GEORGIA RAKUSEN

Senior User Researcher @ MOO

​

www.moo.com

GEORGIA'S TALK

Good UX = Blockchain adoption

Blockchain technology, and the opportunity of funding through ICOs, has led to thousands of new products and ideas surfacing, all with the intention of making the world a better place. But in addition to good intent, businesses need to understand their user's needs and create useful, usable and delightful products, that keep the user coming back. This talk will explore the current state of UX in the blockchain space, and give some advice to organisations on how to ensure their products actually get used by the widest possible audience. 

BIO

Georgia Rakusen is a User Researcher, currently residing at MOO, one of the UK's most successful tech startups. She has delivered research for companies including Channel 4, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Interflora, Financial Times, Marks & Spencer, and Cisco, to name just a few. A keen supporter of democratising tech, Georgia has been involved in Blockchain since 2013, and speaks at events and on podcasts to advocate for making blockchain technology accessible to the masses.

Georgia runs the User Research Huddle, a regular meetup for user research professionals in London.

KRASINA MILEVA

Co-Founder, COO & Legal Counsel @ DOVU

​

www.dovu.io

KRASINA'S TALK

How DOVU will change the face of mobility and transportation sector as we know it?

Rewarding stakeholders is transformed by blockchain technology. Whether you’re working on connected cars, public transport, or autonomous vehicles, the DOV token facilitates a new transfer of value. DOV is a token you earn and spend by sharing and changing the way you travel. This could take the form of sharing data, or for example, rewarding green behaviour. These tokens then feed back into the ecosystem through mobility related transactions, be that offsetting the cost of a car, fuel for that car, paying for a flight, or just riding the bus. Connecting closed ecosystems, the DOV token is ubiquitous, providing instant liquidity and utility.

BIO

Krasina is a registered European lawyer with over 11 years of experience in Contract and Commercial Law. Krasina has headed an international legal department in a law firm, having to deal with various civil and international matters. Then she became a sole-practitioner, focused mainly on Contract, Commercial and Company Law, whilst co-founding a construction business in Belgium. As Head of Legal at a million dollar ad-tech company, she discovered her passion around Data protection, Privacy and Smart legal agreements. Being part of the Company Secretariat team in Associated British Ports gave her an additional layer of Corporate Governance expertise.

Expertise: GDPR, Blockchain regulation, Data security, Smart Contracts​

SARA FEENAN

Business Development Manager @ Clearmatics Technologies Ltd

​

www.clearmatics.com

SARA'S TALK

New economic and business models in blockchain.

Blockchain technology enables us to transfer actual value using existing internet protocol, with the potential to lower fees and democratise payments. But what does that do to existing business models? Looking to where this has happened before, such as the music industry, we can take inspiration to create, deliver and capture value in new and innovative ways. 

BIO

Sara is Business Development Manager at Clearmatics, a technology company developing core blockchain infrastructure, enabling enterprises to redesign existing business processes. With over 11 years’ experience in financial services and technology, Sara has published academic research around how blockchain could necessitate changing business models in financial services.

Sara has appeared on popular podcast, Blockchain Insider and writes a column in The Telegraph on blockchain and distributed ledger technology in financial services.

She also co-founded a non-profit organisation teaching privacy and encryption tools to investigative journalists. Sara has an MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science.

NEIL PATEL

CEO & Founder @ Kabuni

​

www.kabuni.com

www.askneilpatel.com

NEIL'S TALK

Blockchain - can we avoid anarchy?

In 2018 we will see the convergence of exponential technologies go mainstream. Artificial intelligence, 3D printing, robotics, networks and sensors, blockchains, smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, and synthetic biology are all going to make a grand entrance into several business models and industries.

​

The impact of these technologies on life will be incredibly positive, but unfortunately, the downside is that we are currently so unprepared as a society that we are potentially heading towards anarchy.

BIO

An experienced technology entrepreneur with a background in real estate, Founder of two blockchain enabled companies Kabuni.com and MortgageBlock.co plus helping entrepreneurs who want to scale their passion thru exponential technology.

Neil has been a founding CEO for over 20 years and board member of various public and private companies in the UK, Canada and Australia. Neil has successfully completed public listings and raised over $30M. Currently Kabuni is a privately held company shaping the future of additive manufacturing to scale ideas on demand.

Neil has a passion for exponential technologies and is determined to democratize design and manufacturing through 3D printing and AI, and by using blockchain technology to instantly protect and pay all associated parties.

TONY WINTERS

Technology consultant & founder @ lemmingchain.io

​

www.lemmingchain.io

www.uooka.com

TONY'S TALK

"Get down from there, you'll break your neck!" - Scaling Blockchains in a Decentralised World.

Throughout history, scaling truly ground-breaking, innovative technologies has always been an ambitious task.

​

This talk will focus on scaling blockchain technology. Current bottle necks and problem points will be identified and novel approaches and techniques used to successfully scale blockchain technology will be discussed.

This talk will also focus on why we would want to do this and how the creation of a decentralised world can benefit our society.

BIO

Tony Winters is a technology consultant, and founder of lemmingchain.io.

​

He holds both honours and masters degrees in Computer Science and has worked in the tech sector for longer than he cares to admit.

His areas of expertise include blockchain & DLT technologies, computer-networks, cryptography. Tony is a programmer at heart who loves nothing more than to design and create truly inventive software.

He is also a successful author, keen surfer and environmental activist.

ANJALEE BURR

COO @ RISE

​

rise.vision

ANJALEE'S TALK

Consensus Algorithms - Explained Simply

What is a blockchain protocol and why there is no 'one size fits all' blockchain? 

This talk will cover:

​

• POW, Proof of Work (Bitcoin)

• POS, Proof of Stake 

• DPOS, Delegated Proof of Stake 

• Tangle - not a blockchian

BIO

Anjalee is the COO of RISE, a platform for developers to build DAPPS in multiple coding languages, powered by a DPOS blockchain.

Anjalee holds a degree in in Information Management & Business. Her background is within the data, analytics and information services industry, helping to grow and streamline global businesses in Europe and Southeast Asia. Anjalee first invested in Bitcoin in 2014 and since then has been fascinated with blockchain technology and how it has evolved. 

ALI AZAM

Lead Blockchain Developer

@ R_Block

​

www.rblock.co

ALI'S TALK

A race against time: Future of Blockchains

We have come a long way from bitcoin being a nerd money to threatening to revolutionalise multiple industries including Finance, Agriculture, Travel, Recruitment and many more. With the advent of Ethereum (the world computer), the game changed and applications of the blockchain technology have opened up, however, before this technology is adopted, there are several issues to be tackled such as scalability, adoptability and interoperability of blockchains and approaches to solving these issues will shape their future.

The talk will walkthrough the latest research in this area focussing on advancements such as Payment channels, Proof of Stake, Proof of Authority, Sidechains, Polkadot, ENS and many more. It will end with a vision of how blockchains will evolve in the near future. (Hint: Will Quantum Computers break blockchain?)

BIO

Ali Azam is a Lead Blockchain developer for R_Block, Blockchain Advisor for Digax, A Full time Researcher at Kings College London and also Technical mentor at KCL Blockchain Society.

Ali has been involved in Blockchain Research and development for almost 2 years and have worked with various platforms such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric and many others and his Research interests include Private, Permissioned and Scalable Blockchains. He specialises in decentralised technologies with focus on Scalability, Security and Interoperability. 

SASCHA 

RAGTSCHAA

CEO @ Chainium

​

www.chainium.io

SASCHA'S TALK

Blockchain - reinventing the global equity market

We are asking society a big question. If we had our time again, would we create the equity market in the same way? Would we create a system which allows investment in just 1% of the world’s companies? Would we give middlemen such as banks and brokers the power to control access? Would we create a system which excludes billions of people from using it?  The answer is surely no. Blockchain technology has allowed us to reinvent the way the world raises capital and buys and sells shares. Join Chainium to hear more.

BIO

Sascha was CIO EMEA & Asia for the largest share registry and transfer agency provider in the world.

Sascha, our CEO & Co-Founder, started Software Engineering at the age of 16, and worked for a number of web technology start-ups during the initial stages of his career. Working in streaming and multimedia technologies initially in 2000 (Kirch New Media, Munich) he branched out into data analytics and financial services, working as a Lead Engineer on multiple projects and business lines around the world: employee share plans, share registry, annual general meetings and events, shareholder communication and mortgage servicing to name a few. Over the past 17 years he has worked for the largest global share registry and transfer agency provider in the world, and held various technology leadership roles in Europe, Australia and North America. In his most recent function he was the Chief Information Officer for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, managing 421 staff across multiple locations and countries, covering the end-to-end technology delivery and servicing lifecycle of a global organization. He is now developing and deploying these capabilities in the new era of decentralized financial services applications, creating a business with the best engineers in the industry.

BEN STEWART

CTO @ Blackbox.ai

​

www.blackbox.ai

BEN'S TALK

Everything You Need to Know About Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

It's an exciting time! We have two concurrent, revolutionary technologies at our fingertips. AI and blockchain individually are reshaping industries but collectively, they have the power to rebuild and optimize every organizational structure.

Everyone is aware of AI and the value it adds. Whether through automation, prediction, or analysis, the benefits are clear and nearly every company has leveraged AI in some capacity. Blockchain on the other hand, is just gaining steam and we've seen a gradual adoption from key organizations as they realize the benefits of decentralization.

This is all great but why aren't more people or organizations curious about where these revolutionary technologies intersect? It's because most don't know that it's possible! 

I explore, build, and maintain projects at the intersection of AI (specifically ML) and the blockchain. One of the most interesting concepts is decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). All that means is that you leverage intelligent agents on the blockchain to automate certain functions. It can be administration, sales, or any piece of the organization with the goal of achieving eventual autonomy. 

A lot of interesting technologies, economics, and principles come alive in a system like this. This talk will explain everything you need to know about this groundbreaking concept and present real world examples of DAOs and decentralized AI. Although this talk will be relatively high level, this will build your understanding and get you excited about DAOs.

BIO

Ben Stewart is on the founding team and CTO of Blackbox.ai. Blackbox.ai is reimagining the future of work and powering decentralized collaboration for PhDs, engineers, researchers, and futurists to solve some of the hardest AI problems organizations face. It is "AI at your Service".

Ben's background is rooted in Finance. Originally starting at UBS Investment Bank then transitioning to The Carlyle Group with a host of objectives ranging from quantitative risk assessments to algorithmic trading strategies. After The Carlyle Group, he transitioned to Betterment, the largest "robo" advisor with ~$10B in assets under management. There he helped build the 401(k) and record keeping platforms from scratch. A University of Connecticut graduate and member of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship team.

Ben is currently focused on the intersection of AI and blockchain technologies. A deep learning evangelist and an engineer at heart. Whether building prototypes, writing white papers, or poking holes in the newest protocols, Ben is a futurist who takes great value in advancing the current state and making these groundbreaking technologies accessible to all. 

RACHEL BLACK

Developer @ Yoti

​

www.yoti.com

RACHEL'S TALK

Blockchain and Identity

In an age of invasive and intrusive data collection, can blockchain be used to bring about greater user ownership of data?

Storing personal information is hard, costly and often detrimental to user privacy. Rachel’s talk follows the the evolution of identity management from centralised to distributed and self sovereign. Exploring the problems and possibilities as we enter the new world of decentralised identity.

BIO

Rachel is a developer with identity startup Yoti, a London-based technology company on a mission to become the world’s trusted identity platform. Built with the principles of user-centric design and privacy by default, Yoti wants to enable users to have greater ownership of their data.

With a background in education Rachel is skilled at explaining technical concepts in a accessible manner. She is enthusiastic about the power of blockchain as the third iteration of the internet, one that can deliver greater user agency.

HUDDLE #1

Check out the expert moderators for the first round table Huddle session.

ALI AZAM

Lead Blockchain Developer

@ R_Block

​

www.rblock.co

BIO

Ali Azam is a Lead Blockchain developer for R_Block, Blockchain Advisor for Digax, A Full time Researcher at Kings College London and also Technical mentor at KCL Blockchain Society.

Ali has been involved in Blockchain Research and development for almost 2 years and have worked with various platforms such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric and many others and his Research interests include Private, Permissioned and Scalable Blockchains. He specialises in decentralised technologies with focus on Scalability, Security and Interoperability. 

MIKE CARTWRIGHT

CTO @ DigitalTown Inc.

​

www.digitaltown.com

BIO

Originally from the UK and now based in Seattle, Mike has over 20 years of IT experience with organizations of all sizes and across a range of industries including Travel, Consultancy and Manufacturing. Mike describes himself as a Blockchain evangelist, a technologist, and a problem solver. He has built and exited successful Software and Consultancy business in both the UK and USA. He sits on the Board of DigitalTown Inc. as well as providing support and guidance to local entrepreneurs looking to turn their ideas into successful businesses.

Prior to joining DigitalTown as CTO,  Mike was the founder and CEO of Comencia Inc, a Private Label Travel Platform, a Technology Vice President at Expedia, CTO of Pirean - a UK based Identity and Access Management company, and a Technology Director at Nestle, Switzerland. 

TOM NOTMAN

Co-founder @ Ionyx Innovation

​

www.ionyxinnovation.co.uk

BIO

Tom is co-founder of Ionyx Innovation a technology start up working with clients in both the UK and US to develop new hybrid client solutions exploiting the power of distributed data storage solutions and unlock investment pathways by creating evolutionary systems development within existing client ERP systems.   

Tom started of as a geologist and found his way into digital technology via GIS systems. He has 30 years of experience working in the regulated energy, utilities and public sectors implementing business change in companies seeking to adapt to new regulatory approaches and outperform price controls. This has included breaking them apart, putting them back together in different ways, sometimes in new markets and often with different owners. Having worked at the centre of four market openings in gas electricity, forensics and water there is still much to be done to support these traditional corporates achieve their digital futures. Creating sticky solutions for customers not sticky situations for investors!

Tom is passionate about creating practical strategies for more naturally risk averse organisations to adopt disruptive technologies earlier in the innovation cycle and delivery value faster. He has led many of technology-based change programmes that have been required to deliver radically improved data analytics that translate into measurable customer experience improvements.  

​

As an interim Director Tom recently led the market engagement processes supporting the trading platform technology that opened the commercial water market in the UK and has worked with the entire water sector to integrate their trading systems.

NEIL PATEL

CEO & Founder @ Kabuni

​

www.kabuni.com

www.askneilpatel.com

BIO

An experienced technology entrepreneur with a background in real estate, Founder of two blockchain enabled companies Kabuni.com and MortgageBlock.co plus helping entrepreneurs who want to scale their passion thru exponential technology.

Neil has been a founding CEO for over 20 years and board member of various public and private companies in the UK, Canada and Australia. Neil has successfully completed public listings and raised over $30M. Currently Kabuni is a privately held company shaping the future of additive manufacturing to scale ideas on demand.

Neil has a passion for exponential technologies and is determined to democratize design and manufacturing through 3D printing and AI, and by using blockchain technology to instantly protect and pay all associated parties.

HUDDLE #2

Check out the expert moderators for the second round table Huddle session.

MARIO STUMPO

Founder & CEO @ BmyBit.com

​

www.bmybit.com

BIO

Mario Stumpo is the founder & CEO at BmyBit.com. He is a LUISS Guido Carli University graduate, where he obtained two Master’s degrees, in Law and Economics. He also studied at London School of Business and Finance, where he achieved a PGC in Finance. 

Fond of mathematics and econometric analysis, Mario started his career in Rome, working as a international tax advisor for some of the leading Italian firms. After discovering cryptocurrencies and blockchain in 2012, he developed several algorithms for trading and predicting the value of currencies. This interest led him to the creation of the Personal Automated Trading System that is the main service offered by BmyBit Ltd.

During 2017, Mario has lead his company to the Huge Thing acceleration program (powered by Alior Bank) in Warsaw, and raised $90K equity-free from the EU programme for SMEs. Since then, BmyBit.com captured the attention of a big community of crypto traders and investors that are now populating the platform. Mario is also one of the mentors at the 1991 Mastercard incubator in Kiev, UA.

His motto: “Vincere non è importante, è l’unica cosa che conta” - “It is not important to win, it is the only thing that matters”. 

GUSTAVO GUIMARAES

Founder @ Samsara Protocol & Smart Contracts Engineer @ Starbase

www.starbase.co

BIO

Gustavo Guimarães is an experienced Software Engineer with the demonstrated history of working as a blockchain developer on successful ICO projects such as PillarProject and Starbase.

He enjoys finding solutions for real-world problems through the use of technology in industries education, publishing, entertainment and the arts. He was awarded the German Chancellor Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for researching technology impact on people's learning worldwide.

He is the founder of Samsara which is building the first the decentralized property raffle as well as a protocol for games of chance on the blockchain.

Skilled in ​b​lockchain development, Ethereum protocol, ​s​mart contracts, ​a​nalytical ​s​kills, ​d​atabases,  and JavaScript. ​He has strong engineering professional ​and is ​graduated from Lawrence University.

ANJALEE BURR

COO @ RISE

​

rise.vision

BIO

Anjalee is the COO of RISE, a platform for developers to build DAPPS in multiple coding languages, powered by a DPOS blockchain.

Anjalee holds a degree in in Information Management & Business. Her background is within the data, analytics and information services industry, helping to grow and streamline global businesses in Europe and Southeast Asia. Anjalee first invested in Bitcoin in 2014 and since then has been fascinated with blockchain technology and how it has evolved. 

BENJAMIN MCDANIEL

CEO and Founder @ Apollo DAE

​

www.apollodae.io

BIO

In 2005, Ben was introduced to the concept of running a for profit business. It seemed so simple at the time, nothing could go wrong! With zero help, Ben set out and created his first business. Sadly, it lasted only 3 years and was closed down right before his high school graduation. Lessons were learned, and with the experience gained, Ben continued his entrepreneurial path to success. 

Over the next 12 years, Ben spent his time managing, creating and operating corporations in various fields ranging from construction to consumer electronics. He even worked with blockchain technology's and crypto mining for a few years. Then, in April 2017, after witnessing firsthand the corruption and inadequacies of all the crypto exchanges available, Ben decided to build a new exchange that follows higher standards and provides a safer place to trade crypto. After just 12 years from his first venture, Ben has taken lead as CEO and Founder of Apollo DAE, a new crypto exchange that is changing the perception of what a crypto exchange should be and should provide.

BEN STEWART

CTO @ Blackbox.ai

​

www.blackbox.ai

BIO

Ben Stewart is on the founding team and CTO of Blackbox.ai. Blackbox.ai is reimagining the future of work and powering decentralized collaboration for PhDs, engineers, researchers, and futurists to solve some of the hardest AI problems organizations face. It is "AI at your Service".

Ben's background is rooted in Finance. Originally starting at UBS Investment Bank then transitioning to The Carlyle Group with a host of objectives ranging from quantitative risk assessments to algorithmic trading strategies. After The Carlyle Group, he transitioned to Betterment, the largest "robo" advisor with ~$10B in assets under management. There he helped build the 401(k) and record keeping platforms from scratch. A University of Connecticut graduate and member of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship team.

Ben is currently focused on the intersection of AI and blockchain technologies. A deep learning evangelist and an engineer at heart. Whether building prototypes, writing white papers, or poking holes in the newest protocols, Ben is a futurist who takes great value in advancing the current state and making these groundbreaking technologies accessible to all. 

ICO PITCH

Enjoy the evening ICO Pitch presentations from some of the most exciting startups around!

JONATHAN DECARTERET

Co-Founder @ INDX

​

indx.capital

BIO

Jonathan is Co-Founder and CEO of INDX (indx.capital), an index-linked crypto fund that gives retail and institutional investors access to the passive income benefits from cryptocurrency Masternodes.

Previously Founder and CEO of Switch Media, the UK’s 60th fastest-growing company, Jonathan is a veteran crypto tech entrepreneur, advocate and investor. He has a degree in Artificial Intelligence and has led a pivotal role in a string of tech start-ups including as CEO of LaunchPad PLC and COO of Aspartech. Jonathan sits on the advisory Committee for the Macaroni Woods Children’s Venture Charity (UK) and is on the UK All Party Parliamentary Committee for Mental Health Control.

ZDRAVKO LOBOREC

Founder @ REM Loyalty

​

remuneror.com

BIO

Zdravko has spent the last 17 years as a partner with Deloitte Consulting’s global executive. During that time he has helped develop the analytics division, worked on blockchain projects with global majors and completed post MBA studies in Design Thinking at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. He has been recognized with national design awards across the UK and Australia for commercial App development in 2012. He founded REM Loyalty to bring a better rewards solution to the market for consumers and for business. Zdravko has spear-headed the loyalty partner negotiations and card issuer agreements to date. Zdravko lives in Canada with his tech-entrepreneur wife, has 3 kids and is a keen marathon runner.

MARIO STUMPO

Founder & CEO @ BmyBit.com

​

www.bmybit.com

BIO

Mario Stumpo is the founder & CEO at BmyBit.com. He is a LUISS Guido Carli University graduate, where he obtained two Master’s degrees, in Law and Economics. He also studied at London School of Business and Finance, where he achieved a PGC in Finance. 

Fond of mathematics and econometric analysis, Mario started his career in Rome, working as a international tax advisor for some of the leading Italian firms. After discovering cryptocurrencies and blockchain in 2012, he developed several algorithms for trading and predicting the value of currencies. This interest led him to the creation of the Personal Automated Trading System that is the main service offered by BmyBit Ltd.

During 2017, Mario has lead his company to the Huge Thing acceleration program (powered by Alior Bank) in Warsaw, and raised $90K equity-free from the EU programme for SMEs. Since then, BmyBit.com captured the attention of a big community of crypto traders and investors that are now populating the platform. Mario is also one of the mentors at the 1991 Mastercard incubator in Kiev, UA.

His motto: “Vincere non è importante, è l’unica cosa che conta” - “It is not important to win, it is the only thing that matters”. 

HAYDN SNAPE

CMO @ Game Loot Network

​

gamelootnetwork.com

BIO

Haydn is a serial entrepreneur and Digital Marketing specialist with a degree in Economics. Over the last decade he has delivered strategic business and marketing solutions in a variety of areas, including politics, financial services and technology. He has had the chance to work with companies large and small, including the likes of HSBC, Barclays, JP Morgan and Thomson Reuters. He now serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Game Loot Network.

BENJAMIN MCDANIEL

CEO and Founder @ Apollo DAE

​

www.apollodae.io

BIO

In 2005, Ben was introduced to the concept of running a for profit business. It seemed so simple at the time, nothing could go wrong! With zero help, Ben set out and created his first business. Sadly, it lasted only 3 years and was closed down right before his high school graduation. Lessons were learned, and with the experience gained, Ben continued his entrepreneurial path to success. 

Over the next 12 years, Ben spent his time managing, creating and operating corporations in various fields ranging from construction to consumer electronics. He even worked with blockchain technology's and crypto mining for a few years. Then, in April 2017, after witnessing firsthand the corruption and inadequacies of all the crypto exchanges available, Ben decided to build a new exchange that follows higher standards and provides a safer place to trade crypto. After just 12 years from his first venture, Ben has taken lead as CEO and Founder of Apollo DAE, a new crypto exchange that is changing the perception of what a crypto exchange should be and should provide.

BEN STEWART

CTO @ Blackbox.ai

​

www.blackbox.ai

BIO

Ben Stewart is on the founding team and CTO of Blackbox.ai. Blackbox.ai is reimagining the future of work and powering decentralized collaboration for PhDs, engineers, researchers, and futurists to solve some of the hardest AI problems organizations face. It is "AI at your Service".

Ben's background is rooted in Finance. Originally starting at UBS Investment Bank then transitioning to The Carlyle Group with a host of objectives ranging from quantitative risk assessments to algorithmic trading strategies. After The Carlyle Group, he transitioned to Betterment, the largest "robo" advisor with ~$10B in assets under management. There he helped build the 401(k) and record keeping platforms from scratch. A University of Connecticut graduate and member of the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship team.

Ben is currently focused on the intersection of AI and blockchain technologies. A deep learning evangelist and an engineer at heart. Whether building prototypes, writing white papers, or poking holes in the newest protocols, Ben is a futurist who takes great value in advancing the current state and making these groundbreaking technologies accessible to all. 

ED LOBBETT

CCO

@ Acorn Collective

​

www.aco.ai

BIO

Ed is the COO of Acorn and is responsible for all business operations within the company including commercial modelling, sales and marketing strategy, all commercial aspects of the business and leading the teams in those respective areas.

​

Ed is also the co-founder and CEO of Hoppr, a big data platform that provides the link between digital marketing and offline retail transactions. Ex-South West Chairman of the Institute of Consulting in the UK, Ed has created, owned and consulted for start-ups and traditional businesses for over a decade.

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Company bio:

​

The Acorn Collective is using blockchain to help founders and startups access funding. We provide crowdfunding that is accessible, transparent and more likely to be succeed.

​

Crowdfunding is a huge and growing market in the West and a largely untapped market in most developing countries. We are changing this by creating an innovative platform which promotes access for backers and founders globally.

Our integrated token-based Acorn ecosystem encourages engagement throughout the crowdfunding journey from the initial raise to project delivery. We use targeted data that guides founders to make the right campaign decisions and match projects with backers that want to support them.

Our underlying blockchain layer promotes transparency at every stage. Using our Ethereum-based OAK token and smart contract-based milestones, Acorn develops a lasting relationship of trust and openness between founder and backer like no other current platform.

​

Acorn is leading the next generation in crowdfunding, creating a platform for everyone, everywhere.

IAN MULLINS

CEO

@ AdsDax

​

adsdax.com

BIO

Ian Mullins is the Founder and CEO of AdsDax (www.adsdax.com), a decentralised ecosystem for rich media advertising that uses blockchain technologies to reward consumers, publishers, miners and developers to create a lower cost, more efficient and more rewarding advertising marketplace. AdsDax aims to be the first self-service open platform that can be used to design, develop and create any rich-media advert and turn that into a smart ad contract for audience targeting that can be fulfilled by publishers and consumers without the need for any middleman and with transparency and payment to publishers who provided the ad space and consumers who engaged with the ad.
 

Ian is passionate about utility token economics, tokenisation of the ad tech ecosystem and video technology. Ian has over 16 years’ experience in the mobile industry. He is an expert in mobile video delivery, HTML5 ads, data analysis and targeting of video ads to mobile phones and has extensive experience with advertising technologies as well as real-time ad decisioning and tracking. Ian holds an MSc in IT and Data Communications (Distinction) from Lancaster University and a degree in Business and Finance from Swansea University. He began his career as an Investment Analyst for Talisman House in London before moving into technical trading for Engage Energy and then Mobile Technology Strategy for Morse Plc in 2000. He later worked as the CTO for The Games Arcade, a mobile games service, and then set up Yamgo TV to deliver live TV and video to feature phones in India and emerging markets. In his spare time, he loves skydiving, paragliding, white-water kayaking and downhill mountain biking in South Wales.