Social Good, Crypto, Bridging the Digital Divide: Deep Dive into the UNICEF CryptoFund, at the intersection of Ethics, Finance, Technology. I am really excited about this episode with Sanna Bedi and Arun Maharajan from the UNICEF Venture Capital Fund and UNICEF CryptoFund that goes deep into how they tackle complex issues at the intersection of finance, ethics, and technology. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Sep 30, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem ⁠https://upcomingvc.substack.com/300923 - The UNICEF Venture Fund was launched in 2016 specifically designed to finance early stage, open source technology that can benefit children. In October 2019, UNICEF launched the CryptoFund, a new financial vehicle allowing UNICEF to receive, hold, and disburse cryptocurrency - a first for the UN. The CryptoFund is a pooled fund of bitcoin and ether and the investments made through the CryptoFund are denominated in crypto. In the context of the UN Venture Fund, cryptocurrency is an additional way for UNICEF to make investments into early-stage startups in emerging and developing economies. The CryptoFund is a prototype fund for UNICEF to explore the use of digital currencies, and what it means to operate in a digitally financed future. Sanna and Arun discuss reconciling financial returns with the ethical imperative of prioritizing children's well-being and address equitable distribution of technological benefits. The conversation explores promoting open-source solutions, inclusivity for women in tech, and striking a balance between short-term gains and long-term sustainability. Sanna and Arun provide an overview of the UN CryptoFund's alignment with UN goals and its project selection criteria and cover what they understand by successful projects and their impact, geographic focus, cryptocurrency funding, transparency, and the concept of digital public goods. The episode concludes with a glimpse into the future plans of these funds, offering a comprehensive overview of how unique this UN initiative is. In summary: Balancing financial returns with the ethical imperative for children's well-being. Equitable distribution of technological benefits and addressing the digital divide. Promotion of open-source solutions and implications for intellectual property. Fostering inclusivity and empowerment for women in the tech industry. Balancing short-term financial gains with long-term sustainability. Geographic focus, cryptocurrency funding, transparency, and future plans of the UN CryptoFund and Venture Capital Fund. Let's get into the episode right now. - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠).

The Balance between Data and Creativity. With Moderator: Olivier Desmoulin (Co-Founder at Sush.app / Ex-Co-Founder, Cappuccino.fm) Panel: Alexander Schmitt (Partner, Lightspeed / Ex- Cherry Ventures), Edouard Fiess (Co-Founder, Navily), Kevin Bourgeois (Co-Founder & President, Supermood) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (13th out of 13 talks in total) that was held during our second ⁠⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠⁠. Head to ⁠⁠summit.runwayseries.co⁠⁠ to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With ⁠⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠⁠, the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco, and in partnership with Olive Capital (⁠olivecapital.vc⁠).

I am really excited about this episode, which is a deep dive into DeFi (decentralized finance) and decentralized lending, web3 leadership and communities, and the transformative potential for communities of Kairos Loan. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until Aug 15, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/150823 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome Joseph Bosselut⁠, Co-Founder & CEO at Kairos Loan. Kairos Loan is a new type of lending protocol allowing you to borrow instantly using an NFT as collateral and with the best rates on the market, according to Joseph. As the use of NFTs increases in various industries, NFT lending platforms are becoming increasingly important. This is due to the fact that NFTs are illiquid by nature, making it challenging for holders to access the value of their holdings. However, NFT loans offer a solution to this problem by allowing holders to use their assets as collateral to borrow funds. These platforms allow NFT holders to use their tokens as collateral for loans. This creates a new financial market for NFTs, as lenders can earn interest on their funds while borrowers can unlock the value of their NFTs without having to sell them. As the NFT market continues to grow, NFT loans have the potential to bring a new level of liquidity to the space and unlock even more use cases for these unique digital assets. As part of the recent €1M fundraise, Jo announced that “Kairos aims to democratize and revolutionize the finance surrounding NFTs. Their flagship tool, Kairos Loan, is a collateralized lending protocol that enables instant value mobilization without the need to sell your NFTs, offering the most favorable terms in the market.” According to Kairos, the startup wants to “prioritize improving the user experience for borrowers while maximizing capital efficiency for lenders. With just a few clicks, users can leverage any type of NFT to get a crypto loan, completely eliminating liquidation risk and ensuring the best terms available”. Kairos protocol initially supports the most popular NFT collections on the Ethereum network such as Bored Ape Yacht Club, Doodle or Azuki. In this podcast, we talk about: The principles of decentralization and empowering users to take control of their financial futures through Kairos Loan. Balancing innovation and progress with the potential risks and downsides of new financial technologies. The role of NFTs in the future of gaming and how Kairos Loan is shaping that future. The evolution of Kairos Loan in the next 5-10 years and its impact on the world of finance. The broader landscape of DeFi and blockchain-based finance, including opportunities and challenges for the industry. Defining and communicating a compelling shared mission for community-first companies, building thriving communities, and measuring success beyond traditional financial metrics. Let's get into the episode right now. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com)

I am really excited about this episode, a deep dive into the mission and vision at DFNS, exploring their custodial solutions, ZK-based cryptography, web3 interoperability, and the evolving landscape of DeFi. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (⁠https://venturenotes.co⁠). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until July 15, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/150723 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome Clarisse Hagège, Co-Founder & CEO at DNFS. - - - DFNS is a cybersecurity company providing wallet infrastructure for web3. From banks to gaming studios, developer teams rely on their decentralized custody network to build seamless applications and deliver smooth experiences for crypto. DFNS develops a custodial wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) protocol for developers to build on top of “highly secure” cloud environments, by leveraging MPC, ZK- based cryptography, and modern networking technology. DFNS is today able to decentralise custody in a unique fashion. This episode is a deep dive into DFNS’s own definition of security and freedom when protecting crypto assets and how the companies executes to strike the right balance between the two. In this podcast, we're: exploring DFNS's revolutionary custodial solutions and the technology behind their wallet-as-a-service protocol. understanding the benefits of ZK-based cryptography in decentralized custody solutions like DFNS's protocol. unraveling how DFNS ensures privacy and security using ZK-based cryptography for user transactions and data. discussing the challenges and advancements in ZK-based cryptography and their impact on decentralized custody and the broader crypto ecosystem. delving into the design decisions and trade-offs made by DFNS to balance security, usability, and scalability in their wallet infrastructure. examining the role of interoperability in web3 projects and the evolving landscape of DeFi in the web3 context, including opportunities and challenges that arise as DeFi continues to mature. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠https://olivecapital.vc⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://www.raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠https://rapha.elgrie.co⁠⁠)

Diversity and Inclusion. With Moderator: Catherine Treyz (Head of Communications & Platform, Cherry Ventures) Panel: Alice Default (Co-Founder & CEO, Double), Edouard Gouin (Co-Founder & CEO, Convelio), Olivier Mougenot (Partner, Citizen Capital) and Camille Kriebitzsch (Co-Founder & Partner, Eutopia) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (12th out of 13 talks in total) that was held during our second ⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠. Head to ⁠summit.runwayseries.co⁠ to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With ⁠«Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success»⁠, the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco, and in partnership with Olive Capital (olivecapital.vc).

I am really excited about this episode which is a deep dive into the topic of Zero Knowledge, through the lens of one of its main actor, the Mina Protocol and its ecosystem, supported by the Mina Foundation. This episode is an excerpt of the full-length episode you can discover in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes (https://venturenotes.co). If you want to become a premium member and enjoy the full experience, grab until April 25, 2023 a special offer : 50% off, €45/year instead of €90/year, link to redeem https://upcomingvc.substack.com/100423 In this conversation, I have the chance to welcome, Kurt Hemecker, who is the Chief Operating Officer at the MINA Foundation. Kurt Hemecker brings over two decades of global business experience, including roles at the Facebook-backed Diem stablecoin project, and PayPal, to his new role as Chief Operating Officer at Mina Foundation. With their holistic zero knowledge product suite including zkApps, zkBridges, and zkOracles, Mina is positioned to become the powerhouse for privacy and security in Web3. Mina has continuously shown signs of massive potential with one of the most efficient ZK proving technologies out there, world-class teams, and unparalleled success at building a global community. Mina is the world’s lightest blockchain, powered by participants. Rather than apply brute computing force, Mina uses advanced cryptography and recursive zk-SNARKs to design an entire blockchain that is about 22kb, the size of a couple of tweets. It is the first layer-1 to enable efficient implementation and easy programmability of zero knowledge smart contracts (zkApps). With its unique privacy features and ability to connect to any website, Mina is building a private gateway between the real world and crypto—and the secure, democratic future. In this episode we talk about: - what brought Kurt to crypto - the privacy in the digital age and the ethics of technology - decentralization, trust and power distribution - how MINA is different from other ZK players - we also go into the technical details of how to build on the MINA Protocol - use cases spanning DeFi, Gaming, AI, logistics and supply chain but also healthcare - the strategies to build and incentivize the MINA community Plus so much more. Let’s get into the episode right now. - - - MINA Foundation, MINA Protocol: https://minaprotocol.com/about zkIgnite: https://minaprotocol.com/zkignite-cohort1-signup 0(1) Labs: https://o1labs.org MINA Protocol on twitter: https://twitter.com/MinaProtocol MINA Foundation on twitter: https://twitter.com/MinaFoundation Kurt Hemecker on twitter: https://twitter.com/khem Diem Project: https://www.diem.com/en-us/ Novi, digital wallet, shutting down: https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/2/23192501/meta-shutting-down-digital-wallet-novi-diem-cryptocurrency - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (⁠https://olivecapital.vc⁠ / ⁠https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co⁠ / ⁠https://www.raphael-grieco.com⁠ / ⁠https://rapha.elgrie.co⁠)

In this episode, we meet a “legacy” Middle-Eastern private bank that has a large wealth management entity in Switzerland that launched in 2019 digital asset services for its Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients a.k.a UHNW, including custody, trading, staking, cryptoart collecting and very soon DeFi. What is really unique is that Arab Bank Switzerland in 2019 was NOT expected at all to raise its profile up to the crypto game. But as expected by such an accountable wealth manager, its services are being developed really carefully with best-of-breed partners such as Taurus (for custody) or The NFT Factory (for crypto-art collecting)(disclaimer: I am one of the 128 Co-Founders of the NFT Factory) and other prime partners. In this episode I have the chance to host Rani Jabban, Member of the Executive Committee, in charge of Capital Markets, Digital Asset Services, Financial Institutions and Marketing at Arab Bank, whom I’ve known since 2019 when they launched their crypto-asset services. In this conversation, we dive intro Arab Bank’s mission when it comes to crypto assets, how to bank addresses risks and regulations in the space, and finally how the bank and its clients support digital and crypto artists. We talk about DeFi, education, digital and crypto art collecting plus so much more. Become a premium member to get the full episode (50% off for 12 months, €45/y vs €90/y normally). - - - Rani Jabban: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/rani-jabban-2594b25 NFT Factory Paris: https://nftfactoryparis.com Arab Bank Switzerland: https://www.arabbank.ch Art by Arab Bank: https://artbyarabbank.ch Prix d'art NFT par Arab Bank: https://artbyarabbank.ch/prix-dart-nft/candidature-artiste Non Fungible Conference: https://www.nonfungibleconference.com Taurus: https://www.taurushq.com - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco (https://olivecapital.vc / https://mint.rapha.elgrie.co / https://www.raphael-grieco.com / https://rapha.elgrie.co)

The current context in the tech and startup landscape is a market correction, valuations being challenged, and most startups executing a RIF (reduction in force, meaning downsizing teams) and focusing on their runway. However, top talents remain scarce and expensive. Being part of engaged, supportive communities of peers is paramount. VCs need to strike the right balance between their portcos’ versatile needs, VCs’ own resources, and how that aligns with their branding. This is where Platform comes in. In the view of experienced Heads of Platform in prominent VC firms in the US, Europe, and Israel, a person assuming the role of Head of Platform at a VC fund should have a mix of skills set of entrepreneurship, execution, and business development. They need to see a holistic picture, connect the dots in places others would not notice, be a connector and a salesman. The Head of Platform needs to be agile, connected, and purposeful. They should have a mission-oriented, open mindset, and a zest for variety. They should be outgoing, communicative, and able to cope with different types of stakeholders they work with. To strike an alignment at scale between portcos needs, available resources at the VC, and the VC brand, the Head of Platform should start by identifying their unfair advantage that can drive the most value. For a newly appointed DOP/HOP, the first 90/100 days could include identifying the platform's core strengths and weaknesses, understanding the portfolio companies' needs, and building relationships with key stakeholders. A few weeks ago, I had the chance to talk to 4 Heads of Platform to get their prime insights. Catherine Treyz, Head of Comms & Platform, Cherry Ventures (Germany) Ashley Cravens, Head of Operations & Platform, Uncork Capital (SF, US) Simon Lohmann, Head of VC Platform & IR, Cavalry (Germany) Lior Goldenberg, Head of Platform, Collider (Israel) Read this fatastic discussion in our premium newsletter called Venture Notes. Good news, head to bit.ly/venturenotes to get 50% OFF forever on your annual plan (€45 per year instead of €90). - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (⁠www.upcoming.vc⁠), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Fintech and embedded finance. With Moderator: Valentine Baudouin-Barbelivien (ex-Partner, Founders Future) Panel: Sia Houchangnia (Partner, Seedcamp), Augustin Sayer (ex-Partner, Newfund, now Founding Partner, Ovni.vc), Bartosz Jakubowski (Partner, Alven) and Pascal Levy-Garboua (Venture Partner, Long Journey Ventures) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (11 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.

Startup in hyper growth: a new psychology? With Moderator: Bruno Raillard (Founding Partner, Frst) Panel: Kevin Bourgeois (Co-Founder & President, Supermood), Jean de La Rochebrochard (Managing Partner, Kima Ventures), Jonathan Userovici, (Partner, Headline) - - - This episode is an excerpt of the full talk (10 in 13 talks in total) that was held during our second «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success». Head to summit.runwayseries.co to get the full episode and detailed shownotes. Enjoy the show! - - - Over 3 days on June 1-3, 2021, during break lunches (11.30 - 1.45) and at the end of the day (5.30 - 7) and in 4 time zones, we received 39 guests (28 VC & 11 CEOs) including 31 who had already come on the Runway Series podcast. With «Runway Series Summit: The Fundamentals of Success», the idea is to take a step back from the usual discussions on execution, in order to understand what are the fundamentals of success, with 13 panels covering the DNA of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of co-founding teams, branding, focus, change, remote, data, creativity, diversity and inclusion. And unique fact, these 13 talks are hosted by the 39 guests who themselves are the moderators of these talks, which mechanically increases the quality of the talks. Top speakers from French startups / scaleups (Double, Labellevie, Supermood, Medadom, Convelio..) and French VCs (Frst, Elaia, Ventech, Cap Horn, Ring, Kima, Eutopia, Axeleo and many others) participates but also European VC partners, such as Evgenia from Dawn, Sia from Seedcamp, Jon from e.ventures, Louis from Point Nine, Mathias from Speedinvest.., as well as investors such as Marguerite from Cherry, David from Brighteye or Vincent Head of MarComm's at Northzone which also shows the attractiveness of the French scene for discussing structuring and fundamental subjects. - - - The podcasts Runway Series Originals, AMA VC, Human Factor, No-Code VC / Fit, Venture Talks & Solo-GP Series are produced by UPCOMINGVC® (www.upcoming.vc), created and hosted by Raphael Grieco.