Every growing company understands that success comes from overcoming challenges, not just achieving milestones.

Mastering these challenges is key to sustaining growth. Whether it's about scaling the team, maintaining quality, or fostering innovation, companies must navigate their journey with resilience and strategic insight.

In this episode of The Blockchain Startup Show, we chat with with a special guest, Maud Bannwart, the COO of Alephium. Maud shares her experience in leading Alephium, a company known for its innovative approach in the crypto sector. She discusses the importance of finding the right talent, the role of innovation in driving success, and why expanding the team doesn't always equate to increased efficiency.

Join us to gain valuable insights on navigating the complexities of business growth. Maud's expertise will enlighten and inspire you, whether you're leading an established company aiming to optimize your growth strategy or an emerging business looking to make your mark in the competitive world of crypto.

Maud is the COO of Alephium, a pioneering layer one blockchain network focused on providing a secure, scalable, and decentralized platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications.

With a unique background that spans chemical engineering and startup experience, Maud has navigated diverse career paths to land in the crypto industry. She began her journey at EPFL in Switzerland, where she studied chemical engineering before transitioning into business and the tech startup world. Her early professional experience includes working at BestMind, a leading Swedish startup specializing in self-driving cars, where she met Alephium's founder, Cheng.

Before joining Alephium, Maud worked at the Swiss crypto exchange Lykke, where wore multiple hats, contributing to HR, legal aspects, investor relations, and product management.

Since joining Alephium in June 2021, Maud has been instrumental in overseeing all non-development activities, helping to shape the project’s identity and drive its growth. Her role involves strategic planning, community engagement, and ensuring the smooth operation of the blockchain network.

Maud’s passion for innovation and her diverse skill set make her a key player in the evolving blockchain technology industry.

Maud Bannwart’s career path, from chemical engineering to startups and eventually Alephium, showcases the value of diverse experiences and adaptability. Her varied background provided her with a unique perspective and skill set that benefited her roles in the crypto industry.

Alephium aims to offer a secure, scalable, and decentralized platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications. Founder Cheng's technical innovations, which couldn't be integrated into existing blockchains, led to the creation of Alephium, highlighting the importance of pioneering new solutions.

Alephium secured funding through a pre-sale with a conscious decision to limit the amount raised. This strategy ensured a focus on building a useful and sustainable product, emphasizing the need for mindful resource management in startup development.

Establishing a strong project identity and engaging with the community through transparent and respectful interactions is crucial. Alephium’s approach to building trust and fostering a supportive ecosystem is a key factor in its development...

Marketing is essential.

Effective marketing is pivotal for building a successful crypto project and attracting a high-performing team to scale it.

In this episode of The Blockchain Startup Show, Tony Drummond, Co-founder of CONV3RT and President of Moonbound Consulting, delves into the importance of marketing within the crypto sector. Tony discusses the critical role of messaging in overcoming industry challenges and underscores the importance of targeted strategies to resonate with the right audience. This conversation sheds light on how a well-crafted message can build trust, educate potential users, and create a robust brand identity amidst the competitive crypto landscape.

Additionally, Tony discusses the challenges founders face, such as over-reliance on token sales and the necessity of developing a sustainable business model. He advocates for careful measurement of marketing results and strategic hiring practices, stressing the value of recruiting top talent and maintaining a lean, efficient team.

Tony Drummond is the co-founder of CONV3RT and President of Moonbound Consulting. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and thought leader in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. With a wealth of experience in tokenomics and project development, Tony has become a well-respected figure, frequently sharing valuable insights and strategies with the Web3 community.

Tony's hands-on experience includes growing his own project to over $200 million in market cap with 70,000 holders. His journey has involved significant marketing efforts and development expenditures, providing him with a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities in the space.

Tony believes that the best learning comes from experiencing failures and overcoming challenges. His ability to navigate the highs and lows of the crypto market has not only strengthened his expertise but also positioned him as a mentor to others in the industry. His commitment to continuous learning and sharing knowledge has made him a pivotal figure in the Web3 community.

Harrison Wright introduces Tony Drummond, highlighting his roles as Co-founder of CONV3RT and President of Moonbound Consulting. Tony is known for sharing valuable insights on LinkedIn about tokenomics and helping founders.

Tony shares his experiences running a project that grew to over $200 million with 70,000 holders. He discusses the challenges faced during the bear market and the lessons learned from those difficulties.

Tony emphasizes that the best way to learn in the crypto space is through mistakes and failures. Surviving and continuing to build through the bear market makes professionals stronger and better equipped.

Tony discusses the importance of understanding the target audience in marketing and messaging. He suggests defining customer avatars to better tailor strategies to the needs and behaviors of the target market.

Tony addresses the balance between serving users and investors, especially when raising VC funding. He advises limiting the allocation of tokens to investors to avoid excessive control and potential market dumps.

The conversation touches on the importance of having the right metrics and systems in place to measure success and guide the project's direction. This includes ensuring each role within a project is clearly defined and contributes to the overall system.

Tony shares his experience with team composition, emphasizing the value of hiring a small...