I spend plenty of my spare time and almost all of my spare energy attending crypto/web3 events in London (and, come to think of it, wherever else I find myself). I’ve been struck by how few people in London are building consumer crypto products compared to the US or even Lisbon. This year I’ve been fortunate to spend time in the US and Europe, where founders are taking big swings at new social media apps, on-chain advertising and DAOs. The next wave of consumer tech will be built on-chain, an...

I spend plenty of my spare time and almost all of my spare energy attending crypto/web3 events in London (and, come to think of it, wherever else I find myself). I’ve been struck by how few people in London are building consumer crypto products compared to the US or even Lisbon. This year I’ve been fortunate to spend time in the US and Europe, where founders are taking big swings at new social media apps, on-chain advertising and DAOs. The next wave of consumer tech will be built on-chain, an...

Ticketmaster secretly created 5 million NFTs. After partnering with NFT studio Dapper Labs and their Flow blockchain, 5 million tickets sold through Ticketmaster over the last 6 months were automatically minted onto the blockchain as NFTs. Customers who purchased the tickets will soon be able to display and trade the NFT digital collectibles. What this means:As tickets increasingly exist only digitally, NFTs will be the medium enabling them to be sold before and after eventsBefore and during ...

Ticketmaster secretly created 5 million NFTs. After partnering with NFT studio Dapper Labs and their Flow blockchain, 5 million tickets sold through Ticketmaster over the last 6 months were automatically minted onto the blockchain as NFTs. Customers who purchased the tickets will soon be able to display and trade the NFT digital collectibles. What this means:As tickets increasingly exist only digitally, NFTs will be the medium enabling them to be sold before and after eventsBefore and during ...

Over the last 3 months, I’ve been working with MintStars to drive awareness of a groundbreaking new web3-enabled platform for content creators. MintStars’ goal is to reinvent the creator economy while putting creators first - maximizing their earnings, protecting their content, and reducing burnout. 3 notes on the space:Market size: The creator economy may be a relatively new field, but over 50 million people now work as creators.Big problems: There are major unaddressed problems in the space...

Over the last 3 months, I’ve been working with MintStars to drive awareness of a groundbreaking new web3-enabled platform for content creators. MintStars’ goal is to reinvent the creator economy while putting creators first - maximizing their earnings, protecting their content, and reducing burnout. 3 notes on the space:Market size: The creator economy may be a relatively new field, but over 50 million people now work as creators.Big problems: There are major unaddressed problems in the space...

So you’ve heard of NFTs. And you may also know that artists, influencers and brands are getting involved. Perhaps you’re even considering launching one for your own business or personal brand. So what strategies are being used to launch a successful NFT drop? Here are a few ways big brands have chosen to enter the space, along with thoughts on where it might lead in the near future.Collaborate with an existing NFT project and its communityThe most popular existing NFT projects have a loyal, v...

So you’ve heard of NFTs. And you may also know that artists, influencers and brands are getting involved. Perhaps you’re even considering launching one for your own business or personal brand. So what strategies are being used to launch a successful NFT drop? Here are a few ways big brands have chosen to enter the space, along with thoughts on where it might lead in the near future.Collaborate with an existing NFT project and its communityThe most popular existing NFT projects have a loyal, v...

Should You Use the Word ‘NFT’ in Your Marketing? ‘NFT’ provokes strong positive and negative reactions from certain groups of potential customers. Indeed a recent email from Verse was titled “NFTs have a huge branding problem.” The damage was done by 2021's gold rush to buy and sell images of cartoon animals via energy-intensive blockchain transactions. However, as anyone in the space will tell you, in 2022, web3 is different. Serious businesses and creative projects are being developed ...

Should You Use the Word ‘NFT’ in Your Marketing? ‘NFT’ provokes strong positive and negative reactions from certain groups of potential customers. Indeed a recent email from Verse was titled “NFTs have a huge branding problem.” The damage was done by 2021's gold rush to buy and sell images of cartoon animals via energy-intensive blockchain transactions. However, as anyone in the space will tell you, in 2022, web3 is different. Serious businesses and creative projects are being developed ...

Since 2021, I've seen firsthand the challenges of marketing web3 projects to non-technical customers. However, I've also seen some effective strategies that can help to bridge this gap. Note: if your product is unusable by anyone without a PhD in blockchain, the below won’t help. Here are a few examples: Starting with the basicsSometimes, you can build excitement by educating your users. But you need to find somewhere to start and give it the context that creates excitement.For exam...

Since 2021, I've seen firsthand the challenges of marketing web3 projects to non-technical customers. However, I've also seen some effective strategies that can help to bridge this gap. Note: if your product is unusable by anyone without a PhD in blockchain, the below won’t help. Here are a few examples: Starting with the basicsSometimes, you can build excitement by educating your users. But you need to find somewhere to start and give it the context that creates excitement.For exam...

It’s the question I’ve been asked most frequently over the last 2 months…so what’s the answer? TL;DR: While NFT sales and trading volumes are down significantly, the activity in the space - from a tech, talent and fundraising perspective is encouraging. The roots being grown right now will enable adoption for those new to web 3 and expand the scope of existing projects. — The case in favour:Sales volumes are down massively - Monthly sales volume on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, droppe...

It’s the question I’ve been asked most frequently over the last 2 months…so what’s the answer? TL;DR: While NFT sales and trading volumes are down significantly, the activity in the space - from a tech, talent and fundraising perspective is encouraging. The roots being grown right now will enable adoption for those new to web 3 and expand the scope of existing projects. — The case in favour:Sales volumes are down massively - Monthly sales volume on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, droppe...

One of the simplest yet most pertinent thoughts shared by a speaker at the recent Zebu Live conference in London was the suggestion that brands and content creators approach web3 as they do social media. Imagine the following scenario: You create an Instagram account for your company. Then, for your first post, you ask your customers to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your product. This would clearly be a ridiculous strategy to build your brand and business on social media. But...

One of the simplest yet most pertinent thoughts shared by a speaker at the recent Zebu Live conference in London was the suggestion that brands and content creators approach web3 as they do social media. Imagine the following scenario: You create an Instagram account for your company. Then, for your first post, you ask your customers to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your product. This would clearly be a ridiculous strategy to build your brand and business on social media. But...

After 6 startups, 12 months, and several thousand hours of marketing, business development, community management and all round grind, I was going to write a list of learnings and observations from 2022 in web3. However, I got distracted and decided to enjoy a few days off over Christmas. Instead, here are 3 random observations from the past year:The quality of founders and operators was far higher in 2022 than in 2021. There are more smart people with great ideas tackling big problems than a ...

After 6 startups, 12 months, and several thousand hours of marketing, business development, community management and all round grind, I was going to write a list of learnings and observations from 2022 in web3. However, I got distracted and decided to enjoy a few days off over Christmas. Instead, here are 3 random observations from the past year:The quality of founders and operators was far higher in 2022 than in 2021. There are more smart people with great ideas tackling big problems than a ...

NFTs or non-fungible tokens took the world by storm in 2021, with recent reports putting the value of the market at over $40 billion. In December, Nike made waves by acquiring RTFKT, a digital fashion and NFT studio, for an estimated $100 million. This year is set to be another year of explosive growth for the space. So far in 2022, brands including Samsung, GAP, Patrón, Hennessy, Konami, Associated Press, Budweiser, Barbie and Bugatti have all announced NFT launches, with many other organisa...

NFTs or non-fungible tokens took the world by storm in 2021, with recent reports putting the value of the market at over $40 billion. In December, Nike made waves by acquiring RTFKT, a digital fashion and NFT studio, for an estimated $100 million. This year is set to be another year of explosive growth for the space. So far in 2022, brands including Samsung, GAP, Patrón, Hennessy, Konami, Associated Press, Budweiser, Barbie and Bugatti have all announced NFT launches, with many other organisa...

While the Apple Event of September 7th may not have included any announcements relating to web3, what might Apple’s strategy for the space look like? 3 thoughts: 1. Integrating cryptocurrency into Apple Pay is an obvious quick win, and their willingness to explore financial services has already been proven with products like Apple Pay, Apple Card (a US-only credit card) and the related acquisition of UK open banking startup Credit Kudos. 2. More than 1 billion people use Apple products - most...

While the Apple Event of September 7th may not have included any announcements relating to web3, what might Apple’s strategy for the space look like? 3 thoughts: 1. Integrating cryptocurrency into Apple Pay is an obvious quick win, and their willingness to explore financial services has already been proven with products like Apple Pay, Apple Card (a US-only credit card) and the related acquisition of UK open banking startup Credit Kudos. 2. More than 1 billion people use Apple products - most...