Demystify Web 3 and Blockchain - Understanding Trends and Opportunities in the Space
Thursday, August 18, 2022
12 pm PST / 3 pm EST
While crypto has experienced unprecedented volatility in recent months, interest in investing and building companies in the web 3 still going strong. Do you want to have a better understanding in this space?
Join us on August 18th for a complimentary fireside chat and interactive session with Jiang Ling Yang, Founder and CEO of Playground, Yiwen Li, Principal of Alumni Ventures, and Barbara Iyayi with Unicorngrowth to discuss the recent trends and future opportunities in the space
During the program, we will discuss:
- Principles, stakeholders, and challenges of the Blockchain ecosystem.
- Opportunities in building and trends in investing in web 3
- Where do we go from here?
Join us on August 18th for this complimentary program!
Meet the Speakers
Jia Ling Yang
Founder and CEO, Playground
A Taiwanese American from New Mexico, Jia Ling Yang has a vision for connecting people—one that brings together the online and offline worlds in a way that she’s been doing since she was checking out the earliest iterations of social and launching a career in media.
The New York-based Yang, founder of the next-generation social platform Playground, has immersed herself in examining the ways her generation uses new media, while also taking the plunge into deep adventures in her personal life. “I like to explore the edges,” says Yang. “I find that’s where the most powerful ideas collide. ”
Throughout her career, Yang’s work has taken her to Radical Media NY, 72&Sunny LA, TBWA NY, BBH LA, Facebook and VICE (among others) where she developed my niche at the intersection of entertainment, tech and media. While at the global agency Anomaly, she was hired to consult on Converse/Nike Global, then funded to pursue Playground.
From directing Fashion Week films, to helping launch campaigns for Scooter Braun, concepting app campaigns for Youtube Music to launching her own platform Playground, she is all about art forms at the cutting edge. The more unconventional, the better. The more social impact, the even better.
As a New Media creative, she works with teams to experiment through new digital formats, and refine conceptual thinking. As a founder, she surrounds herself with entrepreneurs and risk-takers who want to build a more conscious future. One that’s more inclusive, sustainable and fun.
Barbara Iyayi
CEO & Founding Partner, Unicorn Growth Capital
Barbara Iyayi is an experienced venture capital and growth equity investor, and entrepreneur with over 16 years’ experience in financial services, spanning venture capital, private equity, investment banking/M&A and technology. Barbara has founded, invested in, advised and taken board roles in FinTech and financial services companies globally.
She is the Founding Managing Partner of Unicorn Growth Capital, an early-stage Web3 VC fund that invests in the future of Finance, bridging TradFi & DeFi, to foster more inclusive economies. Unicorn Growth backs leading Web 2.5/3.0 companies providing FinTech & DeFi infrastructure across industries and uniquely helps them scale in markets with high crypto adoption.
Barbara serves on the board of the Web Foundation, an international non-profit focused on digital equality, founded by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, and Rosemary Leith. Previously, she was the Board chair of Appzone, a blockchain payments and banking / FinTech infrastructure platform that enables the delivery of digital financial services in Africa. She was also the Chief Growth Officer and Managing Director for Africa of Element, Inc - a pioneer of mobile deep learning (AI) and co-founded by Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Facebook and Turing Award Laureate; she managed growth for Element's AI-powered digital identity software across US, Southeast Asia and Africa, partnering with financial service providers and FinTech companies.
Previously, Barbara was part of the founding team of Atlas Mara, an LSE listed financial services platform co-founded by Bob Diamond, ex-CEO of Barclays Bank, which was the first ever SPAC for Africa and entity to raise over $1bn to invest in, operate and manage financial institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the Regional Head for M&A & Investments, Barbara led acquisitions and investments in banks in 7 countries in Africa. She also led and pioneered the banking platform’s FinTech strategy and partnerships.
Prior to Atlas Mara, Barbara worked on global transactions of over $15bn at various financial institutions, including as Vice President, Investment Banking at JPMorgan, New York, where amongst other transactions, she led IPOs for Delphi Automative (Aptiv PLC) and Nord Anglia Education. Prior to that, she worked at UBS Investment Bank and JPMorgan Private Bank in New York. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Columbia University, and an MBA at Harvard Business School.
Luchang Zheng
Founding Partner, Arcanum Capital
Luchang is a founding partner of Blockchain Hero, a Global Ambassador of Draper University and a former Partner at GCP, a Silicon Valley focused talent acquisition specialist. She dedicates her passion towards cross-border consulting and investment with portfolios spanning 4 continents, covering blockchain, AI, fintech, big data and IoT. Before starting Blockchain Hero, she was the chief explorer of Robotics and AI at GWC and organiser and producer of the Global Mobile Internet Conference. She also mentors entrepreneurs at MIT LaunchX and Leanin China.
Yiwen Li
Principal, Alumni Ventures
Yiwen has over a decade of experience in investing and operations and is well-versed in the venture landscape across the U.S. and Asia. She is currently Principal of Alumni Ventures, world's 3rd most active venture firm, and focuses on investing in web3, healthcare, fintech. She is also a venture partner at Revere VC and CerraCap Cares.
Yiwen was most recently Director for Corporate Strategy and Development at the global healthtech company Masimo (MASI).She started her career in equity research at the leading investment management company Capital Group, covering emerging markets stocks in Asia. Thereafter moved to venture investing with a focus on deep tech and healthtech at NantWorks, a global conglomerate at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and innovation.
Yiwen has been investing and building in the blockchain space since 2015. She is Co-Founder of Los Angeles Blockchain Lab (now part of Global Blockchain Business Council), a collaboration between academia, governments, investors, and entrepreneurs to innovate and elevate the blockchain ecosystem.
Yiwen received dual master’s degrees in economics from the London School of Economics and global studies from the University of Vienna. She is a recipient of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship from the European Union. She is fluent in Mandarin and German. Yiwen is passionate about connecting East and West, making social impact, and supporting women empowerment. She serves on the board of directors at several non-profits and foundations, including Give 2 Asia, Asia Society,and C-Sweet. Yiwen is the author of a best seller in China, Make the World Your Playground, inspiring Chinese women to follow their own unique paths.
*** Check your calendars carefully! All event fees are non-refundable. Replays are available for C-Sweet Members only. ***
C-Sweet is sponsored by:
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