In this episode, I sit down with Greg Marlin, the CTO of ZKcandy, to explore the evolving intersection of AI agents, blockchain infrastructure, NFTs, and the gaming world. We dive deep into how Greg is building seamless onboarding for Web3 gaming, how AI agents are redefining non-player characters and companions, and why encrypted AI agent NFTs might just be the future of user-owned digital experiences.

Whether you’re a founder building in Web3, an investor watching the AI frontier, or just curious about where gaming is headed—this one’s packed with insights.

💡 Key Takeaways

• What AI agents actually are—and why they matter in gaming

• The vision behind encrypted AI companion NFTs

• How ZKcandy simplifies Web3 authentication and onboarding

• Why composability and simplicity are keys to developer adoption

• The role of blockchain in preserving ownership and memory in AI

• Founder tips on staying resilient in a copycat-prone startup environment

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🎧 What You’ll Learn

• How AI agents will revolutionize NPCs and game companions

• Why ERC-7662 is critical for privacy-first AI agents on-chain

• Practical strategies for founders building in AI + gaming + blockchain

• A preview of Raid Quest and ZKcandy’s upcoming game features

About Greg Marlin

Greg is a serial entrepreneur and technologist with a track record across SaaS, crypto, AI, and developer platforms. As the CTO of ZKCandy, a layer-2 blockchain built on the ZK Stack, he’s building tools that simplify Web3 onboarding for developers and gamers alike. Greg is also the author of ERC-7662, the emerging standard for encrypted AI agent NFTs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmarlin/

https://zkcandy.io/

https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7662

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – Greg’s journey from SaaS to AI to blockchain

04:00 – Breaking down what an AI agent actually is

09:30 – How AI companions will reshape gaming experiences

13:00 – AI in “raid” environments and social quests

15:00 – Addressing hallucinations and unpredictability in AI

20:00 – What ERC-7662 is and why it matters for AI NFTs

26:00 – Who owns your AI? How blockchain can protect user memory

28:00 – Developer experience: Plug-and-play SDKs for Web3 games

32:00 – Advice for founders building at the intersection of AI and gaming

36:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Greg

In this episode, Mehmet sits down with Mauro Battellini, co-founder of Black Unicorn PR, to break down why PR is no longer optional for startups—and how the rise of AI-powered search is changing what investors and customers see first.

From fundraising strategy to media perception, Mauro explains how to build legitimacy, earn visibility, and outperform better-funded competitors—even if you’re not in Silicon Valley.

Whether you’re a first-time founder or a repeat entrepreneur, this episode will shift how you think about storytelling, credibility, and why “earned media” may be your strongest asset in the AI era.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• When PR matters: The signals investors, regulators, and enterprise clients look for beyond the pitch deck

• AI’s impact on perception: How tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity influence investor research and due diligence

• Personal branding vs. thought leadership: Why founders must be discoverable—before the product is

• PR in emerging markets: How startups from Central & Eastern Europe or MENA can play the global media game

• Fundraising and credibility: How the right PR at the right time can shorten investor cycles

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📚 What You’ll Learn

• How to identify your startup’s PR timing based on traction and stakeholder needs

• Why earned media is becoming more powerful than paid ads in the AI era

• The difference between “spray & pray” and strategic media outreach

• How journalists evaluate startups—and how founders can become go-to voices

• Real-world examples of how PR directly impacted fundraising outcomes

🧑‍💼 About Mauro Battellini

Mauro is the co-founder of Black Unicorn PR, an agency laser-focused on early-stage tech startups. With a background in sales, market research, and e-commerce, Mauro brings a unique lens to PR that aligns brand perception with business outcomes. His mission: help founders from non-traditional ecosystems punch above their weight in global markets.

https://www.blackunicornpr.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauro-alexis-battellini/

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro and Mauro’s journey from sales to startup PR

04:30 – Why Black Unicorn PR was founded to fix broken agency models

06:45 – When founders should start thinking about PR

10:15 – The mindset shift: PR isn’t about vanity—it’s about trust

14:00 – Thought leadership vs. personal branding in founder visibility

18:20 – Why emerging markets struggle with global media presence

22:40 – How PR helped Lithuanian startups get into international coverage

26:30 – What PR looks like during a fundraising round

30:45 – AI’s disruption of SEO and search discovery

33:10 – Why PR is becoming essential in the AI discovery layer

36:00 – The rise of solo journalists, niche media, and credibility loops

38:20 – Practical advice: what AI sees when someone Googles you

42:00 – Why PR is your startup’s trust layer in the noisy digital world

45:00 – Final tips: how to map stakeholders, focus outreach, and treat journalists like investors

In this episode of The CTO Show, Mehmet Gonullu sits down with Cosmin Ivan, CEO of Platinumlist, the leading event and ticketing platform in the MENA region. From selling tickets by hand to building a platform used for the biggest concerts and sporting events, Cosmin shares his 18-year journey and how Platinumlist became a trusted tech partner for global entertainment brands.

They unpack the power of secure, scalable event tech, what it takes to expand across culturally diverse markets, and why trust, transparency, and customer experience drive long-term success.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How Platinumlist evolved into MENA’s most trusted ticketing tech platform

• The role of security, dynamic QR codes, and anti-scalping measures

• Why a great user experience begins before the event

• Strategies for scaling across culturally diverse countries

• Cosmin’s leadership approach to change management and team building

• The future of AI, blockchain, and Web3 in entertainment tech

• Opportunities for startup founders in the MENA event ecosystem

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Tech alone isn’t enough—simplicity and trust are critical.

• 85% drop in ticket fraud after adopting dynamic QR and bank-grade encryption.

• Customer experience is an end-to-end journey, not a single touchpoint.

• The GCC’s mobility and transparency offer a unique opportunity for entertainment startups.

👤 About the Guest

Cosmin Ivan is the CEO of Platinumlist, the region’s leading event discovery and ticketing platform. With nearly two decades in the industry, Cosmin helped grow the company from a scrappy 3-person operation to a regional tech powerhouse operating across the GCC. He’s an advocate for customer-centric design, ethical reselling, and event tech innovation.

https://platinumlist.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosmin-ivan-38546582/

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Intro and welcome

02:00 – Cosmin’s journey from Europe to Platinumlist

06:00 – Defining a great event experience

10:00 – Leveraging tech to eliminate fraud and scalping

15:00 – Behind the scenes: Dynamic QR and secure ticketing

20:00 – Scaling Platinumlist across MENA

25:00 – Leading change and adapting to regional nuances

30:00 – The future of event tech: AI, Web3, crowd analytics

36:00 – What’s next for Platinumlist

39:00 – Advice for entertainment tech entrepreneurs in MENA

42:00 – Final thoughts on leadership and team culture