by GalaChain | Mar 17, 2024 | GalaChain
In the group of judges we’ve assembled for the upcoming GALAthon Hackathon at GDC 2024, Michele Guo stands out for her unique innovation and strategic insight in the web3 gaming realm. Her work in the industry has made major contributions to the blockchain space since 2017. Her journey through this frontier has taken her across multiple major innovations – from co-founding the first U.S. web3 gaming expo focusing on quality B2B gaming industry leaders and game studios, to her advisory roles for early web3 startups. This visionary recognized the early fragmented gaming industry’s need to be united for a more collaborative ecosystem with emphasis on network effects in the space. We’re proud this ecosystem pioneer could join us as a judge!
Michele Guo: A Trailblazer in Crypto and Strategy
Guo co-founded the 3XP Gaming Expo which brought together the largest web3 game developers in the US for an immersive experience of gameplay demos, esports competitions, and panel content, working with industry thought leaders and gaming founders. Michele spearheaded marketing and partnerships, ensuring the conference’s attendance from notable web2 and web3 game studios and content creators for the first web3 gaming conference held in the U.S.
With Alpha Strategy Consulting, Guo’s influence extends through her angel investments and advisory for early-staged web3 startups. She predominantly focuses in the gaming space on go-to-market strategy, marketing, partnerships, growth, and finding product-market fit, whilst facilitating network effects within her web3 gaming ecosystem, especially rooting from 3XP’s funnel.
Prior to starting Alpha Strategy Consulting, Helios Capital further showcased her adeptness in navigating the nuanced landscape of the tech investment world. In her time there, she not only sealed critical deals and partnerships, but also managed high-profile relationships and supported portfolio companies to thrive under the Helios banner.
Starting her crypto career on the operating side at her first startup in 2017, Guo was the first employee and later became Chief Strategy Officer at Axon Trade, where she demonstrated an immediate knack for partnerships, business development, and strategy, proving essential for the startup’s success.
A Judge with an Eye for Strategy and Scalability
Michele Guo’s multifaceted experiences equip her with a unique perspective to evaluate the GalaChain Hackathon entries. Her background suggests she will value projects that exhibit technical innovation and a clear, compelling product-market fit.
Guo understands the crucial interplay between technology, market positioning and strategic partnerships that can boost a project’s success and scalability.
What Might Michele Guo Look for in a Winning Entry?
Given Michele Guo’s experience, her criteria for a winning GalaChain Hackathon project likely include:
Strategic Innovation: Projects that go beyond GalaChain’s technical powers and demonstrate innovative approaches for solving real market needs within the web3 world.
Market Readiness and Scalability: Entries that show a clear path to market adoption, including an actual strategy for implementation and scalability that is potentially attractive to partnerships and funding in the future.
Impact and Viability: Projects that present a sustainable business model with real potential for long-term impact, including how the project plans to maintain relevancy and adapt to evolving web3 space.
Community and Partnership Potential: Initiatives that understand the value of community with a clear path on how to build a strong and sustaining community in the web3 space, whilst being well positioned to leverage strategic partnerships to enhance their reach and go-to-market strategy.
Beyond Technology: Strategy as Key to Success
Michele Guo’s involvement in the GalaChain Hackathon is a testament to the importance of strategic vision in the success of blockchain initiatives. Her perspective will push participants to think beyond the code, considering how their projects fit into the broader web3 landscape. Innovation for the sake of innovation isn’t enough… a project must be practical and have real applications.
As we inch closer to the hackathon, let Michele Guo’s journey through web3 inspire you to blend innovation with strategic acumen. The hackathon presents a unique opportunity to showcase how GalaChain can serve a home for projects that are technologically innovative while also solving practical problems.
Michele Guo’s presence on the judging panel elevates the GalaChain Hackathon, and we’re excited to see what projects stand out to her during judging. Innovative tools need to serve a real purpose if they are going to be adopted. What problem will your project solve?
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by GalaChain | Mar 16, 2024 | GalaChain
The time has come to unveil the next panel judge at the 24-hour GALAthon Hackathon on March 20th. Today, we are pleased to spotlight Paul Hsu, the Founder and CEO of Decasonic. Decasonic is a pioneering venture and digital assets fund dedicated to building innovative products on the blockchain.
With an extensive background in driving growth and fostering groundbreaking projects in the blockchain space, Hsu’s expertise and leadership have positioned Decasonic as a crucial player in cultivating the next wave of transformative blockchain technologies and startups.
Paul Hsu: A Catalyst for Blockchain Excellence
Paul Hsu’s journey at the helm of Decasonic has been defined by repeatedly identifying, supporting and nurturing startups that harness the capabilities of web3 tech to challenge traditional industries and create scalable models for the future.
His strategic vision has not only propelled Decasonic to success but has also contributed significantly to the broader web3 by supporting projects that push the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology.
A Judge with a Vision for Disruptive Innovation
In his role as a judge for the GalaChain Hackathon, Hsu brings a keen eye for projects that demonstrate a clear disruptive potential, combining innovative blockchain applications with proven, viable business models.
His experience guiding startups through every step from concept to market means he has an amazing sense for projects that are not only technically sound but also market-ready, with a clear path to adoption and growth.
What Paul Hsu Might Look for in a Winning Entry
Given his background, Paul Hsu is likely to prioritize hackathon projects that:
Embody Disruptive Innovation: Projects that leverage GalaChain to challenge and redefine existing stagnant business models or industry standards, showing the potential growth to be had from embracing web3 tech.
Demonstrate Technical and Business Acumen: Entries that exhibit a strong understanding of blockchain technology coupled with a viable business strategy that features clear use cases, target markets and monetization models.
Focus on User Adoption: Projects that prioritize a seamless user experience and demonstrate clear, intuitive strategies for user adoption and engagement – critical factors for the success of any blockchain innovation.
Sustainability and Long-term Vision: Initiatives that not only address current market needs but also show potential for sustained growth and adaptability to future technological developments.
Fostering Innovation with Paul Hsu
Paul Hsu’s inclusion as a judge in the GalaChain Hackathon brings his unique experience in identifying and helping grow outstanding projects over the years. His insight into the intersection of technology and business and his proven track record will hopefully guide participants towards creating solutions that are not only innovative but also primed for adoption and growth.
As you prepare your plans for the hackathon, let Paul Hsu’s achievements and vision inspire you to aim for solutions that are disruptive, market-ready and capable of contributing significantly to the blockchain ecosystem. His experience in identifying projects that achieve the results of the past in new and innovative ways will give the judge’s panel far more insight into the potential of projects. What can you build to disrupt narrow-minded views of business?
by GalaChain | Mar 16, 2024 | GalaChain
The upcoming GALAthon Hackathon event is set to be a landmark event, not only for showcasing the innovative capabilities of GalaChain but also for celebrating the amazing community that has helped build Gala into what it is today. In this spirit, we are excited to announce Wrecks as one of the judges for the event.
Known within the Gala community for his candid and entertaining content, Wrecks brings a frank and honest perspective to the judging panel. Describing himself as an “Absolutely Mediocre Gamer” and an “Even worse Content Creator,” Wrecks creates relatable content that gamers are after.
Wrecks: A Voice for Authenticity and Fun
Wrecks’s self-deprecating humor belies a deep engagement with the gaming community, where his live gameplay sessions on Twitch and social media presence on X have garnered a loyal following. His approach to content creation, focusing on the fun and sometimes flawed reality of gaming, makes him a judge who can truly appreciate the creativity, entertainment value, and community appeal of the projects developed for the GalaChain Hackathon.
What Wrecks May Look for in Winning Entries
Given his unique position within the community, Wrecks will probably be looking for projects that vibe with his particular perspective on gaming and community, such as:
Gamer-Focused Identity: Projects that are catered to people looking for fun and engaging experiences rather than some abstract innovation will likely appeal to Wrecks’ sensibilities.
Community Inclusion: Wrecks’ is a huge supporter of amateur esports and competitive gaming, so he’ll likely appreciate projects that allow gamers to connect and engage in new and exciting ways.
Accountability: Projects that provide robust, publicly verifiable data could stand out to a judge like Wrecks, who has been very vocal about the power of blockchain to ensure fair play in gaming.
Wrecks’ community and gamer-focused perspective on GalaChain will be a great addition to this hackathon’s judging panel!
Celebrating the Heart of Gaming with Wrecks
Having Wrecks on the judging panel highlights the GalaChain Hackathon’s commitment to celebrating the broader gaming and web3 community, emphasizing that innovation and success come in many forms. His insights will be invaluable in identifying projects that not only push the boundaries of what’s possible on GalaChain but also resonate on a personal level with users, offering experiences that are enjoyable, engaging, and authentically entertaining.
As participants prepare their submissions, let Wrecks’s ethos inspire you to create projects that speak to the heart of the gaming community. This is your chance to impress a judge who values the joy of gaming and the importance of community just as much as the technical achievements of your project.
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by GalaChain | Mar 16, 2024 | GalaChain
As the GALAthon Hackathon draws near, we’re excited to reveal another distinguished member of our judging panel – Celynne Layug! As Trade Commissioner of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley, Celynne plays a pivotal role in creating connections between the Philippines and global markets, particularly in the realms of trade, Investments, and technology and finance.
Her inclusion as a judge brings a unique international and economic development perspective to the hackathon. The web3 world truly is the entire world, so her view on innovations from a uniquely global perspective is an incredibly important addition to our judging panel!
A Vision for Global Impact and Connectivity
In the context of the GalaChain Hackathon, Celynne’s focus is likely to be on projects that demonstrate clear potential for decentralized collaboration, economic empowerment and scalable solutions that seriously address global challenges.
She represents a bridge between technology and its real-world applications, especially those that can contribute to economic development, inclusivity, and the creation of opportunities across borders. Any technology has real effects on real people… Celynne will likely be interested in both the innovative power of any development and its real-world effects on human beings across the globe.
What Celynne Layug Might Look for in a Winning Entry
Given her background and responsibilities, Celynne might be particularly drawn to projects that:
Promote Global Connectivity: Entries that leverage GalaChain to create new opportunities for international trade, market participation and communication, making it easier for countries to collaborate and share resources.
Drive Economic Empowerment: Innovations that offer solutions to economic challenges – particularly those that connect underserved communities or further sustainability goals across the world.
Showcase Scalable and Inclusive Innovations: Projects should be scalable across different markets, but also stand out as inclusive – ensuring that the benefits of blockchain technology can be accessed by anyone, including those in developing economies.
Building Bridges with Celynne Layug
Celynne Layug’s inclusion in the Galathon judging panel underscores the event’s commitment to projects that are more than just tech for the sake of tech. Innovations that create global impact that fosters economic growth and development will likely stand out to Celynne, as they are definitively in her wheelhouse.
Her perspective should guide participants toward creating solutions that are not just unique but also capable of making significant contributions to international collaboration and economic empowerment.
As participants prepare to showcase their projects, let Celynne’s role drive you to think beyond the technical aspects of blockchain and reach into the real world for inspiration.
Consider how your innovation can serve as a bridge between different cultures, economies, and industries. Harnessing the power of GalaChain to create a more connected and empowered global community is within our power. How will you change the world?
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by GalaChain | Mar 15, 2024 | GalaChain
In our ongoing series to introduce the panel of judges for the GalaChain Hackathon at GDC 2024, we are very proud to spotlight Mikhail Yerganjiev, Business Development Manager for Certik – a name that is synonymous with web3 security.
Certik’s unwavering dedication to auditing and securing blockchain projects has made it an essential part of the web3 ecosystem. Yerganjiev’s role brings a critical focus on security, trust and integrity to the hackathon, as he’s been a major force in underscoring the importance of these elements to create a web3 world… one with better, safer projects.
Mikhail Yerganjiev: A Guardian of Blockchain Integrity
At Certik, Mikhail Yerganjiev has been at the forefront of identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities within blockchain projects. He works to ensure that they meet the highest standards of security to provide credibility to the most diligent developers, as well as giving more safety to those engaging with products in the web3 space.
His expertise in navigating the complex landscape of web3 security, combined with a deep understanding of the potential risks and threats facing blockchain technologies today makes him an entirely unique addition to the Galathon judging panel.
Unique Perspective on Security
In a competition that emphasizes innovation on GalaChain, Yerganjiev’s perspective on security is indispensable. His evaluation of hackathon entries is expected to include several critical criteria that reflect the necessity of building secure, reliable and trustworthy blockchain solutions:
Security by Design: Projects that incorporate security considerations from the ground up, demonstrating a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential vulnerabilities.
Smart Contract Robustness: Given Certik’s specialization in smart contract audits, Yerganjiev will likely emphasize the importance of well-written, thoroughly tested smart contracts that are resistant to common and advanced exploits.
Compliance with Best Practices: Entries that adhere to established security best practices and standards, showcasing a commitment to maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of the web3 world.
Innovative Security Solutions: Projects that not only secure their own operations but also contribute to the broader goal of enhancing security across the web3 space – potentially introducing new tools, methodologies or frameworks for safeguarding users on chain.
Elevating Blockchain Security Standards
Mikhail Yerganjiev’s involvement as a judge in the GalaChain Hackathon signals a clear message about the paramount importance of security in blockchain development. As participants vie to showcase their technical ingenuity, they are also challenged to prioritize the safety and reliability of their creations, ensuring that they contribute positively to the web3 ecosystem with responsible development.
The role that Yerganjiev and Certik have served in the web3 world is absolutely necessary to protect users and foster good faith collaboration. How will you build to ensure safe and secure use?
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