Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

• [01:20] Introductions, going to school as a girl in India, completing a CA, and getting into startups
• [05:09] Importance of parental support
• [06:19] Why ride-hailing is broken & becoming a web3 convert
• [10:44] How does DRIFE work? How can web3 be integrated with ride-hailing?
• [14:52] Tokenomics & sustainability beyond hype cycles
• [17:30] Navigating COVID and growth roadmap
• [20:52] Retaining ownership

About Our Guest

Firdosh Sheikh is the CEO and co-founder of DRIFE, a decentralized ride-hailing platform leveraging blockchain technology to empower both drivers and riders. With a background in Chartered Accountancy, she transitioned into the startup world, bringing her business acumen to disrupt traditional industries.

Under her leadership, DRIFE has expanded its operations to Dubai and India, aiming to revolutionize the ride-hailing industry by offering a more transparent, equitable, and sustainable model.

About DRIFE

DRIFE is a decentralized ride-hailing platform built on blockchain principles, aiming to empower both riders and drivers by eliminating intermediaries and providing better ownership and incentives.

DRIFE operates on a zero-commission model, giving drivers 100% of the fare while offering affordable rides. The platform uses an auction-based pricing model, letting drivers and riders set fair prices based on supply and demand. DRIFE's $DRF token ensures secure transactions and drives loyalty and incentives.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• DRIFE [https://www.drife.io/] [https://www.linkedin.com/company/drifeofficial/] [https://x.com/Drife_official]
• Follow and stay up to date with Firdosh Sheikh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/firdosh-sheikh/] [https://x.com/Firdosh_Drife]

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

PRESENTED BY DRAPER UNIVERSITY

HOSTED BY CHRIS JOANNOU

Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

• [00:45] Yael shares her entrepreneurial journey, shaped by experiences like hyperinflation during the Soviet Union's collapse, an entrepreneurial father, Wall Street, and moving to Israel during the startup boom. She also transitioned from traditional finance to a PhD in startup valuations.
• [10:08] The similarities between Israel and Silicon Valley, with startup hubs growing beyond Silicon Valley and new opportunities arising after Yael’s move to Israel.
• [12:29] Yael discusses how her background in economics and finance led to her interest in startups. She highlights the importance of understanding funding stages, equity distribution, and creative financing for startups in tough times.
• [15:55] Yael’s introduction to blockchain and Bitcoin, her disillusionment with traditional finance, and the power of smart contracts and ICOs. She reflects on the early days of SolidBlock, building one of the first real estate tokenization platforms.
• [22:36] Navigating pivots and business model changes when unit economics aren’t working, the importance of resilience, and managing fixed costs against revenue as a founder.
• [28:57] A sidebar on the Draper Venture Network and Draper Portfolio Companies.
• [30:29] Yael reflects on her hustle during COVID-19, the blessings of remote work, and the first wave of institutional adoption of tokenization technology by firms like JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
• [34:43] Yael breaks down SolidBlock’s services, which focus on brokers and syndicators, not average investors. The importance of trusted broker and seller networks.
• [39:20] How Web3 can bring clarity to affiliation and attribution, success in NFTs & royalties, and why AI will never disrupt brokers & agents in real estate.
• [43:21] The benefits of blockchain and smart contracts in tracking deals and introductions, ensuring transparency in commissions and conversions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of rewarding successful introductions and the visibility that blockchain provides in sales processes.

About Our Guest
With a background in law and technology, Yael Tamar has become a leader in blockchain innovation, empowering asset owners to tokenize real estate and democratize investment. Under her leadership, SolidBlock successfully tokenized major properties. She’s passionate about blockchain adoption and is now expanding her technology to tokenize assets beyond real estate.

Since the recording of this podcast she has now expanded her technology to tokenize assets beyond real estate. Yael is currently building DIBS, a multi-broker network for the secondary market of private company shares, offering secure, transparent, and compliant Web3-powered transactions.

About SolidBlock
SolidBlock provides an all-in-one platform that enables asset owners to easily tokenize their real estate holdings. This process breaks assets into digital shares, allowing investors to trade them.

They made history by tokenizing the world’s first commercial property in Aspen, Colorado, raising $18M for the renowned St. Regis Aspen Resort.

Now, SolidBlock is partnering with real estate projects globally and working to grow their network by collaborating with real estate companies, municipal projects, and investors.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• SolidBlock [https://www.linkedin.com/company/solidblock-co/] [https://x.com/SolidBlockCo]
• Follow and stay up to date with Yael Tamar [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaeltamar/] [https://x.com/yaeltamar]

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

PRESENTED BY DRAPER UNIVERSITY

HOSTED BY CHRIS JOANNOU

Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

• [00:45] Introductions
• [01:29] Matt shares his journey as a seasoned marketing leader, starting with his first taste of entrepreneurship flipping baseball cards. He discusses how his early passion for sports, celebrities, and connections led him to work for the NBA. Matt also dives into building the digital marketing frameworks we rely on today and explores the exciting opportunities awaiting marketers in Web3.
• [11:39] The key moments that made Matt a Web3 optimist: starting with early experiments with creator tools in the mid-2010s, followed by investing in crypto, and witnessing the rise of NBA Top Shot. These experiences highlighted blockchain's potential—not just for collectibles, but as a game-changing tool for identity management, CRM solutions, and transforming digital touchpoints.
• [16:06] Exploring the world of NFT memberships. How the misuse of NFTs as unsustainable profit centers lead to distrust in the technology. How to properly use NFT’s for the future of marketing and community building through loyalty and long-term engagement. Understanding the nature of how communities are built and how blockchain can enhance these multidirectional interactions with CRM and loyalty programs integrating with existing consumer behaviors.
• [21:14] The evolution of community-building in Web3, from early missteps to the return of a digital agency mindset. Key insights on how successful communities are built, the importance of quality membership, and why connecting products to communities is crucial for long-term success.
• [25:32] Matt discusses how education and transparency are key to overcoming negative associations with blockchain, and why differentiating use cases is essential for building trust. The future of blockchain depends on smart integration and clear, positive results that will outweigh the actions of bad actors.
• [29:02] Culture is the heartbeat of modern marketing. Learn how communities, nano-influencers, and the rise of new platforms are reshaping how we connect, create, and adapt in a rapidly evolving world.
• [32:41] The Creator Economy is shifting! Dive into the future of content creation, social impact, and how creators can leverage their work beyond financial gain in a world that is changing how we value creativity.
• [36:35] How will AI change the creative landscape? From helping creators improve their output to the rise of average content, Matt Wurst discusses how AI tools can enhance human creativity—but they won’t replace it.
• [42:01] Why human intelligence cannot be replaced by AI. And the importance of our own experiences in shaping our ability as creators and
• [47:17] Outro.

About Our Guest
Matt Wurst is the CMO at Genuin, a platform focused on creating a comprehensive network for brands, creators, and consumers. With extensive experience in both in-house and agency roles, Matt has collaborated with organizations like the NBA, revelation (acquired by Jellyfish), 360i and Mint.

Matt’s journey into Web3 began with the desire to return digital ownership to creators and consumers, away from corporate control. Passionate about the intersection of AI and Web3, Matt explores how these technologies are reshaping marketing, communities, and the creative process.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Matt on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwurst/]
• Matt on X/Twitter [https://x.com/mwurst]

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

PRESENTED BY DRAPER UNIVERSITY

HOSTED BY CHRIS JOANNOU