In this special year-end episode, Pete Townsend is joined by returning guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez for a wide-ranging conversation about what the future may hold in 2025. Together, they explore transformative ideas, emerging trends, and groundbreaking technologies that could shape industries, disrupt norms, and redefine global innovation. From traditional finance’s embrace of tokenization to the rise of AI agents, the duo covers it all—including a bonus prediction from a mysterious contributor. Tune in for an exciting glimpse into 2025 and get ready to peer into the crystal ball with Pete and Alejandro.

What You’ll Learn:

Bonus Predictions: Eoin Motherway, fintech and funds industry legend, shared his take on 2025:

Resources Mentioned:

Call to Action: If this episode sparked your curiosity about 2025, we’d love to hear your predictions! Share your thoughts on X/(Twitter) at @MNSShow or email us at [email protected]. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review MoneyNeverSleeps on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—and share this episode with a friend.

Keywords: Alejandro Gutierrez, Pete Townsend, 2025 tech trends, Blockchain and AI, Crypto trends 2025, Stablecoins future, Decentralized identity solutions, Bitcoin mining expansion, Tokenization in finance, web3 trends 2025

Leave a review and subscribe on

Follow our guest co-host Alejandro Gutierrez:

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on X(Twitter):

Follow us on LinkedIn:

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week, I interviewed serial entrepreneur Nigel Eccles. Known for his role as co-founder and former CEO of FanDuel, Nigel shares his incredible journey of launching and scaling multiple ventures, including his latest projects BetHog and BetDex. Nigel dives into the pivotal moments that defined his career, lessons learned from raising over $450 million in venture funding, and his insights into the evolving landscapes of crypto, Web3, and gaming.

Nigel’s candid reflections on timing, co-founder dynamics, and building resilient startups are a must-hear for founders, investors, and anyone curious about how to stay ahead in the world of tech and entrepreneurship.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Notable Quotes:

Connect with Nigel Eccles: Twitter | LinkedIn

Keywords: gaming, sports betting, FanDuel, crypto, web3, BetHog, BetDex, fundraising, venture capital

Shout-outs: Connor Murphy, Bradley Tusk, Nic Carter

Leave a review and subscribe on

Email us: [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter):

Follow on LinkedIn:

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Mai Santamaria for a far-ranging discussion inspired by Ian Goldin’s concept of The Butterfly Defect — a thought-provoking take on the risks and interconnectedness of our global systems. We dive into how this idea resonates with the evolution of crypto, web3, and the financial markets, and explore how the convergence of traditional and decentralized systems could reshape the future.

Mai, an award-winning fintech and financial policy expert, has been a trailblazer in shaping regulatory and strategic frameworks in Ireland. With deep expertise in digital finance and a passion for innovation, Mai brings her unique perspective to our conversation, exploring the challenges—and opportunities—of hyper-connectivity in our global economy.

It's a deep and engaging conversation that offers insights into how globalization, technology, and finance intertwine

IN THIS EPISODE:

- The Butterfly Defect: How hyperconnectivity increases systemic risks and the lessons for crypto and globalization.

- Parallel Arcs of Financial Systems: The inevitable convergence of traditional financial markets and crypto.

- Regulatory Perspectives: Why interconnectedness demands careful collaboration at a global level.

- The Role of Technology: How blockchain innovation like self-executing smart contracts can reshape financial markets.

- Echo Chambers: Navigating the challenges of being too immersed in niche ecosystems and staying grounded.

- Ireland’s Potential: How Ireland’s geographical and technological advantages position it as a hub for sustainable digital financial services.

- Emerging Market Innovation: The surprising use cases for stablecoins and tokenized assets in emerging markets.

KEYWORDS:

butterfly defect, globalization, digital economy, crypto, blockchain, web3, regulation, stablecoins, butterfly effect

RESOURCES:

Follow our guest co-host Mai Santamaria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mai07/

The Fintech 15: Meet the Women Shaping the Irish Revolution (paywall)

The Fintech Blueprint podcast interview with Tom Duff Gordon from Coinbase

Professor Ian Goldin’s 2014 Princeton lecture on The Butterfly Defect

Meet Keith Gill, the man who drove the GameStop Reddit mania and made millions

Aled Jones’s article The Actuary (2021) on the Butterfly Defect

The Stablecoin Revolution with Linda Jeng | Unpacking Castle Island Ventures’ Latest Stablecoin Report

David Senra’s Founders podcast

LINKS:

Leave a review and subscribe on

Email us: [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter):

Follow on LinkedIn:

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week. I sat down with Timo Lehes and Philipp Pieper, the co-founders of Swarm, the RWA (or Real World Assets) platform that brings unique digitization and trading solutions to the world of traditional and decentralized finance. Swam is the first organization in the world to offer digitized US treasury bills and Apple stock via a compliant and decentralized platform

From their personal journeys into crypto to the challenges of integrating TradFi with DeFi, Timo and Philipp unpack Swarm's evolution, their focus on compliance, and their vision for the tokenized financial markets of tomorrow. Along the way, they share stories about formative moments in their careers, including Philipp’s time in New England during the fall of the Berlin Wall and Timo’s early coding days.

Plus, we dive into:

Key Takeaways:

About Swarm: Swarm is a compliance-first platform for tokenizing real-world assets, combining the speed, efficiency, and flexibility of blockchain with the trust and asset diversity of traditional exchanges. By integrating TradFi with DeFi, Swarm aims to create a seamless future where everything just becomes “Fi.”

Follow Swarm:

Connect with Timo and Philipp:

Mentioned in This Episode:

Keywords: crypto, blockchain, digital assets, tokenization, real world assets, RWAs, DeFi  

Leave a review and subscribe on

Email us: [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter):

Follow on LinkedIn:

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

This week, we’ve got an exclusive interview with Manu, the founder and CEO of Sponstar, the fractional sponsorship marketplace that’s leveling the playing field for small and mid-sized brands to access high-profile sponsorship opportunities. Manu’s entrepreneurial journey, from traditional finance to web3, led to the creation of Sponstar—a game-changing platform that bridges physical events and digital experiences while redefining the sponsorship ecosystem.

Manu shares her insights on fractional sponsorship, the intersection of blockchain, AI, and event marketing, and the unique challenges women founders face in the tech and crypto worlds. We also explore her guiding principles of spirituality, surrender, and how giving more strengthens a startup’s potential.

Manu previously co-founded Alpha’a and alphaa.io where she changed the way companies connect with their fans, using web3 to help enterprises connect people, content and experiences.  She has been in the tech and collectibles sector for the past 10 years successfully raising funds from venture investors such as Metaprop, Lightspeed, Chingona Ventures, and Gaingels  With a background in finance, Manu worked as an equity analyst at Gávea Investments, one of Brazil’s most reputable investment management firms.

Notably, Manu was named by Bloomberg in 2022 as one of the top 100 most influential Latinos and Latinas worldwide, one of the top 10 people to watch in Fintech in 2023, and one of the 33-Under-33 entrepreneurs in 2018 in New York City. 

RESOURCES & LINKS:

Learn more about ⁠Sponstar⁠

Recommended Reading: ⁠The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer⁠

ABOUT THE HOST:

Pete Townsend is an early-stage startup investor focused on the intersection of fintech, crypto, and web3. He also leads the ⁠Techstars Web3 Accelerator⁠. For more on Pete and how to get in touch, visit ⁠moneyneversleeps.ie⁠.

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠, and don’t forget to subscribe for future episodes of MoneyNeverSleeps. Until next time, stay curious and keep learning!

Email us: [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter):

Follow on LinkedIn:

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter:⁠ https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

We're diving deep into the fundamentals of fundraising for Web3 startups and early-stage ventures navigating their first capital raise. Fundraising is always challenging, but in web3, it’s a whole new frontier with unique hurdles. This session, originally presented at a Techstars Web3 Accelerator event, is packed with actionable insights that apply to most tech startups, especially those aiming to raise their first round.

IN THIS EPISODE:

The Art of Readiness: Fundraising is a high-stakes campaign that requires focus, preparation, and a solid plan. I’ll walk you through the basics of getting yourself – and your co-founders – ready to tackle your first fundraise head-on.

Investor Pipeline Strategy: Building and managing an investor pipeline is critical to success. Learn about identifying the right investors, setting up warm intros, and the nuances of pitching to both web3 and web2.5 investors.

Legal Matters and Structures: In web3, navigating the legal landscape is a must. I cover key considerations for structuring your raise, choosing between token and equity allocations, and why a strong legal strategy is essential.

Storytelling and Positioning: We discuss the importance of clearly articulating your vision, setting ambitious yet realistic milestones, and presenting a credible plan to investors.

Execution and Perseverance: Fundraising can be a marathon filled with tough feedback, but execution is key. I share tips on how to handle investor conversations, refine your pitch, and ultimately close your round.

Resources:

Access a variety of fundraising resources, including pitch deck examples, document templates, and strategic guides in the show notes on MoneyNeverSleeps.ie.

Slides from the Techstars session: Fundraising in web3

A16z crypto: 5 rules for token launches

NFX:  The 23 Rules of Storytelling For Fundraising

Pitchdecky: Crypto / Web3 (and beyond) pitch deck

LegalNodes: Choosing a web3 fundraising document

Techstars Entrepreneur’s Toolkit

Video version of Web3 Fundraising Playbook (this episode)

Applications Now Open:

If you’re a web3 founder ready to scale, applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class of the Techstars Web3 Accelerator! Deadline is November 20, so don’t miss out. Visit techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to learn more and apply.

TIMESTAMPS:

01:40 The Challenges of Fundraising

02:32 Preparing for Your First Fundraise

03:56 Determining Your Fundraising Amount

07:32 Legal Considerations in Web3 Fundraising

11:43 Socializing Your Fundraise

13:27 Building Your Fundraising Materials

15:52 Targeting and Pitching Investors

20:27 Executing and Closing the Fundraise

23:21 Final Thoughts and Recap

LINKS:

Leave a review and subscribe on

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

Email us: [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter):

Follow on LinkedIn:

René Pinnell is the founder of Artizen, a match-funding platform for human creativity, helping creators match fund new projects at the frontier of art, science, technology and culture. With over two decades of experience, René has helped creators raise more than $50 million for groundbreaking projects, including securing the first seven-figure VR film deal at the Sundance Film Festival.

As an executive producer, René has worked on acclaimed projects like BATTLESCAR, starring Rosario Dawson, and SPHERES, featuring Jessica Chastain, Millie Bobby Brown, and Patti Smith. Additionally, René has directed the feature documentary The King of Texas, sold a TV pilot to MTV, and founded two companies, reflecting his deep commitment to supporting and elevating creative talent. 

In this episode, I sat down with René to explore his transformative journey from filmmaker to startup founder. Delving into the evolution of creative funding, René discusses Artizen's innovative model, which blends traditional match funding with crypto and community-driven support. 

We cover pivotal moments from his VR project days with Kaleidoscope to forming high-profile partnerships, such as with Viola Davis during the BLM movement. Discover how Artizen's dual strategy of enterprise sales and grassroots initiatives is set to reshape the creative industry.

Plus, learn about the role of AI and no-code tools in revolutionizing product development, the benefits of community match funds, and the potential of crypto within the creator economy. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the past, present, and future of creative project financing.

René is also an alum of the Techstars Web3 accelerator class of 2024, investing in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply. 

TIMESTAMPS:

00:36 Meet René Pinnell: A Creative Force

01:17 René's Creative Journey and Family Heritage

03:54 The Birth of Artizen

05:52 Challenges in Funding Creative Projects

08:11 From Kaleidoscope to Artizen

10:22 Scaling Artizen with Community Curation

19:05 Artizen's Triple-Sided Marketplace

26:35 Support for Black Artists in Immersive Media

27:25 Fundraising and Future Plans for Artizen

28:22 High-Profile Partnerships and Match Funds

29:34 Challenges and Insights from Creators

32:32 René's Journey: From Filmmaker to Founder

37:31 Rebuilding Artizen with No-Code Tools

41:10 The Future of Product Development and Network Effects

44:10 The Importance of Fundraising Skills

45:41 Optimism and Personal Reflections

51:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

LINKS:

Follow René Pinnell

-X/(Twitter): https://x.com/RJPinnell

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjpinnell/

Learn more about:

-Artizen: https://artizen.fund/

-René'ss ‘Wayback Machine’:  http://renepinnell.com/homepage.html

-Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3

Leave a review and subscribe on 

-Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294

-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd

-Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/

Email us at [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter): 

-Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow  

Follow on LinkedIn:

-Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/admin/feed/posts/

Niall Dennehy is an Irish entrepreneur and the co-founder and COO of AID:Tech, who are bringing traceability and transparency to the flow of funds for governments, NGOs and charities with their payments and digital identity infrastructure bridging web2 to web3. 

In this episode, Pete Townsend reconnects with Niall to explore the groundbreaking journey of their mission-driven company since Niall was last on MoneyNeverSleeps in 2018 (episode 11 linked here and below).

The conversation spans the company's digital identity and payments innovations, especially through their Kare Wallet which accelerates financial assistance to disaster survivors. Leveraging blockchain technology, the platform ensures transparent, traceable, and secure distribution of relief funds, partnering with entities like Walmart to prevent misuse.

Niall reflects on the emotional impact on both survivors and AID:Tech employees, underscoring the mission that deeply resonates with their team. The discussion delves into strategic approaches to funding, including securing non-dilutive grants, engaging with VCs, and the valuable experiences from accelerator programs like Techstars. 

Niall and Pete also touch upon the 'Five H's' of success - happy, hungry, humble, helpful, and healthy - emphasizing the importance of holistic wellbeing in driving sustained impact and growth for AID:Tech. Overall, this episode offers an insightful look into AID:Tech's ethos, their strategic growth, and the pivotal role of technology in enhancing disaster relief efforts.

The Techstars Web3 accelerator invests in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply.  

TIMESTAMPS:

00:36 Meet Niall Dennehy: Co-Founder of AID:Tech

01:48 AID:Tech's Impact and Innovations

03:19 The Evolution of AID:Tech 

04:22 The Core Mission: Identity and Payments

07:44 Real-World Applications and Success Stories

11:18 Challenges and Perseverance in the Startup World

13:08 Future of Payments and Digital Identity

14:19 The Kare Survivor Wallet in Action

20:02 Community Impact and Personal Stories

24:55 The Flywheel of a Mission-Driven Startup

26:02 Philosophical Insights and Team Alignment

27:36 Navigating Fundraising for Impact Ventures

30:56 The Importance of Non-Dilutive Capital

33:50 Personal Growth and Mindset

36:37 The Five H's for Founders

39:27 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

LINKS:

Follow Niall Dennehy

-X/(Twitter): https://twitter.com/dennehyniall

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niall-dennehy-bb311016/

Learn more about:

-AID:Tech: https://www.aid.technology/

-Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3

Links referenced in the episode:

Post on the Kare Survivor Wallet’s deployment for hurricane relief aid 

Episode 11 of MoneyNeverSleeps from August 2018: 

Matt Keller’s X/(Twitter) post on Algorand and the Kare Wallet

Leave a review and subscribe on 

-Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294

-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd

-Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/

Email us at [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter): 

-Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow  

Follow on LinkedIn:

-Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/admin/feed/posts/

Luca Franchi is the CEO and a co-founder of Ambient, a decentralized network of air quality sensors.  Luca brings to Ambient over two decades of leading growth at several startups and large corporations in the US and Europe (O2 UK, Telefónica, Sky) across enterprise and consumer verticals. 

In this episode, Luca shares his fascinating journey from working in startups and corporates like Sky in Silicon Valley to leading a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). The conversation delves into Ambient's strategic pivot from Algorand to Solana, their $2 million seed round led by Borderless Capital, and the operational challenges of launching a decentralized network.

Luca elaborates on how Ambient’s air quality sensors and the AmbiGo! app aim to engage the community and commercialize data. We also discuss the importance of founder experience, particularly in recruiting industry experts to navigate enterprise sales and legal structuring in DePIN projects. The episode concludes with Luca reflecting on the importance of passion and perseverance in entrepreneurship, and what it takes to approach the founders’ journey with longevity in mind.

Ambient is a DePIN at the leading edge of decentralized environmental monitoring, harnessing the power of its vast sensor network to deliver real-time, hyper-local, actionable environmental data. By utilizing distributed technologies and a community-focused participation model, Ambient not only enhances environmental awareness but also drives impactful change across the globe.

The Techstars Web3 accelerator invests in entrepreneurs building in web3 and enabling the next wave of growth in the decentralized internet and in tokenized economies.  Applications are now open for the Spring 2025 class, so check out techstars.com/accelerators/web3 to apply.  

TIMESTAMPS:

02:03 Luca's Career Journey and Founding Ambient

08:21 Challenges and Strategies in Building Ambient

11:51 How Ambient Works and Future Plans

13:15 The AmbiGo! App: Enhancing User Experience

16:10 The Importance of Data in Decentralized Networks

19:12 The Importance of DePIN in Web3

22:44 Raising the $2 Million Seed Round

25:24 The Startup Journey: Moving Fast and Staying Passionate

28:43 Balancing Work and Life: Advice for Founders

33:42 Conclusion and Contact Information

TIMESTAMPS:

Follow Luca Franchi

-X/(Twitter): https://x.com/luckyluca

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucafranchi/

Learn more about:

-Ambient: https://ambient.network/

-Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3

Leave a review and subscribe on 

-Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294

-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd

-Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/

Email us at [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter): 

-Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow  

Follow on LinkedIn:

-Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/admin/feed/posts/

Luis Ramirez is the Founder and CEO of Mawari, a pioneer in cloud rendering and streaming technology.  The Mawari team got started in Tokyo in 2017, and since then, the team has effectively built the foundation for the 3D internet.

Mawari enables real-time 3D content streaming to spatial computing devices like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 through a global network of GPUs, leveraging Web3 elements such as DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) to overcome the limitations of traditional centralized networks.

Uniquely positioned to address one of the core challenges in the spatial computing industry, formerly known as XR (eXtended Reality), Mawari focuses on delivering scalable infrastructure for real-time 3D applications. Mawari has since launched the Mawari Network — a DePIN and the only full-stack spatial computing platform offering decentralized compute and storage resources optimized for AR/VR experiences. 

As a side note and in the spirit of transparency, Mawari recently announced the closing of their $10.8mn strategic funding round, and I’m thrilled to be part of the round as an angel investor. 

In this episode, Luis and I riff on his journey from music to technology, the inception of the Mawari vision, building the team and overcoming challenges, the role of decentralization in the Mawari Network, Luis’ lessons learned from raising $17.3mn across two rounds in 3 years, and the essence of persistence, creativity, and the strategic foresight required to scale a tech startup in the evolving landscape of AR, VR, and Web3.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:39 Meet Luis Ramirez: From Music to Technology

06:18 The Birth of Mawari and Its Vision

15:02 Challenges and Innovations in XR and Web3

21:40 Building and Scaling the Mawari Team

32:20 Fundraising Journey and Future Milestones

38:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow Luis Ramirez

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luismawari/

Learn more about:

-Mawari: https://mawari.net/

-Techstars Web3 Accelerator:  https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/web3

Leave a review and subscribe on 

-Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1455819294

-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8uOLxiscYVWVGEfNxTnd

-Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvaaHrJjizUEd0-93mjCKsQ

MoneyNeverSleeps newsletter on Substack: https://moneyneversleeps.substack.com/

MoneyNeverSleeps website:  https://www.moneyneversleeps.ie/

Email us at [email protected]

Follow on X(Twitter): 

-Pete Townsend: https://twitter.com/petetownsendnv

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://twitter.com/MNSshow  

Follow on LinkedIn:

-Pete Townsend: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-townsend-1b18301a/

-MoneyNeverSleeps: https://www.linkedin.com/company/28661903/admin/feed/posts/