In Conversation with Tim Draper
Are you curious about why Tim Draper believes that “Tezos will be a big success?”
In this Session, Tim Draper lent his expertise in a moderated conversation with TQ Tezos’s President and Co-founder Alison Mangiero, covering the range of potential applications of Tezos that could foster an interconnected global system from financial systems to governance. He also explained that his interest in Tezos was in part due to the belief that Arthur Breitman and Kathleen Breitman “really wanted to make something extraordinary happen” and “the fact that they were going to focus on smart contracts made me feel like ‘that is the future.’”
Stream this Session to learn how Tezos's unique smart contracts and on-chain governance could take us to new frontiers.
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Session Notes
1:08
Tim Draper took the TQuorum virtual stage for an open conversation about Tezos and the blockchain ecosystem with TQ Tezos 's President and Co-founder, Alison Mangiero.
Q: We know you just raised 25 million blockchain funds with Draper Goren Holm. Could you talk more about that and why you're doubling down on blockchain-based startups?
A: Draper Goren Holm is one of our network partners in Los Angeles. They have a great blockchain conference in Los Angeles. I think they just funded Tezos companies, so I'm excited that they're recognizing the value of Tezos. We are incredibly excited to see what Tezos can do for the world.
2:20
Q: In the early stages, what do you look for in a founder? And what are the things that excite you most? How do you tell what's worth the investment?
A: I'm a little different from other venture capitalists, but I always ask questions like what if this works? How great will it be? And what would the world look like if this achieved and even surpassed all its wildest dreams? So I'm looking for those companies that are going to transform the biggest industries in the world. And I think blockchain projects, Bitcoin, Tezos, and other cryptocurrencies are really well-positioned for that.
3:40
Q: Back in 2017, what made you interested in getting involved with Tezos?
A: I met Arthur and Kathleen. They really wanted to make something extraordinary happen. I was excited about the idea of proof of stake, rather than proof of work. Also, the smart contract made me feel like it’s the future because this is a major opportunity for us, as humans take an anthropological leap from being tribal to being completely open and global. Things can run on smart contracts frictionlessly and smoothly, and I think the world will be wealthier for it.
9:06
Q: In terms of what you're seeing the shift from tribal to global like now everyone is kind of interconnected globally, how can we use this blockchain technology to reduce the friction? Given what we've seen in the past six months during the pandemic, how do you see the future here? Has this pandemic changed your views on this?
A: The pandemic has allowed political leaders and government officials to go back to tribalism as they are very concerned about their geographic borders. However, only free trade and an open market can help us live better.
19:00
Q: You mentioned California and I’m based in New York. We're losing a lot of our tax base, so in terms of investing, how do you look at this as an investor and where do you look for exciting projects?
26:18
Q: If I think back to how Tezos was originally positioned, it's better money or smart money. People are talking a lot about the promise of what you can do with smart contract platforms, but I think we shouldn't forget about the moneyness aspect. Therefore, in your opinion, how important moneyness is?
A: One of the things that got me excited about Tezos was the idea that you have a currency that is governed by its owners. Tezos baking allows a new liquid democracy. We need a liquid democracy where we are representatives of our government. Tezos has created a trusting society where we all can vote or delegate, and we hand our baking to the people we trust.
34:15
Q: What are your thoughts on DeFi and Tezos?
A: Cryptocurrency is not tied to any government. If entrepreneurs from around the world use cryptocurrency, for instance, retailer stores accept Tezos, then we’ll see a huge flood of Tezos, and Tezos will be much more valuable. Also, for Tezos, they all have to vote to agree on its governance.
41:30
Q: What are your thoughts on NFTs in the Tezos ecosystem?
43:28
Q: What do you think would make a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs to choose Tezos as their platform?
47:50
Q: Where do you think we should be particularly focused on as we want the Tezos ecosystem to thrive?
A: I think there will be a lot of insurance companies around Tezos. It's natural to have insurance based on a smart contract.
52:50
Closing remarks
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