Crypto Altruism Podcast Episode 120 - Chatting open source standards, digital media, and being a Founder in Web3 with Adam Helfgott
In episode 120, we’re excited to welcome Adam Helfgott, Founder & Advisor of several tech and Web3 companies including Valence, AliceNet, AdLedger, and Madhive. We discuss being a Founder in Web3, advice for emerging entrepreneurs, on-chain identity, blockchain and data privacy, digital media in Web3, and much more.
Three Key Takeaways
When onboarding Web2 companies to Web3, it’s important to lead with the benefits (such as the security, efficiency, and transparency) of the technology, and not the technology itself (blockchain).
Web3 is built around the ethos of transparency, decentralization, and open-source. The advent of blockchain provides an opportunity to return to the open-source vision of the internet, and to collectively implement open-source standards.
If you’re interested in building with blockchain, it’s important not to do so just for the sake of using blockchain. The projects that will ultimately fail are those that are trying to get in on the hype of Web3, but don’t have a legitimate use case for the technology.
Follow Adam and Valence
Episode Time Stamps
01:15 - What was your “Ah hah” moment that got you excited about cryptocurrency and web3 in the beginning?
04:05 - With 20+ years experience as an entrepreneur, you’ve been involved with many different tech companies as a founder and advisor, including AliceNet, eCamp, Madhive, and Valence. I want to zero in on Valence, which aims to help businesses leverage blockchain technology. Tell me more about this.
07:25 - I understand that a core product offered by Valence is an on-chain identity – which gives individuals true ownership and control of their personal data. Tell me more about this.
12:05 - One of the biggest challenges in Web3, is interoperability. How does Valence aim to address this with its tech solutions.
14:25 - In addition to your work with Valence, you are also the founder of non-profit consortium Ledger Alliance, home of AdLedger, with a mission to create open technical standards that leverage blockchain and crypto in digital media, and to further transparency and accountability in the space. Why is this work important, and how does this fit in with the broader Web3 ethos of open source?
18:05 - How will Web3 revolutionize digital media? What are some of the most compelling use cases of Web3 you’ve seen in digital media?
22:40 – I understand that you are also the Founder of AliceNet. Do you mind giving a high-level overview of AliceNet for listeners?
24:55 - You have 20+ years of experience building tech companies in both Web2 and Web3. What makes Web3 different, and why is this where you’ve chosen to build?
27:30 - Throughout your entrepreneurial journey, you’ve secured some big wins, including a $300M investment by Goldman Sachs in your company Madhive. Reflecting back on your experience, what is the single biggest piece of advice you have for emerging entrepreneurs, especially in the Web3 space?
30:30 - What’s the best way for listeners to learn more about and get in touch?
31:10 - To wrap things up, if you could name one thing that excites you most about the social impact potential of web3, what would it be and why?
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DISCLAIMER
While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
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