Do you know how a former lumberjack becomes the founder of and leader of the largest crypto hedge fund? Listen to this episode of The Boost VC podcast where Adam Draper talks to Olaf Carlson-Wee the founder of Polychain and one of Boost VC's portfolio companies, about starting the first ever crypto hedge fund, and how he now manages more than $250m in assets.

“Venture capital, to me, is a way that we can raise money to help entrepreneurs who can go out there and do something for the world that just opens it up. I am always pushing for freedom, and I think it’s great to see venture capital be able to support entrepreneurs—wherever they are—to go out there and do something extraordinary for freedom.” Tim Draper is the founding partner of Draper Associates as well as Draper Fischer Jurvetson (DFJ). His gift for assessing the fastest way to get a service to its users was instrumental in the success of viral communication networks like Hotmail and Skype. He has been an early investor in several wildly successful startups including Baidu, Tesla and Cruise Automation. Tim is recognized as a leading supporter of global entrepreneurship, and he was named #7 on the Forbes Midas List, #1 Most Networked Venture Capitalists by Always On, and World Entrepreneurship Forum’s 2015 ‘Entrepreneur for the World.’ In 2011, he created Draper University, a residential and online school that seeks to help talented young people meet their entrepreneurial goals. Today Tim offers his definition of entrepreneurship and his journey from aspiring entrepreneur to venture capitalist. He shares his take on the ideal relationship between VC and founder and the sectors he is looking to invest in right now. We explore the world of cryptocurrency, discussing its potential to transform governance, how innovative VCs are trying new things with Bitcoin, and what the industry can learn from the P2P music and media revolution. Listen in to understand why Tim equates freedom with wealth and how to leverage the ripple effect of optimism. Topics Covered Tim’s definition of VC Give entrepreneurs the means to ‘do something extraordinary for freedom’ Draper Venture Network is taking best practices global Tim’s entrepreneurial evolution VC affords opportunity to dabble The relationship between a VC and founder Look for a fit, VC that can bring something interesting to the table Tim’s strengths lie in designing business models and networking The sectors Tim is looking to invest in right now Anything blockchain has to offer Cryptocurrency has ability to transform real estate, insurance, banking and government Tim’s take on how cryptocurrency will transform governance World more elastic, flexible Functions of government done more efficiently on blockchain How innovative VCs are trying new things with Bitcoin Tim was first to invest in company with cryptocurrency, use smart contract The best advice Tim got from his VC dad Personal connection matters What cryptocurrency can learn from peer-to-peer music/media revolution When status quo threatened, they will retaliate (e.g.: lawsuits, government intervention, competitive threat) ‘Technology wins all the wars’ Control vs. technological advancements Countries relying on own currency lose out Entrepreneurs, money go elsewhere The ripple effect of optimism Fear keeps people in boxes Accomplish much more if you ‘just go’ Connect with Tim Draper Associates http://www.draper.vc/ Draper Associates on Twitter https://twitter.com/drapervc DFJ http://dfj.com/index.php Draper University http://www.draperuniversity.com/ The Startup Hero on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUrqcWVF3uelGlK-6sXGjLgKu_JlhW_3l Tim Draper on Medium https://medium.com/@TimDraper/the-pledge-f18e12013785 Meet the Drapers https://republic.co/meet-the-drapers Resources Mentioned The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs by William H. Draper III https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Game-Partnership-Capitalists-Entrepreneurs/dp/0230339948 Bionomics: Economy as Ecosystem by Michael Rothschild https://www.amazon.com/Bionomics-Economy-Ecosystem-Michael-Rothschild/dp/0805019790 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

‘There’s definitely some teams that are using [ICOs] and are able to fund their ideas better and more easily than the traditional VC way of doing things, but there’s just too many bad actors that just want a get rich quick scheme.’ Charlie Lee created Litecoin in 2011 while he was working as software engineer for Google. Litecoin is ‘the silver to Bitcoin’s gold,’ functioning as a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that complements Bitcoin. In the long-term, Charlie sees Litecoin becoming a payment currency used at both physical and online stores, and he is currently working to promote widespread merchant adoption. Charlie also spent four years with Coinbase, serving as the Director of Engineering for the digital currency platform. Today Charlie explains why he is not a fan of the ICO, discussing why it’s ripe for bad actors. We cover the future of cryptocurrency and the major debates in the ecosystem, including hard forks and Bitcoin Gold. Charlie shares his inspiration for dedicating his career to cryptocurrency as well as his ambitions for Litecoin. Listen in for Charlie’s insight around sidechains, stable coins, and the value of CryptoKitties. Topics Covered Chalie’s background Encrypted chat startup in 1999 Created Litecoin while working for Google Last four years at Coinbase Charlie’s take on the rise of the ICO Incentives not in line, receive money before product is built Too many bad actors Tack on token functionality as afterthought The future of the cryptocurrency space ICO regulations to reduce fraud Charlie’s ambitions for Litecoin Become payment currency (physical, online stores) Widespread merchant adoption Listed on exchanges Chalie’s insight around stable coins Crypto must be tied back to real world somehow Governments will eventually release cryptocurrencies (i.e.: crypto-USD) The deployment of sidechains Litecoin is decentralized, secured by miners Value of sidechain in smart contracts Why Charlie is excited about Monero Coin doing the right thing 100% private Charlie’s take on the major debates in the ecosystem Bitcoin Gold Hard forks What inspired Charlie to enter the crypto space Bitcoin as better version of gold Easy to transfer, store for nothing How CryptoKitties create value Limited supply of digital resource (scarcity) Concern lies in scaling Connect with Charlie Litecoin https://litecoin.org/ Litecoin on Twitter https://twitter.com/litecoin Charlie on Twitter https://twitter.com/SatoshiLite Resources Mentioned Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/?locale=en-US Aragon https://aragon.one/ Monero https://getmonero.org/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

When problems don’t affect us directly, they are easy to ignore. But if we create a connection with the people who ARE impacted and truly understand the consequences of our own action (or inaction), that’s when we start to care. What if we leveraged the immersive experience of virtual reality to establish empathy for marginalized groups? What if VR could give people the agency to take action and solve the world’s biggest problems? Morgan Mercer is the founder and CEO of Vantage Point, a startup that offers a cutting-edge, fully immersive sexual harassment training program experienced in virtual reality. Vantage Point’s B2B product focuses on identifying sexual harassment and assault, bystander intervention, response training, and societal stigma and bias. Prior to Vantage Point, Morgan served as the Head of Digital Marketing for the online designer consignment platform LePrix. Today, Morgan joins us to discuss her inspiration to change the world of human resources by way of VR. She offers insight around what it’s like to be a female founder and how women can arm themselves to better navigate life as an entrepreneur. Listen in as Morgan describes the parallels between entrepreneurs and athletes and learn how VR can empower us to solve big problems with thoughtfulness and compassion. Topics Covered Morgan’s inspiration to transform HR Year abroad revealed own biases, ignorance VR has power to create connection Why virtual reality is ideal for HR training Form relationships and empathy See outcome of actions The barriers for female founders Avoid events because only woman in room Create environments, processes more inviting to women How female entrepreneurs can arm themselves Learn to negotiate, stand ground Get comfortable in uncomfortable situations Morgan’s insight around VC fundraising Investors are partners, allies Work together to get to next stage What the world looks like if Vantage Point succeeds More thoughtfulness and compassion Run toward problems, empowered to act Morgan’s moratorium on social media Who are you living for? How does that influence actions? Morgan’s take on asking good questions Inspired by friend Samier Mansur Questions influence information uncovered The parallels between working out and entrepreneurship 40% rule Requires long-term commitment Push limits to gain strength Morgan’s definition of success Go beyond what believe can achieve Pursue something meaningful Connect with Morgan: Vantage Point https://www.tryvantagepoint.com/ Morgan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/morganrmercer/ Morgan on Twitter https://twitter.com/themorganmercer?lang=en Resources: Halogen Ventures http://halogenvc.com/ LiveSafe https://www.livesafemobile.com/ The Art of Being and Becoming by Hazrat Inayat Khan https://www.amazon.com/Being-Becoming-Hazrat-Inayat-Khan/dp/093087241X The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho https://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416 Evan Spiegel at Code 2018 https://www.recode.net/2018/5/30/17397120/snap-ceo-evan-spiegel-transcript-code-2018 The Little Prince Animated Film https://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-James-Franco/dp/B01F8505M4 Connect with Boost VC: Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

If you want to work in the cryptocurrency or fintech space, there is no doubt that Silicon Valley is the place to be in terms of access to opportunity, financing and a network of peers. But what if your home country happens to be an emerging market like South Africa? What is it like to be part of a foreign national startup in the San Francisco Bay Area? And how do you effectively manage a distributed team working from a different time zone? Helghardt Avenant is the co-founder and CEO of Rehive, a platform working to help founders and businesses rapidly build, launch and scale fintech products by providing the necessary building blocks. Users mix and match a core set of features to their specific fintech use case, much the same way Shopify serves the eCommerce industry. Though Helghardt is based in Silicon Valley, 80% of Rehive’s engineering team works from his home country of South Africa. Today, Helghardt joins us to share the idea behind Rehive and discuss the startup’s many iterations as well as its ideal customer. He offers insight around emerging markets like South Africa, explaining the country’s current crypto economy and what is necessary to inspire widespread adoption. Listen in as Helghardt describes the draw of Silicon Valley for aspiring engineers in the cryptocurrency space and learn how Rehive is streamlining communication among its distributed team! Topics Covered The idea behind Rehive WordPress for fintech applications Use available building blocks Helghardt’s introduction to the crypto space South Africa had limited online payment options First experience moving money online = Bitcoin Fascinated by promise of ‘better money’ Helghardt’s insight around emerging markets Immediate needs don’t require advanced tech Hard to generate interest without clear idea of value-add South Africa’s crypto economy Run by mining or traditional retail, banking Success stories = EC2 and Naspers Helghardt’s take on the draw of Silicon Valley Access to opportunity, deal flow Requires mental shift (cultural differences) What South Africa needs to promote widespread adoption Educate potential crypto distributors on volatility Begin in areas where end-consumer comfortable How to get people away from traditional currency Enterprise tools for banks, governments and retailers Issue digital denominations (bring into operational flow) The ideal customer for Rehive Brands with established user base Retailers who want to play in financial space Helghardt’s advice for aspiring crypto startup founders Get to Silicon Valley for immediate support network Find token sale, blockchain foundation looking for talent The many iterations of Rehive Stable wallet (hedging mechanism) Bitcoin, Coinbase for South Africa Helghardt’s tips for distributed teams Establish guidelines for communicating on Slack Work in sprints (3 months together for alignment) Helghardt’s definition of success Freedom to cross borders easily Tap into other’s time and energy Achieve things can’t do yourself Connect with Helghardt Rehive https://rehive.com/ Rehive on Twitter https://twitter.com/rehivehq?lang=en Rehive on GitHub https://github.com/rehive Helghardt on Medium https://medium.com/rehive-blog/fintech-platforms-b8b0238427ee Helghardt on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/helghardt/ Resources Amazon EC2 https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/ Naspers https://www.naspers.com/ Tencent https://www.tencent.com/en-us/ Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow https://www.amazon.com/Titan-Life-John-Rockefeller-Sr/dp/1400077303 Slack https://slack.com/ The Settlers of Catan https://www.catan.com/game/catan Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts https://www.amazon.com/Shantaram-Novel-Gregory-David-Roberts/dp/0312330537 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

We’re familiar with product/market fit, but have you ever considered product/person fit? Having empathy for the end user is what differentiates the companies that design technology for the benefit of humans from those that are simply out to make a profit. So, how do we design AI, VR and AR products that promote social good—and truly change people’s lives? Sean White is the Chief R&D Officer for Mozilla, the non-profit company behind the Firefox browser. Sean also serves as a visiting lecturer at Stanford University as well as a judge for the environmental category of the International Tech Awards. An entrepreneur and inventor, Sean is dedicated to leading the development of the technologies that enable creative expression, connect us to each other, and enhance our understanding of the world around us. Today, Sean joins us to share his background in academia and startups as well as his experience in the early days of mixed reality. He explains what is necessary to promote the widespread adoption of VR, how to identify your personal mission, and the value in asking questions about emerging technology through art. Listen in for insight around Mozilla’s role as a ‘trusted personal agent’ and learn how the company works to create product/person fit! Topics Covered Sean’s background in academia and startups Grew up in San Antonio, TX Silicon Valley in 1988 to attend Stanford Mozilla’s take on their role in advancing technology Internet is public good View selves as ‘trusted personal agent’ Sean’s experience in VR, AR and MR PhD in mixed reality Cost $1M to drive each eye in early days Sean’s favorite recent AR experience Laurie Anderson, Tribeca Film Festival Reveals poem, song ‘inside her mind’ How to promote the wide adoption of VR/AR Normalization of hardware platform Less expensive, more ergonomic Mozilla’s view of user identity in VR Ability to control identity is vital Sean’s involvement with The Tech Promote innovation, change people’s lives Smithsonian AR project to identify plant species Sean’s insight on finding your mission Worked with Professor Terry Winograd (inventor of AI) Learned about social responsibility, heart Aligns with Mozilla mission to benefit humans with tech Sean’s take on asking questions through art Explore hopes, fears around new technologies in film ‘Art is good at asking questions’ How Mozilla tracks success and progress Measure by people using (where and how) Product/market AND product/person fit Connect with Sean Mozilla https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/ Mozilla on Twitter https://twitter.com/mozilla Sean on Twitter https://twitter.com/seanwhite?lang=en Sean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanwhite/ Sean on Medium https://medium.com/@seanwhite Resources Favor https://favordelivery.com/ VIVE https://www.vive.com/us/product/vive-virtual-reality-system/ Oculus Go https://www.oculus.com/go/ Tribeca Film Festival https://www.tribecafilm.com/immersive Fortnite https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/buy-now/battle-royale The Tech Museum of Innovation https://www.thetech.org/ Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org/ FirefoxReality https://mixedreality.mozilla.org/ Mozilla ‘Hubs’ https://hubs.mozilla.com/ Ready Player One by Ernest Cline https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline/dp/0307887448 The Lawnmower Man https://www.amazon.com/Lawnmower-Man-New-Line-Platinum/dp/6304604572

What’s different about the decentralized business model of a company like Coinbase? Why do they measure success based on customer experience? And how do they find the best talent with the right mindset to join the Coinbase team? John Yi is the Group Product Manager for Services at Coinbase, a digital currency platform where merchants and consumers can transact with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Based in San Francisco, Coinbase is on a mission to champion economic freedom through innovation in digital currency. John’s role is to manage the teams that build the infrastructure for consumer products. Today, John joins us to explain how a conversation at Occupy Wall Street sparked his interest in cryptocurrency. He shares Coinbase’s ‘hell yes’ hiring policy, describing the entrepreneurial mindset of the company’s team. John speaks to what’s different about a decentralized business model and the challenge of building interoperable products and scalable infrastructure. Listen in for John’s insight on the concept of non-fungible tokens and learn about Coinbase’s focus on customer experience! Topics Covered What sparked John’s interest in cryptocurrency 2011 at Occupy Wall Street rally in NYC Conversation on transcending centralized money Coinbase’s transparent hiring policy ‘If you’re not a hell yes, you’re a no’ Bias toward entrepreneurial mindset What’s different about the decentralized business model Build trust to keep people coming back (don’t hoard value) Products interoperable with any number of others How Coinbase employees get up to speed on the industry Bias toward raw intellect and curiosity Learn by nature of work, Coinbase University What has surprised John about the crypto industry Wrong about payments as main use case Concept of non-fungible tokens (NFT) John’s role at Coinbase Build infrastructure behind consumer products Work with consumer team on NPS John’s definition of success Work on stuff you enjoy with people you admire Connect with John Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/ Coinbase on Twitter https://twitter.com/coinbase Coinbase on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Coinbase/ John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnyi/ John on Medium https://medium.com/@johnyi275 John on Twitter https://twitter.com/johnyi275 Resources ‘Bar Raisers at Coinbase: If You’re Not a Hell Yes, You’re a No’ on The Coinbase Blog https://blog.coinbase.com/bar-raisers-at-coinbase-if-youre-not-a-hell-yes-you-re-a-no-68145c6fbe60 Ethmoji https://ethmoji.io/ CryptoKitties https://www.cryptokitties.co/ True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by Eric Hoffer https://www.amazon.com/True-Believer-Thoughts-Movements-Perennial/dp/0060505915 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

‘The closer you get to 50/50 polarizing, the more viral you’re likely to go.’ Ameen Soleimani is the master of branding, coining terms for his blockchain startup like SpankBank and Booty call. Working with the porn industry lends itself to polarizing branding, but why does Ameen think porn also happens to be the most practical application of crypto technology? Ameen is the co-founder and CEO of SpankChain, a startup set to revolutionize the adult film industry using blockchain technology. The team has launched its Camsite Beta program and is working to ship SpankBank and SpankPay in the very near future. Prior to SpankChain, Ameen served as Decentralization Lazer Gun for ConsenSys and co-founder of Filter, a Twitter news aggregator. Today, Ameen sits down with us to explain why the porn industry is a good application for crypto. He shares his surprise at being embraced by the greater Ethereum community and speaks to how he attracts top engineering talent. Ameen discusses the challenges of communicating with a distributed team and the current initiatives they are working on in SpankBank and SpankPay. Listen in for Ameen’s insight on viral branding and the power of polarization. Topics Covered What has surprised Ameen in working on SpankChain Embraced by greater Ethereum community Porn drives innovation as early adopter Why the porn industry is a good fit for crypto Censored by existing financial system Motivated to adopt new one Ameen’s introduction to cryptocurrency Topic in news aggregator Built arbitrage bot between exchanges How the SpankChain distributed team communicates Weekly team meeting, daily dev standup and Slack Over-document SpankChain’s current priorities Launched Camsite Beta program SpankBank, SpankPay initiatives How to attract talent to a project Solve hard problems Track record of shipping Ameen’s advice around branding 50/50 polarizing = likely to go viral ‘Stickiness of words matters’ Connect with Ameen SpankChain https://spankchain.com/ SpankChain on GitHub https://github.com/spankchain SpankChain on Medium https://medium.com/@spankchain SpankChain on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpankChain Ameen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ameensol Ameen on Medium https://medium.com/@ameensol Ameen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameen-soleimani-97181942/ Resources Ameen’s Reddit Pitch Deck https://www.reddit.com/r/ethtrader/comments/6g9rzq/nsfw_spankchain_im_about_to_betamax_bitcoin/ ConsenSys https://new.consensys.net/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

What if every individual had the ability to invest in their community? Dan Finlay sees a future in which the blockchain allows us all to function as venture capitalists, investing in the people we trust in our social networks, using our social collateral to back the things we truly believe in. Dan is a software developer and product lead at MetaMask, a bridge to the distributed web. The platform allows users to run Ethereum dApps (without running a full Ethereum node) and provides a user interface to facilitate private key management. Dan and the MetaMask team are passionate about making new technologies accessible to everyone. Today, Dan sits down with us to explain how the CryptoKitties phenomenon fit his theory around the first viral crypto application. He speaks to his entry into the blockchain space as a natural extension of his interests in technology and governance. Dan describes the genesis of MetaMask and its aim to provide a gateway to P2P technology and provide the tools necessary to make usable apps. Listen in for Dan’s insight on social collateral and learn how social networks could be leveraged to make everyone a VC. Topics Covered Dan’s take on CrytoKitties Personal theory that first viral thing would be trivial New mechanics, too much on line in serious contexts Dan’s introduction to cryptocurrency Always into tech, politics (governance platforms) Shared passion with founder to make tech accessible The genesis of MetaMask Attempt to make app on Ethereum blockchain Set out to solve for identity, key management Provide gateway to peer-to-peer technology The long-term vision of MetaMask Individual holds own keys and decides where to store Stay ahead of what ecosystem needs, tools to make apps Dan’s strength as an improviser Building otamatone instrument Listen, react and collaborate Dan’s insight on the concept of social collateral Multiply spending power of social networks Monetize following by investing in beliefs Dan’s greatest accomplishments at MetaMask Surviving crypto-mania Building talented team Dan’s definition of success Expand opportunities for others Connect with Dan MetaMask https://metamask.io/ MetaMask on Twitter https://twitter.com/metamask_io MetaMask on GitHub https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension Dan on Twitter https://twitter.com/danfinlay Dan on Medium https://medium.com/@danfinlay Resources CryptoKitties https://www.cryptokitties.co/ BitTorrent https://www.bittorrent.com/ Dark Tower Book Series https://www.stephenking.com/darktower/book/ Reddit Showerthoughts https://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Esteban Ordano believes that decentralization is key to mitigating the risk that comes with digital communication, and his work uses VR to return our sense of immediacy, to recreate the personal connections that will lead to what he calls a ͚Renaissance of humanity.͛ So, what does the world look like at this intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency? Esteban is the founder and CTO of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform powered by the Ethereum blockchain where users can purchase land and build on it, limited only by their imaginations. Using a VR headset or web browser, Decentraland users become completely immersed in a 3D, interactive world where they can watch live music, shop with friends or even visit an underwater resort. Prior to Decentraland, Esteban worked as a software engineer at Google and BitPay. Today, Esteban joins us to explain how the economic chaos in Argentina inspired his interest in the cryptocurrency space. He discusses the role decentralization plays in mitigating the risk of sharing information online and the way cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance. Esteban offers insight around Decentralands place at the intersection of virtual reality and cryptocurrency and how the platform enables the management of digital scarcity. Listen in to understand the major challenges of adoption in the VR and crypto space and learn how Decentraland is testing concepts of governance before they are applied in real life! Topics Covered Esteban’s introduction to the blockchain Article in Hacker News (2011) Meetup in Argentina (2013) What sparked Esteban’s interest in Bitcoin Economic disaster in Argentina Opportunity to be game-changer The most important role of decentralization Mitigate risk of sharing information One-on-one connections = Renaissance of humanity Efficient way to transmit info and measure impacts How cryptographic systems facilitate radical governance Peer-to-peer way to make decisions Creates consequences (money where mouth is) The intersection of VR and cryptocurrency Decentraland allows for testing concepts Missing link to creating free society The significance of digital scarcity Virtual currencies enable scarcity, ownership Until now items on database modified by single entity What the world might look like in 10 years if Decentraland succeeds Vitual economies, shopping and bars Send kids to Decentraland University The major challenges of crypto and VR adoption Security, efficiency on through-put (crypto) Hand-tracking and affordability (VR) Esteban’s definition of success ‘Surprised a little every day’ Connect with Esteban Decentraland https://decentraland.org/ Decentraland on Twitter https://twitter.com/decentraland Decentraland on GitHub https://github.com/decentraland Esteban on Twitter https://twitter.com/eordano Esteban on Medium https://medium.com/@eordano Resources Streamium https://streamium.io/ Livepeer https://livepeer.org/ SpankChain https://spankchain.com/ Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/ Peter Rubin on Boost VC https://www.boost.vc/podcast-archive/2018/5/24/season-3-ep-8-unlocking-the-intimacy-between-people-through-vr-with-peter-rubin-of-wired Beat Saber http://www.beatsaber.com/ Echo Arena https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1369078409873402/ Oculus Go https://www.oculus.com/go/ CRISPR https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

So many ICOs, so few products on the market. One of the rare startups that has managed to launch a decentralized product is Golem Network. Golem runs on the same principle as Airbnb, leveraging the sharing economy of decentralized tech to connect many computers in a peer-to-peer network. The same way that Airbnb hosts mobilize their unused resources (i.e.: spare bedrooms) to generate income, Golem users lend out their available computing power, giving software developers the ability to distribute tasks that are too heavy to be computed on a single node. The result is a global, open-source supercomputer powered by the blockchain. Julian Zawistowski is the Founder and CEO of Golem Factory, the company behind the Golem distributed network. An economist by trade, Julian is fascinated by blockchain technology and the economics of decentralized systems. Prior to his work with Golem, Julian served as a consultant and public policy researcher and that experience frames his understanding of the transformative potential of decentralized technology. Today, Julian joins us to explain why Golem was the right kind of project for a token sale. He covers the evolution of Golem, from its inception to the current use case in CGI rendering. Julian offers insight around delivering a decentralized product, and we talk scalability—the biggest problem in the token space. Listen in as Julian shares how Golem might expand to include other use cases and learn about the blockchain’s potential to solve for the crisis of trust. Topics Covered Julian’s introduction to the crypto space Background in economics, consulting Created own software house One of first projects in blockchain space Learned about Ethereum in 2014 The idea behind Golem’s decentralized technology Connect nodes in peer-to-peer network Distribute tasks too heavy for single node The current use case for Golem CGI rendering (animation, 3D scenes) Julian’s approach to fundraising for Golem Initially considered venture funding Shift as token economy emerged Julian’s take the types of projects that work for tokens Natural market within product Strong network effect What Golem looks like today Went live in April 2018 30+ team members Up to 1K users per day Julian’s insight on delivering a decentralized product Launch NOW but consider security issues Tech you depend on defines product The future of Golem Move into realm of machine learning, financial analysis The biggest problems in the token space Scalability is #1 UX considerations How the world will change if decentralized systems succeed Eliminate dependence on institutions for trust Solve for problems in politics, financial sectors Connect with Julian Golem Network https://golem.network/ Golem on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/GolemProject/ Golem Blog https://blog.golemproject.net/ Golem on Twitter https://twitter.com/golemproject Julian on Twitter https://twitter.com/julianzawist?lang=en Julian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-zawistowski-352478 Resources SETI@home https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Only a handful of investment firms were brave enough to enter the crypto space back in the early 2010’s. Those pioneers have witnessed quite an evolution in the blockchain space, and they have gone from being the black sheep of venture capital to enjoying a red-carpet experience with every hedge fund manager on Wall Street. Paul Veradittakit is a Partner with Pantera Capital, a leading investment firm focused exclusively on projects related to blockchain technology, digital currency and crypto assets. Paul helped launch the firm’s second venture fund, and he sits on the boards of OpenToken and BitOasis. Prior to joining Pantera in 2014, Paul worked at Strive Capital, where he focused on investments in the mobile space. Today, Paul sits down with us to share his Bitcoin origin story and discuss the evolution of the market since 2014. He offers his take on how the crypto market is changing, explaining why the best talent is coming into the space right now. Listen in as Paul speaks to the tokens that get him up in the morning and addresses the lack of standardization around how entrepreneurs utilize capital. Topics Covered How Paul got into the Bitcoin space Worked for startup in daily deal space Joined VC in late 2010 (focus on mobile) Considered working for Coinbase Ran across Pantera Capital Paul’s take on the evolution of crypto 20 companies in 2014 (easy to pick winners) Polychain opened eyes to new sector in 2017 Worldwide adoption of tokens for fundraising Paul’s insight on the future of the blockchain Same number of deals, higher quality Shift in focus to building product Best talent coming into space The tokens that get Paul up in the morning Infrastructure, ways to scale blockchain Use cases where decentralization enables new markets Marketplaces where intermediaries take large fees What surprises Paul about the current market Companies able to raise capital ‘without legs’ Need for transparency, education (best practices) Paul’s definition of success Make world better Social impact Connect with Paul Pantera Capital https://www.panteracapital.com/ Pantera on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/panteracapital/ Pantera on Twitter https://twitter.com/PanteraCapital?lang=en Paul on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/veradittakit/ Paul on Twitter https://twitter.com/veradittakit?lang=en Resources App Annie https://www.appannie.com/en/ Adam’s Quora List https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-hottest-Bitcoin-startups-e-g-crypto-currency-startups-such-as-Ripple-also-count Polychain Capital http://polychain.capital/ Augur https://www.augur.net/ Beam Capital Management https://www.beamcap.com/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

The startups that become really big, really fast are capitalist mutations or ‘Thunder Lizards’ that force the world to react to their agenda. Their founders refuse to accept the world as is and write their own rules, rather than conforming to the systems in place. This is how VC Mike Maples identifies the entrepreneurs he wants to support, the Prime Movers he can serve as not just an investor but a coconspirator. Mike is the founding partner at Floodgate, a venture capital fund focused on backing Prime Movers before others believe. Mike has been on the Forbes Midas List since 2010, and his investments include Twitter, Twitch.tv, ngmoco, Weebly, and Lyft, among many others. Prior to his career in VC, Mike founded two successful startups of his own, Tivoli Systems and Motive. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Today, Mike joins us at Boost to share the concept of the ‘Thunder Lizard,’ and explain why he prefers to work with Prime Movers. He discusses how he got involved with venture capital, who he goes to for advice, and his approach to cultivating humility. Mike offers insight around the time value to decision-making and the idea of progress by way of competing alternatives. Listen in to understand cryptocurrency’s potential to make trust free and get Mike’s advice for aspiring VCs. Topics Covered The concept of the ‘Thunder Lizard’ Great startups = capitalist mutation Force world to react to their agenda Why Mike prefers to work with Prime Movers Don’t accept world as is Serve as coconspirator (vs. investor) Mike’s path to venture capital First job as professional calligrapher Involved in two successful startups Visit to Sequoia Capital inspired move to Silicon Valley Who Mike goes to for advice Father (think big, create value) David Marquardt, Kevin Compton, Bruce Dunlevie & Mike Moritz Mike’s approach to decision-making Two kinds: 51/49 and 70/30 See as product with ship date Mike’s advice for aspiring VCs Must find top 10 companies in given year, add value Put self in places with high probability of getting lucky Adopt emergent strategy as opposed to deliberate How Mike cultivates humility Pass on company that succeeds, take founder to lunch Seek opportunities not to ‘breathe own fumes’ Mike’s take on the crypto space Potential to make trust free (vs. expensive intermediary) Decentralized business creates ‘wealth of the commons’ Mike’s insight on the job of technology Bring ‘undecideds’ forward Make case for abundance The current problem with currencies Manipulated for political reasons No ability to exit = no power/voice ‘Forward progress involves choice among competitors’ Connect with Mike Floodgate http://floodgate.com/ Floodgate on Twitter https://twitter.com/floodgatefund Mike on Twitter https://twitter.com/m2jr Mike on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maples Resources Mike on The Tim Ferriss Show https://tim.blog/2017/12/16/the-man-who-taught-me-how-to-invest/ Exit, Voice, and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms, Organizations, and States by Albert O. Hirschman https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Voice-Loyalty-Responses-Organizations/dp/0674276604 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

‘I wanted to play with Barbies, but I also loved smashing up a computer and learning about silicon chips.’ Despite growing up in a tech savvy, entrepreneurial family, Jesse Draper didn’t see herself as a venture capitalist for a long time because ‘that’s not what women do.’ So, how do we level the playing field and get girls to see themselves in roles as startup founders, investors and board members? Jesse is the founding partner of Halogen Ventures, a VC firm focused on early-stage investing in female-founded consumer technology startups. Her portfolio includes Laurel & Wolf, Carbon38, the Skimm, HopSkipDrive and Sugarfina, among many others. Jesse is also the creator and host of 2015 Emmy-nominated series The Valley Girl Show, producing and distributing 500 interviews with some of the greatest minds in technology and entrepreneurship. She has been a contributor to Marie Claire, Mashable and Forbes, and Jesse serves on the board of Werk, SurfAir and nonprofit Bizworld. Today, Jesse joins us at Boost to share her path to becoming a venture capitalist and offer insight around women in VC. She explains the impetus behind The Valley Girl Show, discussing the hustle required to launch and sustain a long-running tech talk show in the broken media industry. Listen in to understand how Jesse eventually came to see herself as a capable VC and learn how to raise girls who aren’t afraid to build jetpacks or take apart computers. Connect with Jesse Halogen Ventures http://halogenvc.com/ Halogen on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/halogenvc/ Halogen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/halogenvc/ Jesse on Twitter https://twitter.com/JesseDraper Resources Steam https://store.steampowered.com/ Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/ Shoe Dog by Phil Knight https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Phil-Knight/dp/1508211809 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Imagine having a private band or orchestra talented enough to extemporaneously compose, orchestrate and perform the soundtrack to your life, adjusting to the environment or your emotions in real time? Better yet, what if YOU had the ability to create audio content that would adapt to any given situation in an immersive space? Ryan Groves is an award-winning music researcher and veteran developer of intelligent music systems. He also serves as the President and CPO of Melodrive, an adaptive music generation mechanism that uses artificial intelligence to create and integrate original music on any digital platform, be it a video game, virtual world or augmented reality system. Today, Ryan sits down with us at Boost VC to offer his insight on the future of music and explain how Melodrive is working to change the way we consume it. He also explains the concept of ‘uncanny valley’ and shares his take on how long we have before AI takes over the world. Listen in to understand how Melodrive allows users to create audio content that adapts to its interactive environment in real time and learn how this technology might redefine the way we experience music. Connect with Ryan Melodrive http://melodrive.com/ Melodrive on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Melodrive-1002985873155277/?view_public_for=1002985873155277 Melodrive on Twitter https://twitter.com/melodrivemusic Ryan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-groves-0540b08/ Resources Roblox https://www.roblox.com/ ToeJam & Earl https://www.giantbomb.com/toejam-and-earl/3030-13306/ The Battle of Polytopia https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-battle-of-polytopia/id1006393168?ls=1&mt=8 Ryan in WhiteSnake LA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JD8SsNEHUI Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

How did the top icons in science, technology, entrepreneurship, entertainment, literature, and business launch their careers? What qualities do people like Maya Angelou, Warren Buffet and Pitbull have in common that helped them overcome immense challenges and rise to the top of their respective fields? The answer lies in gaining access through ‘the third door.’ As a freshman in college, Alex Banayan was searching for a book that would explain how high achievers got past rejection and obstacles to reach the upper echelons of success. When he couldn’t find one, Alex set out on a quest to interview several of his heroes and write the book himself. Though it took a little longer than expected, Alex did succeed in scoring interviews with a number of celebrated icons and publishing The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World’s Most Successful People Launched Their Careers. Along the way, Alex has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and contributed to major publications including Fast Company, The Washington Post, and TechCrunch. Today, Alex joins us on the Boost VC podcast to share his journey to becoming a published author, discussing the highly unconventional way he funded the writing of his book. Alex offers insight around what he learned in the process of interviewing the highly successful, how the idea of ‘the third door’ plays into all their stories, and why his personal priorities have changed as a result of recent experience. Listen in for his epic story of chasing Larry King through Whole Foods and learn how Alex’s definition of success has evolved—with a little help from Steve Wozniak. Connect with Alex The Third Door http://thirddoorbook.com/ Alex on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlexBanayan/ Alex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alexbanayan/ Alex on Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexBanayan Alex on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/alexbanayan Resources The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World’s Most Successful People Launched Their Careers by Alex Banayan https://www.amazon.com/Third-Door-Successful-Launched-TheirCareers-ebook/dp/B076NS2JSW Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Sending a cold email to a reporter who has never heard of you is not the best way to get media coverage for your startup. But how do we figure out which publication is the best fit for the story we have to tell? How do we play the game of relationships that leads to positive press? How do we pinpoint and pitch a story worth telling—one that is bigger than ourselves? Teddy Schleifer is a Senior Reporter for Recode, covering venture capital, finance and influence in Silicon Valley. Prior to joining the tech news team, he spent two years in Washington, DC, writing about money and politics for CNN during the presidential campaign. In short, Teddy covers how people of means shape the world in which we live. Today, Teddy joins us to discuss his transition from DC to Silicon Valley, sharing the similarities and differences between politics and venture capital. He offers insight around how entrepreneurs should approach the media, describing how relationships and referrals drive the stories he tells. Listen in for Teddy’s approach to identifying the macro trends behind the ‘bread and butter’ stories and learn how to go about pitching your story to the right journalist. Connect with Teddy Teddy in Recode https://www.recode.net/authors/theodore-schleifer Teddy on Twitter https://twitter.com/teddyschleifer?lang=en Resources Recode https://www.recode.net/ TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/ VentureBeat https://venturebeat.com/ Teddy’s Story on Lightspeed https://www.recode.net/2018/5/17/17359394/lightspeed-cryptocurrency-investing-fund-aaron-batalion Teddy’s Story on Andreesson Horowitz https://www.recode.net/2018/4/23/17273766/andreessen-horowitz-separate-crypto-fund ‘Silicon Valley’ in Business Insider http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/crypto-insider-we-got-gilfoyles-ico-deck-from-silicon-valley-2018-5-1024588525 Teddy’s Story on SoftBank & DoorDash https://www.recode.net/2018/3/1/17065928/doordash-softbank-gic-funding Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

While the internet has been ground-breaking in terms of connecting people to information, it has done a poor job of connecting us to each other. Stories of fake news and harassment are widespread, and the anonymity of the platform allows individuals to curate a persona very different from who they are in real life. By contrast, virtual reality translates our mannerisms and voices, providing a shared experience in which we sound and act like ourselves. The unique property of VR is in its ability to unlock—accelerate, even—the intimacy between people that we rarely experience in real life anymore. Peter Rubin oversees WIRED’s cultural coverage and serves as editorial lead on its digital platforms. In 2014, his cover story on Oculus introduced readers to the rebirth of virtual reality, and he has since written extensively about the evolution of VR and its applications. Peter has ten-plus years of experience as a journalist, writing for GQ, Details, and Good, among many other publications. His book, Future Presence: How Virtual Reality is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy, and the Limits of Ordinary Life, was published in April of 2018. Peter sits down with us to share his long-time interest in VR that began with watching films like The Lawnmower Man and reading Snow Crash as a teen. He discusses the theme of his book, Future Presence, describing VR’s unique ability to facilitate connection among people. We cover the differences between the internet and virtual reality, why people feel more accountable in the VR space, and how regulation might work in virtual communities. Listen in for Peter’s insight on the future of XR and learn how virtual experiences can change our lives in the world outside the headset. Connect with Peter Peter in WIRED https://www.wired.com/author/peter-rubin/ Peter on Twitter https://twitter.com/provenself Future Presence: How Virtual Reality is Changing Human Connection, Intimacy, and the Limits of Ordinary Life by Peter Rubin https://www.amazon.com/Future-Presence-Changing-Connection-Intimacy/dp/0062566695 Resources Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Crash-Neal-Stephenson/dp/1491515058 ‘The Inside Story of Oculus Rift and How Virtual Reality Became Reality’ in WIRED https://www.wired.com/2014/05/oculus-rift-4/ Rainbows End: A Novel with One Foot in the Future by Vernor Vinge https://www.amazon.com/Rainbows-End-Novel-Foot-Future/dp/0812536363 Where Thoughts Go https://wherethoughtsgo.me/ Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff https://www.amazon.com/Lovecraft-Country-Novel-Matt-Ruff/dp/0062292072 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Philip Rosedale believes that virtual reality is a world-saving undertaking, but its current single-player use cases separate us from each other rather than bringing us together. And he is on a mission to develop the VR technology that will create shared spaces where people connect in real-time, to ‘get people in a room together.’ Philip is the Co-Founder and CEO of High Fidelity, a San Francisco-based software company designing social virtual reality technology with the goal of deploying an open source, flexible platform for a variety of VR applications. Philip is best known for creating a 3D virtual civilization called Second Life as part of Linden Lab. Second Life fulfilled his lifelong dream of an open-ended, Internet-connected virtual world where users create, connect and interact with others from around the world. Philip joins us to discuss opportunities in the VR ecosystem and share his vision for shared spaces. He discusses the intersection of cryptocurrency and virtual reality, explaining how High Fidelity is using the blockchain to hold currency, store asset certificates and secure digital identity. Listen in for Philip’s insight around the value of synchronous communication in VR to ‘get people in a room together’ and learn how the blockchain would allow people to meet in a virtual world—without surrendering their data to a centralized repository. Connect with Philip High Fidelity https://highfidelity.com/ High Fidelity on Twitter https://twitter.com/highfidelityinc Philip on Twitter https://twitter.com/philiprosedale?lang=en Philip on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiprosedale/ Resources Ready Player One by Ernest Cline https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline/dp/0307887448 Ready Player One Film http://readyplayeronemovie.com/ Magic Leap https://www.magicleap.com/ EOS https://eos.io/ DFINITY https://dfinity.org/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Crypto is no longer a dirty word in DC, and we have the Chamber of Digital Commerce to thank for that shift in sentiment. Established in 2014, this nonprofit represents companies in the blockchain space, fighting on Capitol Hill for a better regulatory framework that will allow innovation to thrive in this country. Perianne Boring is the Founder and President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, the world’s largest trade association for the blockchain industry. The Chamber’s mission is to promote the acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies, working with policymakers, government agencies and industry players to educate and advocate for a pro-growth policy environment. Perianne joins us to discuss the Chamber’s work in shifting the rhetoric around digital currency in Washington, explaining how sentiment has changed in DC over the last four years. She walks us through the conflicting views of cryptocurrency established by FinCEN versus the IRS and the challenge in complying with tax law as it is currently written. Listen in for insight on how the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s current policy proposal would treat digital currency as an alternative to the US dollar and how that would impact the way crypto is taxed. Connect with Perianne Chamber of Digital Commerce https://digitalchamber.org/ Chamber of Digital Commerce on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/chamberdigital/ Chamber of Digital Commerce on Twitter https://twitter.com/chamberdigital Chamber of Digital Commerce on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChwEyC2QsQCztk2qGzm1b6Q Chamber of Digital Commerce on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/chamber-of-digital-commerce/ Perianne on Twitter https://twitter.com/PerianneDC Perianne on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/perianne-boring-43363991/ Resources The Treasury Inspector General’s 2016 Report https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/auditreports/2016reports/201630083fr.pdf Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

As the blockchain ecosystem shifted from a Bitcoin-centric world to one that welcomed multiple coins, the demand for a hardware wallet that allows users to secure and manage crypto assets grew exponentially. Ledger became the go-to solution, and the startup scaled to sell 1M units in the last year. Thomas France is the co-founder of Ledger, the leading security and infrastructure solution for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. He is also the co-founder of La Maison du Bitcoin (The Bitcoin Center), the first physical space dedicated to Bitcoin in Europe. Prior to his work in the crypto space, Thomas served as co-founder and COO of Prixing, a mobile shopping app sold to HighCo in 2013. He holds a Master of Science from Ecole National des Ponts et Chaussées. Thomas sits down with us to explain why he was drawn to solving for Bitcoin security via crypto hardware wallets and how his startup grew out of The Bitcoin Center in Paris. He shares the basics of Ledger, discussing how its tools secure crypto assets in an offline environment. Thomas speaks to his initial interest in Bitcoin’s resistance to censorship and offers an overview of the crypto environment in France, the US and hubs around the world. Listen in as Thomas describes how Ledger exceeded expectations in 2017 as part of the toolkit in the cryptocurrency gold rush. Connect with Thomas Ledger https://www.ledgerwallet.com/ Ledger on Twitter https://twitter.com/ledgerhq The Bitcoin Center https://lamaisondubitcoin.fr/ Thomas on Twitter https://twitter.com/totofrance Thomas on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfrance/ Resources American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton https://www.amazon.com/American-Kingpin-Criminal-Mastermind-Behind/dp/1591848148 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

The beauty of open-source software lies in its efficiency. If two companies, building different solutions, work together on the parts of the projects that overlap, they accomplish more in less time. The Hyperledger Project is an open-source collaboration working to build a set of blockchain technologies that can be used in a variety of industries and embedded in the emerging internet technology stack. Brian Behlendorf is the Executive Director of the Hyperledger Project for The Linux Foundation. Brian has dedicated his career to connecting and empowering the free and open-source software community to solve difficult problems. Early in his career, Brian was a primary developer of the Apache Web server and a founding member of the Apache Software Foundation. He was also the founding CTO of CollabNet and CTO of the World Economic Forum. Today, Brian serves on the board of the Mozilla Foundation as well as the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Prior to joining Hyperledger, Brian was a managing director at Mithril Capital Management, a global technology investment firm. Brian joins us to explain the relationship between the Linux Foundation and Hyperledger, describing the venture’s subscription-based business model and several of the projects being built with its open-source blockchain technology. He walks us through the benefits of Hyperledger over public blockchains, discussing the business community’s preference for anonymity and the right to fork if data is misused. Listen in for Brian’s insight around measuring the progress of community-building and learn how open-source software helps us go further, faster. Connect with Brian Hyperledger https://www.hyperledger.org/ Hyperledger on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7_X0WkMtkWzaVUKF-PRBNQ Hyperledger on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hyperledger Hyperledger on Twitter https://twitter.com/hyperledger Brian on Twitter https://twitter.com/brianbehlendorf Brian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbehlendorf/ Brian’s Website http://brian.behlendorf.com/ Resources Netcraft https://www.netcraft.com/ ‘Fighting the Seed Monopoly’ in The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/seed-monopoly-free-seeds-farm-monsanto-dupont The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami https://www.amazon.com/Wind-Up-Bird-Chronicle-Novel/dp/0679775439 Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter https://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

VR is not just for gaming anymore. Other industries are starting to take advantage of immersive technologies for applications like product design and experiential marketing. Ford is using the technology to create virtual prototypes of new vehicles and Lionsgate is experimenting with VR experiences to promote movies. When Unity Technologies realized their platform was already being used by the auto and film industries—among many others—they brought in Tony Parisi to help the company expand its reach far beyond gaming. Tony is a virtual reality pioneer, serial entrepreneur, author and angel investor. He currently serves as Head of VR and AR at Unity Technologies, where he is responsible for designing the company’s strategy for extended reality. Prior to joining Unity, Tony mentored VR and AR startups and worked as a consultant developing solutions for WebGL, virtual and augmented reality. He co-created the VRML and X3D ISO standards for networked 3D graphics and did the specification editing for the new 3D file format standard, glTF. Tony joins us to discuss Unity’s storied background in extended reality and how the company is expanding beyond gaming to support product design, medical and data visualization and non-gaming entertainment applications. He shares his interest in AR and VR that touches the consumer, the factors that have made immersive marketing scalable, and how Unity is working with brands to explore possibilities in the space. Listen in as Tony speaks to Unity’s potential collaborations with developers as well as the company’s current work on a lightweight playback system and scriptable render pipeline. Connect with Tony Unity Technologies https://unity3d.com/ Unity on Twitter https://twitter.com/unity3d Tony on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tparisi/ Tony on Twitter https://twitter.com/auradeluxe Tony on Medium https://medium.com/@tonyparisi Resources ‘VR Ads Are Almost Here’ in Wired https://www.wired.com/story/vr-ads-are-almost-here/ Interactive Ad Bureau https://www.iab.com/ W3C https://www.w3.org/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

What gets Kira Noodleman excited about her job as an investor with VC firm Bee Partners? The opportunity to paint a picture of what the future looks like—and then back it up with money and resources for startups in the early stages. Kira is a fan of tackling problems in disruptive industries and across cultures. With a background in product and program management, Kira has an appreciation of the skillful risk-taking that fuels successful entrepreneurship. She was a part of Google’s Project Ara as well as LAUNCH, the University of California’s leading startup accelerator. Kira did an internship with Bee Partners while earning her MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and she joined the team as an investor in August of 2017. With a special focus on space, cryptocurrency, and climate change innovation, Bee Partners’ portfolio includes companies like Tradesy, TubeMogul and StatMuse. Kira sits down with us today to share her passion for building things that matter. She discusses the Big Hairy Audacious Goals that VC should support, from efficiency in the food value chain to clean meat. Kira walks us through the work Bee Partners is doing in the blockchain space, and we debate the impact of crypto mining on the environment. Listen in for Kira’s insight on what VCs look for in an entrepreneur and learn how to build a ‘board of mentors’ in venture capital. Connect with Kira Bee Partners http://beepartners.vc/ Kira on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-noodleman-48ab1210/ Kira on Twitter https://twitter.com/kiranoodleman Resources Memphis Meats http://www.memphismeats.com/ Arvind of IndieBio on Boost VC https://www.boost.vc/podcast-archive?tag=Biology Ocean Protocol https://oceanprotocol.com/ Chia Network https://chia.net/ Forbes Cover Story ‘Venture Catalysts’ https://www.forbes.com/midas/#35cda95c5650 All Raise https://www.allraise.org/ FoundHer http://www.foundherfest.com/ Charles Keeling and NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD3-_5_Y1RA Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC Watch this episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MeeOxSoUt0

‘Who has the power of the internet? Does the power lie in the hands of a few centralized companies? Or does it lie in the hands of users and communities?’ We all know the answer here. Though the web initially gave authority to its users, the pendulum has swung the other way. Now there are four companies with all the data and all the power, and many would argue that they are using it in questionable ways. Chris Dixon believes that there is still a chance we can shift the power dynamics back to users and communities, and the answer lies in cryptocurrency. Chris is a general partner with VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. He has made several seed- and venture-stage investments for a16z, including BuzzFeed, Coinbase, Dispatch.ai, Oculus and Skydio. Chris is also an active angel investor, having made personal investments in tech companies like Foursquare, Kickstarter and Pinterest, among others. He has a background in programming and entrepreneurship, serving as the co-founder and CEO of SiteAdvisor, an internet security startup acquired by McAfee in 2006, as well as Hunch, a recommendation technology company acquired by eBay in 2011. Chris has an MBA from Harvard University. Chris joins us today to discuss the megatrends in technology of the last 15 and next 15 years, explaining how the current controversy around cryptocurrency stems from a dramatic misunderstanding of the space. He shares his insight on how blockchain technology has evolved and the ongoing work involving data ownership. Listen in for Chris’ profound take on our transition from the physical to the digital world and learn why cryptocurrency is a political movement intent on shifting the power of the internet back to users and communities. Connect with Chris Andreessen Horowitz https://a16z.com/ Chris on Medium https://medium.com/@cdixon Chris on Twitter https://twitter.com/cdixon?lang=en Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

There are plenty of people who work full-time, yet still don’t make enough to get by. What if there was an app that would allow individuals to earn income in the form of cryptocurrency from anywhere, at any time, with any device? Simon Yu had to drop out of college when his parents declared bankruptcy. He got a full-time job as a bank teller but was still struggling to make ends meet. In fact, Simon was sleeping through lunch so he wouldn’t have to eat another peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He eventually started a Korean taco business as a side hustle, and with the help of Facebook, Bomba Fusion went viral. Simon was able to finish school and get a job as a Senior Credit Risk Analyst, where he started thinking about the potential of Bitcoin. Now Simon serves as the CEO of StormX, a microtask marketplace that allows people all over the world to earn STORM tokens for things like playing videos, trying new products, and P2P freelancing gigs. He sits down with us today to tell his story, explaining his path from Food Truck to crypto startup. Simon walks us through the intense process of a crowd sale, discussing the long hours he spent in preparation and offering his advice for entrepreneurs considering an ICO. Listen in for Simon’s insight around the shift in his business now that cryptocurrency has become mainstream and how Storm Play helps individuals enter the space without risking their own money to buy tokens through an exchange. Connect with Simon StormX https://stormtoken.com/ Storm Token on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stormtoken Storm Token on Twitter https://twitter.com/Storm_Token Storm Token on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/stormtoken/ Simon on LinkedIn https://twitter.com/simonyusea?lang=en Simon on Twitter https://twitter.com/simonyusea?lang=en Resources Bomba Fusion http://www.bombafusion.com/ Storm Play https://bitmaker.cakecodes.com/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

“From my point of view, yes, we need to be multiplanetary, and one of the big motivators … is really the desire to spend the rest of my career to make whatever big or small contribution—but a contribution—towards advancing Earth-escape technology as a category.” Max Haot is the founder and CEO of Launcher, a team on a ten-year journey to advance launch technology and deliver small satellites to orbit. Max came to the US in 2005 when the company he was working for in the UK was sold to Verizon. He served as the VP of Digital Media for Verizon Business for two years before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship and founding Livestream, the platform that democratized livestream video capability. Vimeo acquired Livestream last September, giving Max the opportunity to pursue his passion for space. Max is joining us today to share the inspiration behind Launcher, discussing how SpaceX shifted the perception that only governments could achieve orbital flight. He walks us through the timeline of space technology to date and explains how the miniaturization of satellites, growing connectivity and decrease in the cost of launch is further opening space to entrepreneurs. We talk about the feasibility of Earth-escape technology, and Max shares his take on humanity’s need to become multiplanetary if we want to survive long-term. Listen in for insight into the opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in the satellite space and how community-building impacts the longevity of a startup. Connect with Max Launcher https://launcherspace.com/ Launcher on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/launcherspace/ Launcher on Twitter https://twitter.com/launcherspace Max on Twitter https://twitter.com/maxhaot Max on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxhaot/ Resources Livestream https://livestream.com/ SpaceX http://www.spacex.com/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

The beauty of smart hardware lies in its agility. With a recurrent feedback loop and regular software updates, products can be improved over time. Ubiquity Ventures is focused on funding startups that pursue this continuous refinement, investing in a feature trajectory rather than physical product. Sunil Nagaraj is the managing partner of Ubiquity, a seed-stage venture capital firm interested in smart hardware and machine intelligence. Prior to starting his own fund in 2017, Sunil spent six years as VP with Bessemer Venture Partners, where his focus involved IoT, developer tools, space and security companies. Sunil sits down with us today to share his background as an entrepreneur turned venture capitalist. He explains the idea behind his startup, Triangulate, discussing the challenges he faced in A/B testing and why he ultimately decided to shut the company down. We discuss the benefits of smart hardware and its ability to ‘increase the velocity of the scientific method.’ Listen in for Sunil’s insight on understanding the world through the lens of a coder and his meaningful definition of success. Connect with Sunil Sunil’s Website http://www.sunilnagaraj.com/ Sunil on Twitter https://twitter.com/sunilnagaraj Sunil on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nagarajs/ Ubiquity on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ubiquityvc/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Bitcoin mining is tough to explain to Muggles outside the ecosystem, but Chris Shepherd is up for the task. Chris was a part of Tribe 4 here at Boost, and he also happens to be the face of the illustrious Boost VC Mural. Who better to take us through the basics of mining? Chris is the co-founder and CEO of HashRabbit, a startup that builds software for large-scale mining facilities. Chris was introduced to mining as a designer and frontend developer for LaunchKey. From there, he made his own mining rigs and set up shop in his apartment as well as his parents’ garage. When his co-founder pointed out that the code was easy to hack, HashRabbit was born. Today Chris joins us to share his journey into the world of cryptocurrency. He walks us through the basics of Bitcoin mining, explaining how the computers involved process transactions—without bias. Chris offers his insight around the biggest opportunity in mining today, and we look at the longevity of the blockchain. Connect with Chris HashRabbit: https://hashrabbit.co/# HashRabbit: on Twitter https://twitter.com/hashrabbitco Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cshphrd Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shphrd/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website: https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoostVC

VR is about immersion. Rather than simply witnessing an experience, we become a part of it. Imagine the advantage for brands and publishers if their content could leverage that same kind of engagement, creating ads that include us in an immersive media experience. OmniVirt is a VR and AR advertising platform for brands and publishers with the capacity to distribute 360° video content that audiences can view with one tap—no app installation or headset required. The company seeks to help creators monetize their videos on the web, and they serve high-profile clients like The New York Times, Universal Pictures and VICE, among many others. COO Michael Rucker spent seven years at YouTube before co-founding OmniVirt, and Ara Parikh served as an emerging media analyst at Innosight before becoming the head of product marketing. Ara and Michael join us today to explain how OmniVirt helps brands and publishers distribute and monetize immersive media experiences. We discuss the OmniVirt’s competitive advantage, exploring the reasons why publishers are increasingly investing in their own sites. Ara and Michael share their first VR experiences and explore the significance of creating compelling VR content. Listen in to understand the top use cases for VR in advertising and learn the value in making ads an experience.

How can the crypto community embrace design thinking? By thinking in terms of prototypes. Rather than waiting until a product is perfect, develop a test version and let it out into the wild. Allowing the community to engage is the best way to learn what works and what doesn’t—and work up to your vision. Dan Elitzer is the Blockchain and Digital Identity Lead at IDEO CoLab, IDEO’s research and design network tasked with shaping how emerging technologies will affect our world. Dan has spent his career immersed in entrepreneurship, serving as a consultant to organizations like Community Wealth Partners and KickStart International before becoming the Finance & Operations Officer for the Grameen Foundation. While earning his MBA, Dan co-founded the MIT Bitcoin Club and MIT Bitcoin Project, an initiative to establish MIT as a center of digital currency innovation. Today Dan joins us to share how IDEO came to explore emerging technology in the blockchain space. We discuss his introduction to cryptocurrency as well as IDEO CoLab’s current projects. Listen in for Dan’s advice around the application of design thinking to blockchain technology and his definition of success in his role at IDEO.

Up until 18 months ago, there was ‘one drone to rule them all.’ But that stopped working as the consumer began to demand specialization. Different industries have different needs, and the drone market has begun to drill down and solve the problems specific to fields like construction and agriculture. Some problems remain unsolved, and that’s where Mothership Aeronautics comes in. Jonathan Nutzati is an aerospace engineer, entrepreneur and future-thinker with a passion for solving mankind’s greatest problems. He earned his master’s from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2012 and went on to design electric motors for Tesla. In 2016, he founded Mothership, a startup that develops high endurance aircraft with applications in energy pipeline inspection, mineral exploration and security. Today Jonathan joins us to explain what sets Mothership apart from other drone technologies. We discuss the lessons Jonathan has learned as an entrepreneur and the challenges around communicating with investors when your market size is somewhat intangible. Listen in for Jonathan’s insight around the evolution of the drone market and the value of future-thinking.

What if you could talk directly to a VR experience, accessing the menu or a particular tool simply by asking for it? Michael Ludden argues that voice interaction makes sense for every virtual reality application as a method of control, and in his role as Director of Product with IBM Watson, he is committed to building a toolkit for developers that allows them to incorporate services like Speech to Text and Watson Conversation into their own products. Michael began working with the developer community as a tech evangelist for HTC before getting into developer marketing in his roles with Samsung and Google. He shifted to building products for developers when he moved to IBM Watson in 2015, and his team there functions to solve problems for developers with initiatives in Developer Incentivization, Developer Marketplaces and VR/AR Labs. Today Michael joins us to share IBM Watson’s utility as an AI platform, explaining how its VR Speech Sandbox provides a toolkit for developers to build products that incorporate Watson’s services. We discuss the best methods to incentivize developers, and Michael offers insight around converting developers into advocates. Listen in to understand how IBM Watson plays into the rise of digital assistants like Alexa and Siri, and learn how you might use its services to build your own custom VR and AR experiences.

Relentless. When we met Sebastian Serrano in 2013, he was the quintessential tenacious founder, attending any and every industry event and becoming a part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem—before it was called the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Sebastian’s interest in the space began in 2012. Inflation in Argentina was on the rise, and the government was making it more and more difficult to move money. Bitcoin appeared to be the answer, and Sebastian set out to help build the infrastructure necessary to give people access to the network. He created a payment processor called Bitpagos and had success in bringing Bitcoin to Argentina. The problem was that people were not buying that Bitcoin, so Sebastian built an exchange called Ripio. As he got more interested in the consumer side of cryptocurrency, he developed a passion for banking the unbanked, providing a full suite of financial services to users in established and emerging markets. Ripio evolved to become Ripio Credit Network, a peer-to-peer global credit network protocol. Today Sebastian joins us to share his journey down the crypto rabbit hole, explaining how his background in programming and computer science led to an interest in the space. We discuss the evolution of the ecosystem from 2012 to 2018, and Sebastian offers insight on the legitimization of Bitcoin via government regulation. Listen in and learn Sebastian’s take on current needs in the cryptocurrency space and how RCN built a community through its token sale.

"The first generation of headsets has proved that VR is going to be a thing, but it’s not going to be a thing on that generation of headsets." 2017 was a reality check for the VR industry. The market size continues to be limited by barriers like setup time and the fact that it’s a pain in the ass to take anywhere. So what is the key to mass adoption? Peter Le Bek argues that standalone will be the game changer the space needs to get people in headsets. Peter is the co-founder and CEO of Sketchbox, the number one prototyping tool for augmented and virtual reality. The application allows designers to share their ideas through a VR storyboard—without writing code. Peter fell in love with design working as the CTO for a startup in Toronto. That also happens to be where he met Joe Connolly, his co-founder at Sketchbox. Peter has been programming since he was 12, and he holds a degree in computer science from the University of Glasgow. Today Peter joins us to share his initial skepticism toward VR, explaining how live motion controllers made him a believer. He offers his best advice for VR designers and shares some of his favorite experiences. We discuss the value in finding a co-founder with a complementary personality and what sets Sketchbox apart from competing design tools. Listen in and learn why Peter believes that standalone headsets will eliminate the barriers to entry and usher in a new era inVR.

What is Taylor Monahans greatest challenge in managing a distributed team? They are TOO efficient! Technology has given rise to more and more distributed teams who work remotely from all over the world, especially in the cryptocurrency space. As the founder of a crypto technology startup, Taylor considers her ability to jump on a call and stir the pot—forcing the team to get to know each other and develop a strong culture—as one of her greatest strengths. Taylor created MyEtherWallet in 2015. The company is an open-source, client-side interface for generating Ethereum wallets. MyEtherWallets global collaboration of talented developers thrive on building intuitive products that easily and securely interact with the Ethereum blockchain. Prior to founding MyEtherWallet, Taylor worked as a front-end developer for Mangrove Web and digital producer for Americhip. She is also a proud NYU film school dropout. Today Taylor shares how she fell into the crypto rabbit hole and the experience that inspired MyEtherWallet. We discuss ICOs, the potential for bad decisions in the emerging crypto tech space, and the value of struggle—for individuals and companies. Listen in for Taylors insight around managing a remote team and keeping your team happy when money doesn't matter! Connect with Taylor: MyEtherWallet https://www.myetherwallet.com/ MyEtherWallet on Medium https://medium.com/@myetherwallet MyEtherWallet on Twitter https://twitter.com/myetherwallet MyEtherWallet on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/MyEtherWallet/ Resources Mentioned: CoinMarketCap https://coinmarketcap.com/ Connect with Boost VC: Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

{Rebroadcast} Season 1, Ep. 19: Kathleen Breitman, Co-Founder of Tezos The people have spoken and they want more crypto! The rise of the prices in the industry have led us to interview someone who has an upcoming ICO, Kathleen Breitman with Tezos. We challenge other currencies and discuss governance structures. https://www.tezos.com/ https://twitter.com/tez0s

{Rebroadcast of our very first episode with Greg Castle from July 22, 2016} Part of what makes a good venture capitalist is a knack for predicting the future, and a big part of that future includes what we call frontier technologies like VR, AR, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Truly visionary VCs will have a front row seat as these new industries emerge. Bay Area VC Greg Castle is the managing partner of Anorak Ventures. An early-stage investor in frontier technologies, Greg was a seed investor in Oculus, and that experience afforded him a deep knowledge and a strong network in the VR space. Today Greg shares his favorite virtual reality experiences, his take on how VR might shape the entertainment industry moving forward, and why he sees relationships as the ultimate wealth. Listen in as we discuss his approach to early-stage investing and the relative virtue of Pokémon Go! Connect with Greg Anorak Ventures https://www.anorak.vc/ Greg on Twitter https://twitter.com/gpcastle12 Resources Mentioned Oculus https://www.oculus.com Toybox https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1083042371786607/ Hover Junkers http://www.hoverjunkers.com/ Rec Room https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1257029974329451/ Space Pirate Trainer https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1195983747083203/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

The data analytics benchmarks and standards for web and mobile applications simply cannot be applied to virtual reality; the linear tracking of clicks doesn’t give VR developers a clear understanding of how users are interacting with their product. Rather, a 3D data set that analyzes several metrics together affords developers with a clear picture of what features and functions users love and what they’re missing. Lucas Toohey is the CEO of ObserVR, an analytics platform for virtual reality that tracks user actions throughout their experience to identify patterns over time, giving developers data-driven insights around user engagement with their VR products. Lucas founded the company with fellow California Polytechnic students Jacob Copus and Justin Cellona, and together they are intent on helping to define the standards and benchmarks for VR as the technology gains traction. Today Lucas shares the story of ObserVR, explaining how the startup was conceived and the team dynamic among the three co-founders. He offers his insight around the value of analytics in VR development, the data benchmarks for gaming, and the most engaging VR content on the market. Listen in for an overview of the market for high-end headsets and Lucas’ take on the value of AR companion apps. Connect with Lucas ObserVR https://www.observr.tech/ ObserVR on Medium https://medium.com/@ObserVRtech ObserVR on Twitter https://twitter.com/ObserVRtech Lucas on Twitter https://twitter.com/lucas_toohey Resources Mentioned Arthur http://arthur.digital/ Vive https://www.vive.com/us/ Oculus Rift https://www.oculus.com/ Windows Headsets https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/collections/vrandmixedrealityheadsets Space Pirate Trainer http://www.spacepiratetrainer.com/ Sketchbox http://store.steampowered.com/app/568640/Sketchbox/ Moment Labs http://mntlabs.com/ Adam’s Blog on Medium https://medium.com/boost-vc Casino VR Poker http://www.casino-vr.com/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

“[The crypto space has] got its own special culture. The folks that populate our industry are free-thinkers and renegades, and they have interesting ideas about changing the financial system as we know it.” Bart Stephens has always been on the cutting edge of new technologies. He began his career with E*TRADE, pioneering online stock trading in the early 1990’s. Bart went on to become an entrepreneur, founding Oncology.com, the internet’s largest cancer-related website, before selling it to Pfizer in 2001. Then he joined forces with his brother to form Stephens Investment Management, a hedge fund and VC firm that broke new ground in the area of Nanocap investing. Bart’s background as both an operating entrepreneur and venture capitalist led to the creation of Blockchain Capital in 2013. He serves as managing partner of the VC firm which focuses on the blockchain technology sector and cryptocurrency ecosystem. Today Bart shares his experience as a venture capitalist in the blockchain era, discussing the dual role of the VC and the incredible pace of the crypto industry. We talk about Blockchain Capital’s successful ICO, exploring the concept of a VC token and the value of raising capital via blockchain technology. Bart offers his insight around explaining Bitcoin to those new to the space and gives his best advice for traditional VCs considering crypto. Listen in to understand Blockchain Capital’s agnostic approach to investment and the advancements in counterparty risk that Bart is following in 2018. Connect with Bart Blockchain Capital http://blockchain.capital/ Email Blockchain Capital [email protected] Blockchain Capital on Twitter https://twitter.com/blockchaincap Bart on Twitter https://twitter.com/pbartstephens Resources Mentioned Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/?locale=en-US Ripple https://ripple.com/ 0x Protocol https://0xproject.com/ Radar Relay https://radarrelay.com/ Will Warren on Boost VC Podcast https://theboostvcpodcast.simplecast.fm/bce18564 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

‘There’s definitely some teams that are using [ICOs] and are able to fund their ideas better and more easily than the traditional VC way of doing things, but there’s just too many bad actors that just want a get rich quick scheme.’ Charlie Lee created Litecoin in 2011 while he was working as software engineer for Google. Litecoin is ‘the silver to Bitcoin’s gold,’ functioning as a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that complements Bitcoin. In the long-term, Charlie sees Litecoin becoming a payment currency used at both physical and online stores, and he is currently working to promote widespread merchant adoption. Charlie also spent four years with Coinbase, serving as the Director of Engineering for the digital currency platform. Today Charlie explains why he is not a fan of the ICO, discussing why it’s ripe for bad actors. We cover the future of cryptocurrency and the major debates in the ecosystem, including hard forks and Bitcoin Gold. Charlie shares his inspiration for dedicating his career to cryptocurrency as well as his ambitions for Litecoin. Listen in for Charlie’s insight around sidechains, stable coins, and the value of CryptoKitties. Connect with Charlie Litecoin https://litecoin.org/ Litecoin on Twitter https://twitter.com/litecoin Charlie on Twitter https://twitter.com/SatoshiLite Resources Mentioned Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/?locale=en-US Aragon https://aragon.one/ Monero https://getmonero.org/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Most people don’t realize just how transparent the blockchain is, but every transaction that happens on Bitcoin is public. None of us wants to have our net worth on display, leaving us vulnerable to fishing attacks and allowing others to see what we spend our money on. So how do we approach privacy in the cryptocurrency space? Where should we be storing our Bitcoin to keep it safe? And how can we be selectively transparent, choosing what information we want to reveal—and to whom? Linda Xie was working as a portfolio risk manager for AIG when Coinbase onboarded Overstock in January of 2014. Inspired by the move, Linda sent a cold email to Coinbase offering to work for the company in any capacity. By June, she was employed as a regulatory compliance investigator for the digital currency platform, working with law enforcement to conduct blockchain investigations and track down cybercriminals. Eventually Linda was promoted to Product Manager, and she continued at Coinbase until September of this year when became an entrepreneur in the cryptocurrency space. Linda currently serves as the co-founder and managing director of Scalar Capital, a cryptocurrency hedge fund. An expert in the areas of privacy and security, she is passionate about crypto as an ‘unseizable asset’ that governments cannot control. Today Linda shares her take on where we should be storing our Bitcoin and what is stopping cryptocurrency from mass adoption. We discuss the introduction of Coinbase Custody, exploring why the fees are so high and the potential for competition in the space. Linda offers her definition of crypto privacy, explaining the concept of ‘selective transparency.’ Listen in to understand what projects and tokens she is excited about and the impact of crypto as an asset that governments cannot seize or control. Connect with Linda Linda’s Blog https://medium.com/@linda.xie Linda on Twitter https://twitter.com/ljxie?lang=en Scalar Capital http://scalar.capital/ Scalar Capital on Twitter https://twitter.com/ScalarCapital Resources Mentioned Coinbase https://www.coinbase.com/?locale=en-US Coinbase Custody https://custody.coinbase.com/ Monero https://getmonero.org/ Zcash https://z.cash/ Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

‘What’s crazy for me is that for the first time in history we can actually try out new governance mechanisms without people dying in the streets.’ The beauty of blockchain technology is in its ability to facilitate ‘bloodless wars’ in which opposing sides compete without bloodshed and ultimately build a borderless world that is fair and free. Luis Cuende’s interest in the blockchain began in 2011 when he was only 16 years old. After reading the Bitcoin white paper, Luis connected with others drawn to the idealistic implications of cryptocurrency and started working on blockchain pioneer Stampery, a service providing secure and decentralized proof of existence and ownership. In October of 2016, Luis co-founded Aragon, a governance platform for decentralized organizations. The project allows users to manage organizations via the blockchain with the intent of creating a fair, efficient world. It’s no surprise that Luis is on the Forbes 30 Under 30 as well as MIT Technology Review’s Spanish Innovators Under 35. Today Luis gets into the details of a decentralized organization, explaining its basic framework and how the governance mechanism works. We look at Aragon’s IPO and discuss what other token sales can learn about transparency from the company’s success. Luis offers his advice to future founders around cultivating community and his take on how a VR startup might use a decentralized organization to create a virtual world valued in tokens. We cover the valuation of crypto projects and the significance of sound technology over a curated marketing campaign. Listen in as Luis offers his profound insight on the growing popularity of cryptocurrency in Spain, fueled in part by the push for Catalonian independence. Connect with Luis Aragon https://aragon.one/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/AragonProject Resources Mentioned Bitcoin White Paper https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf Aragon’s Transparency Model http://transparency.aragon.one/#/ Chris Burniske on Twitter https://twitter.com/cburniske?lang=en Luis’ Utopian Blog Post https://blog.luisivan.net/not-earth-not-mars-no-planet-will-be-our-home-7f310de93c53 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

“Venture capital, to me, is a way that we can raise money to help entrepreneurs who can go out there and do something for the world that just opens it up. I am always pushing for freedom, and I think it’s great to see venture capital be able to support entrepreneurs—wherever they are—to go out there and do something extraordinary for freedom.” -- Tim Draper Tim Draper is the founding partner of Draper Associates as well as Draper Fischer Jurvetson (DFJ). His gift for assessing the fastest way to get a service to its users was instrumental in the success of viral communication networks like Hotmail and Skype. He has been an early investor in several wildly successful startups including Baidu, Tesla and Cruise Automation. Tim is recognized as a leading supporter of global entrepreneurship, and he was named #7 on the Forbes Midas List, #1 Most Networked Venture Capitalists by Always On, and World Entrepreneurship Forum’s 2015 ‘Entrepreneur for the World.’ In 2011, he created Draper University, a residential and online school that seeks to help talented young people meet their entrepreneurial goals. Today Tim offers his definition of entrepreneurship and his journey from aspiring entrepreneur to venture capitalist. He shares his take on the ideal relationship between VC and founder and the sectors he is looking to invest in right now. We explore the world of cryptocurrency, discussing its potential to transform governance, how innovative VCs are trying new things with Bitcoin, and what the industry can learn from the P2P music and media revolution. Listen in to understand why Tim equates freedom with wealth and how to leverage the ripple effect of optimism. Connect with Tim Draper Associates http://www.draper.vc/ Draper Associates on Twitter https://twitter.com/drapervc Draper University http://www.draperuniversity.com/ Tim Draper on Medium https://medium.com/@TimDraper Meet the Drapers https://republic.co/meet-the-drapers Resources Mentioned The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs by William H. Draper III https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Game-Partnership-Capitalists-Entrepreneurs/dp/0230339948 Bionomics: Economy as Ecosystem by Michael Rothschild https://www.amazon.com/Bionomics-Economy-Ecosystem-Michael-Rothschild/dp/0805019790 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

What happens when you marry a background in genetic engineering with extensive experience in design? A unique skill set that supports life scientists in becoming entrepreneurs, helping PhDs turn benchtop science into applied products with the potential to change lives. Arvind Gupta is the co-founder of IndieBio, the world’s largest seed biotech accelerator. He has over a decade of experience helping startups and Fortune 50 companies launch new tech products, and his thought-leadership has been published in Time, Design Observer, and Rotman Management Magazine, among others. Arvind has received a number of international awards for design and innovation, and he is a frequent speaker at events like SFMOMA and TEDx New Silk Road. Today Arvind shares his take on how the future of humanity rests in biology, explaining how advances in technology have facilitated better, faster results in scientific research. We discuss how the IndieBio approach takes capital expenditure out of the system and coverts it into operating expenses for biotech startups. We cover the current trends in biotechnology, where to go for information about the industry, and the types of companies Arvind is looking for right now. Listen and learn what the term CRISPR really means and how this powerful technology will eventually allow us to “design ourselves.” Connect with Arvind IndieBio http://indiebio.co/ Twitter https://twitter.com/arvndgpta Resources Mentioned SynBioBeta https://synbiobeta.com/ LifeSciVC https://lifescivc.com/ MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/ Scientific American https://www.scientificamerican.com/ New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/ The History of Money by Jack Weatherford https://www.amazon.com/History-Money-Jack-Weatherford/dp/0609801724 Connect with Boost VC Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/ Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/ Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC

Disruptive ideas are the ones that go viral, and the two hottest ideas in VC right now are cryptocurrency and VR. Today we’re taking a step back to articulate the major themes in both ecosystems, discussing Bitcoin’s exponential growth, the current FOMO among investors when it comes to cryptocurrency, and the debate around tokens as securities. We’re also exploring what the best first use case of virtual reality might be, looking at B2B applications like collaboration and business training as well as fitness applications such as FITXR. Listen in to understand the debate around the correct distribution vehicle for VR and what the industry is doing to address its major problems. Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamDraper Resources: Coinbase: https://www.coinbase.com/

“I’m obsessive by nature … and when I meet someone that’s 100X of that in their own thing, but they’re also good at what they do, I feel very lucky.” Venture capitalist Semil Shah is looking for entrepreneurs with a combination of talent and drive, who out-class others in what they do and prioritize their obsession with building an enterprise. Semil is an investor and writer based in Silicon Valley who created a small fund called Haystack. He has been an early investor in 70-plus companies such as Instacart, DoorDash, Hired, and OpenDoor. Semil is also Venture Partner with GGV Capital, and he was named to the 2017 Midas Brink List by Forbes. He fell into venture capital through his work as a writer and consultant to several firms on Sand Hill Road, including General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins and GGV Capital. Today we discuss the attributes of Semil’s writing that led VCs to utilize his work as a resource and current themes in the world of venture capital and entrepreneurship. Semil shares his early investing experience, what gets him pumped about financing a project, and how he applies the Saturday 2pm Test to potential investments. Listen in to understand Semil’s take on the role of seed capital versus series A money and his advice for up-and-coming VCs. Resources: Semil's Blog: http://blog.semilshah.com/ SoftBank Vision Fund: https://softbank-ia.com/node/8 Fred Wilson's Blog: http://avc.com/ Sequoia Scouts: https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/scouts/ Andy Johns on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibringtraffic

In the US, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease every 66 seconds. Of the estimated 5.5 million Americans suffering from the disease in 2017, approximately 5.3 million are over the age of 65, while 200,000 have developed early-onset Alzheimer’s. In fact, this insidious disease in the sixth leading cause of death in the US. Without intervention, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is projected to grow to 16 million by the year 2050. But today’s guest is not about to let things progress without intervention. Jacob Hamman graduated from USC with a degree in architecture, where he honed his aptitude for design thinking and creative problem-solving. After seven years with the prestigious Los Angeles firm, Gehry Partners, Jacob pursued a master’s in design studies and technology with a focus on virtual reality from Harvard. Jacob’s mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s three years ago. Caught off guard by the diagnosis, he set out to find a way to use VR to reverse the disease. Jacob founded the health technology company Zenjoi a year and a half ago with an intention to create peace of mind and improve quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients through dementia-based assistive technologies and a therapeutic VR experience. As part of Boost VC Tribe 10, Jacob is working to bring the virtual reality that is helping his mom to the world, with the goal of eradicating Alzheimer’s in the next decade. We discuss how his design background lends itself to his work around virtual reality and what he came to understand about Alzheimer’s as he developed Zenjoi. Listen in to and learn what Jacob considers the key metric of success and why VR is the ideal medium for people experiencing cognitive decline. Jacob’s background in design and technology • Grew up in Phoenix with interest in design • Degree in architecture from USC • Seven years at Gehry Partners in LA • Foundation in creative problem-solving • Master’s in design studies and technology from Harvard Why VR serves as the best medium for Alzheimer’s patients • Touch screens foreign to aging population • VR puts inside experience, allows to act intuitively • Uses hand tracking, user can interact with elements http://www.zenjoi.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobhamman/

What if you could hit up Foot Locker for a pair of shoes that would allow you to dunk a basketball? Or stop by Walgreens to pick up a robot that would give your grandparents the mobility to continue living at home rather than moving to an assisted living facility? A startup called ROAM is working to create exoskeletons that would afford everyday people the ability to overcome their physical limitations, solving problems around mobility and capability. It may not be the Ironman suit you’ve been dreaming of, but the robotic exoskeletons in development at ROAM would put this groundbreaking human augmentation technology in the hands of everyday people. ROAM Founder and CEO, Tim Swift, earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, where he developed the technical foundations for many of the commercial exoskeletons in use today. An early employee at Ekso Bionics, Tim spent six years building robots with medical applications like stroke rehabilitation and paraplegic mobility, writing the software that allowed people to walk again. Problem was, these exoskeletons are 50-pound, $100K machines that only impact a select few people. He grew weary of watching people use the exoskeleton, and then get back into their wheelchairs and ‘roll out the door like it had never happened.’ Tim set out to rethink the way robots are built, making them out of fabrics and plastics so that they are smaller, lighter, cheaper—and ultimately accessible to the general population. He founded ROAM with the intention of developing a new type of exoskeleton that can go with people into the world, allowing them to run farther and faster, rehabilitate from injury, or simply maintain the mobility to sit, stand and climb stairs. Today, Tim is on a mission to make people move more, and ensure that the body is not a barrier. On this episode, we address Tim’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur, the reasons why he left Ekso to create his own startup, and his vision of success ten years into the future. We cover the small community that inhabits the human augmentation space and how ROAM is helping people run 10% farther and faster. Listen in to understand how ROAM’s potential customers have become an integral part of the development process, and what the company is doing to put robots in the hands of real people. http://www.roamrobotics.com/ https://www.boost.vc/ https://twitter.com/BoostVC