Bitcoin is the future of money, that is my firm belief. In this show, I speak with the amazing people who are building and contributing to this revolutionary new industry. The 'rapid-fire' episodes give you some concise info and insights, the 'further discussion' episodes let you listen in on a more casual and open dialogue with each guest.
Hey hey hey, stack sats everyday:)
In this episode I sit down with Žiga Drev, Co-Founder of origintrail.io, the "First purpose-built protocol for supply chains based on Blockchain.”
We discuss the ongoing (at the time) ICO, how their protocol will be used, and the work he and his team have done in the preceding months to prepare for this stage in their development, including graduating from Batch 2 of the bitsxbites.com accelerator program in Shanghai, and being awarded the ‘Walmart Food Safety Innovation Spark Award’ in Beijing
We also delve into how OriginTrail has transitioned from a conventional to now a blockchain-focused company, and Žiga explains how his company is using Blockchain to bring more transparency, accountability and trust to the food supply chain.
Finally, we discuss what it’s like to be a young entrepreneur in a booming industry, that seems set to radically change how we live, interact and conduct business.
Would love to hear any feedback you may have in the comments below. Thanks!
*NOTE* - I refer to 'OriginTrail' as 'OpenTrail' throughout this interview. This was a massive brainfart on my part, which Žiga seemed too polite to correct me on, and which persisted despite his using the correct term throughout. My apologies to Žiga and the OriginTrail team, as well as to the listeners for any confusion. I'll be sure to correct this in future interviews!
--
For more from OriginTrail:
Website: http://www.origintrail.io
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/origin_trail
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrevZiga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/origintrail/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/OriginTrail/
Medium: https://medium.com/origintrail
Telegram: https://t.me/origintrail
For more from Tech in Shanghai:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/techinshanghai
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/john_vallis
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/techinshanghai
YouTube: https://youtu.be/FTRVpMYdziA
It’s been a wild year in Bitcoin, and we’re not done yet!
This year has seen several all time highs, the ICO boom, the culmination of the Bitcoin scaling debate, the initiation of hardforks, regulatory changes in China, and lots of development in the ecosystem.
As Bitcoin’s market cap continues to climb, it is attracting evermore attention, market entrants, supporters, detractors and regulatory scrutiny.
October has been a (relatively) quiet month for Bitcoin, subsequent to the shut down of exchanges in China, and prior to the culmination of the SegWit2X drama in mid-late November.
So, I thought it would be a great time to re-connect with my pal Bobby Lee, for our third interview in 3 years, in what we’ve come to refer to as the ‘Bitcoin State of the Union’ chat.
Bobby, as usual, was incredibly generous with his time, which allowed us to go for almost 2 hours, as we attempted to touch on the main events from the year, and speculate on what lies ahead in the near future.
If you’re brand new to Bitcoin, I highly suggest you listen to my two other discussions with Bobby first, as in this one we skip past the ‘basics’ and get right into the relevant events of the past 9 months or so.
Enjoy!
For more from BTCC:
WEBSITE: www.btcc.com
MOBILE WALLET: www.mobi.me
MINT: store.btcc.com
For more from Tech in Shanghai:
WEBSITE: www.techinshanghai.com
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/techinshanghai
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
WECHAT: The HungryFoolish
Rina is the co-founder of Seedlink, a company based in Shanghai that uses AI and machine-learning to assist companies in more effectively managing their HR decisions.
By analyzing the speech patters of candidates, and comparing that to a data set of top performs in different positions throught the company they are working with, Seedlink is able to drastically increase the likelihood that companies will make hires that are better equiped to do the job well, and who are also likely to be a great match with the company culture.
Seedlink's technology and approach is also helping to even the playing field for job seekers, helping to remove commone biases based on age, gender, race, education and work experience, and increasing the chances that they will fill a position that they are good at, but also enjoy!
Needless to say, in a world where even the largest companies are facing massive disruption, having a tool to help make better and faster hiring (and firing) decisions can be a huge asset.
In addition to her company, Rita and I dive in to all the other challenges and unique experiences that result from being a foreign entrepreneur in the Tech industry in China.
Enjoy!
To learn more, visit www.seedlinktech.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
WeChat: TheHungryFoolish
In this episode of the show I speak with Wolf Illing, Co-Founder of local O2O startup, Saucepan.
Saucepan is a food delivery company that focuses on providing ready-to-eat, great-tasting, and healthy meals, using the highest quality ingredients.
Launched in 2014, Saucepan has slowly but surely begun to refine it’s product and service, to one that is beginning to resonate with an ever-growing contingent of satisfied and loyal customers.
The launch of Saucepan also roughly coincides with a Fairly dramatic shift in the mind of local Chinese consumers, toward more healthy diets and lifestyles, and Wolf shares with me his thoughts on this Phenomenon and how Saucepan is (or will be) trying to accommodate this growing market.
As more and more companies emerge to try and capitalize on consumer demand for ‘convenient health food’, it’s refreshing to see a company that is so committed to ensuring each of their customers has a great experience with their service, and a positive interaction with their brand.
In addition to that, we also talk about the importance of working at a ’SUSTAINABLE’ intensity when involved in a startup, how to compete against more aggressive and better-funded local competitors, how to adapt your service based on customer feedback, why he and his co-founder decided to launch Saucepan in China, and the challenges they have encountered, and lot’s more! Enjoy!
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
In this episode of the Tech in Shanghai podcast, I speak with the co-founder and CEO of ChinaScope, Tom Liu.
ChinaScope “applies big data technologies and methodologies to financial applications”. Translation? They use machines to sift through an endless amount of data, so investors can use only the most relevant decision-making insights.
As Tom proudly describes, it’s a major step towards levelling the playing field between the ‘old boys’ of the financial world, and the average retail investor. In his view, the financial sector is in need of a serious shakeup, and one that NOW appears to be inevitable, despite the industry's traditional resistance to change.
Tom hopes that the future of finance is not only more fair and transparent, but that the technologies that will be introduced will serve to limit the excesses in ‘wealth transfer’ that the financial system has created and coveted for so long, and begin a transition that will see the financial system supporting in an ever-more effective and flexible manner, value creation.
It’s an ambitious goal, but Tom seems ready for the challenge. I’m equally frustrated by the inertia of the financial system, but am hopeful that a fairly dramatic disruption may be on its way, and Tom and I have a fun time exploring what such a new paradigm might look like.
We also get in to Bitcoin, struggles of doing a FinTech startup in China, how Tom would currently invest 100k in the Chinese stock market, the impact AI may soon have, and lots more. It’s a bit of a long-one, but if Big Data, Machine Learning, AI, FinTech and Bitcoin are up your alley, I highly recommend you check out this episode. Enjoy!
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
In this episode of the Tech in Shanghai podcast I speak with Erik Walenza-Slabe, Director of Startup Grind Shanghai and founder of IoT One, a platform devoted to promoting the adoption of industrial internet solutions.
I wanted to have Erik on the show, not only for the interesting work he is doing, and the unique experiences he has compiled during his time in China, but also because as Director of Startup Grind, he is very-much plugged in to the startup community in Shanghai.
Unsurprisingly, Erik tells me that the interest in joining the events he organizes and hosts has grown tremendously over the past couple of years, and I probe him for some insight into what kind of people are attending, and what they are hoping to gain by doing so.
We also delve in to his latest project, IoT One, and have some fun speculating on what the future holds for an increasingly connected world.
Erik came to China at a young age, and worked hard to establish himself in an industry that he is passionate and enthusiastic about. As the story of China’s tech boom continues to develop, there will undoubtedly be many young people from all over the world coming to China to get involved, and Erik had some great advice on how to do just that. Enjoy!
Learn more at www.startupgrind.com/shanghai/ and www.iotone.com
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
In this episode of the Tech in Shanghai podcast, I speak with one of Shanghai’s most switched-on and inspiring young entrepreneurs, and CEO of Dyad, Mr. Greg Nance.
Dyad is an online, mentorship-based, university admissions preparatory service, and Greg is it’s founder and fearless leader. If you want to dramatically increase your chances of getting into the University and/or program of you choice, be sure to check out Dyad.
As for Greg, he’s not really that impressive at all…of course, I’m kidding. Greg is a rare bird, in the best way possible. Sharp as a tack, brimming with confidence, passion, and enthusiasm, Greg is one of those people who after speaking with him, you feel an energy, a charge and an optimism to go out and make stuff happen!
As intelligent as Greg is, he also has another common attribute with many of the great entrepreneurs..grit. Call it determination, stubbornness, un-wavering belief, or straight up masochism, Greg is a fighter, who anticipates hardship, and conditions himself for it in advance.
We delve into this concept of ‘building resilience’ in our chat. We also discuss his approach to decision-making, on daily tasks, but also on how, in a world of opportunity, to choose where to place your focus, or more simply, what to fully ‘commit’ to.
Dyad has also gone through a round of Venture funding, and Greg had some exceptional, must-hear advice on pitching, handling rejection, and in reference to the whole fundraising process, ‘starting before you start’.
Oh yeah, Greg also runs ultra-marathons, sometimes in the desert..why? Well apart from being a huge believer in the primary importance of physical health and fitness (Side note: The Dyad team does whole-office workouts together), Greg believes pushing oneself physically is integral in building that mental toughness that pays so many dividends as an entrepreneur.
Of course we go into lots of practical tips, the morning routine Greg follows to set up his day, the importance in keeping in touch with friends and family (some advice that I desperately needed to hear) and much more.
Finally, in the high-stress, emotional roller-coaster life that is entrepreneurship, Greg offers a simple piece of advice, which is. “Do something every day that has no other purpose but to make you smile”. This was one of my favourites, enjoy!
Learn more at www.Dyad.com
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai.com
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
In this episode I speak with Zennon Kapron, founder of Kapron Asia and author of the book 'Chomping at the Bitcoin'.
Kapron Asia is a well-known financial consulting and market research firm in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Zennon became familiar with Bitcoin through his work as a financial consultant in Shanghai, and watched closely in 2013 when Bitcoin-mania was sweeping through China. Chomping at the Bitcoin gives the first EXCLUSIVE analysis of China’s role in the ongoing Bitcoin saga.
In addition to geeking out on Bitcoin, Zennon and I talk about other innovation happening in the financial industry in China and around the world. We discussed the increasingly influential role of the large tech companies, primarily Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent and their role in reshaping the banking, investing and payments landscape (and in fact how such innovation may actually slow Bitcoin's adoption).
Zennon also shared with me his observation that it was Blockchain, not Bitcoin, that has been getting all the attention from the mainstream financial community these days. Apparently it’s what’s on the lips of senior people at many of the major financial institutions, and Zennon explains why.
Other than that, we get into Shanghai’s volatile stock market, the shadow banking industry, foreign tech companies trying to compete in China and much more. Enjoy!
To learn more visit www.kapronasia.com
Zennon's Book: Chomping at the Bitcoin
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
In this episode of the Tech in Shanghai podcast, I speak with Vvivi Hu, Chief Strategy Officer for ebay Greater China.
Vvivi is also an Angel Investor through the AngelVest group, a former entrepreneur, a Harvard grad, and a published author.
I invited Vvivi on the show so she could share with us her perspective on the role of quote ‘grandfather’ technology companies in the current ecosystem, and soon realized I would be getting much more! Vvivi had some fascinating insights on the differences between Chinese and Western tech entrepreneurs, some very practical advice for pitching Angel Investors, and tops it all off with a few words of wisdom from her new book on how to build HABITS for a healthy, productive and balanced life.
I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Vvivi, and hopefully you will too! Enjoy!
Learn more at ebay.cn
TWITTER: twitter.com/techinshanghai
WECHAT: TheHungryFoolish
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v9ftNF2AFDAOze0uhNrzw
