Episode Highlights with Timestamps:

• [01:20] Cory’s origin story his journey from studying CS, building XBOX games, catching the iOS mobile development wave and working at Gigster.
• [13:24] Inside Gigster: championing Web3 internally and growing the Web3 vertical to account for 18% of the company’s annual revenue—from scratch.
• [16:19] Opportunities in Web3: Cory’s take on the market’s maturation, the 2021-22 NFT bubble, blockchain infrastructure, the “Gold Rush” mentality, and untapped low-hanging opportunities.
• [22:32] Advice for entrepreneurs: being resourceful with technical talent, strategically hiring freelancers, and effectively leveraging gig workers.
• [25:22] The intersection of AI and blockchain: Is AI a fad? Using blockchain to validate digital ownership, protect user data from AI scraping, and manage sensitive medical data.
• [31:25] On-chain royalty payouts for intellectual property.
• [36:00] The dystopian implications of AI and the compounding effect of large language models (LLMs) self-training.
• [40:36] Close

About Our Guest

Cory Hymel is a seasoned technologist and innovator with a track record of building and scaling impactful tech solutions. He started his journey in computer science, creating Xbox games and riding the wave of iOS mobile app development, before making his mark in the startup world.

Cory spent pivotal years at Gigster, where he spearheaded the company’s Web3 initiatives, growing the vertical from zero to 18% of the company’s annual revenue. Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in exploring how emerging technologies like blockchain and AI can drive innovation and solve real-world problems.

Beyond his work at Gigster, Cory is a thought leader in blockchain, AI, and the future of digital ownership. He regularly shares insights on how these technologies intersect and shape industries, solidifying his reputation as a visionary in the tech space.

About Gigster

Gigster is a technology company that connects businesses with world-class software development teams to create custom applications at scale. By blending automation and an extensive network of talented developers, Gigster simplifies the process of building high-quality software solutions.

Known for their ability to rapidly deliver innovative projects, Gigster has helped startups and enterprises transform ideas into reality. With a strong emphasis on emerging technologies like blockchain and AI, Gigster has positioned itself as a leader in enabling businesses to stay competitive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Gigster

Website [https://www.gigster.com/]
Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigster/]

Follow and stay connected with Cory Hymel

Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-hymel/]

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

PRESENTED BY DRAPER UNIVERSITY

HOSTED BY CHRIS JOANNOU

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