We ask the buidlers within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for his or her ideas on the trade… and throw in a couple of random zingers to maintain them on their toes!
This week, our 6 Questions go to Nikki Farb — an energetic investor and advisor to know-how corporations who’s at the moment a enterprise companion 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 crew 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 instructor 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 powerful questions: What’s the basic motive that this trade is prospering? What’s a novel use case of the tech? Discovering the sign via 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 shedding some huge cash.
The second is the pitfall of rallying round a damaging message. One of many quickest methods to reach this house as a feminine investor is to scream that it’s a boy’s membership. That kind of negativity thrives on social media, the place numerous 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 case you say the message sufficient occasions, it might grow to be a reality, after which we later harm ourselves by being excluded from probably the most necessary technological improvements and the quickest option to even financial outcomes. In case 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 concept of Bitcoin as a way of fee, 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 grow to be, it has performed out to be a retailer of worth, and I feel that’s the proper end result. I do see another cryptocurrencies like Ether and Solana as a way of fee.
3 — Do you suppose 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 eager 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 approach too early to imagine. What’s unimaginable 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 every other technological innovation. It is going to all rely on how individuals use it, and I wish to steer in that path, which is why I select to put money into the house.
4 — What had been you want in highschool?
Confused, however I made it via! I graduated highschool in three years as a result of my mother made a cope with me that if I graduated early, I might be an actress for my fourth 12 months as an alternative of going to high school. I used to be additionally kicked out of two faculties in my freshman 12 months as a result of I wasn’t very effectively behaved, so I finally ended up at evening college, the place I later realized I needed to vary my conduct. I made one other cope with my mother that if I obtained a 4.0 GPA in my sophomore 12 months, I didn’t must go to high school 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 pleased with my social scene and the quantity of mates I had. My little sister went in every single place with me. She’s three years youthful and my companion 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 lady in Bloomingdale’s. I got here from a rich household however they later misplaced all of their cash. In highschool, I nonetheless needed to stay the life I grew up in, so I positively had a hustler mentality and made my approach. I in all probability skated the road of legal conduct a couple of occasions.
5 — Considering 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 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 inventive film. I’ve watched it 100 occasions and at all times appear to search out one thing new. The pursuit of individuality, inventive danger — the entire characters take inventive dangers — and constructing character is one thing I’m drawn to.
6 — What’s the ebook that influenced you essentially the most and why?
I might say Satisfaction and Prejudice. My grandmother truly gave me an authentic copy of the ebook. 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 got, and the way a lot energy that provides us on this planet. These traits are additionally completely different from those males have. It helped me notice that I used to be a distinct human from my dad or different guys, however how that might 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, bold blockchain neighborhood:
If I share my want, it might not come true!
