In this episode of Searching for Mana, host Lloyd Wahed speaks with Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, to delve into the expansive possibilities of blockchain technology and Cardano's unique position in the ecosystem. Discussing Cardano's resilience, decentralised governance, and long-term vision, Gregaard sheds light on how the Foundation's non-profit ethos drives innovation and social impact. The conversation touches on the challenges and successes faced by Cardano, its academic foundation, and the potential for blockchain to redefine global governance and economic identity. Gregaard also shares his personal leadership philosophy and vision for a future where blockchain empowers communities globally.Don't miss this insightful episode to understand the intricate balance between technology, ethics, and the future of decentralised networks. Cardano Foundation website: https://www.cardanofoundation.org/Frederik Gregaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregaard/Follow Searching For Mana to stay updated on our latest episodes.Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1👍 Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you!

In this episode of Searching for Mana, Lloyd Wahed meets with Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, to unpack her journey from an early fascination with Bitcoin to leading one of blockchain’s most groundbreaking ecosystems. With her expertise spanning traditional finance and digital assets, Lily provides a rare, balanced view of where blockchain is heading and how Solana is advancing the technology’s global impact.Discover Solana's evolution from a fledgling network to a blockchain powerhouse, overcoming hurdles like the FTX crash while cultivating a vibrant community and ecosystem with over $5 billion in TVL.Lily’s perspectives on self-custody, economic sovereignty, and user-first blockchain products are a must for anyone following the evolution of digital assets.Don't miss this episode for a glimpse into crypto’s future, the challenges and promise of blockchain, and the unique strength of the Solana community. Solana website: https://solana.com/Lily Liu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calilyliu/Follow Searching For Mana to stay tuned into our latest episodes.Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1👍 Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you!

In this episode of Searching for Mana Fintech, co-hosts Dan and Sachin engage in a compelling conversation with Robin Gilthorpe, CEO of Earnix, a pioneering company providing AI-driven SaaS solutions for the financial and insurance sectors. Since its founding in 2001, Earnix has led innovation with dynamic tools that transform insurer operations, from risk evaluation to real-time pricing.The discussion explores strategies that have positioned Earnix as a key player in this evolving industry, covering global market expansion and complex regulatory environments.Robin shares insights on how Earnix’s technology enables insurers to launch products faster, make smarter pricing decisions, and stay competitive. He also addresses the challenges of global scaling and navigating diverse regulations.Tune in to discover the strategies positioning companies like Earnix at the forefront of industry advancements.Earnix website: https://earnix.com/Robin Gilthorpe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingilthorpe/Follow Searching For Mana to stay tuned into our latest episodes.Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/browse-jobs/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1👍 Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you!

 In this compelling episode of Searching for Mana, host Lloyd Wahed engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Jeremy Allaire, the visionary Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Circle.Together, they explore the transformative journey of Circle and its flagship digital currency, USDC. Delving deep into the origins, challenges, and subsequent rise of Circle, the conversation sheds light on how stablecoins like USDC are pioneering the future of digital finance, providing a seamless bridge between cutting-edge blockchain technology and traditional financial systems.From navigating the turbulent waters of ‘crypto winters’ to scaling operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, this episode highlights the resilience and foresight required to integrate blockchain technology with established financial systems, offering listeners a comprehensive look into the future of digital currencies.Circle's website: https://www.circle.com/en/Jeremy Allaire's profile on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyallaire/Follow Searching For Mana to stay tuned into our latest episodes.Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/browse-jobs/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1👍 Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you!

Metaverse, blockchain, ChatGPT, NFT marketplaces and more! Discover the journey of Mo Shaikh, the innovative mind behind Aptos Labs, as he dives into his entrepreneurial roots and the inspiration behind his groundbreaking platform. From discussing ecosystem tools to emphasizing the power of empathy, Mo shares insights into his daily routine and strategic approaches to success. Join host Lloyd Wahed, CEO and founder of Mana Group, as he unravels the fascinating story that drives Mo's vision, in an episode that encapsulates passion, business acumen, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Tune in for a captivating exploration of creativity, dedication, and the intersection of technology and humanity. Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/browse-jobs/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1

This episode of Searching for Mana takes you on a journey, exploring the transformation of Ecospend from a fledgling startup to an industry powerhouse, illustrating how fintech companies are evolving and impacting a rapidly changing financial landscape. Our hosts Dan O'Riordan and Sachin Doshi welcome James Hickman, CCO of Ecospend, and share a vivid chat about the company's growth, innovative approaches and the challenges encountered on the road to achieving a strategic vision. Major focal points of the episode include the scaling-up process of Ecospend, the resulting cultural and operational shifts, and the uncharted possibilities hinged on open banking. Our speakers delve deep into discussions about the seismic changes happening within the realms of open banking, the innovative use of account information and transaction data to create value, and how these trends are reshaping the broader financial sector. Whether you're a fintech enthusiast, industry insider, or just curious about the future of finance, this episode will intrigue, inform and inspire. Follow Searching For Mana to stay tuned into our latest episodes. Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/browse-jobs/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1

Cathie Wood, CEO and founder of Ark Invest, shares her insights on the transformative power of disruptive technologies. She highlights five key innovations driving change, including robotics and AI, and underscores the importance of adapting investment strategies for a rapidly evolving market. Cathie discusses the impact of Bitcoin's upcoming halving, the emotional toll of market volatility, and the promising future of AI in education. With visions of a $220 trillion market by 2030, her predictions amplify the thrilling potential of tomorrow's economy.

Tim Draper, a legendary venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates, dives into the revolutionary impact of AI and Bitcoin. He discusses how these technologies are reshaping industries and investment opportunities. Draper shares insights on navigating challenges in entrepreneurship and the crucial role of innovators like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. The conversation also explores the evolution of venture capital and the future of Bitcoin as a potential primary currency, highlighting the importance of personal 'mana' in achieving success.

Join us in this fascinating episode of Searching For Mana where we delve into the nuances of Web3 technologies and their impact on the gaming landscape, featuring our speakers Lloyd Wahed and Robby Yung. Yung takes the listeners on a riveting journey charting the rising influence of Web3 and how companies, like Animoca Brands, are pioneering games that utilise blockchain technology to democratise digital asset ownership. The digital currency and asset principles of Web3 seamlessly synergise with the gaming industry's established model of using virtual currency for in-game purchases. The transformative potential of Web3 extends beyond the gaming niche, aiming to revolutionise the broader digital ecosystem and significantly empowering the creator economy. ❓Curious about Robby Yung and Animoca Brands? Dive deep into their ideas here: Robby's Linkedin's page https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyung/?originalSubdomain=uk Animoca website: https://www.animocabrands.com Follow Searching For Mana to stay tuned into our latest episodes. Website: https://manasearch.co.uk/browse-jobs/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mana.search/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana1 ✍️ We'd love to hear your thoughts! Drop us a comment with your opinion, experiences, and questions – we would love to bring them to our future episodes! 👍 Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you! See you in our next episode!

On this month's episode of The Missing Link, we're joined by Sidney Powell. Sid is the CEO & Co-Founder of Maple, and with his Co-Founder Joe Flanagan, launched Maple in 2021. Maple is transforming capital markets through technology having facilitated over $3b in loans since launch in 2021. During Sid's career in traditional finance, he participated in $3BN+ of corporate bond issuance, established and ran a $200M+ bond funding program, and managed Treasury at a commercial lending FinTech company. During the episode, Sid breaks down the web2 finance space as a tax on global gdp, the past and future of Maple, AI underwriting, and his opinion on a two-tiered missing link. Check it out! This podcast does not contain any financial or legal advice and you should not seek to rely on it as such. Opinions are the personal opinions of the speaker. The Missing Link is a podcast produced by Nayms, our partner in the Searching for Mana podcast. Nayms: https://nayms.com Mana: https://searchingformana.com Like this episode and subscribe to this channel if our content helped and inspired you! See you in our next episode! ___________________________________________ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/2Hhg4gB​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kKZQKl Searching for Mana is a UK-based podcast which focuses on tech innovation in finance, and features interviews with influencers, leaders and founders in the fintech space, from unicorn companies to financial disruptors. Previous guests have included the Director of Growth at Oaknorth, the CEO of BCB Group (the UK’s first licensed crypto bank), the CEO of Innovate Finance (the industry body for UK fintech) and Ed Vaizey, the UK’s longest serving Minister for Technology. Each hour-long episode gains insight into how the guest got into fintech, what they’re currently focused on, what their companies are all about, as well as some of the important trends within the wider fintech sector. The show is presented by Lloyd Wahed, a London-born tech entrepreneur who has founded two recruiting firms, Athelstan Search and Mana Search and has successfully helped scale a number of unicorn technology companies. Follow Mana Search on Twitter: https://twitter.com/manasearchuk​​ Follow Mana Search on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mana-talent/