From startup lawsuits to DAO-powered launches, Willy (founder of Nounspace) shares his unfiltered Web3 founder journey. We talk about his early exits, how Nounspace evolved from a Nounish client into a full-blown platform, and the tough reality of building in crypto.

This episode dives into funding, pivots, community ownership, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in Web3—especially when things don’t go as planned.

00:42 — Startup lessons: from lawsuit to successful exit

01:50 — Launching Nounspace with Nouns DAO funding

02:38 — What changed in DAO governance & the challenge of sustainability

03:46 — Revenue, traction… but still not enough?

04:38 — The reality of building to change the world

05:29 — Why community is Nounspace’s strongest asset

06:12 — From one community to many: growing through network effects

07:04 — Tokens, incentives, and the flywheel effect

08:39 — The problem with airdrop farming & how to avoid it

09:34 — Nounspace token model: aligned ownership via staking

10:15 — Letting communities experiment with their own incentive models

10:37 — Mini apps as a tool for community-led problem-solving

11:18 — White labeling Nounspace for non-Noun communities

12:37 — The path forward: dual-focus, bigger vision

Connect with Willy / Nounspace:

Website: nounspace.com

Warpcast: warpcast.com/willywonka.eth

Twitter/X: x.com/thenounspace

Connect with Kris:

Farcaster: warpcast.com/thekris

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thekrispartner

For sponsorships & collaborations:

Email: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER: This episode does not constitute financial advice. DAOs, Web3 tools, and token-based systems carry risks. Always do your own research (DYOR).