Proof of Coverage

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor and Sal are joined by guests Jack Platts and Mehdi Farooq to explore the evolving landscape of crypto investment, venture capital, and deep tech. They discuss strategies for unlocking value in crypto assets, the critical role of NAV in investment decisions, and the rise of micro strategies in deal-making. The conversation also covers the resurgence of ICOs, the importance of disciplined evaluation of investment vehicles, and the global perspectives shaping today’s crypto markets. Jack and Mehdi share insights on how podcasting drives research and networking, while emphasizing the transformative impact of deep tech on robotics and AI. The episode wraps with a look at why community building remains essential for startup success in decentralized ecosystems.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:47 - The Value of Podcasting  03:12 - Podcasting as a Platform for Founders  04:11 - Jack's Perspective on Podcasting  05:47 - Micro Strategy and Investment Trends  06:18 - Understanding Capital Markets  07:56 - Evaluating Investment Vehicles  11:07 - Natural Buyers for Investment Vehicles  16:00 - Long-term NAV Multiples  20:50 - 21 Capital Investment Insights  24:02 - Expanding Beyond Bitcoin  30:53 - Global Investment Perspectives  34:09 - Lessons from Polkadot  40:06 - The ICO Meta and Community Building  46:04 - DePIN Investments and Future Outlook  Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Amir Haleem, co-founder and CEO of Helium, leads the discussion alongside venture capitalists Santiago Santos and Jason Badeaux. They explore Helium's impressive growth in revenue, driven by its mobile subscriber base. The conversation delves into sustainable business models beyond token sales, the convergence of crypto and traditional finance, and strategies for decentralized infrastructure projects. Insights into user engagement reveal Helium's shift towards prioritizing service delivery and the complexities of blending off-chain and on-chain revenues.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor speaks with Tom Trowbridge, co-founder of Fluence Labs and host of the DePIN Day & DePINEd Podcast about the evolving world of decentralized compute platforms and the broader DePIN ecosystem. Tom explains how Fluence operates as a “cloudless” service—open, resilient, and more cost-effective than traditional cloud providers—and outlines its innovative tokenomics, including fixed-dollar payments to contributors and a capped token supply to build investor trust. The discussion explores how DePINs offer unique advantages over centralized models like Uber and Airbnb, particularly the ability for early participants to benefit from token appreciation. Tom also touches on governance, buy-and-burn mechanisms, and how the convergence of hardware, open-source technology, and crypto economics is driving the future of decentralized infrastructure.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction02:54 - The Benefits of Podcasting05:10 - Overview of Fluence and Its Mission07:54 - Tokenomics Insights and Security Considerations10:01 - DePIN as Sharing Economy 2.012:32 - Marketing Dynamics in DePIN vs. Traditional Models14:10 - Payment Structures: Stablecoins vs. Native Tokens16:55 - Staking Rewards and Their Implications18:18 - Token Supply: Capped vs. Uncapped20:49 - Token Value Accrual Methods25:09 - Best Practices in Revenue Generation and Tokenomics29:29 - Future Opportunities in the DePIN Sector31:00 - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor speaks with Yumin, founder of Galxe, a crypto project focused on onboarding users through learning and earning rather than purchasing. They explore Yumin’s early experiences with technology in 2000s China, the evolving landscape for elite students, and the growing emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship. Yumin shares Galxe’s mission to make crypto more accessible through on-chain quests powered by zero-knowledge proofs, enhancing privacy and transparency. He also introduces Gravity Chain, Galxe’s high-performance blockchain designed to improve the multi-chain user experience, and discusses the Galxe Identity Protocol and Passport, which enable users to manage digital identities with privacy and control.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:09 - Yumin's Background in China's Tech Scene03:57 - Opportunities for Elite Students in Tech06:16 - Onboarding Users through Earning Crypto07:15 - Evolution of Quests: From Off-Chain to On-Chain09:24 - Implementing On-Chain Quests with zk Proofs12:36 - Introduction of Gravity Chain16:45 - Building a High-Performance Blockchain20:14 - Digital Identity in the Blockchain Space27:57 - Galxe's Revenue Model and Future Plans29:40 - Conclusion and Where to Find GalxeDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor and Sal spoke with Mateusz Poreda and Niko Cunningham, co-founders of Rumi, a company reimagining media consumption through contextually aware AI agents that enhance viewer engagement. Niko shared how his upbringing in Detroit sparked his passion for technology, while Mateusz discussed how his background in consulting and tech helps navigate Rumi’s complex challenges. They announced Rumi’s $5 million pre-seed round, co-led by EV3 and A16Z CSX, and outlined their vision to turn passive media into interactive experiences. The conversation touched on Rumi’s contributor rewards model, potential for creators and advertisers, and concluded with advice for aspiring founders, encouraging listeners to explore Rumi and join the growing community.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:56 - What is Rumi?03:50 - Niko's Journey and Early Influences08:33 - Mateusz's Background and Career Path10:20 - The Importance of Diverse Experiences13:16 - Rumi's Supply Side and Community Contribution14:04 - Transforming Media Consumption18:01 - Privacy and Data Handling20:05 - Maximizing Points and Engagement22:04 - Exploring Demand for Rumi27:08 - Unlocking New User Experiences29:07 - Nielsen vs. Rumi: A New Era of Analytics34:39 - Advice for Founders on Fundraising38:26 - How to Get Involved with RumiDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Chris McCabe and Kee Jefferys, co-founders of the decentralized messaging platform Session, unveil how their app champions user privacy and security. They explain the innovative features that eliminate the need for phone numbers and user data, employing onion routing for anonymity. The duo shares insights on organic user growth during global conflicts, the role of their Session token, and how they balance privacy with usability. Delve into their vision for a surveillance-free messaging future, where users can communicate freely without trusting centralized platforms.

Santiago Santos, an investor at Inversion Capital focusing on crypto transformation of traditional businesses, and Jason Badeaux from Daylight, advocating for energy subscriptions, join a roundtable discussion. They explore Bitcoin's role in decentralized physical infrastructure networks and the fundraising hurdles faced by fund managers. The conversation shifts to innovative energy models and the synergy between DeFi and real-world infrastructure. Insights spill over into the evolving token landscape and the challenges of aligning user needs with tokenomics, all with an optimistic eye on DePIN's future.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor welcomes back Alireza Ghods, co-founder of Natix, to discuss a major milestone for the company. Alireza announces a game-changing partnership with Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading super app—a strategic alliance that positions Grab as a key data customer for Natix’s VX360 product while granting Natix access to Grab’s advanced mapping technology. This marks a significant leap forward in Natix’s mission to build the world’s largest camera infrastructure without owning any cameras. Since December 2024, the company has grown rapidly, with nearly 250,000 registered drivers and over 170 million kilometers mapped across 171 countries. With VX360—an innovative 360-degree video plugin for Tesla vehicles—now shipping ahead of schedule, Alireza offers an inside look at how this partnership will unlock new revenue streams, accelerate autonomous mapmaking, and reshape the future of mobility.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:25 - Introduction to Natix and VX36001:35 - State of the Network: Growth and Updates02:12 - Shipping and User Experience of VX36003:41 - Announcement of Partnership with Grab04:58 - Details of the Partnership and Its Benefits08:04 - Economic Aspects of the Partnership10:22 - Focus on Data Collection and Monetization Strategy13:35 - Future Plans and Excitement for Autonomous Driving14:39 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action for Tesla DriversDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor and Sal spoke with Michael Cho about the future of robotics and AI, highlighting his projects FrodoBots and the new BitRobot network. Michael explained the challenges of testing embodied AI in the real world and introduced the idea of cross-embodiment—training models using data from diverse robots. He also shared how BitRobot uses crypto incentives to crowdsource data and how the meme coin SAM helps build community in a low-pressure way. The conversation offered a fun and thoughtful look into where robotics is headed.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:47 - Intersection of Robotics and AI02:50 - Real-World Evaluation vs. Digital AI06:00 - The Importance of Real-World Testing07:07 - Mapping and Navigation in Robotics08:12 - Value of Real-World Data for AI09:38 - Differences in Data Utility13:07 - Exploring Different Robotic Form Factors14:04 - Cross-Embodiment in Robotics16:35 - Introduction to BitRobot17:30 - Transition from Frotobots to BitRobot20:08 - Collaboration with Researchers and Competitions22:05 - Future Plans for BitRobot24:27 - The Role of Meme Coins in Community Building27:46 - Conclusion Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_CoverageConnor sits down with Anna Kazlauskas, co-founder of Vana, to explore the intersection of AI and user-owned data. They discuss the resurgence of the crypto scene in San Francisco, fueled by advancements in AI, and the impact of DeepSeek on model training efficiency and data privacy. Anna shares her journey from MIT to co-founding Vana, a layer one blockchain enabling programmable data rights for AI. She introduces the concept of data DAOs—user-owned data collectives that negotiate better terms with platforms—highlighting the shift toward self-sovereign digital identities. The conversation also covers Vana’s tokenomics and its mission to address AI’s data shortage by empowering users with control and incentives.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:45 - Impact of DeepSeek on AI and User Privacy04:22 - User Awareness and Data Storage Concerns06:28 - The Shift in AI Narrative07:14 - Anna's Journey into User-Owned Data10:45 - Vana's Technical Framework and Privacy12:20 - The Need for Data Sovereignty in AI13:27 - Building a Layer 1 Blockchain15:51 - Data DAOs: A New Approach to Data Ownership17:15 - Understanding Data DAOs and Their Function22:47 - The Role of Data Ownership in Social Platforms24:51 - Negotiating Better Terms for Data Ownership26:40 - Bringing Data to Vana and AI Applications28:09 - Privacy-Preserving Compute Solutions29:22 - Tokenomics of Vana30:55 - Data DAO Specific Tokens and Their Role31:22 - Final Thoughts on Vana's Vision32:30 - Where to Find More InformationDisclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.