In Episode #113 of Geeks of the Valley, we sat down with Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly, a leading $2.5bn crypto-focused global investment firm. We explore the seismic shifts in the VC ecosystem, from the rise of trade-sale exits to the resilience of certain sub-sectors like Layer 2 protocols and real-world-asset platforms. A focal point of our discussion is Ripple’s landmark $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, where Rob dissects its implications for bridging institutional finance with native-crypto infrastructure. Along the way, Rob shares lessons he’s learned underwriting tokenized assets, supporting portfolio companies through volatility, and spotting early signals of talent migration in an increasingly global industry. Whether you’re an institutional investor seeking to understand new exit dynamics or a founder navigating the crypto VC landscape, this conversation offers a comprehensive roadmap to the future of digital-asset investing.Since 2017, Dragonfly has been at the forefront of blockchain and crypto innovation with a long-term oriented, technical, and research-driven approach, having been early backers of some of the most influential protocols and companies in the industry, including 1inch, Avalanche, Bitget, Bybit, Compound, DyDx, Ethena, Hidden Road, Matter Labs, Monad, Near, Optimism, Polygon, Ribbon and ZK Sync. Rob focuses on companies and protocols that are innovating at the bleeding edge of centralized and decentralized finance, payments, money, and digital asset infrastructure.Previously, Rob led multi-stage public and private investing into crypto protocols and companies at GoldenTree Asset Management ("GTAM"), a ~$50bn multi-strategy hedge fund. Prior to GTAM, Rob invested in and advised fintech, technology, and crypto companies while at Heritage Partners, Goldman Sachs, and PJT Partners. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, where he was co-founder of the Columbia Blockchain Club, and a Bachelor's in Economics and Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-hadick
• Website: https://www.dragonfly.xyz

In Episode #112 of Geeks of the Valley, we sit down with Ivan Casadevall, the CEO of Aryaduta Hotel Group, which operates 8+ upscale hotels. Explore how Indonesia’s most iconic hospitality brand is evolving in a post-pandemic world. With nearly three decades of leadership across Southeast Asia—including senior roles at Pan Pacific, Minor International, and MNC Land. Ivan brings deep insight into what it takes to redefine luxury hospitality in a rapidly shifting market.From rejuvenating Aryaduta’s properties and expanding into Ubud and Labuan Bajo, to balancing cutting-edge tech with timeless guest service, Ivan offers insights into experiential travel, sustainability in high-end hospitality, and the human centric components to hospitality.Ivan shares lessons from his global journey, from managing resorts in Vietnam and Bali to developing partnerships with global icons like Trump Hotels, Hyatt, and IMG. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or curious traveler, this episode is packed with wisdom.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Aly Madhavji, Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, as we explore the significance of transparency in venture capital and its impact on Web3 ecosystems. Aly, recognized globally as a leader in blockchain innovation, shares his approach to investment, venture building, and go-to-market strategies across the USA, APAC, MENA, and EU regions. Discover how Blockchain Founders Fund nurtures digital assets and emerging technologies, fostering a culture of transparency and sustainable growth. Aly's extensive background, including roles with INSEAD, UN initiatives, and NASDAQ-listed Soluna Holdings, offers a unique perspective on navigating the evolving landscape of digital finance and venture funding. This episode is essential for founders, investors, and anyone passionate about ethical innovation and Web3's transformative potential.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alymadhavji
• Website: https://www.blockchainff.com/

Bamizi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Mesh, a fintech infrastructure company revolutionizing how businesses and users interact with financial systems through embedded crypto and stablecoin solutions. With over 300 integrations across exchanges, wallets, and financial institutions, Mesh empowers developers to seamlessly enable read, write, and transfer functionality within their applications. Under Bamizi’s leadership, Mesh recently closed an $82M Series B round, primarily settled in stablecoins, reflecting the company’s core mission of making digital money programmable and practical.Before Mesh, Bamizi co-founded NoPassword, a pioneering identity company acquired by LogMeIn, where he later served as Director. He brings over a decade of experience in software architecture, cybersecurity, and AI, including roles at Infineon Technologies and Robotic Research Labs. A visiting researcher at Johns Hopkins University and PhD holder from Technical University of Munich, Bamizi combines deep technical expertise with visionary entrepreneurship.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bam-azizi-54117310a
• Mesh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meshconnectapi/
• Website: https://www.meshconnect.com/

Today, we’re excited to welcome Colin, a seasoned clinician with 27 years of experience revolutionizing physiotherapy through personalized treatment plans. Guided by the belief that “every body is unique, therefore every physio treatment plan should be unique,” Colin emphasizes the vital role of the nervous system in pain management and functional movement.
With a Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy, an MHS in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, and a Fellowship in Applied Functional Science, Colin’s expertise in movement therapy has shaped his innovative approach to care. He advocates for combining manual therapy with personalized exercise strategies to achieve long-lasting results.
Join us as we dive into Colin’s philosophy, his integration of the nervous system in rehabilitation, and how he’s redefining recovery and wellness in modern healthcare.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-symmonds-416a3a14/

John Sharp is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Hatcher+, a venture firm pioneering data-driven investment strategies. With a distinguished career spanning leadership, technology, and venture capital, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the investment landscape.
Previously, John served as CEO of Authentium, where he co-authored three U.S. patents and developed cybersecurity solutions for global organizations like NASA, Google, and Microsoft. His leadership experience also includes serving as Managing Director, Asia, at WorldSpace and as CEO of Hatcher, the predecessor to Hatcher+.
An accomplished entrepreneur and technologist, John has successfully raised capital worldwide, driven innovation, and developed advanced investment platforms. As CTO at Hatcher+, he continues to shape the future of venture investing. In addition to his executive roles, he has been a board member and advisor to pioneering companies like Telr and ThoughtRiver, contributing his expertise to their growth and success.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsharp1/?originalSubdomain=sg

Teddy Himler brings over 15 years of global experience at leading institutions, including Goldman Sachs, SoftBank, Comcast Ventures, and Antler, to his role at Optimist Ventures.Throughout his career, Teddy has cultivated deep expertise in global technology trends, innovative business models, and firm-building, with a focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, insurance, healthcare, and industrial automation.At Antler, Teddy served as a partner, where he played a key role in the firm’s growth, helping it become the world’s most active early-stage venture capital firm by deal count.Prior to Antler, Teddy was instrumental in scaling SoftBank’s operations in both the U.S. and Southeast Asia. In 2018, he launched SoftBank Group International’s first New York City office, where he managed assets outside of SoftBank’s Vision Fund, including Arm, Sprint, Boston Dynamics, and Brightstar. Earlier, as SoftBank Capital’s first West Coast hire, Teddy served as Vice President, spearheading its Southeast Asia strategy from Jakarta while collaborating with partners like Alibaba.From 2018 to 2021, Teddy was a Principal at Comcast Ventures in New York, where he focused on investments in consumer internet, robotics, fintech (including insurtech and crypto), and other emerging technologies as part of Comcast’s corporate venture capital platform.Teddy began his career at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst in the Technology, Media & Telecom group in San Francisco. He holds a B.A. in Government and Economics from Harvard University.Over the years, Teddy has backed five unicorns at the seed or Series A stages and has been a deal team leader or member in numerous landmark investments, including Kabbage, Fitbit, Dialpad, BigCommerce, Grab, Tokopedia, Cheddar, Acorns, Hippo, Blockdaemon, Madison Reed, Blockchange, ABL Space, KeyMe, Arm, Boston Dynamics, SoftBank Robotics, Sprint, Cybereason, Zola, SoFi, Airspan, OneWeb, Kindbody, Berkshire Grey, Lemonade, Brightstar, Airalo, Earlytrade, Folio, Ora Health, Endless Health, and Inshur.Teddy’s career reflects a track record of identifying transformative technologies and building global ventures, making him a key figure in the venture capital ecosystem.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-himler-84674719/

In this engaging episode we welcome Saurabh Jain, Executive Chairman of Opyl Ltd, to delve into how artificial intelligence is driving transformative changes in the healthcare and biotech sectors. With a career marked by pioneering tech startups and forward-thinking healthcare innovations, Saurabh provides a compelling perspective on the evolving role of AI in global health.
Saurabh Jain is a seasoned leader in technology and healthcare, currently serving as the Executive Chairman of Opyl (ASX: OPL), a company pioneering AI-driven solutions for clinical trials. Appointed to this role on April 30, 2024, Saurabh spearheads Opyl's mission to transform clinical trials through advanced AI technologies. His leadership has been instrumental in fostering innovation and accelerating the global adoption of AI solutions in the healthcare sector. Throughout his extensive 25-year career, Saurabh has held various senior executive positions, including CEO and Executive Director roles. His experience includes founding Netpro Express, an internet service provider later acquired by Telstra, and serving on multiple ASX boards and private companies. Known for his entrepreneurial acumen and vision, Saurabh has consistently driven transformative change and fostered business growth across industries. His current focus is on expanding Opyl’s global footprint while enhancing the commercialization of its innovative AI solutions.
Saurabh holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering), an Executive Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Business Technology from the Australian Graduate School of Management, UNSW. Under his guidance, Opyl has engaged in strategic partnerships, participated in high-profile industry events, and expanded its influence in both the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhjain10 Website: ⁠https://opyl.ai Twitter: https://x.com/OpylAI

Warwick Pearmund leads Madison Pearl's Hong Kong operations, specializing in sourcing top-tier talent across a wide array of disciplines, including financial technology, quantitative and systematic finance, payments, digital strategy, insurtech, data science, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, blockchain, and cybersecurity. Prior to his career in recruitment, Warwick worked as an equities trader and sales trader in both the UK and Asia. With extensive experience across the APAC region—on both the client side and in recruitment—he has cultivated a robust network of professionals across banks, insurers, global consulting firms, and technology companies. While his primary geographic focus is Hong Kong and China, Warwick also undertakes global mandates for senior executive roles. Having relocated to Asia in 2006 with Jefferies investment bank, Warwick spent several years in Tokyo before moving to Hong Kong with his family in 2011—a city he proudly calls home. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from Cass Business School, City University of London.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warwick-pearmund-7023a377/

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Saurabh Jain is a seasoned leader in technology and healthcare, currently serving as the Executive Chairman of Opyl (ASX: OPL), a company pioneering AI-driven solutions for clinical trials. Appointed to this role on April 30, 2024, Saurabh spearheads Opyl's mission to transform clinical trials through advanced AI technologies. His leadership has been instrumental in the development and launch of Opyl's flagship product, TrialKey.  Throughout his extensive 25-year career, Saurabh has held various senior executive positions, including CEO and Executive Director roles. His experience includes founding Netpro Express, an internet service provider later acquired by Telstra, and serving on multiple ASX boards and private companies. Known for his entrepreneurial acumen, Saurabh has a deep technical background that drives transformative change and accelerates business growth. His current focus is on enhancing the commercialization of TrialKey and elevating Opyl's global footprint. Saurabh holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering), an Executive Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Business Technology from the Australian Graduate School of Management, UNSW. Under his guidance, Opyl has engaged in strategic partnerships, participated in high-profile industry events, and expanded its market presence in both the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/geeksofthevalley/support