We ask the buidlers within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for his or her ideas on the trade… and throw in just a few random zingers to maintain them on their toes!
This week, our 6 Questions go to Nikki Farb — an energetic 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 purchasing 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 group at Darby was certainly one of my best 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 school.
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 powerful questions: What’s the basic motive that this trade is flourishing? What’s a novel use case of the tech? Discovering the sign by means of the noise is an important 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 danger of shedding some huge cash.
The second is the pitfall of rallying round a destructive 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 form of negativity thrives on social media, the place a lot of crypto conversations happen. If I needed 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 turn out to be a fact, after which we later harm ourselves by being excluded from some of the essential technological improvements and the quickest approach to even financial outcomes. In the event you fall right into a destructive 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 might turn out to be, it has performed out to be a retailer of worth, and I believe that’s the correct consequence. I do see another cryptocurrencies like Ether and Solana as a way of cost.
3 — Do you suppose governments will attempt to kill crypto?
What a spicy query! I believe sure as a result of crypto degrades governments’ energy, and anybody that has energy is vulnerable to desirous to reclaim it — although not everybody will pursue that path. So, I believe 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 believe some will embrace it wholeheartedly and attempt to make it fly, particularly these with unstable currencies. However for now, it’s method too early to imagine. What’s unbelievable about crypto is that it has the potential to decentralize energy and provides rise to economies which might be struggling. There’s good and evil in it, identical to with another technological innovation. It’s going to all rely on how individuals use it, and I wish to steer in that course, 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 cope with me that if I graduated early, I could possibly be an actress for my fourth 12 months as a substitute 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 needed to vary my conduct. I made one other cope with my mother that if I bought a 4.0 GPA in my sophomore 12 months, I didn’t must go to highschool on Mondays, and I did it.
I beloved 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 buddies I had. My little sister went in every single 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 give up. 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 needed to dwell the life I grew up in, so I positively had a hustler mentality and made my method. I most likely skated the road of felony conduct just a few occasions.
5 — Pondering of a favourite poem or musical lyric, what’s it, and why does it converse 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 in case you’re bored, go repair it.
The second is actually 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 sincere, humble and artistic film. I’ve watched it 100 occasions and all the time appear to seek out one thing new. The pursuit of individuality, inventive danger — all the characters take inventive dangers — and constructing character is one thing I’m drawn to.
6 — What’s the e-book that influenced you probably the most and why?
I might say Delight and Prejudice. My grandmother truly gave me an unique 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 likely one of the most grown-up items I can keep in mind studying at that age. To me, it was in regards to the energy of womanhood and the distinctive traits we’ve, and the way a lot energy that offers us on the earth. These traits are additionally totally different from those males have. It helped me notice that I used to be a special human from my dad or different guys, however how that could possibly be highly effective. I used to learn it yearly. I additionally beloved how they’re all sisters and that dynamic.
A want for the younger, bold blockchain group:
If I share my want, it might not come true!
