Aly Madhavji: Blockchain Beyond the Hype

In this episode of Nothing Ventured, host Aarish Shah welcomes Aly Madhavji, managing partner at Blockchain Founders Fund, to discuss the evolving landscape of Web3. They delve into the importance of addressing consumer skepticism and the need for effective education about Web3 technologies. Aly shares insights on how to onboard millions of users seamlessly, highlighting innovative approaches such as the potential of "Crypto nights" on platforms like Amazon Prime. The conversation also explores the implications of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the global shift towards digital currencies, as well as the role of regulation in fostering blockchain innovation. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on building trust, navigating complex markets, and understanding the intersection of talent, capital, and policy in the blockchain space. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Ali Madhavji and Blockchain Founders Fund 00:00:21 - Ali's Background and Achievements 00:00:41 - Episode Overview: Topics to be Discussed 00:01:07 - Educating the Masses on Web3 00:01:31 - Regulation and Blockchain Startups 00:01:52 - Ali's Fundraising Advice for Founders 00:02:25 - Call to Action: Rate, Subscribe, and Share 00:02:53 - Starting the Conversation with Ali 00:03:14 - Blockchain Beyond the Hype 00:04:03 - Identifying Genuine Blockchain Startups 00:04:46 - Challenges and Opportunities in Blockchain 00:05:46 - Consumer Skepticism and Recovery 00:06:09 - Building Consumer Apps for Web3 00:06:29 - Evaluating Blockchain Startups 00:07:25 - On-Ramping into Crypto 00:07:59 - Crypto Nights on Amazon Prime 00:08:21 - Aim and Format of Crypto Nights 00:09:54 - Educational Aspects of Crypto Nights 00:10:31 - Traditional Finance vs. Decentralised Finance 00:11:29 - Transitioning from Traditional Accounting to Web3 00:12:30 - Decentralised Finance and Financial Inclusion 00:14:59 - De-Banking and De-Risking in Emerging Markets 00:16:58 - Building Durable Products Post-Hype Cycle 00:17:20 - Blockchain's Impact in Emerging Markets 00:18:09 - Trust in National Currencies and Stable coins 00:19:35 - Remittances and Currency Stability 00:21:42 - Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) 00:23:04 - Government Responsibility and Currency Stability 00:23:48 - El Salvador's Bitcoin Experiment 00:25:00 - Challenges of Using Bitcoin as a Currency 00:27:04 - Global Hubs for Web3: Singapore and UAE 00:28:39 - Effective Regulation in UAE and Singapore 00:30:39 - Talent Attraction in UAE and Singapore 00:32:24 - Bureaucratic Challenges in Western Countries 00:34:11 - Capital and Talent Attraction in UAE and Singapore 00:35:47 - Opportunities for Western Countries 00:36:46 - Sentiment Shift in the US 00:39:12 - Challenges in Europe 00:41:08 - Building and Scaling in the Current Climate 00:42:23 - UK and Europe's Position in the Global Market 00:43:58 - Innovation and Regulation 00:44:08 - Fundraising Challenges and Valuations Find Aly Madhavji online at: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alymadhavji/ Twitter: https://x.com/aly_madhavji Blockchain Founders Fund: https://blockchainff.com This episode is sponsored by EmergeOne, fractional CFOs for venture backed tech startups from Seed to Series B. Get in touch at https://emergeone.co.uk/contact-us/ or join the CFO team at https://emergeone.co.uk/join-the-cfo-team/ Sign up for EmergeOne’s weekly newsletter, Off Balance at https://off-balance.beehiiv.com/subscribe