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Recorded at the EV3 DePIN Summit in Kenya, Connor speaks with Manolis Nikiforakis, CEO and Co-founder of WeatherXM, about how the company is revolutionizing weather data collection using IoT technology and crypto incentives. Manolis shares insights into their growing network of around 10,000 weather stations, with a focus on expanding coverage in the Global South where data is most scarce. The duo discusses the ambitious goal of deploying 30 million stations worldwide to dramatically improve weather accuracy. They explore how the use of blockchain - specifically Solana - helps incentivize local participation, drive community engagement, and support new revenue models, all while emphasizing the critical importance of data quality.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:51 - Expanding Global Network in the Global South

05:48 - Improving Weather Data Accuracy

09:03 - The Role of Crypto Incentives

11:43- Revenue Models and Customer Use Cases

14:41 - Engaging with the Solana Community

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Recorded at the EV3 DePIN Summit in Kenya, Connor spoke with Mohan Ponnada, founder of DeCharge, at a beach resort in Mombasa, Kenya, about transforming the EV charging industry in emerging markets like Kenya and Tanzania. Ponnada discussed DeCharge’s move from India to Kenya to tap into the region’s growing gig economy and EV adoption, stressing the value of local partnerships. He outlined how DeCharge tackles the industry's fragmentation through a decentralized model that lets individuals and small businesses monetize idle charging infrastructure. With a goal of 25,000 stations by March and a seamless, app-free user experience, DeCharge is scaling quickly. The episode wrapped with insights into their upcoming token launch on the Solana blockchain to strengthen their decentralized foundation.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:03 - Exploring Emerging Markets

01:54 - Current Footprint and Local Partnerships

02:39 - Challenges in the EV Charging Industry

04:57 - Decentralization and Community Involvement

05:13 - Motivating Community Participation

08:07 - Bringing Your Own Device

09:06 - Current Network Status and Sales Growth

12:14 - Token Launch Plans and Blockchain Choice

14:32 - Why Solana?

16:29 - Where to Learn More About DeCharge

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Recorded at the EV3 DePIN Summit in Zanzibar, Connor sits down with Samuel Welde, co-founder of Onocoy - a project using decentralized networks to boost GPS accuracy in emerging markets like Africa and South America. Samuel explains how Onocoy leverages Solana’s speed, low fees, and developer support to power billions of autonomous devices with affordable, centimeter-level precision. They discuss the limitations of traditional GPS, Onocoy’s expansion in countries like Kenya and Tanzania, and the project’s unique tokenomics, including the BONO beta token and upcoming ONO token, aimed at incentivizing long-term network growth.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:05 - DePIN Summit in Zanzibar

01:45 - Challenges in the GPS Industry

03:12 - Improving GPS Accuracy with Onocoy

05:06 - Market Strategy in Emerging Markets

06:44 - Global Coverage Goals

09:44 - Community Building and Token Launch

10:44 - Building on Solana

13:18 - Monetization and Demand Side Strategy

18:14 - Getting Involved with Onocoy

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Recorded at the EV3 DePIN Summit in Kenya, host Connor welcomed back Alireza Ghods, Co-founder and CEO of Natix, for his fifth appearance. Alireza shared insights from his trip to Mombasa and the opportunities for crypto adoption in Africa, highlighting Natix’s demand-led approach through partnerships with local businesses. He discussed the company’s dual focus on mapmaking and autonomous driving, noting the higher value and longevity of autonomous driving data. Alireza also reflected on Natix’s token on Solana, praised its usability, and teased major collaborations as the company focuses on scaling and revenue growth.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:08 - Emerging Markets and Product Fit in Africa

02:07 - Current Footprint in Africa and Demand Strategy

03:11 - Focus on Autonomous Driving vs. Mapmaking

04:32 - Data Requirements for Autonomous Driving

06:06 - Monetizing Data for Mapmaking and Autonomous Driving

08:06 - Understanding AI Models in Autonomous Vehicles

10:32 - Experience with Solana and Token Launch

12:52 - Future Plans and Upcoming Announcements

14:13 - How to Get Involved and Learn More

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Santiago Santos, Jason Badeaux, Mahesh Ramakrishnan and Connor Lovely welcome Nick Carpinito from Blockworks Research to discuss Helium’s path toward deflation, decentralized energy grids, and the role of crypto and private equity in solving large-scale challenges. They touch on New York’s political climate and its potential impact on innovation, highlight Inversion’s talent-focused approach, and explore user-generated services like Daisy that enable real-time content monetization. Nick shares insights on Helium and Geodnet’s growth, tokenomics, and capital attraction, with the conversation underscoring the need for clear, aligned structures that prioritize community benefits over traditional shareholder gains.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:24 - New York Politics and Social Issues

02:24 - New York vs. San Francisco

03:16 - The Role of DePIN in Social Cohesion

03:58 - Mamdani's Stance on Crypto

04:17 - Inversion's Recent Developments

05:34 - Hiring Trends and Talent in Crypto

06:58 - Building in the Open vs. Secrecy

08:53 - Insights on Hiring and Talent Acquisition

09:54 - The Intersection of Crypto and Tradfi

10:04 - Helium's Growth and MVNO Metrics

12:09 - DePIN's Potential in Payments

19:06 - The Concept of User-Generated Services

22:19 - Introduction of Nick from Blockworks Research

22:45 - Helium's Revenue Growth and Deflationary Potential

25:03 - Tokenomics and Equity Conversion Discussions

29:00 - The Importance of Clarity in Token Structures

31:27 - Corporate Structures and Alignment in Crypto

34:29 - Geodnet's Growth and Market Position

39:29 - Revenue Dynamics in Geodnet and Helium

41:42 - Earnings Dispersion Among Deployers

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Connor and Sal are joined by guests Jack Platts and Mehdi Farooq to explore the evolving landscape of crypto investment, venture capital, and deep tech. They discuss strategies for unlocking value in crypto assets, the critical role of NAV in investment decisions, and the rise of micro strategies in deal-making. The conversation also covers the resurgence of ICOs, the importance of disciplined evaluation of investment vehicles, and the global perspectives shaping today’s crypto markets. Jack and Mehdi share insights on how podcasting drives research and networking, while emphasizing the transformative impact of deep tech on robotics and AI. The episode wraps with a look at why community building remains essential for startup success in decentralized ecosystems.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

01:47 - The Value of Podcasting

03:12 - Podcasting as a Platform for Founders

04:11 - Jack's Perspective on Podcasting

05:47 - Micro Strategy and Investment Trends

06:18 - Understanding Capital Markets

07:56 - Evaluating Investment Vehicles

11:07 - Natural Buyers for Investment Vehicles

16:00 - Long-term NAV Multiples

20:50 - 21 Capital Investment Insights

24:02 - Expanding Beyond Bitcoin

30:53 - Global Investment Perspectives

34:09 - Lessons from Polkadot

40:06 - The ICO Meta and Community Building

46:04 - DePIN Investments and Future Outlook

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Connor, Mahesh, Santi, and Jason are joined by Amir Haleem of Helium to explore the evolving landscape of decentralized networks. They dive into Helium’s impressive revenue growth - from $400K to $2.7M per month - driven by its mobile subscriber base, and discuss the complexities of blending off-chain and on-chain revenue. The conversation covers tokenized equity, sustainable business models beyond token sales, and the convergence of crypto with traditional finance. Amir shares how Helium has shifted from a crypto-first approach to prioritizing service delivery and user satisfaction, offering key lessons in product distribution, user retention, and innovative tokenomics.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:25 - Microstrategy and Digital Asset Accumulation

03:42 - Market Trends: Crypto and Wall Street

05:03 - Santi's Perspective on Market Efficiency

06:19 - DePIN Projects and Public Market Strategies

06:41 - Helium's Potential for Going Public

08:50 - Cash Flow and Tokenomics in DePIN

12:07 - Helium's Recent Revenue Growth

12:55 - PMF for DePIN Networks

18:03 - User Engagement and Helium's Growth

19:05 - Helium's Revenue Sources Explained

21:06 - Convergence of Off-Chain and On-Chain Revenue

24:12 - Learning from Helium's Evolution

25:03 - Focus on Distribution Over Product

27:27 - Daily Active Users and Their Interaction

31:26 - Valuable Users and Helium's Ecosystem

33:45 - Cloud Points and User Experience

36:44 - Retention Curves: Crypto vs. Traditional Users

39:59 - Aligning Token and Equity Interests

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.

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Connor speaks with Tom Trowbridge, co-founder of Fluence Labs and host of the DePIN Day & DePINEd Podcast about the evolving world of decentralized compute platforms and the broader DePIN ecosystem. Tom explains how Fluence operates as a “cloudless” service—open, resilient, and more cost-effective than traditional cloud providers—and outlines its innovative tokenomics, including fixed-dollar payments to contributors and a capped token supply to build investor trust. The discussion explores how DePINs offer unique advantages over centralized models like Uber and Airbnb, particularly the ability for early participants to benefit from token appreciation. Tom also touches on governance, buy-and-burn mechanisms, and how the convergence of hardware, open-source technology, and crypto economics is driving the future of decentralized infrastructure.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

02:54 - The Benefits of Podcasting

05:10 - Overview of Fluence and Its Mission

07:54 - Tokenomics Insights and Security Considerations

10:01 - DePIN as Sharing Economy 2.0

12:32 - Marketing Dynamics in DePIN vs. Traditional Models

14:10 - Payment Structures: Stablecoins vs. Native Tokens

16:55 - Staking Rewards and Their Implications

18:18 - Token Supply: Capped vs. Uncapped

20:49 - Token Value Accrual Methods

25:09 - Best Practices in Revenue Generation and Tokenomics

29:29 - Future Opportunities in the DePIN Sector

31:00 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.