Free Cities Podcast 118 - Tim Stern: Building a Free City in Venezuela
Margarita Island, Special Economic Zones, Venezuela, Urban Development, Community Building, Economic Freedom, Digital Nomads, Entrepreneurship, Governance, Cryptocity.
Timothy Allen speaks with Tim Stern.
Tim Stern, a tech entrepreneur and visionary, shares his journey of establishing a unique community in Venezuela's Margarita Island, dubbed "Cryptocity." With a background in IT and a passion for liberty, Tim transitioned from traditional business to creating a haven for like-minded individuals seeking freedom from oppressive governance.
Tim discusses the challenges and triumphs of constructing a community from the ground up, including the importance of selecting the right residents through a rigorous vetting process.
We talk about the strategic advantages of Margarita Island, the vision for future developments, and how Tim's project aims to create a safe and prosperous space for families and entrepreneurs alike.
The conversation also touches on the current economic landscape in Venezuela and the potential for growth as international interest in the region increases.
Enjoy the conversation.
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TIMESTAMPS:
(00:30) Introduction
(05:04) Start of conversation
(06:06) Who are you?
(07:03) What stage of the project are you at?
(13:01) How did the idea for this place come about?
(17:05) Leaving Germany for Venezuela during the pandemic
(28:20) Selling plots and landscaping
(29:30) What prior experience do you have in city building?
(35:40) What is the ideology behind the community?
(37:33) What is the vetting process for potential residents?
(41:52) The City's DAO
(46:40) What are the infrastructure plans?
(48:40) How is it all funded?
(54:00) An example of the resident application process
(57:47) What impact are you having on the Island?
(1:05:10) What is the Venezuelan residency process?
(1:06:42) Discussing the name 'Cryptocity'
(1:08:50) What are your opinions of Javier Milei & Nayib Bukele?
NOSTR:
Timothy Allen: Search 'timothy@nostr.com'
Free Cities Foundation: npub1lsj8pmgedqqamt89c27tzjjnlf0wn7q7udjm7j2cl9xxz97eacns2mwpee
TWITTER X:
Tim Stern: https://x.com/TimStern14