"Can't Be Done"

By Adam DraperBusiness Technology Investing

"Can't Be Done" episodes

November 08, 2018 Ep. 83: Solving for Volatility in Crypto with a Decentralized Stablecoin—with Steven Becker of MakerDAO
The most popular criticism of the crypto space is its lack of stability. What if you could solve for volatility, leveraging a decentralized stablecoin to mitigate the risk associated with a cryptocurrency portfolio? And how would a market risk manager from the traditional finance and investment industry assess the current risk profile of the blockchain space?
Steven Becker is the President and COO of MakerDAO, a decentralized, autonomous organization on the Ethereum blockchain. Based in Santa Cruz, California, Maker seeks to realize the potential of cryptocurrency through its Dai stablecoin, collateral loans and decentralized governance. Steven spent two decades doing market risk assessment in the traditional finance and investment space prior to joining MakerDAO.
Today, Steven joins us to discuss the current risk profile for cryptocurrency and the benefits of MakerDAO’s decentralized model. He shares some of the differences between traditional financial services and the crypto space and offers insight around his decision to transition to the blockchain ecosystem. Listen in for Steven’s take on the development of digital cultures and learn how technology, philosophy and economics inform crypto governance dynamics.
Topics Covered
Steven’s background in risk management
Traditional finance, investment space
Identify weakest point in mechanism
The current risk profile for cryptocurrency
Perception as brand-new industry
Disruption to change to adoption
The idea behind MakerDAO
Provides digital cash
Decentralized stablecoin
Solves for volatility in portfolio
Steven’s experience working in a distributed team
Structured meetings (Google Hangouts)
20 hours of ‘open space of operations’
How MakerDAO assesses opportunities
Weigh against country, jurisdiction and community
Top-down approach (i.e.: crypto adoption, ROI)
Steven’s introduction to the crypto space
Inquiry around what stablecoin looks like
MakerDAO closest to idea of ideal stablecoin
Steven’s philosophical approach to the blockchain
Concept of distributed trust
Stablecoin answer to volatility
Steven’s favorite part of the crypto space
Governing dynamics that make it work
Intersection of tech, philosophy and economics
Steven’s insight on the blockchain’s cultural value
Granular categorizations of corporate structure
Develop value system that aligns with cultural beliefs
Connect with Steven
MakeDAO https://makerdao.com/

MakerDAO on Twitter https://twitter.com/MakerDAO

MakerDAO on Medium https://medium.com/makerdao

MakerDAO on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/MakerDAO/

Steven on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-becker/
Resources
Rehive https://rehive.com/

The Sun Exchange https://thesunexchange.com/

Google Hangouts https://hangouts.google.com/

Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Office-Required-Jason-Fried/dp/0804137501

MyCrypto https://mycrypto.com/

Taylor Monahan on Boost VC S2EP19 https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-boost-vc-podcast/season-2-ep-19-distributed-KnJjPs_iqRu/

The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else by Hernando de Soto https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Capital-Capitalism-Triumphs-Everywhere/dp/0465016154
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
40 min
October 18, 2018 Ep. 82: The New Frontier of Marketing in the Crypto Space—with Jordan Spence of MyCrypto
While the rules of traditional marketing are clearly defined, marketing in the cryptocurrency space is a whole new ballgame. How do you approach promotion in a decentralized market? What are the best strategies for driving traffic to your site and building a strong community around your brand?
Jordan Spence is the CMO of MyCrypto, an open-source, client-side tool for interacting with the blockchain. The Ethereum interface provides a suite of tools the community can use to generate a wallet on the Ethereum blockchain, access the addresses they currently own, and even swap tokens. In his role as CMO, Jordan is responsible for bringing users to the site and elevating the MyCrypto brand identity. Prior to his work in the blockchain space, Jordan served as Marketing Coordinator for AZUBU and Marketing Manager for Legendary Entertainment.
Today, Jordan joins us to discuss how marketing for cryptocurrency and the blockchain differs from marketing in a traditional setting. He shares his experience with the rebrand as MyEtherWallet became MyCrypto, describing the challenges as well as the benefits of the shift. Listen in for Jordan’s insight on working in a distributed team and learn how he is selling trust and transparency in his role at MyCrypto.
Topics Covered
Jordan’s definition of marketing
Bring users to site
Elevate brand
The most effective marketing tactics
Communicating, being honest
Build strong community
The fundamentals of MyCrypto
Ethereum interface
Suite of tools
MyCrypto’s end users
Daily users of cryptocurrency
Breaking into new user space
Jordan’s experience with the rebrand
From established brand to zero
Opportunity to make sure ready
Jordan’s biggest surprises
Importance of security in space
People losing money
The benefits of doing a rebrand
Think hard about who want to be
Start off on right foot
Jordan’s approach to marketing
Run-and-gun + thought-out tactics
Track success on social (responses)
Jordan’s insight on marketing for crypto
No defined tactics
Sell trust through transparency
The blockchain vs. traditional marketing
Can’t treat users like numbers
Share plans with customers
Jordan’s take on distributed teams
New challenge every day
Online tools (e.g.: Slack)
What Jordan is excited about
Low prices change community
‘Back to what matters’
Jordan’s definition of success
Always growing AND failing
Connect with Jordan
MyCrypto https://mycrypto.com/account

MyCrypto on Twitter https://twitter.com/mycrypto?lang=en

MyCrypto on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mycryptoHQ/

MyCrypto on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mycrypto/

MyCrypto on Medium https://medium.com/@mycrypto

MyCrypto on GitHub https://github.com/MyCryptoHQ

MyCrypto on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/mycrypto/

Jordan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanspence/

Jordan on Twitter https://twitter.com/spencecoin?lang=en
Resources
Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/

Slack https://www.udemy.com/blockchain-and-healthcare/

Confluence https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence

Google Hangouts https://hangouts.google.com/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
31 min
October 11, 2018 Ep. 81: Healthcare Innovation, Data Access & the Blockchain —with Kat Kuzmeskas of SimplyVital
Building a blockchain startup is hard enough. How do you educate the market around the technology itself? How do you communicate the business case for your product? But if you’re really looking for a challenge, build a company with a focus on innovation in the healthcare space—an industry notoriously slow to adopt advanced technology!
Katherine Kuzmeskas is the founder and CEO of SimplyVital Health, a startup building the blockchain infrastructure for healthcare. By way of open source and proprietary software, SimplyVital leverages the blockchain as a tool to increase data access and decrease the cost of healthcare, globally. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Kat cut her teeth in hospital administration, serving as Program Manager and Strategic Planner for the Yale New Haven Health system.
Today, Kat joins us to discuss the challenges of innovating in the healthcare space, describing the market’s slow adoption of advanced technology and the reteaching necessary around the role of the blockchain. She shares her interest in healthcare administration and explains how a year with Teach for America led to her idea for SimplyVital Health. Listen in for Kat’s insight on leading a global company and learn how persistence, organization and the will to win lend to her success as a startup founder.
Topics Covered
The function of SimplyVital
Blockchain infrastructure for healthcare
Proprietary and open-source software
Data access to decrease costs globally
Kat’s insight on leadership
Solo musician/athlete vs. band/team
Compare to CEO of global company
The challenges of innovating in healthcare
Slow to adopt advanced technology
Must understand business perspective
Kat’s advice for startups in the healthcare space
Identify customers, run product by them first
Remember that healthcare is business (ROI)
Kat’s path to founding SimplyVital Health
Clinical rotations in Ecuador
Interest in operations, administration
Teach for America student dashboard
Apply data-driven decision-making to healthcare
Kat’s strengths as a startup founder
Persistence (outwork others)
Extremely organized
Competitive, curious
How Kat educates the healthcare market on blockchain
Recognize long sales cycle
Reteach as necessary
Consulting arm, course on Udemy
How Kat financed SimplyVital
Self-funded first year
Equity round with venture investors
Revenue from purchase of tokens
Kat’s definition of success
Personal fulfillment
Doing good in world
Connect with Kat
SimplyVital Health https://www.simplyvitalhealth.com/

SimplyVital on Twitter https://twitter.com/SimplyVitalHQ

SimplyVital on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SimplyVitalHealth/

SimplyVital on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplyvital-health/

Kat on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinekuzmeskas/

Kat on Twitter https://twitter.com/kkuzmesk?lang=en
Resources
Blockchain and Healthcare on Udemy https://www.udemy.com/blockchain-and-healthcare/

Chuck Klosterman X: A Highly Specific, Defiantly Incomplete History of the Early 21st Century by Chuck Klosterman

http://chuckklostermanauthor.com/books/chuck-klosterman-x-tr/chuck-klosterman-x-hc
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
29 min
October 04, 2018 Ep. 80: Pen Testing, Persistence & Product/Market Fit—with Jacob Hansen of Cobalt
When you’re building a startup, it is easy to get caught up in creating the product itself and assume that the technology is the most important thing. But Jacob Hansen argues that an early focus on users is necessary in finding product/market fit. And as your company grows, attracting the right talent becomes just as important as the technology itself.
Jacob is the co-founder and CEO of Cobalt, a security platform that is reinventing the pen test for web applications, mobile apps and APIs. An advocate of crowdsourcing and cybersecurity, Jacob has been featured in Forbes and The Verge, and he has delivered keynotes at OWASP AppSec USA and O’Reilly Security NYC, among other international conferences. Prior to his work with Cobalt, Jacob served as a consultant with Accenture, delivering Enterprise IT Solutions for Fortune 100 clients.
Today, Jacob joins us to discuss the need for cybersecurity and explain the concept of pen testing. He speaks to the growth of Cobalt, describing the company’s milestones, the scaling of its values, and his evolving role as CEO. Listen in for Jacob’s insight around product/market fit, the importance of attracting talent, and why persistence is key in building a company!
Topics Covered
The need for online security
Bad actors try to get something of value
Access to bank account, cryptocurrency
Damage reputation or influence election
The definition of pen testing
‘Good hackers’ test security of apps
Blend art and science to find issues
How Jacob got interested in security
Background in finance and business
Lost Bitcoin in hack of large exchange
Learned key management
How to scale values as your startup grows
Live values every day
Transparency, openness and hard work
How Jacob and his co-founders got to the US
Start company in Buenos Aires
Accepted to Boost VC Tribe 3
The advantages of being in Silicon Valley
Makes fundraising easier
Learn to build, scale faster
The big milestones for Cobalt they scale up
Move to Silicon Valley
$1M raise in angel round
Finding product/market fit
Hit $1M in revenue
Learn to manage team of 50
Jacob’s insight on product/market fit
Mistake to build product first
Focus on sales early on
The top themes in the security space
Developers/engineers responsible for fixing issues
Collaboration between developers and engineers
Jacob’s assumptions on how to start a company
Thought all about technology
Realizes importance of sales, hiring
Jacob’s role as a ‘decentralist’
Central institution storing data bound to go wrong
Cobalt empowers talent to work directly with clients
How to evaluate security testing talent
Rating system
Find exploits and explain potential damage
Jacob’s advice around fundraising
Celebrate the NO
Persistence is key
How Jacob grows with his shifting role at Cobalt
Read several books on each new function
Listen to podcasts and reach out on LinkedIn
Jacob’s definition of success
Respected by friends, peers
Accomplish something of value
36 min
September 27, 2018 Ep. 79: {Rebroadcast}: Returning the Power of the Internet to Its Users—Via Cryptocurrency with a16z VC Chris Dixon
‘Who has the power of the internet? Does the power lie in the hands of a few centralized companies? Or does it lie in the hands of users and communities?’
We all know the answer here. Though the web initially gave authority to its users, the pendulum has swung the other way. Now there are four companies with all the data and all the power, and many would argue that they are using it in questionable ways. Chris Dixon believes that there is still a chance we can shift the power dynamics back to users and communities, and the answer lies in cryptocurrency.
Chris is a general partner with VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. He has made several seed- and venture-stage investments for a16z, including BuzzFeed, Coinbase, Dispatch.ai, Oculus and Skydio. Chris is also an active angel investor, having made personal investments in tech companies like Foursquare, Kickstarter and Pinterest, among others. He has a background in programming and entrepreneurship, serving as the co-founder and CEO of SiteAdvisor, an internet security startup acquired by McAfee in 2006, as well as Hunch, a recommendation technology company acquired by eBay in 2011. Chris has an MBA from Harvard University.
Chris joins us today to discuss the megatrends in technology of the last 15 and next 15 years, explaining how the current controversy around cryptocurrency stems from a dramatic misunderstanding of the space. He shares his insight on how blockchain technology has evolved and the ongoing work involving data ownership. Listen in for Chris’ profound take on our transition from the physical to the digital world and learn why cryptocurrency is a political movement intent on shifting the power of the internet back to users and communities.
Topics Covered
Chris’ background
Early interest in computers
Entrepreneur (securities, machine learning)
Active angel investor
The megatrends of the last 15 years
Mobile
Social
Cloud
Chris’ insight on future megatrends
Crypto
AI
New computing platforms
The controversy around crypto
Stems from dramatic misunderstanding of space
Early negative press (nefarious behavior, extremist views)
What crypto is really about
User controls own data
Breaking of monopolies
Chris’ take on private blockchains
Taking people away removes value
Useful in interorganizational use cases
Chris’ insight on how the space has evolved
Outperformed expectations, high level of innovation
Small blockers won block size debate
Wrong about ‘one crypto to rule them all’
Chris’ take on next steps
Core scaling work
Application layer (i.e.: non-fungible tokens, crypto-goods)
The laws of physics of the internet
Remixing culture
The work around data ownership in the crypto space
Use crypto networks to create marketplaces
Gives user control of own speech, health data
Why crypto is a political movement
Shift power of internet back to users, communities
Facilitate golden age, unlock economics of creativity
Architectural power of Web 2, but decentralized
The Andreessen Horowitz approach to investing in crypto
Buy and hold (five to ten years)
ICO = new way for modern VC
The transition from the physical to the digital world
Language assumes subordinance of digital world
Digital world matters (affected election outcome)
Digital is less tangible, but far more impactful
Chris’ definition of success
Personal—driven by desire to create
Societal—contribute to human welfare
42 min
September 20, 2018 Ep. 78: {Rebroadcast}: Olaf Carlson-Wee, Founder of Polychain Capital
Do you know how a former lumberjack becomes the founder of and leader of the largest crypto hedge fund? Listen to this episode of The Boost VC podcast where Adam Draper talks to Olaf Carlson-Wee the founder of Polychain and one of Boost VC's portfolio companies, about starting the first ever crypto hedge fund, and how he now manages more than $250m in assets.
31 min
September 13, 2018 Ep. 77: {Rebroadcast}: Freedom, Global Entrepreneurship and the Possibilities of Cryptocurrency with VC Tim Draper
“Venture capital, to me, is a way that we can raise money to help entrepreneurs who can go out there and do something for the world that just opens it up. I am always pushing for freedom, and I think it’s great to see venture capital be able to support entrepreneurs—wherever they are—to go out there and do something extraordinary for freedom.”
Tim Draper is the founding partner of Draper Associates as well as Draper Fischer Jurvetson (DFJ). His gift for assessing the fastest way to get a service to its users was instrumental in the success of viral communication networks like Hotmail and Skype. He has been an early investor in several wildly successful startups including Baidu, Tesla and Cruise Automation. Tim is recognized as a leading supporter of global entrepreneurship, and he was named #7 on the Forbes Midas List, #1 Most Networked Venture Capitalists by Always On, and World Entrepreneurship Forum’s 2015 ‘Entrepreneur for the World.’ In 2011, he created Draper University, a residential and online school that seeks to help talented young people meet their entrepreneurial goals.
Today Tim offers his definition of entrepreneurship and his journey from aspiring entrepreneur to venture capitalist. He shares his take on the ideal relationship between VC and founder and the sectors he is looking to invest in right now. We explore the world of cryptocurrency, discussing its potential to transform governance, how innovative VCs are trying new things with Bitcoin, and what the industry can learn from the P2P music and media revolution. Listen in to understand why Tim equates freedom with wealth and how to leverage the ripple effect of optimism.
Topics Covered
Tim’s definition of VC
Give entrepreneurs the means to ‘do something extraordinary for freedom’
Draper Venture Network is taking best practices global
Tim’s entrepreneurial evolution
VC affords opportunity to dabble
The relationship between a VC and founder
Look for a fit, VC that can bring something interesting to the table
Tim’s strengths lie in designing business models and networking
The sectors Tim is looking to invest in right now
Anything blockchain has to offer
Cryptocurrency has ability to transform real estate, insurance, banking and government
Tim’s take on how cryptocurrency will transform governance
World more elastic, flexible
Functions of government done more efficiently on blockchain
How innovative VCs are trying new things with Bitcoin
Tim was first to invest in company with cryptocurrency, use smart contract
The best advice Tim got from his VC dad
Personal connection matters
What cryptocurrency can learn from peer-to-peer music/media revolution
When status quo threatened, they will retaliate (e.g.: lawsuits, government intervention, competitive threat)
‘Technology wins all the wars’
Control vs. technological advancements
Countries relying on own currency lose out
Entrepreneurs, money go elsewhere
The ripple effect of optimism
Fear keeps people in boxes
Accomplish much more if you ‘just go’
Connect with Tim
Draper Associates http://www.draper.vc/
Draper Associates on Twitter https://twitter.com/drapervc
DFJ http://dfj.com/index.php
Draper University http://www.draperuniversity.com/
The Startup Hero on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUrqcWVF3uelGlK-6sXGjLgKu_JlhW_3l
Tim Draper on Medium https://medium.com/@TimDraper/the-pledge-f18e12013785
Meet the Drapers https://republic.co/meet-the-drapers
Resources Mentioned
The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs by William H. Draper III https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Game-Partnership-Capitalists-Entrepreneurs/dp/0230339948
Bionomics: Economy as Ecosystem by Michael Rothschild https://www.amazon.com/Bionomics-Economy-Ecosystem-Michael-Rothschild/dp/0805019790
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
35 min
September 06, 2018 Ep. 76: {Rebroadcast}: Sidechains, Stable Coins, and What’s Wrong with the ICO with Charlie Lee of Litecoin
‘There’s definitely some teams that are using [ICOs] and are able to fund their ideas better and more easily than the traditional VC way of doing things, but there’s just too many bad actors that just want a get rich quick scheme.’
Charlie Lee created Litecoin in 2011 while he was working as software engineer for Google. Litecoin is ‘the silver to Bitcoin’s gold,’ functioning as a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that complements Bitcoin. In the long-term, Charlie sees Litecoin becoming a payment currency used at both physical and online stores, and he is currently working to promote widespread merchant adoption.
Charlie also spent four years with Coinbase, serving as the Director of Engineering for the digital currency platform. Today Charlie explains why he is not a fan of the ICO, discussing why it’s ripe for bad actors. We cover the future of cryptocurrency and the major debates in the ecosystem, including hard forks and Bitcoin Gold. Charlie shares his inspiration for dedicating his career to cryptocurrency as well as his ambitions for Litecoin. Listen in for Charlie’s insight around sidechains, stable coins, and the value of CryptoKitties.
Topics Covered
Chalie’s background
Encrypted chat startup in 1999
Created Litecoin while working for Google
Last four years at Coinbase
Charlie’s take on the rise of the ICO
Incentives not in line, receive money before product is built
Too many bad actors
Tack on token functionality as afterthought
The future of the cryptocurrency space
ICO regulations to reduce fraud
Charlie’s ambitions for Litecoin
Become payment currency (physical, online stores)
Widespread merchant adoption
Listed on exchanges
Chalie’s insight around stable coins
Crypto must be tied back to real world somehow
Governments will eventually release cryptocurrencies (i.e.: crypto-USD)
The deployment of sidechains
Litecoin is decentralized, secured by miners
Value of sidechain in smart contracts
Why Charlie is excited about Monero
Coin doing the right thing
100% private
Charlie’s take on the major debates in the ecosystem
Bitcoin Gold
Hard forks
What inspired Charlie to enter the crypto space
Bitcoin as better version of gold
Easy to transfer, store for nothing
How CryptoKitties create value
Limited supply of digital resource (scarcity)
Concern lies in scaling
Connect with Charlie
Litecoin https://litecoin.org/

Litecoin on Twitter https://twitter.com/litecoin

Charlie on Twitter https://twitter.com/SatoshiLite
Resources Mentioned
Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/?locale=en-US

Aragon https://aragon.one/

Monero https://getmonero.org/
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/

Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/

Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
27 min
August 30, 2018 Ep. 75: Solving Big Problems with the Power of VR—with Morgan Mercer of Vantage Point
When problems don’t affect us directly, they are easy to ignore. But if we create a connection with the people who ARE impacted and truly understand the consequences of our own action (or inaction), that’s when we start to care. What if we leveraged the immersive experience of virtual reality to establish empathy for marginalized groups? What if VR could give people the agency to take action and solve the world’s biggest problems?
Morgan Mercer is the founder and CEO of Vantage Point, a startup that offers a cutting-edge, fully immersive sexual harassment training program experienced in virtual reality. Vantage Point’s B2B product focuses on identifying sexual harassment and assault, bystander intervention, response training, and societal stigma and bias. Prior to Vantage Point, Morgan served as the Head of Digital Marketing for the online designer consignment platform LePrix.
Today, Morgan joins us to discuss her inspiration to change the world of human resources by way of VR. She offers insight around what it’s like to be a female founder and how women can arm themselves to better navigate life as an entrepreneur. Listen in as Morgan describes the parallels between entrepreneurs and athletes and learn how VR can empower us to solve big problems with thoughtfulness and compassion.
Topics Covered
Morgan’s inspiration to transform HR
Year abroad revealed own biases, ignorance
VR has power to create connection
Why virtual reality is ideal for HR training
Form relationships and empathy
See outcome of actions
The barriers for female founders
Avoid events because only woman in room
Create environments, processes more inviting to women
How female entrepreneurs can arm themselves
Learn to negotiate, stand ground
Get comfortable in uncomfortable situations
Morgan’s insight around VC fundraising
Investors are partners, allies
Work together to get to next stage
What the world looks like if Vantage Point succeeds
More thoughtfulness and compassion
Run toward problems, empowered to act
Morgan’s moratorium on social media
Who are you living for?
How does that influence actions?
Morgan’s take on asking good questions
Inspired by friend Samier Mansur
Questions influence information uncovered
The parallels between working out and entrepreneurship
40% rule
Requires long-term commitment
Push limits to gain strength
Morgan’s definition of success
Go beyond what believe can achieve
Pursue something meaningful
Connect with Morgan:
Vantage Point https://www.tryvantagepoint.com/
Morgan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganrmercer/
Morgan on Twitter https://twitter.com/themorganmercer?lang=en
Resources:
Halogen Ventures http://halogenvc.com/
LiveSafe https://www.livesafemobile.com/
The Art of Being and Becoming by Hazrat Inayat Khan https://www.amazon.com/Being-Becoming-Hazrat-Inayat-Khan/dp/093087241X
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho https://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416
Evan Spiegel at Code 2018 https://www.recode.net/2018/5/30/17397120/snap-ceo-evan-spiegel-transcript-code-2018
The Little Prince Animated Film https://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-James-Franco/dp/B01F8505M4
Connect with Boost VC:
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
26 min
August 23, 2018 Ep. 74: Fintech Applications & Cryptocurrency in Emerging Markets with Helghardt Avenant of REHIVE
If you want to work in the cryptocurrency or fintech space, there is no doubt that Silicon Valley is the place to be in terms of access to opportunity, financing and a network of peers. But what if your home country happens to be an emerging market like South Africa? What is it like to be part of a foreign national startup in the San Francisco Bay Area? And how do you effectively manage a distributed team working from a different time zone?
Helghardt Avenant is the co-founder and CEO of Rehive, a platform working to help founders and businesses rapidly build, launch and scale fintech products by providing the necessary building blocks. Users mix and match a core set of features to their specific fintech use case, much the same way Shopify serves the eCommerce industry. Though Helghardt is based in Silicon Valley, 80% of Rehive’s engineering team works from his home country of South Africa.
Today, Helghardt joins us to share the idea behind Rehive and discuss the startup’s many iterations as well as its ideal customer. He offers insight around emerging markets like South Africa, explaining the country’s current crypto economy and what is necessary to inspire widespread adoption. Listen in as Helghardt describes the draw of Silicon Valley for aspiring engineers in the cryptocurrency space and learn how Rehive is streamlining communication among its distributed team!
Topics Covered
The idea behind Rehive
WordPress for fintech applications
Use available building blocks
Helghardt’s introduction to the crypto space
South Africa had limited online payment options
First experience moving money online = Bitcoin
Fascinated by promise of ‘better money’
Helghardt’s insight around emerging markets
Immediate needs don’t require advanced tech
Hard to generate interest without clear idea of value-add
South Africa’s crypto economy
Run by mining or traditional retail, banking
Success stories = EC2 and Naspers
Helghardt’s take on the draw of Silicon Valley
Access to opportunity, deal flow
Requires mental shift (cultural differences)
What South Africa needs to promote widespread adoption
Educate potential crypto distributors on volatility
Begin in areas where end-consumer comfortable
How to get people away from traditional currency
Enterprise tools for banks, governments and retailers
Issue digital denominations (bring into operational flow)
The ideal customer for Rehive
Brands with established user base
Retailers who want to play in financial space
Helghardt’s advice for aspiring crypto startup founders
Get to Silicon Valley for immediate support network
Find token sale, blockchain foundation looking for talent
The many iterations of Rehive
Stable wallet (hedging mechanism)
Bitcoin, Coinbase for South Africa
Helghardt’s tips for distributed teams
Establish guidelines for communicating on Slack
Work in sprints (3 months together for alignment)
Helghardt’s definition of success
Freedom to cross borders easily
Tap into other’s time and energy
Achieve things can’t do yourself
Connect with Helghardt
Rehive https://rehive.com/
Rehive on Twitter https://twitter.com/rehivehq?lang=en
Rehive on GitHub https://github.com/rehive
Helghardt on Medium https://medium.com/rehive-blog/fintech-platforms-b8b0238427ee
Helghardt on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/helghardt/
Resources
Amazon EC2 https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/
Naspers https://www.naspers.com/
Tencent https://www.tencent.com/en-us/
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Life-John-Rockefeller-Sr/dp/1400077303
Slack https://slack.com/
The Settlers of Catan https://www.catan.com/game/catan
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts https://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330537
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
33 min

About "Can't Be Done"

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Join Boost VC’s Founder & Managing Director Adam Draper, to learn about emerging technology from leading figures in the industry. Each episode we interview founders and investors to explore topics…

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