an enthusiast in 2017 and eventually pivoting into venture capital. Matt believes that blockchain technology has the potential to create better, more ethical institutions centered around community and modular growth, offering a solution to the problems faced by many traditional institutions.

Mico is the host of The MicoBits Show, a series of private blockchain conversations between insiders that are made public to help people easily access and understand the secretive knowledge of the blockchain industry. The show started during the COVID pandemic when in-person conferences disappeared. Mico aimed to recreate the conversational energy of those events by hosting them online, attracting an audience that appreciates gaining access to these insider conversations.

Mark Jeffrey is the General Partner of The Boolean Fund, a crypto web3 investor that focuses on early-stage projects with sub-10 million market caps. The fund invests in projects with explosive growth potential, including older coins or companies that may have been previously neglected but still have the potential for a resurgence. Mark compares these opportunities to the “John Travolta” of companies, as they may have the necessary components for a successful comeback.

Olga Litvinenko, President of USA for Ukraine and Marketing General at the Casper Association, shares her experience in providing humanitarian aid to those affected by the Ukrainian war crisis through her non-profit, USA for Ukraine. The organization focuses on helping refugees, distributing aid, and rebuilding projects. Fandango also discusses her role at the Casper Association, a decentralized layer-one blockchain, and the potential of blockchain technology in promoting Web3 and supporting humanitarian efforts such as those in Ukraine.

Maja Vujinovic is the CEO of OGroup, a company with over ten years of experience investing in the crypto space. OGroup also offers a growth and scale platform to help startups in the industry scale their platforms or exit through M&A advisory. Innovent entered the crypto space while working in payments in Africa and Latin America, with a focus on helping the unbanked. OGroup currently has 55 portfolio companies and has facilitated several successful exits through M&A advisory.

In this episode of the Los Angeles Blockchain Summit, we meet Kyle Kempe, the Chief Solutions Officer at Raze and a prominent figure in the blockchain industry. Kyle discusses his role at Raze, a SaaS solution that aims to transform the way businesses and investors approach fundraising. As a Bitcoin class of 2013 member and a decentralist, Kyle is passionate about creating a fair and just financial system that benefits everyone. He delves into the basics of blockchain technology, the differences between stocks and crypto, and how he got his start in the industry. He also talks about the importance of mass adoption and how Raze is playing a crucial role in building the world’s best fundraising platform. Overall, this episode offers a fascinating insight into the future of finance and the role that blockchain technology is set to play in transforming the creative economy.

Pat Gerleman, Chief Revenue Officer, and Keith Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer at AlterVerse, discuss the upcoming Multiverse gaming platform. Multiverse aims to provide worldwide infrastructure for a Metaverse hybrid gaming platform with customizable servers for games, cities, associations, and more. They explain how AlterVerse aims to solve the issues of connecting wallets or identities to games in a Web3 world by offering free-to-play experiences. Additionally, they touch on their first native game offering, SkyCity, and its various features, such as shopping, racing, flying, shooting, and crafting.

Sanjay Raghavan, head of Web3 Initiative at Roofstock, and Geoff Thompson, Chief Blockchain Officer at Roofstock, discuss how they have developed a legal and tax structure to turn rental properties into NFTs, streamlining the property acquisition process. They share their unique backgrounds and how they’ve combined their expertise to create a new way of transacting real estate, making homeownership more accessible through the use of blockchain and Web3 technology.

Benedetto Biondii is the CEO of Folk Finance, a lending protocol built on the Algorand blockchain that offers efficient governance-focused finance. Folks Finance aims to provide low-cost transactions, making it profitable for anyone, even those with only a few dollars of investment, to use the protocol. Developed by a software house in Milan, which is a global partner of Algorand, Folk Finance is designed to be different from other lending protocols found on Ethereum. The incentive system is built on a cash-back model for loans, making it more sensible and cost-effective for users.

Scott Dykstra is the CTO of Space and Time, a decentralized data warehouse for Web3. Space and Time aims to build the data backbone for Web3, aggregating terabytes of data and connecting it to smart contracts on every major blockchain. The company stands out as the only enterprise-scale, terabyte-scale data warehouse in the space. They target DEFI gaming, enterprises, and web companies moving into Web3, enabling new use cases that wouldn’t be possible without Space and Time. As a blockchain-interoperable platform, it connects to major chains like Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain.

Patrick O’Meara, Chairman and CEO of Inveniam Capital Partners, explains how Inveniam serves as the data layer for decentralized finance, providing auditable and traceable data to understand and value private market assets. He discusses the company’s clientele, which includes large sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, and banks. By ensuring accurate data on asset performance, Inveniam aims to facilitate global secondary market trading for private market assets and reduce data asymmetry, thereby allowing decentralized finance to play a larger role in the financial system.

Medha Parlikar is the CTO and one of the co-founders of Casper Labs, a blockchain protocol designed to onboard the next 100 million users to blockchain technology. She shares her journey from building computers in her basement with her father to becoming a software engineer during the dot-com boom. Casper Labs aims to collaborate with enterprises and enable them to adopt blockchain technology, believing that consumer adoption will occur through products and services that use blockchain on the backend. Medha enjoys listening to feedback and learning about what features and functionality excite people in the blockchain space.

Grant VanWyk is the Chief Technology Officer of BABB, a financial services platform that aims to serve underbanked and unbanked people worldwide. Utilizing innovative technologies such as blockchain and AI, BABB provides access to basic financial services through a mobile app. They focus on areas with more significant financial exclusion, such as Africa and Asia, where many people have mobile devices but limited access to financial services. BABB has regulatory approvals in the UK and Europe and is working on expanding its reach globally. By partnering with local governments and offering traditional financial services alongside crypto options, BABB aims to help boost economies and promote financial inclusion.

Boris Richard is the Senior Managing Director at J.S. Held, a global consulting company with over 1,500 employees and a strong presence in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.  J.S. Held works in multiple sectors, providing data analytics, helping insurance and construction companies handle claims investigations, and working with financial institutions on compliance issues. Fisher leads the crypto advisory and digital assets economic disputes sector, offering a deep understanding of blockchain technology, smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and consensus protocols. With strong data analytics capabilities, industry experience, and knowledge of digital assets, J.S. Held effectively addresses its clients’ needs.

Amyli McDaniel, the CEO of MINtangible Services, discusses her background as an IP lawyer and her involvement in digital innovation, including e-books and open source. She shares her journey into the world of NFTs and how MINtangible Services focuses on solving the issue of missing rights in NFTs, transforming tokens into digital assets. Intangible Services aims to provide a safe and trustworthy platform for IP brand owners, creators, artists, and companies to enter Web3, separating them from scams and copycats in the marketplace.

Alon Goren is one of the founders of Draper Goren Holm, a venture studio focusing on early-stage investments in the blockchain space. In this interview, Alon discusses his journey from being a serial entrepreneur to becoming an investor in the blockchain space, partnering with Tim Draper and Joseph Holm. Draper Goren Holm was initially involved in crowdfunding before transitioning into the crypto and blockchain world. Alon emphasizes the importance of a strong team, persistence, and community involvement for success in the industry.

Adi Sideman is a pioneer in participatory media and the CEO of Revel.xyz, a web 3 personal media platform that connects people through shared assets. With 20+ years of experience in the user-generated video space, Sideman founded YouNow, a live social platform with 40M+ users and over 120M user sessions per month. He also founded interactive media technology firm Oddcast and co-founded online karaoke service KSolo and audio ad network TargetSpot. Sideman is known for creating the first-ever animated ads on AOL and developing more than 30 online games for major-studio franchises.

Kevin Mehrabi is the Founder of StableTech, working to innovate the world through decentralized financial instruments on the Tezos blockchain. With projects such as USDtez, the first USD stablecoin on Tezos, TEZEX, the first decentralized cross-chain token bridge, and upcoming TezFin, a decentralized lending platform, Mehrabi has made significant strides in the blockchain and digital asset space. Additionally, Mehrabi has built the largest consortium for Deep Learning AI in Southern California and combines creative thinking with business solutions to innovate product solutions. His trusted relationships have produced strong multiples for his associates and paved new paths of innovation.

May Mahboob is a co-founder and president of MBD Financials, a photorealistic, decentralized metaverse business district that aims to bridge the gap between the real and virtual world through the power of NFTs, digital real estate exchange, investment opportunities, and more. With over 2 years of experience, Mahboob is an entrepreneur, executive leader, and visionary who disrupts systemic barriers of poverty, inequality, and segregation through the use of emerging technology such as digital finance, cryptocurrency, web 3, metaverse, blockchain, and financial literacy. Mahboob’s mission is to provide accessibility of resources, opportunities, and financial inclusion for all.

Dr. Adel Elmessiry, Ph.D., is a tech entrepreneur, published expert on AI and Blockchain, mentor, advisor, and speaker with 20+ years in healthcare. He is the President/CTO and Co-Founder of AlphaFin, a Draper Goren Holm portfolio company that aims to build an ecosystem of innovative decentralized financial systems for better inclusion and access to the global economy. Adel has a proven executive experience with a solid track record, including 10+ years at HealthStream and 7 years at InVivoLink/HealthTrust. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, and as CTO, he leads the product management and development teams to achieve the company’s strategic vision. For more information on Dr. Elmessiry, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/adelelmessiry

Manuela Seve is the CEO and Co-Founder of Alphaa.io, a blockchain-powered platform that offers businesses and creators a one-stop-shop to issue NFTs for both digital and real-world assets. Recognized as one of the Bloomberg top 100 most influential Latinos/as of the world, Manuela leads Alphaa.io’s efforts to bring NFTs to the real world through education, B2B initiatives, and an easy-to-use, secure interface. With Alphaa.io’s cutting-edge technology, businesses and creators can authenticate, certify, and transfer ownership of both digital and physical assets, opening up new opportunities and solutions in the Web3 revolution.

Web 3 is coming fast and changing rapidly, and Lance Bridgesmith is a seasoned business consultant who can help companies navigate this dynamic landscape. With extensive legal experience in corporate law and private equity, Lance is well-versed in the legal complexities of corporate transactions. He also has a strong background in emergency management and crisis communication, having served as Chief of the Department of Public Safety at Pepperdine University. Lance’s expertise in these areas has proved invaluable in helping clients navigate through difficult situations, and his dedication to helping clients achieve their goals makes him a trusted advisor for businesses of all sizes.

Dan Doney, CEO of Securrency, discusses his innovative work in the blockchain space, powering global digital assets marketplaces with compliance aware tokenization and account management services. He shares his insights on the future of decentralized finance and the transformative potential of blockchain technology for the financial industry. Whether you’re a fintech entrepreneur or simply interested in the power of blockchain, join us to learn more about the unique Compliance Aware Token® Framework and its institutional-grade Capital Markets Platform.

Adelle Nazarian, CEO of the American Blockchain PAC, shares her insights on the intersection of broadcast journalism, politics, technology, national security, and human rights. She discusses the importance of regulatory and legal clarity for the virtual asset industry, the challenges facing the press in a democratic society, and the impact of digital technology on national security and human rights. Whether you’re a journalist, politician, technologist, or simply interested in the future of these industries, you’ll find valuable perspectives from Adelle’s experiences. Join us to explore the exciting possibilities of technology and its impact on our society.

MetaVerse Architect Jeremiah “Flip” Benjamin shares his insights on the intersection of design and technology, discussing his approach to creating immersive experiences and his perspectives on the future of virtual and augmented reality. Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the creative process, you’ll find valuable insights and inspiration from Jeremiah’s story. He has also applied those skills to the creation of virtual environments, 3D assets, and game prototypes for clients including Baron Davis and his portfolio companies.

Maximillion Cooper shares his unique experience of organizing the inaugural Gumball 3000 rally in 1999, a long-distance driving event involving high-profile participants and expensive cars.  Initially, the event was intended as a one-off adventure to gather support for a future venture, but the first rally’s success led to its evolution into an annual event. Maximillion remarks on the eclectic mix of cars and personalities that participated, likening it to a “real-life wacky races.”  He also mentions the financial difficulties he experienced initially and how that led to the planning of subsequent rallies. Maximillion emphasizes the rally’s distinctiveness, standing out from traditional car rallies due to its unique combination of driving, social elements, and parties.

Adam Cheyer shares his journey from being a Rubik’s Cube expert in high school to developing Siri, the well-known voice assistant. They discuss how their passion for computers began in high school and how they led the largest AI project in U.S. government-funded history. The speaker then talks about the founding of Siri, the company’s acquisition by Apple, and working with Steve Jobs. They provide insights into Steve Jobs’ personality, openness to ideas, and desire to win.

Marcus Smith shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with an eagerness to work regardless of monetary reward. He details his career in the sports industry, working for renowned brands like Oakley, Adidas, and Nike. His passion for helping people led him to coach others and found his brand ‘InnerFight.’ Despite not earning from it initially, he remained dedicated to his vision of helping people get better at life. After a period of dissatisfaction and feeling unchallenged in his corporate role, he left Nike to focus on his brand. During this transition, he pursued further studies in sports psychology and developed a simple business plan. Guided by his gut feelings and a clear outline of potential revenue streams, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, committed to making his vision work.

Jaeson Ma shares his experience growing up as a Chinese American, noting the absence of Asian representation in Western media. When he visited Hong Kong, he found a world filled with Asian media figures, sparking a realization of a cultural gap between East and West. This led him to make it his mission to bridge this gap, using media, entertainment, and technology as vehicles. Believing in the power of storytelling and talent, Jason is developing a publishing platform to voice Asian youth culture globally and tell Asian stories to the world. His goal is to give every young Asian person a microphone to share their narrative. Jason’s platform aims to revolutionize the dissemination of editorial content, leveraging digital media and social video, to cater to how young people consume content today.

Radha Bhandari discusses how she embraced the digital world and launched her consultancy during the pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of being open-minded, adaptive, and finding ways to overcome challenges. Radha also highlights the value of having a support network, such as a business coach, partner, or friend, to help navigate uncertainties and provide a sounding board for ideas.

Simon Squibb, who became an entrepreneur at 15, shares how luck played a significant role in his success. He breaks down luck into two categories: random luck and the luck one can influence. He believes that the key elements to influencing luck are taking risks, knowing your destination, and being persistent. By mastering these elements, one can increase their chances of luck and success. Simon also discusses his personal definition of success, which he believes is freedom.

Simone Heng discusses how the internet has played a crucial role in democratizing knowledge during the COVID-19 pandemic. By offering online courses and workshops, they were able to help people who were affected by the pandemic at an affordable price. Simone also shares the importance of nurturing one’s humanness in the digital age by connecting with others, being vulnerable, and maintaining deep connections.

Yagub Alserkal narrates his journey from being a top student in mechanical engineering to realizing he3 was not passionate about it. He decided to switch to finance and marketing, eventually starting work at Deutsche Bank in Dubai. Yagub later met a like-minded individual and together they began advising startups, eventually setting up a VC fund, U.S. Investments. Today, they have three platforms focusing on family-oriented investments, advisory, and funds, with a vision of making impactful investments in edtech, health tech, and other sectors that can benefit the world.

Nick Watson shares his life story, from growing up in the UK and France and developing a passion for triathlons to studying art and design, and later joining the Royal Marines. Upon leaving the military, Nick ventured into personal training and sports therapy. However, his life took a significant turn after his son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. This led to the creation of Team AngelWolf, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting inclusion and inspiring families to engage in more active lifestyles, even with a child facing challenges. Nick’s goal is to make a broader impact globally, promoting inclusivity and accessibility.

Alan Yau discusses the importance of food technology in expanding their reach within the food ecosystem. He emphasizes the limitations of traditional brick-and-mortar establishments and the potential for technology to accelerate growth and impact. He also highlights the value of blockchain technology in the food industry, particularly in terms of product identification, tracking, and verification of authenticity, using coffee as a successful example.

Zachery Ty Bryan talks about Producers Token, a platform that utilizes blockchain technology to improve agriculture traceability and safety. He discusses the company’s goal of bringing as many farmers and sellers onto the platform as possible and how the Department of Agriculture is interested in their token for traceability purposes. Zach envisions a future where consumers can learn about the farmers and their practices by scanning a QR code at the grocery store. He also shares his thoughts on the potential for blockchain to bring transparency and accountability to various sectors, such as governments and businesses.

Josh Lawler is a partner at the law firm Zuber Lawler, which has about 50 attorneys and offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. The firm focuses on emerging areas of industry and technology, including distributed ledger technology (blockchain), cannabis, psychedelic medicine, e-sports, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Zuber Lawler works with clients to help them achieve their goals while navigating complex legal landscapes, sometimes involving international considerations.