<![CDATA[Inside the Hutt]]>d12c613d-bf7d-53a7-9c30-98637195b5daWed, 14 Jan 2026 12:01:15 +0000Captivate.fmHutt Capitalhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/c6c999eb-bbcc-4ff7-9904-aba487b55ba5/ypDQfXyTyAyfDlmcInx7_5gl.jpgInside the HuttHutt CapitalHutt CapitalHosted by Brooke Pollack, Managing Partner of Hutt Capital, join “Inside the Hutt” as we talk with leading blockchain venture capital investors to discuss their origins, investment approaches, recent trends, and how they’re navigating this complex industry. Inside the Hutt provides invaluable insights for crypto enthusiasts and investment professionals alike. Want to learn more about Hutt Capital and the show? Visit www.huttcapital.comhttps://inside-the-hutt.captivate.fmfalseepisodicnopodcastThomas Klocanas (Strobe Ventures)Thomas Klocanas (Strobe Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Thomas Klocanas, Managing Partner at Strobe Ventures. Thomas walks through his path from traditional finance to early roles in the crypto space, including his time at Consensys and White Star Capital, before launching BlockTower Ventures and eventually spinning it out into Strobe. He and Brooke explore Strobe’s transition to independence, its investment strategy across tokens and equity, views on real-world assets and crypto infrastructure, and what differentiates Strobe in a crowded VC market. They also unpack token models, equity vs. token value capture, and his perspective on emerging DeFi trends. 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

 

Thomas Klocanas’ background in investment banking and entry into crypto via equity research in 2014. 

Early operating experience at Consensys and shift to venture investing at White Star Capital. 

Launching BlockTower’s venture arm and the strategic decision to spin out and form Strobe Ventures. 

Overview of Strobe’s investment strategy, focus sectors, and fund structure. 

Importance of a measured deployment pace, thematic specialization, and founder relationships. 

Views on regulatory clarity and how it has affected deal flow and geographic concentration. 

Investment flexibility across equity and tokens, including public token exposure. 

Breakdown of key themes: real-world assets, crypto consumer, lending protocols, and alt assets. 

Perspective on current market dynamics: distribution vs. innovation in DeFi. 

Explanation of perps and the thesis behind Architect’s expansion beyond crypto. 

Strobe’s early bets on stablecoins and strategy around timing and infrastructure vs. issuers. 

Evaluation of DATs used by portfolio companies like Ethena. 

Discussion on the future of token design, network equity, and token-equity convergence. 

How Strobe helps portfolio companies through strategic introductions and partnerships. 

The value of the Strobe Summit as a strategic in-person event to build connections. 

Thomas’s contrarian prediction: skepticism on tokenized single stocks as a near-term theme. 

Insights on TradFi adoption of crypto rails and backend infrastructure upgrades. 

Fundraising predictions: challenges ahead for some crypto VCs and the benefits of smaller fund sizes. 

Spotlight on portfolio company TYB and its consumer engagement and loyalty infrastructure. 

Thomas shares his alternate career path aspirations in fintech — and dream of being a soccer player. 

 

Links 


Thomas Klocanas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tklocanas 

Strobe Ventures: https://strobe.fund/ 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack 

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Thomas Klocanas, Managing Partner at Strobe Ventures. Thomas walks through his path from traditional finance to early roles in the crypto space, including his time at Consensys and White Star Capital, before launching BlockTower Ventures and eventually spinning it out into Strobe. He and Brooke explore Strobe’s transition to independence, its investment strategy across tokens and equity, views on real-world assets and crypto infrastructure, and what differentiates Strobe in a crowded VC market. They also unpack token models, equity vs. token value capture, and his perspective on emerging DeFi trends. 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

 

Thomas Klocanas’ background in investment banking and entry into crypto via equity research in 2014. 

Early operating experience at Consensys and shift to venture investing at White Star Capital. 

Launching BlockTower’s venture arm and the strategic decision to spin out and form Strobe Ventures. 

Overview of Strobe’s investment strategy, focus sectors, and fund structure. 

Importance of a measured deployment pace, thematic specialization, and founder relationships. 

Views on regulatory clarity and how it has affected deal flow and geographic concentration. 

Investment flexibility across equity and tokens, including public token exposure. 

Breakdown of key themes: real-world assets, crypto consumer, lending protocols, and alt assets. 

Perspective on current market dynamics: distribution vs. innovation in DeFi. 

Explanation of perps and the thesis behind Architect’s expansion beyond crypto. 

Strobe’s early bets on stablecoins and strategy around timing and infrastructure vs. issuers. 

Evaluation of DATs used by portfolio companies like Ethena. 

Discussion on the future of token design, network equity, and token-equity convergence. 

How Strobe helps portfolio companies through strategic introductions and partnerships. 

The value of the Strobe Summit as a strategic in-person event to build connections. 

Thomas’s contrarian prediction: skepticism on tokenized single stocks as a near-term theme. 

Insights on TradFi adoption of crypto rails and backend infrastructure upgrades. 

Fundraising predictions: challenges ahead for some crypto VCs and the benefits of smaller fund sizes. 

Spotlight on portfolio company TYB and its consumer engagement and loyalty infrastructure. 

Thomas shares his alternate career path aspirations in fintech — and dream of being a soccer player. 

 

Links 


Thomas Klocanas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tklocanas 

Strobe Ventures: https://strobe.fund/ 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack 

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>53eac269-450b-4465-98d0-94d1fcb4cb9dWed, 14 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -080049:53falsefull137371David Gan (Inception Capital)David Gan (Inception Capital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews David Gan, founder of Inception Capital. David discusses his journey from investment banking to crypto, including his time at Huobi and the launch of Inception Capital. He breaks down Inception’s two-pronged model—a venture fund and a fund of funds—highlighting their early-stage strategy, cross-border support, and commitment to backing emerging managers. The conversation also explores tokenization, Asia's evolving crypto landscape, exchange listings, and how David's experience and global network help founders scale across markets.

Key Points From This Episode:

David Gan’s professional background and time at Huobi.

Founding Inception Capital and its evolution from Huobi Capital.

Structure of Inception’s two funds: early-stage venture and fund of funds.

Strategy behind taking GP stakes in emerging managers and scaling them.

David’s investment focus on infrastructure, financial services, and tokenization.

Insights on helping U.S. startups expand into Asia and vice versa.

Overview of key Asian crypto markets: China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Commentary on China’s restrictions and Hong Kong’s role in regional crypto.

Geographic differences in crypto product development between Asia and the U.S.

Tokenization trends, regulatory progress, and increased global access to financial products.

Growing founder activity in New York’s crypto ecosystem.

The importance of exchange listings and the evolving landscape of centralized vs. decentralized platforms.

Current token valuation dynamics and the impact on venture investing.

Community-driven public token sales like MegaETH’s conviction round.

Early traction and developer activity in the MegaETH ecosystem.

Investment highlights in projects like World Capital Markets

Framework for backing emerging fund managers and criteria Inception looks for.

Advantages of smaller, nimble funds and strategic synergy with Inception’s core strategy.

David’s alternate career dreams and how poker introduced him to Bitcoin.


Links

David on Twitter: https://x.com/DavidGan1818

Inception Capital: https://www.inception.capital/ 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/


]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews David Gan, founder of Inception Capital. David discusses his journey from investment banking to crypto, including his time at Huobi and the launch of Inception Capital. He breaks down Inception’s two-pronged model—a venture fund and a fund of funds—highlighting their early-stage strategy, cross-border support, and commitment to backing emerging managers. The conversation also explores tokenization, Asia's evolving crypto landscape, exchange listings, and how David's experience and global network help founders scale across markets.

Key Points From This Episode:

David Gan’s professional background and time at Huobi.

Founding Inception Capital and its evolution from Huobi Capital.

Structure of Inception’s two funds: early-stage venture and fund of funds.

Strategy behind taking GP stakes in emerging managers and scaling them.

David’s investment focus on infrastructure, financial services, and tokenization.

Insights on helping U.S. startups expand into Asia and vice versa.

Overview of key Asian crypto markets: China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Commentary on China’s restrictions and Hong Kong’s role in regional crypto.

Geographic differences in crypto product development between Asia and the U.S.

Tokenization trends, regulatory progress, and increased global access to financial products.

Growing founder activity in New York’s crypto ecosystem.

The importance of exchange listings and the evolving landscape of centralized vs. decentralized platforms.

Current token valuation dynamics and the impact on venture investing.

Community-driven public token sales like MegaETH’s conviction round.

Early traction and developer activity in the MegaETH ecosystem.

Investment highlights in projects like World Capital Markets

Framework for backing emerging fund managers and criteria Inception looks for.

Advantages of smaller, nimble funds and strategic synergy with Inception’s core strategy.

David’s alternate career dreams and how poker introduced him to Bitcoin.


Links

David on Twitter: https://x.com/DavidGan1818

Inception Capital: https://www.inception.capital/ 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/


]]>ac8deea3-301d-47b7-b59d-2b1678bb6af7Wed, 10 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -080048:31falsefull136361Jim Parillo (Figment Capital)Jim Parillo (Figment Capital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Jim Parillo, Managing Partner of Figment Capital. Jim shares his unconventional journey from CPA and tax advisor at KPMG to leading an early-stage crypto venture fund. They explore the evolution of Figment Capital from its infrastructure-focused roots to its current emphasis on application-layer investments. The discussion covers Jim's investment philosophy, thoughts on emerging infrastructure trends, navigating ecosystem bets, and his views on overrated and underappreciated areas in crypto today. Jim also highlights portfolio companies he's excited about and reflects on lessons learned building the firm. 

 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

 

Jim Parillo’s background, starting in tax at KPMG before transitioning to Figment Capital. 

The origins and evolution of Figment Capital from a validator-aligned fund to an independent early-stage VC. 

Strategic shift from infrastructure to earlier-stage application-layer investments in fund two. 

The team’s approach to investing primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages. 

Insights into portfolio construction and avoiding mandate creep by focusing on private, early-stage deals. 

How Figment Capital assesses ecosystem risk when backing applications on emerging L1s and L2s. 

Discussion on valuation dynamics and deal flow advantages in emerging blockchain ecosystems. 

Reframing what "infrastructure" means today, with focus on middleware and liquidity-enabling tools. 

Examples of innovative infrastructure bets like Predicate and liquidity tools for prediction markets. 

Views on overhyped trends (e.g. hyper-gambling) vs. underappreciated ones (e.g. long-term wealth creation). 

Reflections on the effects of degeneracy culture and short-termism in crypto investing. 

Key lessons for emerging managers: team importance, process discipline, and avoiding idea-over-team bias. 

Portfolio highlights including Monad, MegaETH, Fact Machine, Euphoria, Legend Trade, Fastlane, Pair Protocol, and Asula. 

 

Links 


Jim Parillo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesparillo/  

Figment Capital: https://www.figmentcapital.io/   

Figment Capital on X: https://x.com/FigmentCapital 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack  

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/  

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Jim Parillo, Managing Partner of Figment Capital. Jim shares his unconventional journey from CPA and tax advisor at KPMG to leading an early-stage crypto venture fund. They explore the evolution of Figment Capital from its infrastructure-focused roots to its current emphasis on application-layer investments. The discussion covers Jim's investment philosophy, thoughts on emerging infrastructure trends, navigating ecosystem bets, and his views on overrated and underappreciated areas in crypto today. Jim also highlights portfolio companies he's excited about and reflects on lessons learned building the firm. 

 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

 

Jim Parillo’s background, starting in tax at KPMG before transitioning to Figment Capital. 

The origins and evolution of Figment Capital from a validator-aligned fund to an independent early-stage VC. 

Strategic shift from infrastructure to earlier-stage application-layer investments in fund two. 

The team’s approach to investing primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages. 

Insights into portfolio construction and avoiding mandate creep by focusing on private, early-stage deals. 

How Figment Capital assesses ecosystem risk when backing applications on emerging L1s and L2s. 

Discussion on valuation dynamics and deal flow advantages in emerging blockchain ecosystems. 

Reframing what "infrastructure" means today, with focus on middleware and liquidity-enabling tools. 

Examples of innovative infrastructure bets like Predicate and liquidity tools for prediction markets. 

Views on overhyped trends (e.g. hyper-gambling) vs. underappreciated ones (e.g. long-term wealth creation). 

Reflections on the effects of degeneracy culture and short-termism in crypto investing. 

Key lessons for emerging managers: team importance, process discipline, and avoiding idea-over-team bias. 

Portfolio highlights including Monad, MegaETH, Fact Machine, Euphoria, Legend Trade, Fastlane, Pair Protocol, and Asula. 

 

Links 


Jim Parillo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesparillo/  

Figment Capital: https://www.figmentcapital.io/   

Figment Capital on X: https://x.com/FigmentCapital 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack  

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/  

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>2fe72ce3-1505-49fe-9b0b-3b5350650981Wed, 19 Nov 2025 04:00:00 -080052:56falsefull135351Jesse Walden (Variant)Jesse Walden (Variant)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Jesse Walden, founder of Variant, a seed-stage crypto investment firm. Jesse shares his journey from founding Mediachain to launching Variant, highlighting his focus on the ownership economy and regulatory clarity in crypto. He explains Variant’s barbell strategy of early-stage and liquid investing, insights on vertical integration, and their team’s legal-forward approach. Jesse also covers evolving opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, and why he believes crypto is still early in its adoption cycle—especially in the U.S. market.

Key Points From This Episode:


Jesse Walden’s background, founding Mediachain, and transition from Spotify to A16Z.


Founding Variant and its origin as a seed-focused crypto fund with a distinct ownership thesis.


Variant’s evolution, team structure, and strategic decision to remain lean.


Importance of legal and regulatory infrastructure, including internal policy expertise.


Original ownership economy thesis and how it’s held up over time.


Regulatory shifts in the U.S. and potential impact of the market structure bill.


Founder behavior in anticipation of upcoming SEC rulemaking.


Liquidity strategies and long-term approach to token investments.


Current investment themes across DeFi, infrastructure, AI, and consumer.


Investment logic behind L1s and L2s, and vertical integration trends.


Thoughts on corporate players launching blockchains (Stripe, Coinbase, etc.).


Investment in Blockaid and the opportunity in crypto security.


Hype vs. reality in categories like prediction markets and stablecoins.


Why DeFi remains underappreciated despite stablecoin traction.


Long-term vision for NFTs and their infrastructure layer role.


Jesse’s views on competition, Variant’s positioning, and platform differentiation.


Ongoing importance of policy support even with regulatory clarity.



Links


Jesse Walden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessewalden 


Variant: https://variant.fund/ 


Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack


Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/


Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Jesse Walden, founder of Variant, a seed-stage crypto investment firm. Jesse shares his journey from founding Mediachain to launching Variant, highlighting his focus on the ownership economy and regulatory clarity in crypto. He explains Variant’s barbell strategy of early-stage and liquid investing, insights on vertical integration, and their team’s legal-forward approach. Jesse also covers evolving opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, and why he believes crypto is still early in its adoption cycle—especially in the U.S. market.

Key Points From This Episode:


Jesse Walden’s background, founding Mediachain, and transition from Spotify to A16Z.


Founding Variant and its origin as a seed-focused crypto fund with a distinct ownership thesis.


Variant’s evolution, team structure, and strategic decision to remain lean.


Importance of legal and regulatory infrastructure, including internal policy expertise.


Original ownership economy thesis and how it’s held up over time.


Regulatory shifts in the U.S. and potential impact of the market structure bill.


Founder behavior in anticipation of upcoming SEC rulemaking.


Liquidity strategies and long-term approach to token investments.


Current investment themes across DeFi, infrastructure, AI, and consumer.


Investment logic behind L1s and L2s, and vertical integration trends.


Thoughts on corporate players launching blockchains (Stripe, Coinbase, etc.).


Investment in Blockaid and the opportunity in crypto security.


Hype vs. reality in categories like prediction markets and stablecoins.


Why DeFi remains underappreciated despite stablecoin traction.


Long-term vision for NFTs and their infrastructure layer role.


Jesse’s views on competition, Variant’s positioning, and platform differentiation.


Ongoing importance of policy support even with regulatory clarity.



Links


Jesse Walden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessewalden 


Variant: https://variant.fund/ 


Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack


Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/


Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>0a1c1e89-ecda-4738-b558-283c20af3b7dWed, 01 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -080041:13falsefull134341Joe Eagan (Anagram)Joe Eagan (Anagram)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes back Joe Eagan, co-founder of Anagram and the podcast’s very first guest. Joe shares how Anagram has evolved from a two-person operation to a 25-person holding company and crypto venture platform. He explains their build-first strategy, the firm’s emphasis on composable synergy between building and investing, and the structure behind their asset management arm. Joe also discusses recent spin-outs like Glider, Swig, and Breeze, reflects on the firm's approach to engineering-led ideation, and addresses the growing role of Solana within their portfolio. The conversation closes with thoughts on crypto treasury plays, regulatory shifts, and the firm’s outlook as a holding company with permanent capital.

Key Points From This Episode:

Joe Eagan’s background and the early days of Anagram.


Anagram’s thesis: pairing human and financial capital for crypto investing and building.


Structure of Anagram’s 25-person team, including asset management, investment, engineering, building, and talent teams.


The evolution of Anagram’s internal build process and emphasis on rapid iteration.


Overview of projects like Glider, Swig, Breeze, and the firm’s Solana validator.


Strategy behind internal product development and its relation to supporting portfolio companies


The value of engineering-led ideation and bottoms-up product creation.


Examples of internal tools and spin-outs powering Anagram’s flywheel.


Role of Lily Liu as co-founder and her involvement with Solana Foundation.


Why Anagram remains chain-agnostic despite a strong Solana footprint.


Overview of Anagram Asset Management and its three crypto-focused funds.


Unique structure of short-duration, niche venture funds to match crypto’s pace.


How Anagram Liquid Ventures mirrors its venture strategy


The rationale behind running a holding company instead of a traditional VC fund.


Joe’s thoughts on long-term investor adoption and why skepticism still exists.


Links

Joe Eagan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-eagan-22531577

Anagram: https://www.anagram.xyz

Anagram on X: https//x.com/@anagramxyz

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes back Joe Eagan, co-founder of Anagram and the podcast’s very first guest. Joe shares how Anagram has evolved from a two-person operation to a 25-person holding company and crypto venture platform. He explains their build-first strategy, the firm’s emphasis on composable synergy between building and investing, and the structure behind their asset management arm. Joe also discusses recent spin-outs like Glider, Swig, and Breeze, reflects on the firm's approach to engineering-led ideation, and addresses the growing role of Solana within their portfolio. The conversation closes with thoughts on crypto treasury plays, regulatory shifts, and the firm’s outlook as a holding company with permanent capital.

Key Points From This Episode:

Joe Eagan’s background and the early days of Anagram.


Anagram’s thesis: pairing human and financial capital for crypto investing and building.


Structure of Anagram’s 25-person team, including asset management, investment, engineering, building, and talent teams.


The evolution of Anagram’s internal build process and emphasis on rapid iteration.


Overview of projects like Glider, Swig, Breeze, and the firm’s Solana validator.


Strategy behind internal product development and its relation to supporting portfolio companies


The value of engineering-led ideation and bottoms-up product creation.


Examples of internal tools and spin-outs powering Anagram’s flywheel.


Role of Lily Liu as co-founder and her involvement with Solana Foundation.


Why Anagram remains chain-agnostic despite a strong Solana footprint.


Overview of Anagram Asset Management and its three crypto-focused funds.


Unique structure of short-duration, niche venture funds to match crypto’s pace.


How Anagram Liquid Ventures mirrors its venture strategy


The rationale behind running a holding company instead of a traditional VC fund.


Joe’s thoughts on long-term investor adoption and why skepticism still exists.


Links

Joe Eagan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-eagan-22531577

Anagram: https://www.anagram.xyz

Anagram on X: https//x.com/@anagramxyz

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>73900ecc-1d8e-4f73-b7fb-459fb082f494Wed, 03 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -080045:52falsefull133331Serge Kassardjian (6th Man Ventures)Serge Kassardjian (6th Man Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Serge Kassardjian, co-founder of Sixth Man Ventures. Serge recounts his journey from early stints at Google and Sony to founding StayTuned and later co-launching Sixth Man Ventures. He discusses the firm’s investment focus on crypto applications, their early conviction in NFTs and Solana, and how the team approaches building with founders. Serge also unpacks market trends, token and equity dynamics, and the evolving sophistication of crypto founders, while offering insight into standout portfolio companies like Pump.fun and Sleepagotchi. 

Key Points From This Episode: 


Serge Kassardjian’s background and path from Google and Sony to founding StayTuned and Sixth Man Ventures. 

 

How Sixth Man Ventures began with NFT trading and a small experimental wallet fund. 

 

The firm’s focus on application-layer investments in both consumer and enterprise crypto use cases. 

 

Why Sixth Man Ventures is chain-agnostic, despite early success in the Solana ecosystem. 

 

Strategy around liquid token investments and preference for long-term theses over short-term trading. 

 

Views on opportunities beyond financial use cases, including gaming, DePIN, collectibles, and RWAs. 

 

Approach to evaluating projects like Pump.fun and conviction-driven investing. 

 

Thoughts on the current state of the crypto venture market and signs of increasing regulatory clarity. 

 

Comparison between crypto VC and traditional VC in terms of liquidity, M&A, and overall returns. 

 

Perspective on investing across tokens and equity and the impact of IPO and token unlock trends. 

 

Serge’s investment focus areas within the firm, including speculative apps, content, and gaming. 

 

Insights into portfolio companies Sleepagotchi and Hogg, and their novel approaches to crypto use. 

 

Why disciplined capital deployment and founder-fit remain key differentiators for Sixth Man Ventures. 

 

Observations on founder quality in crypto and evolving investor behavior in the space. 

 

Serge’s alternate dream career: basketball podcaster. 

Links 

Serge Kassardjian on X: https://x.com/sergekass  

Serge Kassardjian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergekass/  

Verda Ventures: https://6thman.ventures/  

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack  

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/  

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Serge Kassardjian, co-founder of Sixth Man Ventures. Serge recounts his journey from early stints at Google and Sony to founding StayTuned and later co-launching Sixth Man Ventures. He discusses the firm’s investment focus on crypto applications, their early conviction in NFTs and Solana, and how the team approaches building with founders. Serge also unpacks market trends, token and equity dynamics, and the evolving sophistication of crypto founders, while offering insight into standout portfolio companies like Pump.fun and Sleepagotchi. 

Key Points From This Episode: 


Serge Kassardjian’s background and path from Google and Sony to founding StayTuned and Sixth Man Ventures. 

 

How Sixth Man Ventures began with NFT trading and a small experimental wallet fund. 

 

The firm’s focus on application-layer investments in both consumer and enterprise crypto use cases. 

 

Why Sixth Man Ventures is chain-agnostic, despite early success in the Solana ecosystem. 

 

Strategy around liquid token investments and preference for long-term theses over short-term trading. 

 

Views on opportunities beyond financial use cases, including gaming, DePIN, collectibles, and RWAs. 

 

Approach to evaluating projects like Pump.fun and conviction-driven investing. 

 

Thoughts on the current state of the crypto venture market and signs of increasing regulatory clarity. 

 

Comparison between crypto VC and traditional VC in terms of liquidity, M&A, and overall returns. 

 

Perspective on investing across tokens and equity and the impact of IPO and token unlock trends. 

 

Serge’s investment focus areas within the firm, including speculative apps, content, and gaming. 

 

Insights into portfolio companies Sleepagotchi and Hogg, and their novel approaches to crypto use. 

 

Why disciplined capital deployment and founder-fit remain key differentiators for Sixth Man Ventures. 

 

Observations on founder quality in crypto and evolving investor behavior in the space. 

 

Serge’s alternate dream career: basketball podcaster. 

Links 

Serge Kassardjian on X: https://x.com/sergekass  

Serge Kassardjian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergekass/  

Verda Ventures: https://6thman.ventures/  

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack  

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/  

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/ 

]]>94b5f129-5439-49d0-a69b-dd6a0ba21932Wed, 06 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -080042:17falsefull132321Alex Witt (Verda Ventures)Alex Witt (Verda Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Alex Witt, founding general partner of Verda Ventures. Alex shares his path from traditional finance and crypto mining in China to launching Verda, a stablecoin infrastructure fund focused on emerging markets. The discussion explores Verda’s strategic partnerships with Tether and MiniPay, the evolving role of stablecoins in cross-border payments, and how regulatory developments and geopolitical dynamics are shaping the future of stablecoin adoption.

Key Points From This Episode:



Alex Witt’s background in traditional finance and early crypto ventures in China

His transition to Silicon Valley and the founding of Verda Ventures and APF


Verda’s focus on stablecoin infrastructure in emerging markets


Strategic partnerships with Tether and MiniPay to support portfolio companies


The utility and impact of stablecoins in cross-border commerce and remittances


Differences in stablecoin adoption across the U.S., Europe, and the Global South


Rationale for USD dominance and expectations for non-USD stablecoin growth


How stablecoins support U.S. dollar dominance and treasury demand


Investment opportunities in stablecoin infrastructure and cross-border rails


Regulatory clarity in the U.S. and its implications for Circle and big banks


Outlook on Ethereum as the foundational blockchain for stablecoins


Role of Tether and MiniPay in Verda’s investment and growth strategy


Future trends in stablecoin adoption: FX usage and private B2B transactions


Geopolitical implications of stablecoin use in unstable currency regions


Projections for global stablecoin supply over the next decade


Market impact of Circle’s IPO and Stripe’s stablecoin-related M&A activity


Exit dynamics and acquisition appetite from major fintechs and banks


Alex’s hypothetical career path outside crypto and tech


Links

Alex Witt on X: https://x.com/alexlwitt

Alex Witt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwitt 

Verda Ventures: https://verda.ventures/ 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Alex Witt, founding general partner of Verda Ventures. Alex shares his path from traditional finance and crypto mining in China to launching Verda, a stablecoin infrastructure fund focused on emerging markets. The discussion explores Verda’s strategic partnerships with Tether and MiniPay, the evolving role of stablecoins in cross-border payments, and how regulatory developments and geopolitical dynamics are shaping the future of stablecoin adoption.

Key Points From This Episode:



Alex Witt’s background in traditional finance and early crypto ventures in China

His transition to Silicon Valley and the founding of Verda Ventures and APF


Verda’s focus on stablecoin infrastructure in emerging markets


Strategic partnerships with Tether and MiniPay to support portfolio companies


The utility and impact of stablecoins in cross-border commerce and remittances


Differences in stablecoin adoption across the U.S., Europe, and the Global South


Rationale for USD dominance and expectations for non-USD stablecoin growth


How stablecoins support U.S. dollar dominance and treasury demand


Investment opportunities in stablecoin infrastructure and cross-border rails


Regulatory clarity in the U.S. and its implications for Circle and big banks


Outlook on Ethereum as the foundational blockchain for stablecoins


Role of Tether and MiniPay in Verda’s investment and growth strategy


Future trends in stablecoin adoption: FX usage and private B2B transactions


Geopolitical implications of stablecoin use in unstable currency regions


Projections for global stablecoin supply over the next decade


Market impact of Circle’s IPO and Stripe’s stablecoin-related M&A activity


Exit dynamics and acquisition appetite from major fintechs and banks


Alex’s hypothetical career path outside crypto and tech


Links

Alex Witt on X: https://x.com/alexlwitt

Alex Witt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwitt 

Verda Ventures: https://verda.ventures/ 

Brooke Pollack on X: https://x.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>12dc7597-a662-46fb-bdb4-33ba9f32ef96Wed, 09 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -080045:19falsefull131311Jason Kam (Folius Ventures)Jason Kam (Folius Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Jason Kam, founder of Folius Ventures. Jason shares his journey from traditional finance to launching a hybrid crypto hedge fund, focusing on both liquid and private investments with a strong presence in Asia. He explains the structure of Folius, his evolving views on fund models, the importance of flexibility in crypto investing, and the challenges of navigating the Asian founder landscape. Jason also introduces BidClub, a platform to improve idea-sharing and transparency in liquid token investing.

Key Points From This Episode:


Jason Kam’s background in investment banking and hedge funds before entering crypto.

The launch of Folius Ventures and its hybrid fund structure.

Why Jason prioritized APAC and Chinese founders for early investments.

The rationale behind Folius’ mix of liquid and private investments.

Views on the advantages of a permanent capital or HoldCo structure in today’s market.

Jason’s approach to diligence for liquid vs. private crypto investments.

Observations on crypto regulatory landscapes in Asia and challenges for Chinese founders.

Sectors Folius is focused on: trading, stablecoins, and asset issuance.

Discussion on token governance, transparency, and long-term fundamentals in liquid markets.

Overview of BidClub and its role in surfacing investment ideas for liquid tokens.


Links

Jason Kam on LinkedIn: https://hk.linkedin.com/in/jason-kam-35080625

Folius Ventures: https://www.folius.ventures/

BidClub: https://www.bidclub.io/ 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

Jason Kam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MapleLeafCap

BidClub on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BidClubio

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Jason Kam, founder of Folius Ventures. Jason shares his journey from traditional finance to launching a hybrid crypto hedge fund, focusing on both liquid and private investments with a strong presence in Asia. He explains the structure of Folius, his evolving views on fund models, the importance of flexibility in crypto investing, and the challenges of navigating the Asian founder landscape. Jason also introduces BidClub, a platform to improve idea-sharing and transparency in liquid token investing.

Key Points From This Episode:


Jason Kam’s background in investment banking and hedge funds before entering crypto.

The launch of Folius Ventures and its hybrid fund structure.

Why Jason prioritized APAC and Chinese founders for early investments.

The rationale behind Folius’ mix of liquid and private investments.

Views on the advantages of a permanent capital or HoldCo structure in today’s market.

Jason’s approach to diligence for liquid vs. private crypto investments.

Observations on crypto regulatory landscapes in Asia and challenges for Chinese founders.

Sectors Folius is focused on: trading, stablecoins, and asset issuance.

Discussion on token governance, transparency, and long-term fundamentals in liquid markets.

Overview of BidClub and its role in surfacing investment ideas for liquid tokens.


Links

Jason Kam on LinkedIn: https://hk.linkedin.com/in/jason-kam-35080625

Folius Ventures: https://www.folius.ventures/

BidClub: https://www.bidclub.io/ 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

Jason Kam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MapleLeafCap

BidClub on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BidClubio

]]>7d877049-3f19-4ddf-995b-59ae5a9f7ed9Wed, 18 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -080047:14falsefull130301Andy Kangpan (Metalayer Ventures)Andy Kangpan (Metalayer Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Andy Kangpan, co-founder of Metalayer Ventures. Andy shares his journey from ff Venture Capital and Two Sigma to founding Metalayer, a firm focused on the future of finance moving on-chain. The conversation explores Metalayer’s investment thesis, the evolving crypto infrastructure landscape, and what Andy believes are the most exciting opportunities across stablecoins, market infrastructure, and asset tokenization. He also discusses the firm’s data-driven sourcing platform, founder support strategy, and broader views on DeFi and blockchain adoption.


Key Points From This Episode:


Andy Kangpan’s career path from ff Venture Capital to Two Sigma and into crypto.

The origins of Metalayer Ventures and its spinout from Two Sigma.

Metalayer’s thesis: the global financial system will be on-chain within the next decade.

Breakdown of Metalayer’s three investment categories: market infrastructure, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

Rationale behind early-stage equity and token investments in crypto.

Evolution of exit opportunities for equity-based crypto businesses.

Regulatory improvements accelerating institutional crypto adoption.

In-depth analysis of stablecoin investment categories and use cases.

Challenges and opportunities in crypto market infrastructure.

Comparison of competition dynamics across stablecoins and infrastructure.

Insights into real-world asset tokenization, especially in private credit.

Metalayer’s approach to investing in DeFi and institutional-focused protocols.

Blockchain ecosystems gaining traction among financial institutions (Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche).

Metalayer’s data-driven sourcing engine, Morai, and how it supports the investment process.


What differentiates Metalayer as a capital partner for founders.

Geographic investment focus by category across the Metalayer portfolio.

Highlight of Station 70, a recent investment in digital asset security infrastructure.

Andy’s past ambition to become a professional skateboarder and his continued passion for skating.


Links

Andy Kangpan on Twitter: https://x.com/kangpandabear

Andy Kangpan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkangpan

Metalayer: https://www.metalayer.vc/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Andy Kangpan, co-founder of Metalayer Ventures. Andy shares his journey from ff Venture Capital and Two Sigma to founding Metalayer, a firm focused on the future of finance moving on-chain. The conversation explores Metalayer’s investment thesis, the evolving crypto infrastructure landscape, and what Andy believes are the most exciting opportunities across stablecoins, market infrastructure, and asset tokenization. He also discusses the firm’s data-driven sourcing platform, founder support strategy, and broader views on DeFi and blockchain adoption.


Key Points From This Episode:


Andy Kangpan’s career path from ff Venture Capital to Two Sigma and into crypto.

The origins of Metalayer Ventures and its spinout from Two Sigma.

Metalayer’s thesis: the global financial system will be on-chain within the next decade.

Breakdown of Metalayer’s three investment categories: market infrastructure, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

Rationale behind early-stage equity and token investments in crypto.

Evolution of exit opportunities for equity-based crypto businesses.

Regulatory improvements accelerating institutional crypto adoption.

In-depth analysis of stablecoin investment categories and use cases.

Challenges and opportunities in crypto market infrastructure.

Comparison of competition dynamics across stablecoins and infrastructure.

Insights into real-world asset tokenization, especially in private credit.

Metalayer’s approach to investing in DeFi and institutional-focused protocols.

Blockchain ecosystems gaining traction among financial institutions (Ethereum, Solana, Avalanche).

Metalayer’s data-driven sourcing engine, Morai, and how it supports the investment process.


What differentiates Metalayer as a capital partner for founders.

Geographic investment focus by category across the Metalayer portfolio.

Highlight of Station 70, a recent investment in digital asset security infrastructure.

Andy’s past ambition to become a professional skateboarder and his continued passion for skating.


Links

Andy Kangpan on Twitter: https://x.com/kangpandabear

Andy Kangpan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkangpan

Metalayer: https://www.metalayer.vc/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>8a340151-7c25-4ab7-a126-423344b5f56aWed, 04 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -080046:09falsefull129291Sam Hallene (CMT Digital)Sam Hallene (CMT Digital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes Sam Hallene, investment partner at CMT Digital, a blockchain-focused venture capital firm operating under the broader CMT Group. Brooke and Sam explore current trends in DeFi, stablecoins, DePIN and sector-specific blockchains, along with candid insights into founder relationships, portfolio construction, and long-term conviction in the industry.

Key Points From This Episode:

Sam’s background and how he joined CMT Digital after reading the Bitcoin and Ethereum white papers.

Overview of CMT Digital’s evolution and its relationship with the broader CMT Group.

CMT Digital’s venture strategy, early-stage focus, and investment approach.

The operational implications of being a registered investment advisor (RIA).

CMT’s generalist thesis in blockchain, spanning multiple verticals and geographies.

Observations on the potential for U.S. crypto re-onshoring and regulatory shifts.

CMT’s global footprint and approach to investing across jurisdictions.

Investment check size, ownership targets, and CMT’s long-term founder engagement strategy.

Current state of DeFi and its progression into new financial instruments and integrations.

Stablecoins as a transformational technology and investment opportunity.

Perspectives on credit infrastructure and the role of stablecoins in payments.

1Money as an example of a purpose-built stablecoin-centric blockchain.

CMT’s views on investing across multiple L1s and L2s and how they think about competitive overlap.

Discussion of portfolio company Strike and the enduring demand for Bitcoin-centric financial services.

Thoughts on DePIN and key takeaways from Andrena’s growth model.

Sam’s conviction that global finance and infrastructure will shift to blockchain rails.

Why founders and LPs choose to work with CMT Digital.

Links:

Sam Hallene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hallene-353650bb

CMT Digital: https://cmt.digital/

CMT Digital on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cmt.digital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes Sam Hallene, investment partner at CMT Digital, a blockchain-focused venture capital firm operating under the broader CMT Group. Brooke and Sam explore current trends in DeFi, stablecoins, DePIN and sector-specific blockchains, along with candid insights into founder relationships, portfolio construction, and long-term conviction in the industry.

Key Points From This Episode:

Sam’s background and how he joined CMT Digital after reading the Bitcoin and Ethereum white papers.

Overview of CMT Digital’s evolution and its relationship with the broader CMT Group.

CMT Digital’s venture strategy, early-stage focus, and investment approach.

The operational implications of being a registered investment advisor (RIA).

CMT’s generalist thesis in blockchain, spanning multiple verticals and geographies.

Observations on the potential for U.S. crypto re-onshoring and regulatory shifts.

CMT’s global footprint and approach to investing across jurisdictions.

Investment check size, ownership targets, and CMT’s long-term founder engagement strategy.

Current state of DeFi and its progression into new financial instruments and integrations.

Stablecoins as a transformational technology and investment opportunity.

Perspectives on credit infrastructure and the role of stablecoins in payments.

1Money as an example of a purpose-built stablecoin-centric blockchain.

CMT’s views on investing across multiple L1s and L2s and how they think about competitive overlap.

Discussion of portfolio company Strike and the enduring demand for Bitcoin-centric financial services.

Thoughts on DePIN and key takeaways from Andrena’s growth model.

Sam’s conviction that global finance and infrastructure will shift to blockchain rails.

Why founders and LPs choose to work with CMT Digital.

Links:

Sam Hallene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hallene-353650bb

CMT Digital: https://cmt.digital/

CMT Digital on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cmt.digital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>303db406-78db-43af-8552-fa03d24c0247Wed, 21 May 2025 04:00:00 -080041:49falsefull128281Hootie Rashidifard (Hash3)Hootie Rashidifard (Hash3)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Hootie Rashidifard, founder of Hash3, a crypto-focused venture fund. Hootie shares his personal journey from Canaan Partners to launching Hash3, driven by a mission to promote self-sovereignty through decentralized technologies. They explore Hash3’s unique fund structure, investment philosophy, and the evolving dynamics of crypto venture investing, including token models, infrastructure focus, and how regulatory clarity could shape the industry’s future.

Key Points From This Episode:

Hootie Rashidifard’s background and his path from Canaan Partners to founding Hash3.


The personal story behind Hootie’s passion for decentralization and self-sovereignty.


Overview of Hash3’s mission, structure, and focus on enabling self-sovereignty.


Differences between operating a large venture fund and a solo GP crypto fund.


Hash3’s flexible investment approach and focus on infrastructure.


The concept of "crypto regime change" and evolving token market dynamics.


Challenges with low float, high FDV token models and emerging founder strategies.


The importance of fundamentals in crypto investing amid a growing number of tokens.


Perspectives on infrastructure vs. application investments in crypto.


Potential impacts of U.S. regulatory developments on crypto venture investing.


Alpha vs. beta deal sourcing and how Hash3 wins competitive allocations.


Highlights of Hash3 portfolio companies, including Nirvana Labs and Chakra Labs.


Hootie’s passion for classic cars and what he’d pursue outside of crypto and venture.



Links:

Hootie Rashidifard on Twitter: https://x.com/hootie_r

Hootie Rashidifard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hootanrashidifard

Hash3: https://www.hash3.xyz/

Fund I [Abridged] Q4 2024 LP Letter: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qdu7puck2d85zviwwk3q2/Hash3-Venture-Fund-I-Abridged-Q4-2024-LP-Letter.pdf?rlkey=s9an69m4q88atuoesrqer2yqw&st=3jw7jid9&dl=0

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Hootie Rashidifard, founder of Hash3, a crypto-focused venture fund. Hootie shares his personal journey from Canaan Partners to launching Hash3, driven by a mission to promote self-sovereignty through decentralized technologies. They explore Hash3’s unique fund structure, investment philosophy, and the evolving dynamics of crypto venture investing, including token models, infrastructure focus, and how regulatory clarity could shape the industry’s future.

Key Points From This Episode:

Hootie Rashidifard’s background and his path from Canaan Partners to founding Hash3.


The personal story behind Hootie’s passion for decentralization and self-sovereignty.


Overview of Hash3’s mission, structure, and focus on enabling self-sovereignty.


Differences between operating a large venture fund and a solo GP crypto fund.


Hash3’s flexible investment approach and focus on infrastructure.


The concept of "crypto regime change" and evolving token market dynamics.


Challenges with low float, high FDV token models and emerging founder strategies.


The importance of fundamentals in crypto investing amid a growing number of tokens.


Perspectives on infrastructure vs. application investments in crypto.


Potential impacts of U.S. regulatory developments on crypto venture investing.


Alpha vs. beta deal sourcing and how Hash3 wins competitive allocations.


Highlights of Hash3 portfolio companies, including Nirvana Labs and Chakra Labs.


Hootie’s passion for classic cars and what he’d pursue outside of crypto and venture.



Links:

Hootie Rashidifard on Twitter: https://x.com/hootie_r

Hootie Rashidifard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hootanrashidifard

Hash3: https://www.hash3.xyz/

Fund I [Abridged] Q4 2024 LP Letter: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qdu7puck2d85zviwwk3q2/Hash3-Venture-Fund-I-Abridged-Q4-2024-LP-Letter.pdf?rlkey=s9an69m4q88atuoesrqer2yqw&st=3jw7jid9&dl=0

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>c1e633cb-21b8-4697-b929-eb84d7989b66Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -080051:05falsefull127271Jakub Rusiecki and David (Social Graph Ventures)Jakub Rusiecki and David (Social Graph Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack welcomes Jakub Rusiecki and David, co-summoners of Social Graph Ventures (SGV), a Web3 social investment vehicle. They discuss their personal journeys into crypto investing, the formation and structure of SGV, and the unique opportunities in Web3 social. The conversation covers SGV’s investment thesis, the evolution of blockchain-powered social platforms like Farcaster and Lens, and how open social graphs can disrupt existing incumbents. Jakub and David also explore how SGV operates as a community-driven investment DAO, their experience in early-stage investing, and the future of Web3 social applications.

Key Points From This Episode:


Introduction to SGV – Jakub and David share their backgrounds and how they formed Social Graph Ventures.

What is Web3 Social? – Explanation of how decentralized social platforms function and their potential impact.

Investment Focus of SGV – Discussion on why SGV prioritizes Web3 social apps, middleware, and social protocols.

Challenges in Web3 Social Adoption – Why competing with Web2 incumbents is difficult and how SGV sees new opportunities.

Farcaster and Lens as Flagship Platforms – The role of these decentralized social networks in the ecosystem.

The Community-Driven Investment Model – How SGV operates without LPs, using a member-based structure.

Motivating Member Participation – Reward-based incentives to keep contributors engaged and active.

The Future of SGV – Potential expansion, additional vehicles, and staying disciplined in investment strategy.

Highlighting Portfolio Investments – Overview of SGV-backed startups like Neynar, and Rodeo.

Long-Term Vision for Web3 Social – How open social graphs and blockchain-based social networks might evolve.


Links

Jakub Rusiecki on Twitter: https://x.com/jakub_rusiecki

David on Twitter: https://x.com/clujso

Social Graph Ventures: https://www.socialgraph.vc/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack welcomes Jakub Rusiecki and David, co-summoners of Social Graph Ventures (SGV), a Web3 social investment vehicle. They discuss their personal journeys into crypto investing, the formation and structure of SGV, and the unique opportunities in Web3 social. The conversation covers SGV’s investment thesis, the evolution of blockchain-powered social platforms like Farcaster and Lens, and how open social graphs can disrupt existing incumbents. Jakub and David also explore how SGV operates as a community-driven investment DAO, their experience in early-stage investing, and the future of Web3 social applications.

Key Points From This Episode:


Introduction to SGV – Jakub and David share their backgrounds and how they formed Social Graph Ventures.

What is Web3 Social? – Explanation of how decentralized social platforms function and their potential impact.

Investment Focus of SGV – Discussion on why SGV prioritizes Web3 social apps, middleware, and social protocols.

Challenges in Web3 Social Adoption – Why competing with Web2 incumbents is difficult and how SGV sees new opportunities.

Farcaster and Lens as Flagship Platforms – The role of these decentralized social networks in the ecosystem.

The Community-Driven Investment Model – How SGV operates without LPs, using a member-based structure.

Motivating Member Participation – Reward-based incentives to keep contributors engaged and active.

The Future of SGV – Potential expansion, additional vehicles, and staying disciplined in investment strategy.

Highlighting Portfolio Investments – Overview of SGV-backed startups like Neynar, and Rodeo.

Long-Term Vision for Web3 Social – How open social graphs and blockchain-based social networks might evolve.


Links

Jakub Rusiecki on Twitter: https://x.com/jakub_rusiecki

David on Twitter: https://x.com/clujso

Social Graph Ventures: https://www.socialgraph.vc/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>ee5c08ae-f1c5-477e-a12f-7f7e6886aff5Wed, 19 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -080045:58falsefull126261Vishwa Naik (Anera Labs)Vishwa Naik (Anera Labs)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes Vishwa Naik, co-founder of Anera, a DeFi-focused prime brokerage. Vishwa shares his journey from finance and traditional startups to the world of blockchain, explaining how Anera provides inventory and execution services to institutional traders. They explore the complexities of cross-chain liquidity, arbitrage opportunities between CeFi and DeFi, and the future of capital-efficient trading. Vishwa also discusses the technical and security challenges of building a DeFi protocol, the role of tokenized assets, and how Anera is positioning itself to scale within both DeFi and traditional financial systems.


Key Points From This Episode:


Vishwa’s background – from finance to blockchain entrepreneurship.

The vision for Anera – building a DeFi-focused prime brokerage.

Why interoperability between chains is critical for market efficiency.

How Anera helps institutional traders access capital-efficient arbitrage.

The evolving role of DeFi prime brokerage and its relationship with existing players like FalconX.

Why Anera transitioned away from servicing retail users to focus on institutions.

How DeFi protocols and CeFi traders interact in arbitrage markets.

Challenges in scaling a prime brokerage for DeFi and key liquidity trends.

The role of tokenized yield-bearing assets in Anera’s future.

The importance of hiring domain experts from prop trading and market-making firms.

Regulatory considerations and the impact of a new U.S. administration on crypto markets.

Anera’s upcoming product launch in March 2025 and expansion plans.


Links

Vishwa Naik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishwa-naik-4748a3137

Anera Labs: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anera-labs

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/


]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack welcomes Vishwa Naik, co-founder of Anera, a DeFi-focused prime brokerage. Vishwa shares his journey from finance and traditional startups to the world of blockchain, explaining how Anera provides inventory and execution services to institutional traders. They explore the complexities of cross-chain liquidity, arbitrage opportunities between CeFi and DeFi, and the future of capital-efficient trading. Vishwa also discusses the technical and security challenges of building a DeFi protocol, the role of tokenized assets, and how Anera is positioning itself to scale within both DeFi and traditional financial systems.


Key Points From This Episode:


Vishwa’s background – from finance to blockchain entrepreneurship.

The vision for Anera – building a DeFi-focused prime brokerage.

Why interoperability between chains is critical for market efficiency.

How Anera helps institutional traders access capital-efficient arbitrage.

The evolving role of DeFi prime brokerage and its relationship with existing players like FalconX.

Why Anera transitioned away from servicing retail users to focus on institutions.

How DeFi protocols and CeFi traders interact in arbitrage markets.

Challenges in scaling a prime brokerage for DeFi and key liquidity trends.

The role of tokenized yield-bearing assets in Anera’s future.

The importance of hiring domain experts from prop trading and market-making firms.

Regulatory considerations and the impact of a new U.S. administration on crypto markets.

Anera’s upcoming product launch in March 2025 and expansion plans.


Links

Vishwa Naik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishwa-naik-4748a3137

Anera Labs: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anera-labs

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/


]]>e5c1b5e8-9670-4c86-b2da-39b308570bb6Wed, 05 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -080051:17falsefull125251Kyle Samani (Multicoin Capital)Kyle Samani (Multicoin Capital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack sits down with Kyle Samani, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, to explore the firm’s evolution, investment philosophy, and the current and future landscape of blockchain investing. Kyle shares his journey from early tech startups to launching Multicoin, the lessons learned along the way, and the firm's strategic approach to infrastructure, applications, and capital markets. The conversation touches on Solana’s architecture, stablecoins, DeFi capital efficiency, Deepin, AI-integrated blockchain ventures, and political advocacy for crypto legislation. Kyle also dives into emerging trends like zero-employee companies and decentralized GPU marketplaces, highlighting the future of crypto-powered AI.

Key Points From This Episode:

Kyle’s journey from programming to co-founding Multicoin Capital.

Lessons learned from building a fund from scratch in 2017.

The firm’s strategic focus on Solana, DeFi, and deep infrastructure investments.

Why Solana’s architecture makes it the preferred blockchain for trading and applications.

The growing role of stablecoins and how to invest in their ecosystem.

Evolution of capital efficiency in DeFi and risk management in different models.

Deepin's growth and crypto's role in AI and robotics.

The concept of zero-employee companies and AI-driven business models.

Multicoin’s involvement in crypto regulatory advocacy and political support.

Kyle’s take on the future of crypto cycles and where the market is heading.

Exciting Multicoin portfolio companies, including Ionet’s decentralized GPU marketplace.


Links

Kyle Samani

Multicoin Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

Multicoin 2024 Summit Highlights

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack sits down with Kyle Samani, co-founder of Multicoin Capital, to explore the firm’s evolution, investment philosophy, and the current and future landscape of blockchain investing. Kyle shares his journey from early tech startups to launching Multicoin, the lessons learned along the way, and the firm's strategic approach to infrastructure, applications, and capital markets. The conversation touches on Solana’s architecture, stablecoins, DeFi capital efficiency, Deepin, AI-integrated blockchain ventures, and political advocacy for crypto legislation. Kyle also dives into emerging trends like zero-employee companies and decentralized GPU marketplaces, highlighting the future of crypto-powered AI.

Key Points From This Episode:

Kyle’s journey from programming to co-founding Multicoin Capital.

Lessons learned from building a fund from scratch in 2017.

The firm’s strategic focus on Solana, DeFi, and deep infrastructure investments.

Why Solana’s architecture makes it the preferred blockchain for trading and applications.

The growing role of stablecoins and how to invest in their ecosystem.

Evolution of capital efficiency in DeFi and risk management in different models.

Deepin's growth and crypto's role in AI and robotics.

The concept of zero-employee companies and AI-driven business models.

Multicoin’s involvement in crypto regulatory advocacy and political support.

Kyle’s take on the future of crypto cycles and where the market is heading.

Exciting Multicoin portfolio companies, including Ionet’s decentralized GPU marketplace.


Links

Kyle Samani

Multicoin Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

Multicoin 2024 Summit Highlights

]]>f108a1c9-9bbe-4cbc-a7eb-14ec72c69cf7Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -080041:52falsefull124241Spencer Bogart (Blockchain Capital)Spencer Bogart (Blockchain Capital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack interviews Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital. Spencer shares his journey into venture capital, transitioning from sell-side equity research to joining Blockchain Capital nearly a decade ago. The conversation delves into Blockchain Capital’s history, investment strategy, and how the firm has remained a leading player in blockchain venture investing. Spencer also provides insights on navigating market cycles, evaluating investment opportunities, and the evolving dynamics within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

Spencer Bogart’s career journey, from economics undergrad to General Partner at Blockchain Capital. 

Blockchain Capital’s history, starting with a $1M fund and scaling to billions in assets under management. 

The firm’s focus on pure venture investments and its disciplined approach to liquid assets. 

Importance of maintaining team integrity, transparency, and low turnover in a venture setting. 

Investment philosophies and how Blockchain Capital identifies opportunities uniquely enabled by blockchain. 

Notable investments in projects like EigenLayer and Worldcoin, and the rationale behind these decisions. 

The impact of market cycles on investment strategies and how Blockchain Capital prepares for bull and bear markets. 

Insights into the future of DeFi and its nearly infinite design space for financial innovation. 

Discussion on the regulatory environment and its impact on blockchain startups and innovation in the U.S. 

Perspectives on differentiating as a blockchain-focused venture fund and sustaining a competitive edge. 

How allocators are realizing that the liquidity profile of crypto venture funds is becoming strictly superior to general venture funds and why.

Links 

Spencer Bogart on LinkedIn 

Blockchain Capital 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack interviews Spencer Bogart, General Partner at Blockchain Capital. Spencer shares his journey into venture capital, transitioning from sell-side equity research to joining Blockchain Capital nearly a decade ago. The conversation delves into Blockchain Capital’s history, investment strategy, and how the firm has remained a leading player in blockchain venture investing. Spencer also provides insights on navigating market cycles, evaluating investment opportunities, and the evolving dynamics within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

Spencer Bogart’s career journey, from economics undergrad to General Partner at Blockchain Capital. 

Blockchain Capital’s history, starting with a $1M fund and scaling to billions in assets under management. 

The firm’s focus on pure venture investments and its disciplined approach to liquid assets. 

Importance of maintaining team integrity, transparency, and low turnover in a venture setting. 

Investment philosophies and how Blockchain Capital identifies opportunities uniquely enabled by blockchain. 

Notable investments in projects like EigenLayer and Worldcoin, and the rationale behind these decisions. 

The impact of market cycles on investment strategies and how Blockchain Capital prepares for bull and bear markets. 

Insights into the future of DeFi and its nearly infinite design space for financial innovation. 

Discussion on the regulatory environment and its impact on blockchain startups and innovation in the U.S. 

Perspectives on differentiating as a blockchain-focused venture fund and sustaining a competitive edge. 

How allocators are realizing that the liquidity profile of crypto venture funds is becoming strictly superior to general venture funds and why.

Links 

Spencer Bogart on LinkedIn 

Blockchain Capital 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>da2abf6d-3471-4e99-a7a5-df9f46fc26fcWed, 20 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -080053:56falsefull123231Simao Cruz (Lightshift Capital)Simao Cruz (Lightshift Capital)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack welcomes Simao Cruz, founding partner of Lightshift Capital. Simao shares insights on building Lightshift as a venture firm and engineering platform focused on early-stage blockchain projects. The discussion delves into Lightshift's origin story, its engineering-driven investment strategy, and how the firm acts as a "third co-founder" for portfolio companies. They also explore the challenges and rewards of contributing hands-on technical expertise, discuss Lightshift’s strategic focus on decentralized technologies, and examine how Lisbon is becoming a hub for blockchain innovation. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

Introduction to Simao Cruz and Lightshift Capital’s founding team 

Lightshift’s engineering-centered approach and “third co-founder” philosophy 

Focus on low-level infrastructure and high-growth market applications 

Differentiation through early-stage support in product development and engineering 

Role of Lightshift in project incubation and the firm’s approach to incubating startups 

Strategic investments in decentralized health data sharing and tokenized domain name services 

The importance of tokenization and the overlooked impact of decentralized data 

Lightshift’s engineering diligence process and alignment with portfolio founders 

The growing prominence of Lisbon as a blockchain ecosystem hub 

Regulatory contrasts between the U.S. and Portugal’s stance on blockchain 

 

Links 

Simao Cruz on LinkedIn 

Lightshift Capital 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack welcomes Simao Cruz, founding partner of Lightshift Capital. Simao shares insights on building Lightshift as a venture firm and engineering platform focused on early-stage blockchain projects. The discussion delves into Lightshift's origin story, its engineering-driven investment strategy, and how the firm acts as a "third co-founder" for portfolio companies. They also explore the challenges and rewards of contributing hands-on technical expertise, discuss Lightshift’s strategic focus on decentralized technologies, and examine how Lisbon is becoming a hub for blockchain innovation. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

Introduction to Simao Cruz and Lightshift Capital’s founding team 

Lightshift’s engineering-centered approach and “third co-founder” philosophy 

Focus on low-level infrastructure and high-growth market applications 

Differentiation through early-stage support in product development and engineering 

Role of Lightshift in project incubation and the firm’s approach to incubating startups 

Strategic investments in decentralized health data sharing and tokenized domain name services 

The importance of tokenization and the overlooked impact of decentralized data 

Lightshift’s engineering diligence process and alignment with portfolio founders 

The growing prominence of Lisbon as a blockchain ecosystem hub 

Regulatory contrasts between the U.S. and Portugal’s stance on blockchain 

 

Links 

Simao Cruz on LinkedIn 

Lightshift Capital 

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>8ec6d627-45a3-4156-8f3a-7da90a113f3fWed, 06 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -080044:01falsefull122221Nicolas Priem (Tioga Capital Partners)Nicolas Priem (Tioga Capital Partners)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack sits down with Nicolas Priem, co-founder of Tioga Capital Partners, to discuss the evolving landscape of blockchain venture investing in Europe. Nicolas shares his background in private equity and his transition to the crypto space, along with insights into Tioga’s strategies in early-stage crypto investing. They explore key topics such as the rise of real-world assets (RWA), the opportunities in tokenizing corporate bonds, and the growing European crypto startup ecosystem. Nicolas also reflects on the unique challenges and benefits of investing in crypto, the importance of founder-driven investment strategies, and the influence of the MiCA regulatory framework in Europe.

Key Points From This Episode:

Overview of Tioga Capital Partners and their investment focus on early-stage crypto startups in Europe.

Tioga’s strategies around real-world assets (RWAs) including insights into tokenizing corporate bonds and other areas ripe for disruption such as the opaque art world.

The growing European crypto ecosystem with Lisbon and London serving as key hubs.

The impact of the MiCA framework on crypto regulation in Europe.

Core emphasis of founder-driven investment strategies and long-term relationships with exceptional entrepreneurs.

Tioga’s focus on providing value to portfolio companies through extensive product testing and market feedback.

The importance of discipline during market cycles and the growing role of traditional finance players in the crypto space.



Links

Nicolas Priem on LinkedIn: https://be.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-priem-01648a58

Tioga Capital Partners: https://tioga.capital/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack sits down with Nicolas Priem, co-founder of Tioga Capital Partners, to discuss the evolving landscape of blockchain venture investing in Europe. Nicolas shares his background in private equity and his transition to the crypto space, along with insights into Tioga’s strategies in early-stage crypto investing. They explore key topics such as the rise of real-world assets (RWA), the opportunities in tokenizing corporate bonds, and the growing European crypto startup ecosystem. Nicolas also reflects on the unique challenges and benefits of investing in crypto, the importance of founder-driven investment strategies, and the influence of the MiCA regulatory framework in Europe.

Key Points From This Episode:

Overview of Tioga Capital Partners and their investment focus on early-stage crypto startups in Europe.

Tioga’s strategies around real-world assets (RWAs) including insights into tokenizing corporate bonds and other areas ripe for disruption such as the opaque art world.

The growing European crypto ecosystem with Lisbon and London serving as key hubs.

The impact of the MiCA framework on crypto regulation in Europe.

Core emphasis of founder-driven investment strategies and long-term relationships with exceptional entrepreneurs.

Tioga’s focus on providing value to portfolio companies through extensive product testing and market feedback.

The importance of discipline during market cycles and the growing role of traditional finance players in the crypto space.



Links

Nicolas Priem on LinkedIn: https://be.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-priem-01648a58

Tioga Capital Partners: https://tioga.capital/

Brooke Pollack on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital: https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>a9ddfece-96cd-4fbd-86f4-9884165f89d9Wed, 23 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -080043:23falsefull121211Tracy Li (Istari Ventures)Tracy Li (Istari Ventures)In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack speaks with Tracy Li, Managing Partner of Istari Ventures. Tracy shares her journey from being a startup founder in Silicon Valley to building her career in the crypto space with roles at Coinbase and Circle. The conversation explores Istari Ventures’ focus on blockchain-based payments and fintech strategies, particularly in emerging markets, and examines the unique challenges and opportunities within the crypto industry. Tracy also provides insights into the evolving role of crypto in global payments, the potential for M&A activity, and the importance of building strong relationships within the venture community.

Key Points From This Episode:

Tracy’s background from Silicon Valley tech to crypto ventures.

Founding Istari Ventures and its focus on blockchain-based payments and fintech.

The role of blockchain in improving speed, cost, and programmability of payments.

Emerging market opportunities, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Institutional adoption of blockchain and the potential for future M&A in the sector.

The significance of stablecoins in crypto payments and their future role.

Challenges in DeFi adoption, particularly among institutions.

Building a venture firm’s brand and ecosystem in the blockchain space.

Links

Tracy Li on LinkedIn

Istari Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack speaks with Tracy Li, Managing Partner of Istari Ventures. Tracy shares her journey from being a startup founder in Silicon Valley to building her career in the crypto space with roles at Coinbase and Circle. The conversation explores Istari Ventures’ focus on blockchain-based payments and fintech strategies, particularly in emerging markets, and examines the unique challenges and opportunities within the crypto industry. Tracy also provides insights into the evolving role of crypto in global payments, the potential for M&A activity, and the importance of building strong relationships within the venture community.

Key Points From This Episode:

Tracy’s background from Silicon Valley tech to crypto ventures.

Founding Istari Ventures and its focus on blockchain-based payments and fintech.

The role of blockchain in improving speed, cost, and programmability of payments.

Emerging market opportunities, particularly in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Institutional adoption of blockchain and the potential for future M&A in the sector.

The significance of stablecoins in crypto payments and their future role.

Challenges in DeFi adoption, particularly among institutions.

Building a venture firm’s brand and ecosystem in the blockchain space.

Links

Tracy Li on LinkedIn

Istari Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>39961bc1-f733-4bd2-ac4f-8bedba73a480Wed, 25 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -080055:06falsefull120201David Feiock (Anagram Ventures) – Why Modular And Monolithic Blockchains Can CoexistDavid Feiock (Anagram Ventures) – Why Modular And Monolithic Blockchains Can CoexistIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack speaks with David Feiock, GeneralPartner at Anagram Ventures. David shares his journey from traditional finance to blockchain venture investing, discussing the unique structure and strategy of Anagram Ventures. The conversation explores key topics such as modular blockchains, the intersection of crypto and AI, and the importance of privacy in decentralized applications. David also provides insights into Anagram's investment focus and how the firm supports its portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

Background of David Feiock

The Fundamentals Of Money

Anagram Ventures Background

Galileo Ventures Merging With Anagram Ventures

How The Intersection Of Tech Verticals Improve The Application Layer

Comparing Cosmos And Solana

Understanding Chain Abstraction

PayFi, DePIN, Crypto AI Applications

How Crypto Assists Emerging Markets

What Makes Anagram Ventures Superior

The Dynamic Behind Low Float High FDV

Exciting Port Cos For Anagram Ventures

Links

David Feiock on Twitter 

Anagram Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack speaks with David Feiock, GeneralPartner at Anagram Ventures. David shares his journey from traditional finance to blockchain venture investing, discussing the unique structure and strategy of Anagram Ventures. The conversation explores key topics such as modular blockchains, the intersection of crypto and AI, and the importance of privacy in decentralized applications. David also provides insights into Anagram's investment focus and how the firm supports its portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

Background of David Feiock

The Fundamentals Of Money

Anagram Ventures Background

Galileo Ventures Merging With Anagram Ventures

How The Intersection Of Tech Verticals Improve The Application Layer

Comparing Cosmos And Solana

Understanding Chain Abstraction

PayFi, DePIN, Crypto AI Applications

How Crypto Assists Emerging Markets

What Makes Anagram Ventures Superior

The Dynamic Behind Low Float High FDV

Exciting Port Cos For Anagram Ventures

Links

David Feiock on Twitter 

Anagram Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter 

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn 

Hutt Capital 

]]>c68dc10f-41ed-42c6-abc1-dce1493c72ffWed, 11 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -080038:37falsefull119191Mahesh Ramakrishnan (Escape Velocity) - The How, Why, & What Behind DePINMahesh Ramakrishnan (Escape Velocity) - The How, Why, & What Behind DePINIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack sits down with Mahesh Ramakrishnan, co-founder of Escape Velocity (EV3), an early-stage venture firm focused on the Deepin sector. Mahesh shares his journey from traditional finance at Apollo to launching EV3, driven by a passion for decentralized infrastructure networks. The conversation explores the concept of Deepin, the potential of community-driven infrastructure, and how Escape Velocity navigates this emerging space. They also delve into the challenges and opportunities within the Deepin sector, from decentralized telecom to compute networks, and the future of venture capital in this niche.

Key Points From This Episode:

How The Incentives In Religion Extend To Economics

Background On Escape Velocity

What Is Interesting About DePIN

The Duration Mismatch Seen In Telecomm

Thesis Behind DePIN & Crowdsourcing Infrastructure Networks

Why DePIN Is Superior To Traditional Infrastructure

How Blockchain & Crypto Are Used In DePIN

The Sectors Of DePIN

Emerging DePIN Ecosystems

The Progression & Usage Of DePIN

Decentralized Compute & Wireless Networks

Deal Curation Process At Escape Velocity

Capital Inflows Into DePIN

Links

Mahesh Ramakrishnan on Linkedin

EV3

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, host Brooke Pollack sits down with Mahesh Ramakrishnan, co-founder of Escape Velocity (EV3), an early-stage venture firm focused on the Deepin sector. Mahesh shares his journey from traditional finance at Apollo to launching EV3, driven by a passion for decentralized infrastructure networks. The conversation explores the concept of Deepin, the potential of community-driven infrastructure, and how Escape Velocity navigates this emerging space. They also delve into the challenges and opportunities within the Deepin sector, from decentralized telecom to compute networks, and the future of venture capital in this niche.

Key Points From This Episode:

How The Incentives In Religion Extend To Economics

Background On Escape Velocity

What Is Interesting About DePIN

The Duration Mismatch Seen In Telecomm

Thesis Behind DePIN & Crowdsourcing Infrastructure Networks

Why DePIN Is Superior To Traditional Infrastructure

How Blockchain & Crypto Are Used In DePIN

The Sectors Of DePIN

Emerging DePIN Ecosystems

The Progression & Usage Of DePIN

Decentralized Compute & Wireless Networks

Deal Curation Process At Escape Velocity

Capital Inflows Into DePIN

Links

Mahesh Ramakrishnan on Linkedin

EV3

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>d418a949-b7fb-4764-a6f7-511f7ecffc10Thu, 22 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -080001:16:43falsefull118181Baek Kim (Hashed) - Discover How Hashed Operates Across U.S. & Asia Crypto MarketsBaek Kim (Hashed) - Discover How Hashed Operates Across U.S. & Asia Crypto MarketsIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Baek Kim, a partner at Hashed. Baek shares his journey from robotics and hackathons to blockchain and discusses Hashed's growth, investment strategies, and the dynamics of the blockchain venture capital landscape across different regions. The conversation also covers Hashed’s focus areas, including infrastructure and gaming investments, and their initiatives in emerging markets like India and Africa.

Key Points From This Episode:

Baek Kim’s background

The genesis of Hashed ventures

Sector focus on remittance layers, RWAs, & metaverse

Building incubators & communities for India & Africa

Portfolio construction & companies 

Crypto Interest in Southeast Asia 

Conglomerate alliances in Southeast Asia

Evaluations & regulations in East vs West

Introspection on Hashed & portcos like ZKsync

Links

Baek Kim on LinkedIn

Hashed

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Baek Kim, a partner at Hashed. Baek shares his journey from robotics and hackathons to blockchain and discusses Hashed's growth, investment strategies, and the dynamics of the blockchain venture capital landscape across different regions. The conversation also covers Hashed’s focus areas, including infrastructure and gaming investments, and their initiatives in emerging markets like India and Africa.

Key Points From This Episode:

Baek Kim’s background

The genesis of Hashed ventures

Sector focus on remittance layers, RWAs, & metaverse

Building incubators & communities for India & Africa

Portfolio construction & companies 

Crypto Interest in Southeast Asia 

Conglomerate alliances in Southeast Asia

Evaluations & regulations in East vs West

Introspection on Hashed & portcos like ZKsync

Links

Baek Kim on LinkedIn

Hashed

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>943c1220-35ab-4fc3-9d3a-c6cf91bf7700Wed, 10 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -080045:37falsefull117171Michael Jordan (DBA) — Unpacking DBA’s Framework for Evaluating Esoteric Blockchain ConceptsMichael Jordan (DBA) — Unpacking DBA’s Framework for Evaluating Esoteric Blockchain ConceptsIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Michael Jordan, co-founder of DBA, an early-stage blockchain venture capital firm focused on infrastructure. Michael shares his unique journey from Galaxy Digital to founding DBA, discussing the firm's research-driven approach, the importance of infrastructure in the blockchain space, and DBA's strategic differentiation. They dive into investment strategies, technical diligence's significance, and in-person collaboration's value. This conversation provides deep insights into the evolving landscape of blockchain venture investing.

Key Points From This Episode:

Michael Jordan’s background and his journey from Galaxy Digital to founding DBA.

Formation and strategy of DBA, including the unique approach inspired by childhood psychology.

Why DBA prioritizes the rate of learning and infrastructure/platforms over applications.

Discussion on interest in platforms like Bitcoin, Cosmos, Ethereum, & Solana. 

Approach to diligence on infrastructure by evaluating fundamental blockchain concepts.

Criteria DBA looks for when selecting and supporting founders.

The value and impact of DBA’s community-driven primary research.

The differentiating qualities of DBA in the saturated blockchain VC market.

Background, insights, and takeaways of DBA research day.

Links

DBA

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Michael Jordan, co-founder of DBA, an early-stage blockchain venture capital firm focused on infrastructure. Michael shares his unique journey from Galaxy Digital to founding DBA, discussing the firm's research-driven approach, the importance of infrastructure in the blockchain space, and DBA's strategic differentiation. They dive into investment strategies, technical diligence's significance, and in-person collaboration's value. This conversation provides deep insights into the evolving landscape of blockchain venture investing.

Key Points From This Episode:

Michael Jordan’s background and his journey from Galaxy Digital to founding DBA.

Formation and strategy of DBA, including the unique approach inspired by childhood psychology.

Why DBA prioritizes the rate of learning and infrastructure/platforms over applications.

Discussion on interest in platforms like Bitcoin, Cosmos, Ethereum, & Solana. 

Approach to diligence on infrastructure by evaluating fundamental blockchain concepts.

Criteria DBA looks for when selecting and supporting founders.

The value and impact of DBA’s community-driven primary research.

The differentiating qualities of DBA in the saturated blockchain VC market.

Background, insights, and takeaways of DBA research day.

Links

DBA

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>fcf015d2-fb13-4325-9cc3-8988f77deb19Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -080047:36falsefull116161Kevin Williams (Sats Ventures) – Navigating Bitcoin’s DeFi Renaissance & FutureKevin Williams (Sats Ventures) – Navigating Bitcoin’s DeFi Renaissance & FutureIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Kevin Williams, founder of Sats Ventures. Kevin discusses his transition from the Bitcoin Frontier Fund to establishing Sats Ventures, a firm dedicated to early-stage investments in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The conversation covers the evolving Bitcoin landscape, investment strategies, the rise of DeFi on Bitcoin, and the unique opportunities within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Kevin also shares insights on the geographic distribution of founders, challenges in venture investing, and advice for emerging fund managers.

Key Points From This Episode:

Kevin Williams’s background and the Indonesian digital asset scene.

Sats Ventures’ investment focus, thesis and approach to supporting founders.

Bitcoin’s non-programmable history and shift to BRC-20.

Bitcoin ecosystem interest around ordinals.

Bitcoin DeFi growth, Layer 2 solutions, and liquidity fragmentation.

Geographic distribution and talent pool of Bitcoin founders.

Valuations and competition in Bitcoin venture space.

Challenges in Bitcoin venture investing and strategies.

Links

Kevin Williams on Twitter

Sats Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Kevin Williams, founder of Sats Ventures. Kevin discusses his transition from the Bitcoin Frontier Fund to establishing Sats Ventures, a firm dedicated to early-stage investments in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The conversation covers the evolving Bitcoin landscape, investment strategies, the rise of DeFi on Bitcoin, and the unique opportunities within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Kevin also shares insights on the geographic distribution of founders, challenges in venture investing, and advice for emerging fund managers.

Key Points From This Episode:

Kevin Williams’s background and the Indonesian digital asset scene.

Sats Ventures’ investment focus, thesis and approach to supporting founders.

Bitcoin’s non-programmable history and shift to BRC-20.

Bitcoin ecosystem interest around ordinals.

Bitcoin DeFi growth, Layer 2 solutions, and liquidity fragmentation.

Geographic distribution and talent pool of Bitcoin founders.

Valuations and competition in Bitcoin venture space.

Challenges in Bitcoin venture investing and strategies.

Links

Kevin Williams on Twitter

Sats Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>8d80f7c1-2333-47cc-80d7-0449a8648b56Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -080041:22falsefull115151Ben Forman (ParaFi) – DeFi, Tokenization, and the Future of Financial MarketsBen Forman (ParaFi) – DeFi, Tokenization, and the Future of Financial MarketsIn this episode, Brooke Pollack interviews Ben Forman, founder of ParaFi Capital. Ben shares his journey from traditional finance to founding ParaFi, an early leader in decentralized finance (DeFi). They discuss the evolution and future of DeFi, the tokenization of real-world assets, and the importance of regulatory clarity in crypto. Ben also highlights ParaFi's strategies, proprietary tools, and how they support portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

Overview of Ben Forman’s background, including pitching bitcoin at KKR early on, and why he started ParaFi (+ what was the firm's original name)

Overview of ParaFi, its strategies, team, and focus areas

ParaFi’s proprietary tools: Trask and Alexandria

Overview of tokenization of real world assets, why it is interesting, and what Ben is seeing from large asset managers interested in this space

Why Ben is excited about stablecoins

Importance of regulatory clarity for DeFi and building systems that institutions can interact with

How DeFi landscape has evolved over the past several years

Fundamental investing - does the market care about fundamentals?

How ParaFi supports portfolio companies and measures its impact

Links

Ben Forman on LinkedIn

ParaFi Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode, Brooke Pollack interviews Ben Forman, founder of ParaFi Capital. Ben shares his journey from traditional finance to founding ParaFi, an early leader in decentralized finance (DeFi). They discuss the evolution and future of DeFi, the tokenization of real-world assets, and the importance of regulatory clarity in crypto. Ben also highlights ParaFi's strategies, proprietary tools, and how they support portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

Overview of Ben Forman’s background, including pitching bitcoin at KKR early on, and why he started ParaFi (+ what was the firm's original name)

Overview of ParaFi, its strategies, team, and focus areas

ParaFi’s proprietary tools: Trask and Alexandria

Overview of tokenization of real world assets, why it is interesting, and what Ben is seeing from large asset managers interested in this space

Why Ben is excited about stablecoins

Importance of regulatory clarity for DeFi and building systems that institutions can interact with

How DeFi landscape has evolved over the past several years

Fundamental investing - does the market care about fundamentals?

How ParaFi supports portfolio companies and measures its impact

Links

Ben Forman on LinkedIn

ParaFi Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>8ee539d8-8356-4846-927f-9ea0cef980f8Wed, 22 May 2024 04:00:00 -080043:34falsefull114141Evgeny Gokhberg (Re7 Capital): Role of DeFi Risk Curators and How Lending Protocols are EvolvingEvgeny Gokhberg (Re7 Capital): Role of DeFi Risk Curators and How Lending Protocols are EvolvingIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack talks with Evgeny Gokhberg, Managing Partner of Re7 Capital. Evgeny dives into his shift from traditional finance to becoming one of the leading experts in DeFi yield and liquid venture strategies.

Key Points From This Episode:


Re7 Capital's strategic focus and differentiation

Liquidity provisioning within the DeFi ecosystem

Technical diligence required to determine if the code and protocol structure is sound

Re7’s internal database of risk scores and they go about measuring risk

Decision to launch MetaMorpho vault to drive further adoption of various liquid staked ETH tokens

Role of DeFi risk curators and how lending protocols are evolving

Operational setup and team structure at Re7

Diverse strategies for enhancing liquidity

Evgeny’s biggest lesson learned


Links


Evgeny Gokhberg on LinkedIn

Re7Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack talks with Evgeny Gokhberg, Managing Partner of Re7 Capital. Evgeny dives into his shift from traditional finance to becoming one of the leading experts in DeFi yield and liquid venture strategies.

Key Points From This Episode:


Re7 Capital's strategic focus and differentiation

Liquidity provisioning within the DeFi ecosystem

Technical diligence required to determine if the code and protocol structure is sound

Re7’s internal database of risk scores and they go about measuring risk

Decision to launch MetaMorpho vault to drive further adoption of various liquid staked ETH tokens

Role of DeFi risk curators and how lending protocols are evolving

Operational setup and team structure at Re7

Diverse strategies for enhancing liquidity

Evgeny’s biggest lesson learned


Links


Evgeny Gokhberg on LinkedIn

Re7Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>fc36233e-98b9-4c88-bf8e-314b1daadaf1Wed, 08 May 2024 04:00:00 -080043:13falsefull113131Kenny Rowe and Nick Simmons (Octu Ventures): The Current Era of UrbitKenny Rowe and Nick Simmons (Octu Ventures): The Current Era of UrbitJoin Brooke Pollack as he sits down with Kenny Rowe and Nick Simmons, co-summoners of Octu Ventures. This episode explores their transition from the early stages of the crypto landscape to founding Octu Ventures, a member-led venture DAO focused on the Urbit ecosystem. Kenny and Nick elaborate on Octu's strategic approach to investments, highlighting the potential of Urbit as a foundational technology. The conversation also uncovers how Octu Ventures utilizes its technical knowledge and extensive connections within the Urbit community to support groundbreaking projects.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Kenny Rowe's and Nick Simmons's backgrounds

- Strategy and focus areas of Octu Ventures within the Urbit ecosystem

- Benefits of operating as an investment DAO vs a traditional GP/LP fund

- The three primary technology pieces of the Urbit stack and its market potential

- What are Urbit Galaxies and why would someone want to buy one?

- Insights as to why so many blockchain and crypto people are intrigued by Urbit.


Links

Octu Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>Join Brooke Pollack as he sits down with Kenny Rowe and Nick Simmons, co-summoners of Octu Ventures. This episode explores their transition from the early stages of the crypto landscape to founding Octu Ventures, a member-led venture DAO focused on the Urbit ecosystem. Kenny and Nick elaborate on Octu's strategic approach to investments, highlighting the potential of Urbit as a foundational technology. The conversation also uncovers how Octu Ventures utilizes its technical knowledge and extensive connections within the Urbit community to support groundbreaking projects.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Kenny Rowe's and Nick Simmons's backgrounds

- Strategy and focus areas of Octu Ventures within the Urbit ecosystem

- Benefits of operating as an investment DAO vs a traditional GP/LP fund

- The three primary technology pieces of the Urbit stack and its market potential

- What are Urbit Galaxies and why would someone want to buy one?

- Insights as to why so many blockchain and crypto people are intrigued by Urbit.


Links

Octu Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>69ab9777-aecf-4aa9-ac65-97847f6feed2Wed, 24 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -080054:40falsefull112121Regan Bozman (Lattice): Working with Crypto Founders from Day OneRegan Bozman (Lattice): Working with Crypto Founders from Day OneJoin Brooke Pollack as he sits down with Regan Bozman, the co-founder of Lattice, an early stage venture fund known for working with crypto founders from day one. This conversation delves deep into Bozman's journey from his early days at AngelList and CoinList to founding Lattice, exploring the firm's unique strategy, the challenges inherent in the space and what matters most, valuation wise, in crypto now.  

Key Points From This Episode:

- The three “chapters” of Regan’s investing journey in crypto

- The categories that excite Lattice and their overarching thesis 

- What attracts founders to work with Lattice

- Why Regan is being more active on social media now and the art form that works for him

- The risks of chasing market narratives

- The importance of being authentic, empathetic and relatable

- The only thing that matters valuation wise in crypto now

- Why being early in this business is the same as being wrong

- The challenge of understanding embedded risks, distilling down exact view on the market, and getting as close as you can on taking that one singular bet

- How Lattice built Crypto Peaks into one of the preeminent conferences in the space and the value it brought to their firm.

- Applications vs. infrastructure investments in blockchain


Links

Regan Bozman on Twitter

Lattice

Karate Combat

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>Join Brooke Pollack as he sits down with Regan Bozman, the co-founder of Lattice, an early stage venture fund known for working with crypto founders from day one. This conversation delves deep into Bozman's journey from his early days at AngelList and CoinList to founding Lattice, exploring the firm's unique strategy, the challenges inherent in the space and what matters most, valuation wise, in crypto now.  

Key Points From This Episode:

- The three “chapters” of Regan’s investing journey in crypto

- The categories that excite Lattice and their overarching thesis 

- What attracts founders to work with Lattice

- Why Regan is being more active on social media now and the art form that works for him

- The risks of chasing market narratives

- The importance of being authentic, empathetic and relatable

- The only thing that matters valuation wise in crypto now

- Why being early in this business is the same as being wrong

- The challenge of understanding embedded risks, distilling down exact view on the market, and getting as close as you can on taking that one singular bet

- How Lattice built Crypto Peaks into one of the preeminent conferences in the space and the value it brought to their firm.

- Applications vs. infrastructure investments in blockchain


Links

Regan Bozman on Twitter

Lattice

Karate Combat

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>d365d59c-3474-4a0b-b063-7a34b3aeca16Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -080043:48falsefull111111Banafsheh Fathieh (Faction): Pioneering Infrastructure for Crypto's FutureBanafsheh Fathieh (Faction): Pioneering Infrastructure for Crypto's FutureIn this episode, Brooke Pollack speaks with Banafsheh Fathieh (“B”), the Co-Founder and General Partner of Faction VC, who shares why being from Iran first ignited her interest in crypto, how the idea of separating state from money continues to fuel her passion in this space and what she envisions for the future.  B delves into the unique value proposition that Faction’s joint partnership with Lightspeed offers founders and what excites her today. 

Key Points From This Episode:

- Level of awareness around crypto in countries where the banking system is broken

-Faction’s partnership dynamics with Lightspeed and its value proposition for founders

-The global nature of Faction’s investments

-Why infrastructure continues to be an area of focus 

-The importance of applications building on the right chain for its use case

- Do we really need all these Ethereum Layer 2 blockchains?

- Is Bitcoin Defi becoming a category of interest for Faction?

- The two traits Faction is not willing to compromise on when adding a team member



Links

Banafsheh Fathieh on LinkedIn

Faction

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode, Brooke Pollack speaks with Banafsheh Fathieh (“B”), the Co-Founder and General Partner of Faction VC, who shares why being from Iran first ignited her interest in crypto, how the idea of separating state from money continues to fuel her passion in this space and what she envisions for the future.  B delves into the unique value proposition that Faction’s joint partnership with Lightspeed offers founders and what excites her today. 

Key Points From This Episode:

- Level of awareness around crypto in countries where the banking system is broken

-Faction’s partnership dynamics with Lightspeed and its value proposition for founders

-The global nature of Faction’s investments

-Why infrastructure continues to be an area of focus 

-The importance of applications building on the right chain for its use case

- Do we really need all these Ethereum Layer 2 blockchains?

- Is Bitcoin Defi becoming a category of interest for Faction?

- The two traits Faction is not willing to compromise on when adding a team member



Links

Banafsheh Fathieh on LinkedIn

Faction

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>746c96be-7958-426e-9c97-0629504c3a28Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -080040:53falsefull110101Logan Jastremski (Frictionless): Why High-Throughput Blockchains Will WinLogan Jastremski (Frictionless): Why High-Throughput Blockchains Will WinIn this episode, Brooke sits down with Logan Jastremski, co-founder and managing partner of Frictionless Capital, a thesis-driven fund investing from first principles backing world-changing entrepreneurs. Logan shares his transition from leading Product for Tesla's supercharging network to diving deep into blockchain technology, emphasizing the significance of high-throughput blockchains and the specific properties and features that will lead to increased adoption and developer activity.  

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Logan Jastremski’s background

- Transition from Tesla to blockchain enthusiast

- Focus on next generation blockchains and scalable applications

- Why Logan thinks we are nearing the end of the infrastructure wars

- His excitement and view on synchronizing the world’s information

- Sneak preview of how Frictionless will partner with the Solana Foundation 

- And the importance of being open minded and present


Links

Logan Jastremski on LinkedIn

Frictionless Capital Website

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode, Brooke sits down with Logan Jastremski, co-founder and managing partner of Frictionless Capital, a thesis-driven fund investing from first principles backing world-changing entrepreneurs. Logan shares his transition from leading Product for Tesla's supercharging network to diving deep into blockchain technology, emphasizing the significance of high-throughput blockchains and the specific properties and features that will lead to increased adoption and developer activity.  

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Logan Jastremski’s background

- Transition from Tesla to blockchain enthusiast

- Focus on next generation blockchains and scalable applications

- Why Logan thinks we are nearing the end of the infrastructure wars

- His excitement and view on synchronizing the world’s information

- Sneak preview of how Frictionless will partner with the Solana Foundation 

- And the importance of being open minded and present


Links

Logan Jastremski on LinkedIn

Frictionless Capital Website

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>7f259644-3719-4c52-b9cb-bf743ccc4d09Wed, 13 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -080050:37falsefull1991Soona Amhaz (Volt Capital): Venture Capital's Role in Blockchain EvolutionSoona Amhaz (Volt Capital): Venture Capital's Role in Blockchain EvolutionIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Soona Amhaz, a pivotal figure in blockchain venture capital. Soona shares her rich journey within the blockchain space, shedding light on her venture firm's strategic approach to fostering innovation and growth. Soona discusses why crypto investing is different than general tech investing, why it is critical to embrace “net newness”, why you want to let founders tell you where the future is going and how Volt Capital is always looking for great opportunities and founders to back in this space.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Soona Amhaz's background

- Soona's entry into the blockchain space

- The strategic focus of Soona's venture firm

- Key investments and portfolio highlights

- Trends shaping the blockchain industry

- Challenges in the blockchain venture space

- Soona's vision for the future of blockchain

- And Volt Capital’s most current need - recruiting great research engineers

Links

Soona Amhaz on LinkedIn

Volt Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack speaks with Soona Amhaz, a pivotal figure in blockchain venture capital. Soona shares her rich journey within the blockchain space, shedding light on her venture firm's strategic approach to fostering innovation and growth. Soona discusses why crypto investing is different than general tech investing, why it is critical to embrace “net newness”, why you want to let founders tell you where the future is going and how Volt Capital is always looking for great opportunities and founders to back in this space.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Soona Amhaz's background

- Soona's entry into the blockchain space

- The strategic focus of Soona's venture firm

- Key investments and portfolio highlights

- Trends shaping the blockchain industry

- Challenges in the blockchain venture space

- Soona's vision for the future of blockchain

- And Volt Capital’s most current need - recruiting great research engineers

Links

Soona Amhaz on LinkedIn

Volt Capital

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>5ae3577e-b4a8-49e2-aa8b-c75f062057dfWed, 28 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -080042:58falsefull1881Imran Khan (Alliance): Inside the Leading Web3 Accelerator ProgramImran Khan (Alliance): Inside the Leading Web3 Accelerator ProgramIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Imran Khan, co-founder of Alliance DAO shares his extensive experience in the crypto industry. He discusses the inception of the Alliance in 2019, its impact on the DeFi ecosystem through mentoring over 175 startups, and its unique approach as a crypto accelerator. The episode also covers Alliance's global cohort diversity, investment strategies, and Khan's insights into future crypto trends.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Imran Khan's background

- Imran’s early involvement in crypto and journey to Microsoft

- Alliance DAO: The formation, mission, and success stories

- Insights into the Alliance's accelerator, back-office, and product teams

- Unique strategies in supporting startups for market fit

- Alliance's focus and philosophy on startup investments

- Khan's perspective on stablecoins and asset tokenization

- The diversity and reach of Alliance's cohorts worldwide

- Imran’s aspirations to be a leading crypto accelerator

Links

Imran on Twitter

Alliance DAO

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Imran Khan, co-founder of Alliance DAO shares his extensive experience in the crypto industry. He discusses the inception of the Alliance in 2019, its impact on the DeFi ecosystem through mentoring over 175 startups, and its unique approach as a crypto accelerator. The episode also covers Alliance's global cohort diversity, investment strategies, and Khan's insights into future crypto trends.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Imran Khan's background

- Imran’s early involvement in crypto and journey to Microsoft

- Alliance DAO: The formation, mission, and success stories

- Insights into the Alliance's accelerator, back-office, and product teams

- Unique strategies in supporting startups for market fit

- Alliance's focus and philosophy on startup investments

- Khan's perspective on stablecoins and asset tokenization

- The diversity and reach of Alliance's cohorts worldwide

- Imran’s aspirations to be a leading crypto accelerator

Links

Imran on Twitter

Alliance DAO

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>ba45db22-0cdb-4859-9b81-b4f667bb5f99Wed, 14 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -080036:49falsefull1771Ash Egan (Archetype): Building a Leading Blockchain Venture FirmAsh Egan (Archetype): Building a Leading Blockchain Venture FirmIn this episode, Brooke Pollack interviews Ash Egan, the founder of Archetype, an early-stage blockchain venture capital firm. Ash shares his journey from the Ethereum white paper to founding Archetype, focusing on the firm's mission, team growth, investment strategy, and the operational challenges of running a VC firm in the dynamic crypto world. They discuss various topics, including major themes in this space for 2024 and what it takes to truly be an outsourced team member to portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Ash Egan’s background

- Archetype's mission and team growth

- Investment strategy and portfolio construction

- Founder support post-investment

- Complexities of investing in a space with evolving regulations

- M&A activity and portfolio highlights

- Operational challenges of running a VC firm

- Team building, leadership, and future aspirations

Links

Ash Egan on LinkedIn

Archetype

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode, Brooke Pollack interviews Ash Egan, the founder of Archetype, an early-stage blockchain venture capital firm. Ash shares his journey from the Ethereum white paper to founding Archetype, focusing on the firm's mission, team growth, investment strategy, and the operational challenges of running a VC firm in the dynamic crypto world. They discuss various topics, including major themes in this space for 2024 and what it takes to truly be an outsourced team member to portfolio companies.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Ash Egan’s background

- Archetype's mission and team growth

- Investment strategy and portfolio construction

- Founder support post-investment

- Complexities of investing in a space with evolving regulations

- M&A activity and portfolio highlights

- Operational challenges of running a VC firm

- Team building, leadership, and future aspirations

Links

Ash Egan on LinkedIn

Archetype

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>39324ab8-b929-49a5-8f6c-5d43fe25c093Wed, 31 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -080043:36falsefull1661Matt Walsh (Castle Island Ventures): Pioneering Blockchain InvestmentsMatt Walsh (Castle Island Ventures): Pioneering Blockchain InvestmentsIn this episode, Brooke interviews Matt Walsh, co-founder of Castle Island Ventures, a venture capital firm carving a niche in the blockchain industry. Matt Walsh shares his compelling journey from traditional finance to the cutting edge of blockchain technology. He details the inception, vision, and strategic focus of Castle Island Ventures, illuminating their unique approach to early-stage blockchain investments. The conversation provides an insider's perspective on navigating the complex regulatory landscape, strategies for dealing with market fluctuations, and the firm's content and community engagement initiatives. Reflecting on past deals and the road ahead, Matt offers insights into the evolution and prospects of the blockchain space.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Matt Walsh’s background

- Transition to Blockchain and formation of Castle Island Ventures

- Regulatory environment and challenges, including the three bills that, if passed, Matt thinks would be tremendously positive for the crypto industry

- Dealing with market trends

- Content strategy and community engagement

- Reflecting on investment decisions

- The future of Blockchain and crypto


Links

Matt Walsh on LinkedIn

Castle Island Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode, Brooke interviews Matt Walsh, co-founder of Castle Island Ventures, a venture capital firm carving a niche in the blockchain industry. Matt Walsh shares his compelling journey from traditional finance to the cutting edge of blockchain technology. He details the inception, vision, and strategic focus of Castle Island Ventures, illuminating their unique approach to early-stage blockchain investments. The conversation provides an insider's perspective on navigating the complex regulatory landscape, strategies for dealing with market fluctuations, and the firm's content and community engagement initiatives. Reflecting on past deals and the road ahead, Matt offers insights into the evolution and prospects of the blockchain space.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Matt Walsh’s background

- Transition to Blockchain and formation of Castle Island Ventures

- Regulatory environment and challenges, including the three bills that, if passed, Matt thinks would be tremendously positive for the crypto industry

- Dealing with market trends

- Content strategy and community engagement

- Reflecting on investment decisions

- The future of Blockchain and crypto


Links

Matt Walsh on LinkedIn

Castle Island Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>e91f472b-8f40-407e-baec-e8cab3b40a75Wed, 17 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -080049:33falsefull1551Michael Anderson (Framework Ventures): DeFi, Gaming, and The Evolution of a Global Crypto VC FirmMichael Anderson (Framework Ventures): DeFi, Gaming, and The Evolution of a Global Crypto VC FirmIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Michael Anderson, co-founder of Framework Ventures. Michael provides a comprehensive overview of his transition from working at prominent tech companies to delving into the blockchain space. He discusses the establishment of Framework Ventures, its focus on blockchain and DeFi, and the firm's approach to investment in this rapidly evolving sector. The conversation also touches on the intricacies of DeFi, the integration of gaming in blockchain, and the potential for tokenization of real-world assets.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Michael's background

- Overview of Framework Ventures, investment strategy and structure

- Thoughts on DeFi and gaming

- Approach to managing a globally distributed network of investments

- Thoughts on current regulatory environment

- Approach for private vs liquid investments

- How Framework differentiates its capital

- Revisiting the Firm's working assumptions from early 2022

Links

Michael Anderson on LinkedIn

Michael Anderson on Twitter

Framework Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Michael Anderson, co-founder of Framework Ventures. Michael provides a comprehensive overview of his transition from working at prominent tech companies to delving into the blockchain space. He discusses the establishment of Framework Ventures, its focus on blockchain and DeFi, and the firm's approach to investment in this rapidly evolving sector. The conversation also touches on the intricacies of DeFi, the integration of gaming in blockchain, and the potential for tokenization of real-world assets.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Overview of Michael's background

- Overview of Framework Ventures, investment strategy and structure

- Thoughts on DeFi and gaming

- Approach to managing a globally distributed network of investments

- Thoughts on current regulatory environment

- Approach for private vs liquid investments

- How Framework differentiates its capital

- Revisiting the Firm's working assumptions from early 2022

Links

Michael Anderson on LinkedIn

Michael Anderson on Twitter

Framework Ventures

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>2fa69ecd-8cf4-4454-99f6-71e73cf17588Wed, 03 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -080047:42falsefull1441Carlos Pereira (Bitkraft): The Future of Blockchain GamingCarlos Pereira (Bitkraft): The Future of Blockchain GamingIn this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Carlos Pereira, a partner at Bitkraft Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in the gaming sector, focusing on the intersection of gaming and blockchain. Carlos shares his journey from a professional horse rider in Brazil to a critical venture capital and gaming player. The discussion delves into the evolving landscape of blockchain in gaming, exploring how digital property rights and synthetic realities are shaping the industry's future.

Key Points From This Episode:

- An overview of Carlos Pereira’s background

- The genesis and growth of Bitkraft Ventures

- Emergence of synthetic realities and digital property rights

- Market fit for crypto in gaming

- Large gaming companies' approach to blockchain

- Building on blockchain

- The state of blockchain gaming development

- Carlos' interests

Links

Bitkraft Ventures

Carlos Pereira on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>In this episode of Inside the Hutt, Brooke Pollack interviews Carlos Pereira, a partner at Bitkraft Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in the gaming sector, focusing on the intersection of gaming and blockchain. Carlos shares his journey from a professional horse rider in Brazil to a critical venture capital and gaming player. The discussion delves into the evolving landscape of blockchain in gaming, exploring how digital property rights and synthetic realities are shaping the industry's future.

Key Points From This Episode:

- An overview of Carlos Pereira’s background

- The genesis and growth of Bitkraft Ventures

- Emergence of synthetic realities and digital property rights

- Market fit for crypto in gaming

- Large gaming companies' approach to blockchain

- Building on blockchain

- The state of blockchain gaming development

- Carlos' interests

Links

Bitkraft Ventures

Carlos Pereira on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

]]>37cf92e4-f5c4-470c-a982-f78773d6c69dWed, 20 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -080050:01falsefull1331Steve McKeon (Collab+Currency): Decoding the World of NFTs and Consumer CryptoSteve McKeon (Collab+Currency): Decoding the World of NFTs and Consumer CryptoIn today’s episode, Brooke interviews Steve McKeon, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Collab+Currency, a venture capital firm at the crossroads of culture, consumer, and crypto. Steve shares his journey from the early days of the tech boom to becoming a key player in the crypto venture capital world. His path includes experiences in Silicon Valley, academia, co-founding a software startup, and eventually diving into the crypto sphere. The episode delves into the strategies and insights of Collab+Currency, discussing the significance of consumer attention in the crypto market, the evolving role of NFTs, and the potential of gaming and Web 3.0 in consumer crypto.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Introduction of Steve McKeon and Collab+Currency

- Steve’s background and early career in technology


- Transition to academia and co-founding Skyward


- Exploring crypto and the birth of Collab+Currency


- The evolution of Collab+Currency's focus and strategy


- Discussion on consumer crypto and NFTs


- Insights on gaming and its intersection with crypto


- Corporate involvement in NFTs and digital evolution


- Regulatory aspects and differentiation of Collab+Currency


- Steve’s thoughts on the future of consumer products and digital environments


Links


Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

Steve McKeon on Twitter

Collab+Currency

]]>In today’s episode, Brooke interviews Steve McKeon, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Collab+Currency, a venture capital firm at the crossroads of culture, consumer, and crypto. Steve shares his journey from the early days of the tech boom to becoming a key player in the crypto venture capital world. His path includes experiences in Silicon Valley, academia, co-founding a software startup, and eventually diving into the crypto sphere. The episode delves into the strategies and insights of Collab+Currency, discussing the significance of consumer attention in the crypto market, the evolving role of NFTs, and the potential of gaming and Web 3.0 in consumer crypto.

Key Points From This Episode:

- Introduction of Steve McKeon and Collab+Currency

- Steve’s background and early career in technology


- Transition to academia and co-founding Skyward


- Exploring crypto and the birth of Collab+Currency


- The evolution of Collab+Currency's focus and strategy


- Discussion on consumer crypto and NFTs


- Insights on gaming and its intersection with crypto


- Corporate involvement in NFTs and digital evolution


- Regulatory aspects and differentiation of Collab+Currency


- Steve’s thoughts on the future of consumer products and digital environments


Links


Brooke Pollack on Twitter

Brooke Pollack on LinkedIn

Hutt Capital

Steve McKeon on Twitter

Collab+Currency

]]>e4fe24c0-ddfb-461e-8068-d2376fe721deWed, 13 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -080054:14falsefull1221Joe Eagan (Anagram) on Innovative Venture Structures and the Crypto WorldJoe Eagan (Anagram) on Innovative Venture Structures and the Crypto WorldWelcome to the inaugural episode of Inside The Hutt! Today, we’re stepping into the ever-evolving world of blockchain and crypto with our special guest, Joe Eagan, the co-founder of Anagram. Joe takes us through Anagram's distinct structure to take advantage of the many different ways crypto enables investors to create alpha across the lifecycle of an asset which is totally different than the lifecycle of a traditional asset. From the challenges in raising capital for startups in the current market to his prediction on one of the great adoption narratives we will start to see with institutions, Joe sheds light on the seismic shifts in the digital economy. Beyond his passion for crypto, we’ll also hear about how Joe balances this with a love for wine - and more, here on Inside The Hutt.


Key Points From This Episode:

- The long and winding road that led Joe to pursue a career in blockchain & crypto

- Achieving explosive growth from $100 million to $1 billion at Polychain and the many “firsts” reached, paving the way as a pioneer in the evolving crypto market

- The structure and strategy behind Anagram as a diversified holding company

- Building a dynamic team within Anagram’s unique holding company structure and the key hire who really made a difference

- How Anagram's talent team supports both internal hiring and portfolio company growth

- Maximizing ROI with both human and financial capital

- How Anagram works through ideation, what to build, and where to spend time/attention

- How Anagram maintains a fluid investment thesis, developments that Joe finds really interesting within data, payments, and developer tools, and areas that have not captured his serious attention

- Anagram’s ecosystem-agnostic approach to investing

- Balancing liquid and illiquid investments and capitalizing on market conditions and Joe's passion for wine



Links:

Joe Eagan on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-eagan-22531577/

Anagram:

https://www.anagram.xyz/

Brooke on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital:

https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>Welcome to the inaugural episode of Inside The Hutt! Today, we’re stepping into the ever-evolving world of blockchain and crypto with our special guest, Joe Eagan, the co-founder of Anagram. Joe takes us through Anagram's distinct structure to take advantage of the many different ways crypto enables investors to create alpha across the lifecycle of an asset which is totally different than the lifecycle of a traditional asset. From the challenges in raising capital for startups in the current market to his prediction on one of the great adoption narratives we will start to see with institutions, Joe sheds light on the seismic shifts in the digital economy. Beyond his passion for crypto, we’ll also hear about how Joe balances this with a love for wine - and more, here on Inside The Hutt.


Key Points From This Episode:

- The long and winding road that led Joe to pursue a career in blockchain & crypto

- Achieving explosive growth from $100 million to $1 billion at Polychain and the many “firsts” reached, paving the way as a pioneer in the evolving crypto market

- The structure and strategy behind Anagram as a diversified holding company

- Building a dynamic team within Anagram’s unique holding company structure and the key hire who really made a difference

- How Anagram's talent team supports both internal hiring and portfolio company growth

- Maximizing ROI with both human and financial capital

- How Anagram works through ideation, what to build, and where to spend time/attention

- How Anagram maintains a fluid investment thesis, developments that Joe finds really interesting within data, payments, and developer tools, and areas that have not captured his serious attention

- Anagram’s ecosystem-agnostic approach to investing

- Balancing liquid and illiquid investments and capitalizing on market conditions and Joe's passion for wine



Links:

Joe Eagan on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-eagan-22531577/

Anagram:

https://www.anagram.xyz/

Brooke on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/bhpollack

Brooke on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookepollack/

Hutt Capital:

https://www.huttcapital.com/

]]>5e4a8242-9c40-43df-b6b7-3ae672afd96cWed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -080051:22falsefull1111Inside The Hutt (TRAILER)Inside The Hutt (TRAILER)Hosted by Brooke Pollack, the Founder and Managing Partner at Hutt Capital, join “Inside the Hutt” as we talk with leading blockchain venture capital investors to discuss their origins, investment approaches, recent trends, and how they’re navigating this complex industry.

Inside the Hutt provides invaluable insights for crypto enthusiasts and investment professionals alike.

Want to learn more about Hutt Capital and the show? Visit www.huttcapital.com

]]>Hosted by Brooke Pollack, the Founder and Managing Partner at Hutt Capital, join “Inside the Hutt” as we talk with leading blockchain venture capital investors to discuss their origins, investment approaches, recent trends, and how they’re navigating this complex industry.

Inside the Hutt provides invaluable insights for crypto enthusiasts and investment professionals alike.

Want to learn more about Hutt Capital and the show? Visit www.huttcapital.com

]]>eaff9dc3-63c9-4867-a176-85a7819bd1d1Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -080001:59falsetrailer