Eric Spivak is a cultural architect who wears many hats: DJ, public speaker, advisor, and community curator. Known for his work with New Friendship Tech, Eric is reshaping how people experience and interact with technology through innovative, community-focused events. Jim sat down with Eric to discuss his path into Web3, the ethos behind his projects, and how he's making events both memorable and meaningful.

J: You’re someone who wears many hats—DJ, public speaker, advisor, curator, and more. Where did it all begin, and what's the connective tissue that ties all these pursuits together?

E: It’s always been about making things better. When I didn’t like the music at parties, I became a DJ. When I thought rappers were wack, I’d go to open mics and train myself to rap better so I could hold the torch to whatever they were doing. It’s always been about progress and leaving things better than I found them. In the world of emerging tech and innovation, there’s this “adapt or die” mentality that keeps everything fresh and exciting. I’ve been in this space since 2016, coming from a background in art, music, fashion, and culture. I used to throw massive raves and warehouse parties, helping sustain LA’s underground scene. So, getting into crypto and Web3 felt like a natural fit, aligning with my role as a purveyor of culture and always staying ahead of the curve.

J: What was the aha moment for you to start New Friendship Tech? When did you realize this is something that needed to exist?

E: The idea really clicked for me when I noticed the negative stigmas surrounding the term NFT. People would ask, “What even is that?” and it always had this confusing, off-putting vibe. At the end of the day, NFTs are just a technology that’s helping create new friendships, new cultures, and new communities. Social media used to connect people, but now it often pushes us apart. The only way to beat those isolating algorithms is through real-life experiences. Without tech-driven connections, new friendships don’t form, and everything starts to fall apart. We’re stronger together, and no one really does it alone. That’s why New Friendship Tech felt like a necessary piece to the puzzle. Everything we do is about progress and making things better than they already are. All our events are free, with free entry, free drinks, and free food. We make sure every lineup has at least two women, and the vibe is always inclusive and diverse. It’s about balancing Web2 and Web3—so everyone feels welcome in the environments we curate worldwide.

J: So your events are free–how do you define success for New Friendship Tech and measure it?

E: To me, a successful event means providing six things: opportunities to meet new people, learn or see something new, and have fun doing it. Plus, people need to feel seen, heard, and safe. If you come to one of our events, you shouldn’t have to worry about security issues or shady vibes. You know the music will be on point and that you’re either going to hear what you love or discover your new favorite artist. And when you speak, people actually listen—they’re not just waiting for their turn to talk. We’re flipping the narrative that “free” equals low quality. Our events are about proving that you can have a premium experience without a price tag. The core values of New Friendship Tech are about redistributing wealth and democratizing information on a large scale. Knowledge should be accessible, not hidden behind paywalls or expensive degrees. Everyone deserves to win and grow together.

J: You emphasize the importance of redistributing wealth. How do you put that into action for your community?

E: We do it through things like competitions, hackathons, job fairs, bounties, and turning social currency into real equity. Think about big festivals like Coachella or EDC—when you leave, you’re lucky if you come away with a wristband or some merch, but mostly it’s just memories. The event takes your money and gives you a good time, but it’s still an extractive model. I wanted to flip that. At our events, we value people for who they are—their knowledge, experience, and style. We require wallet addresses from attendees, and if they don’t have one, we help set them up. Then we take a portion of our profits and redistribute it back to them. Even though the events are free, they’re still profitable, and since I’m bootstrapped with no outside investors, I get to decide how to use those profits. Back in 2020, I tested this model at the Ace Theater in LA, giving back $250,000 to attendees. It worked beautifully. I think Fortune 500 companies could learn from this and start investing directly in the people who make their businesses run.

J: Impressive. I noticed that New Friendship Tech has collaborated with some huge names like Sotheby’s, Netflix, and Hennessy. How do you make these partnerships happen?

E: It’s all about building a solid foundation and having a proven track record. I’ve onboarded and educated more people in Web3 than almost anyone I know. I’ve been part of countless projects in art, music, fashion, and culture, and I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Maintaining my integrity and staying true to my values is what keeps the trust alive. So when these big brands get a message from me, they see that I’ve been featured in Rolling Stone, GQ, Decrypt, and Bloomberg. They can look me up and see I’ve been recognized as an expert in the space. I’ve been on the homepage of OpenSea with my art and collaborated with Keith Haring’s Estate at Sotheby’s. It’s hard to say no to someone who’s consistently proven themselves. I leverage all of that to open doors for future projects.

J: It’s clear you know how to create impactful events. What I see a lot, especially at these larger crypto conferences is that a lot of companies have like crazy budgets to create cool events. They rent out the fanciest venues but then they just fail gloriously in creating a dope event. They probably want to generate some brand awareness but in reality they're just burning VC money to look cool and kind of failing at that. What’s your take on that?

E: It blows my mind to see companies throw half a million dollars at a party that barely makes a splash. If that money was in my hands, I’d know how to channel it properly to create something lasting with real ROI. I’ve broken the internet a few times, driving virality for people like Taylor Swift, Diplo, Katy Perry, and A$AP Rocky. I think outside the box, using guerrilla tactics like drone activations with QR codes, skywriting, and street teams. It’s about making people feel like they want to be there. Free entry, amazing artists, great food and drinks—there’s no reason not to come. The event practically promotes itself when everything comes together seamlessly.

J: Education is a big focus for you. Do you think it’s key to mass adoption?

E: Education is everything. Everyone learns differently, and I get that. If someone’s explaining Web3 with a bunch of jargon, it’s like a word salad—it just doesn’t stick. It shuts people out, and they lose interest. That’s why our events are 60% Web2 and 40% Web3. I moderate panels and make sure the conversation is approachable and engaging. We also use AI to translate and transcribe everything in over 200 languages, publishing it on the blockchain so it stays intact and accessible forever. It’s about making sure the message isn’t lost or distorted over time.

J: When you say you publish content to the blockchain first, what do you mean exactly? Which platforms do you use? How does that post-event production go?

E: We edit the content using tools like Final Cut Pro or Premiere, then run it through AI for accurate transcription and translation. Once it’s ready, we publish it to platforms like IPFS, Solana, Ethereum, or whatever chain fits best. We can also token gate it if needed. It’s about making the content durable and shareable, giving it a second or third life on platforms like Mastodon, Blue Sky, and Farcaster. I’m even working on scaling this approach for larger audiences at conferences.

J: From a marketing or community building perspective, what’s the key to filling up the room?

E: It’s all about a mix of traditional and unconventional marketing. We use mailing lists and SMS for retention, but we also do guerrilla marketing—like pasting posters, taking over billboards, and flying drones with QR codes. I’m all about breaking the mold. And with a strong community on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Twitter, we’ve got a solid base to spread the word. It’s about making sure people want to be there and know it’ll be worth their time.

J: Let’s wrap up with a lightning round. Favorite DJ gig?

E: Rare Diablo and A-Trak at The Factory off of Alameda Street in Downtown LA.

J: A city that surprised you the most?

E: It’s a tie between Seoul, Tokyo, and Singapore. I fall in love with them every time I visit.

J: Craziest venue you’ve hosted an event at?

E: A rave under the American Apparel warehouses in LA—it looked like a scene out of Dune or Mad Max, a sandy, pillar filled dystopian underground basement..

J: Anything you want to plug?

E: Definitely check out New Friendship Tech. And if anyone has opportunities or projects they want me to be part of, my door is always open and the best way to reach me is on Instagram, 𝕏, or through my website. Hit me up!