We ask the buidlers within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for his or her ideas on the trade… and throw in a number of random zingers to maintain them on their toes!
This week, our 6 Questions go to Nikki Farb — an lively investor and advisor to expertise firms who’s at the moment a enterprise accomplice at Headline, a enterprise capital agency.
I put money into client tech (with an actual love for marketplaces) and Web3. I’ve invested in Consensys (MetaMask), AfterParty, Fractal, Aloft, Wander, MarketerHire, SudShare and some others I can’t share simply but.
Earlier than investing, I co-founded Darby — a video procuring app that linked creators and their followers. It was such a journey. We constructed Darby as much as 50,000 creators making movies for five million viewers. Working with the workforce at Darby was one in all my biggest privileges. We had been acquired by Grove Collective.
Previous to Darby, I used to be at Goldman Sachs within the Funding Banking Group. I discovered fairly a bit. Particularly as a result of I used to be an English trainer proper out of faculty.
1 — What has been the hardest problem you’ve confronted in our trade thus far?
There are two challenges that come to thoughts. The primary is that it’s a loud trade. It’s difficult to face the robust questions: What’s the basic cause that this trade is flourishing? What’s a novel use case of the tech? Discovering the sign by means of the noise is a very powerful factor you are able to do as an investor, because it impacts how you employ each your money and time. I’ve that reply now; with out it, you run the chance of dropping some huge cash.
The second is the pitfall of rallying round a damaging message. One of many quickest methods to achieve this area as a feminine investor is to scream that it’s a boy’s membership. That kind of negativity thrives on social media, the place a lot of crypto conversations happen. If I wished to be self-serving, I might say that and construct up my platform, however I don’t imagine it and it’s not the trail I wish to select. In the event you say the message sufficient occasions, it might change into a fact, after which we later damage ourselves by being excluded from one of the vital necessary technological improvements and the quickest solution to even financial outcomes. In the event you fall right into a damaging message, it solely hurts outsiders, not the insiders. We, as a part of this trade, get to decide on how this phenomenon performs out. Why would we select to name it a boy’s membership?
2 — Do you subscribe to the thought of Bitcoin as a way of cost, a retailer of worth, each… or neither?
For Bitcoin — as a retailer of worth. Whereas there was a battle 4 or 5 years in the past on what it will change into, it has performed out to be a retailer of worth, and I feel that’s the precise end result. I do see another cryptocurrencies like Ether and Solana as a way of cost.
3 — Do you assume governments will attempt to kill crypto?
What a spicy query! I feel sure as a result of crypto degrades governments’ energy, and anybody that has energy is inclined to desirous to reclaim it — although not everybody will pursue that path. So, I feel it’s inevitable that some governments someplace will attempt to kill crypto. As for which authorities and the way far they take it — who is aware of? That’s a film, proper there. I feel some will embrace it wholeheartedly and attempt to make it fly, particularly these with risky currencies. However for now, it’s means too early to imagine. What’s unbelievable about crypto is that it has the potential to decentralize energy and provides rise to economies which can be struggling. There’s good and evil in it, similar to with another technological innovation. It’ll all rely upon how individuals use it, and I wish to steer in that route, which is why I select to put money into the area.
4 — What had been you want in highschool?
Confused, however I made it by means of! I graduated highschool in three years as a result of my mother made a take care of me that if I graduated early, I may very well be an actress for my fourth 12 months as an alternative of going to highschool. I used to be additionally kicked out of two colleges in my freshman 12 months as a result of I wasn’t very effectively behaved, so I finally ended up at night time college, the place I later realized I wished to alter my conduct. I made one other take care of my mother that if I acquired a 4.0 GPA in my sophomore 12 months, I didn’t should go to highschool on Mondays, and I did it.
I cherished rap and hiphop tradition, and I used to be additionally very into punk music (my roots are in Orange County). I used to be proud of my social scene and the quantity of pals I had. My little sister went all over the place with me. She’s three years youthful and my accomplice in crime.
I had about 30 jobs in highschool as a result of if I didn’t like one thing, I might simply stop. The one job I’ve ever been fired from is Denny’s, and my favourite job was being the fragrance spray woman in Bloomingdale’s. I got here from a rich household however they later misplaced all of their cash. In highschool, I nonetheless wished to stay the life I grew up in, so I undoubtedly had a hustler mentality and made my means. I most likely skated the road of felony conduct a number of occasions.
5 — Considering of a favourite poem or musical lyric, what’s it, and why does it communicate to you?
There are two that come to thoughts. The primary is a saying that “solely boring individuals get bored.” It’s my philosophy for all times. I actually imagine that most individuals get to be the captain of their very own ship, so if you happen to’re bored, go repair it.
The second is basically any line from the film The Royal Tenenbaums — two of my private favorites are: “Did you say you had been on mescaline?” “I did certainly. Very a lot so,” and “I’ve had a tough 12 months, dad.”
It’s such an trustworthy, humble and artistic film. I’ve watched it 100 occasions and at all times appear to seek out one thing new. The pursuit of individuality, inventive danger — the entire characters take inventive dangers — and constructing persona is one thing I’m drawn to.
6 — What’s the e-book that influenced you essentially the most and why?
I might say Satisfaction and Prejudice. My grandmother truly gave me an authentic copy of the e-book. It’s one of many first novels I ever learn in highschool. I used to be a really avid reader as a child, and this is among the most grown-up items I can keep in mind studying at that age. To me, it was concerning the energy of womanhood and the distinctive traits we’ve, and the way a lot energy that provides us on this planet. These traits are additionally totally different from those males have. It helped me understand that I used to be a special human from my dad or different guys, however how that may very well be highly effective. I used to learn it yearly. I additionally cherished how they’re all sisters and that dynamic.
A want for the younger, formidable blockchain neighborhood:
If I share my want, it could not come true!