One of the most significant advantages veteran creators possess is having a successful track record which garners them credibility within the industry. This credibility is crucial when launching new ventures or seeking funding, as investors and collaborators are more likely to engage with individuals who have demonstrated their ability to deliver results.
Veteran creators have also witnessed multiple cycles of technological advancement and market shifts, allowing them to anticipate trends and adapt accordingly.
Co-founder and CEO of Aethir, Mark Rydon is focused on building decentralized cloud infrastructure to scale the future of latency sensitive and resource intensive cloud applications – think Human-AI interactions and real-time cloud rendering for the gaming industry.
His journey in Web3 offers key lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Despite launching Aethir during the turbulent bear market of 2021, Rydon maintained a steadfast focus on building and achieving long-term goals. This perseverance paid off, as Aethir raised over $130 million becoming a major player in enterprise GPU infrastructure.
He pinpoints a number of key points which differentiates Web2 and Web3 veterans.
“Unlike Web2 veterans, Web3 OGs prioritize community and decentralization. We believe Aethir’s success stems from its strong community focus, which sometimes involves making decisions that might not align with traditional Web2 strategies but foster long-term loyalty and engagement,” he says.
Of course, the Web3 space is known for its volatility. OGs, with their deep conviction and experience, can weather market fluctuations better.
“We understand the importance of staying market-focused and maintaining a clear vision amidst uncertainty,” he says.
Web3 demands constant innovation and adaptability. Rydon highlights the need for curiosity, risk-taking, and a proactive approach to exploring new frontiers. These qualities are essential for keeping up with the rapid technological advancements and emerging trends in the sector.
Another positive is OGs have extensive networks that are crucial for accessing resources, securing early adopters, and forming strategic partnerships.
“We definitely leveraged our connections to raise significant funds and build a robust ecosystem for Aethir. We used existing relationships within the Web3 community for resources, partnerships, and investments. Early adopters, advisors, and mentors from your network can provide critical support,” says Rydon.
He points to agility as a positive factor. “With emerging tech it is important to adopt an agile development process, iterating based on user feedback and market validation. This accelerates the product-market fit and growth trajectory, especially crucial during bull markets.”
Sandeep (Bobby) Bhatia, co-founder and CEO of Tashi Gaming points to his all-OG management team, including Jay McCarthy, CBO, with his financial experience and Ken Anderson, CTO, in Web3 tech.
“Veteran creators have often been involved in the tech industry for years, gaining a comprehensive understanding of various technologies and their applications. For instance, Ken’s background in technology, coupled with extensive experience in the Hedera Hashgraph network, positions him as a knowledgeable leader who can leverage advanced algorithms like ABFT (Asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerance) to create highly performant solutions.
“This knowledge of ABFT is core to the Tashi Consensus Engine – we hit the ground running as we opted to work on the complex infrastructure required for Web3 gaming platforms.”
Anderson held the position of lead developer advocate at Hedera getting deep into the consensus algorithm weeds. It was in this role that he met his Tashi co-founder. Bhatia was one of the first Hedera ambassadors and they would spend hours talking on the phone and formed a deep friendship.
Tashi investigated the different voting algorithms in existence from Hedera, to Lamport timestamps and other (a)synchronous byzantine fault tolerance algorithms. From this research they extrapolated their own consensus algorithm in Tashi.
The Tashi consensus algorithm or engine as it is named, has many uses, the first of which is gaming. The Tashi team has built an SDK for the unity gaming engine which allows games to be played without hosts or even servers.
“This is truly a game changer for the gaming industry. As there is no host or dominant authority involved, it is impossible to cheat the game, which is one of the primary concerns of all gamers. Our Tashi consensus engine ensures fairness in gaming. We’ll be releasing the SDK shortly to the Unity marketplace. We could not have done this without Ken’s work in Hedera prior,” says Bhatia.
Of course, OGs are not always found in industry, AltLayer co-founder and COO Amrit Kumar has successfully migrated from academia to entrepreneurship in the complex world of Web3 and he puts it all down to working with the right people. Initially he earned a doctorate in computer science, before doing postdoctoral research at the National University of Singapore.
“I began work on blockchain technology as a researcher. Before long, however, I was invited to become a founding member of Zilliqa, a layer one blockchain. This was the first time I had joined a company, my first non-academic job if you will.”
Reflecting on the fact that AltLayer is only his second commercial job, Kumar can see how first his rigorous academic background set up the stage for his experience and the success of Zilliqa copper-fastened his overall success.
“Having both experiences are vital to being able to launch a startup – with energy. We’ve been there before and we know what is involved in building a company.”
Kumar sees a difference between building a company in Web2 and building one in Web3.
“Crypto is very different and the experiences are not necessarily transferable. Moreover, you can’t get the experiences just by watching podcasts or reading articles. Every startup has its own challenges but my experience in Zilliqa taught me that people are one of the most important parts of any startup.
“Your first few hires really can make or break your project. Even if you get funding but if you have the wrong people then it is not going to work,” says Kumar.
Dan Weinberger, co-founder and CEO of Morpheus.Network is one hundred percent behind OGs leading the way as super charged Web3 entrepreneurs.
“As the CEO of a blockchain-based supply chain infrastructure company, I have seen first-hand why OGs, or Original Gangsters, make exceptional Web3 entrepreneurs,” he says.
“Their deep-rooted understanding of blockchain technology and its ecosystem, garnered from years of hands-on experience, equips them with unique insights and strategic foresight. These pioneers have navigated the volatile ebbs and flows of the crypto market, cultivating resilience and adaptability—traits essential for steering startups through the uncertain terrain of Web3 innovation.
“Furthermore, OGs possess a profound commitment to the principles of decentralization and community-driven development, which are the cornerstones of Web3. Their extensive networks and established reputations enable them to forge strong partnerships and rally support from a dedicated community of early adopters. This blend of technical acumen, market intuition, and community engagement positions OGs to drive groundbreaking advancements and foster sustainable growth in the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape,” says Weinberger.
One other aspect which can make or break a new Web3 startup is compliance, or rather the lack of it. Novice builders may ignore compliance as it is too hard or expensive until it becomes too late and much more expensive to retrofit compliance.
“Understanding legal frameworks helps navigate complexities and adapt strategies accordingly, ensuring sustainable growth,” says Rydon.
Jay McCarthy, originally a co-founder of Sparklabs group in Korea and now CBO with Tashi, explains that while he came from a finance background, moving from investor to founder was very exciting for him where he focused on achieving significant commercial milestones within three years—a stark contrast to the typical long-term mindset of Silicon Valley VCs.
Sparklabs boasted founders with diverse backgrounds in finance, real estate, mining, and even luxury fashion, which equipped them with a unique perspective.
“This diverse experience allowed us to anticipate potential pitfalls and position our startups for success. Understanding both the macro and micro elements of various industries gives us a significant edge in the fast-paced world of tech startups,” says McCarthy.
“OGs are adept at foreseeing potential problems that could hinder a startup’s success. This foresight comes from having witnessed multiple cycles of business successes and failures. We are better placed to anticipate issues and position against them, which is critical for achieving significant commercial milestones within a shorter time frame.”
McCarthy points to the Web3 space being uniquely collaborative, contrasting with the more individualistic approaches in traditional finance and other industries. OGs understand the value of building meaningful connections and partnerships. This collaborative spirit is vital for the decentralized and innovative nature of Web3 projects.
Finally, he believes that OGs are better at identifying the right timing for launching and scaling startups.
“This ability to time market entry and exits effectively can be a significant advantage in the fast-paced Web3 environment and when you combine that with the fact we are very happy to leverage the latest tools and technologies, such as AI and comprehensive software solutions, we can accelerate company formation and operations. This allows us to focus more on the quality of their business ideas and less on the logistical challenges of startup building,” says McCarthy.
So there are many features that OGs with their grey hairs are bringing to the Web3 experience. While it might seem a young person’s game, the veterans are giving the GenZs a run for their money – literally.
