Overnight Success

Chris Joannou
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  • Entrepreneurship

Connecting you with the Creators and Entrepreneurs Shaping Tomorrow. Presented by Draper University and Hosted by Chris Joannou.

  1. Oct 5

    Bridging Public Policy and Blockchain in the EU w/ Ondřej Kovařík (Senior Advisor @ FTI Consulting)

    The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the exclusivity economy, digital assets, blockchain, stable coins, AI, and the regulatory framework in the European Union. Ondřej discusses his background, experience in the European Parliament, and his current role as a senior advisor on European affairs. He emphasizes the need for a more pro-innovation approach in policy-making and the importance of bridging the gap between public authorities and digital technologies. Takeaways Exclusivity economyDigital assetsRegulatory frameworkBlockchain and stable coinsAI and digital commercePro-innovation policy-making Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the WABE Summit01:11 Ondřej's Background and Experience02:11 The Aha Moment with Blockchain03:09 Blockchain and Financial Assets05:49 MiCA and Digital Finance07:18 Regulatory Framework and Iterations10:36 Balancing Innovation and Policy11:09 AI and Digital Commerce31:04 Supervisory and Regulatory Technology

    Bridging Public Policy and Blockchain in the EU w/ Ondřej Kovařík (Senior Advisor @ FTI Consulting)

  2. Sep 28

    The Importance of Community & Events in Web3 w/ Soledad Contreras (Head of Partnerships @ CoinDesk)

    This conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the convergence of AI with blockchain, the importance of community in the crypto space, Soledad's journey into crypto, the role of CoinDesk and Consensus, the impact of virtual and in-person events, the trends in the crypto and blockchain industry, and the significance of AI. The conversation also delves into the challenges and opportunities in the industry, the role of conferences, and the need for entrepreneurs to own their own AI. Takeaways Community is crucial in the crypto spaceReal-life events remain important despite digital productsThe intersection of blockchain and AI is a hot topicRegulatory frameworks and traditional institutions are impacting the industryEntrepreneurs need to own their own AI Chapters 00:00 The Convergence of AI with Blockchain02:11 Soledad's Journey into Crypto03:09 The Role of CoinDesk and Consensus05:41 The Impact of Virtual and In-Person Events08:25 Trends in the Crypto and Blockchain Industry11:25 Challenges and Opportunities in the Industry21:05 Entrepreneurs Owning Their Own AI25:25 The Role of Conferences

    The Importance of Community & Events in Web3 w/ Soledad Contreras (Head of Partnerships @ CoinDesk)

  3. Aug 28

    Pioneering Play-to-Earn w/ Gabby Dizon (Co-founder ‪@YieldGuildGames‬ )

    Episode Summary Today, I sit down with Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG). We talk about Gabby’s journey from building the first games in the Philippines to pioneering the concept of play-to-earn and Web3 gaming. Gabby shares the early days of Web3 gaming, how AI and decentralized work models are converging, and why starting with community-first was essential for YGG’s growth. We also discuss the challenges of building a web3 company during crypto cycles, crypto Twitter, and the future of online on-chain work opportunities in emerging economies. If you're interested in the intersection of gaming, blockchain, and the future of work, this episode is a must-listen. About Our Guest Gabby Dizon is the co-founder of Yield Guild Games (YGG), the world's largest Web3 gaming guild. A pioneer of play-to-earn gaming, Gabby is passionate about the intersection of community, gaming, and blockchain. He is also an active investor in the decentralized gaming ecosystem and a strong advocate for creating online and on-chain earning opportunities for communities across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Resources & Links Mentioned Gabby Dizon's Twitter [https://x.com/gabusch] Yield Guild Games [https://yieldguild.io/] Axie Infinity [https://axieinfinity.com/] CryptoKitties [https://www.cryptokitties.co/]

    Pioneering Play-to-Earn w/ Gabby Dizon (Co-founder ‪@YieldGuildGames‬ )

  4. Aug 28

    Will AI Replace you, or Supercharge you? w/ Kobie Fuller (GP @ Upfront Ventures)

    In this episode of Overnight Success, I sit down with Kobie Fuller, General Partner at Upfront Ventures—the most iconic VC firm in Los Angeles and a cornerstone of the city’s startup ecosystem. We explore why AI is entering its most explosive chapter yet, how the knowledge layer is becoming the next frontier for enterprise software, and why “just a wrapper” might be the biggest unlock in this new wave of applications. Kobie shares what it's like investing from the frontlines—alongside teenage founders rewriting reality—and reflects on his early experience scaling a fashion brand with data-fueled influencer marketing before it had a name. If you’ve ever wondered: • How AI agents are reshaping venture capital • Why the real disruption is happening above the LLMs • Whether AI will eliminate jobs—or make us superhuman • What makes LA’s venture scene unlike anywhere else • How Upfront turned Coachella parties into a growth engine • Why VCs are racing to keep up with 18-year-old Stanford dropouts This one’s live from Las Vegas—and it’s a glimpse into the future. About Our Guest Kobie Fuller is a General Partner at Upfront Ventures, the most established VC firm in Los Angeles. With a background as an entrepreneur, operator, and investor, Kobie has backed companies like The Wave, Bevy, Cordial, and Oculus. Before joining Upfront, he was Chief Marketing Officer at REVOLVE, where he pioneered data-driven influencer marketing. He also spent time at Accel and Insight Partners, investing in breakout companies like ExactTarget (acquired by Salesforce). Kobie is a thought leader on the intersection of culture, data, and emerging tech—and a driving force in shaping LA’s startup ecosystem. LinkedIn:   / kobiefuller

    Will AI Replace you, or Supercharge you? w/ Kobie Fuller (GP @ Upfront Ventures)

  5. Aug 28

    Can AI understand emotions and help us connect better? (Savannah Kunovsky - MD @IDEO )

    In this episode of Overnight Success, I sit down with Savannah Kunovsky – Partner @ IDEO, where she leads innovation at the intersection of emotional intelligence, speculative design, and emerging technologies. We unpack how IDEO helps some of the world’s biggest companies design AI products rooted in human connection, why Gen Z is rejecting hyper-optimization in favor of messier, more meaningful experiences, and how sci-fi and art can shape enterprise strategy. Savannah shares her perspective on designing for futures that haven’t happened yet—and why emotional resonance may be the killer feature of next-gen tech. If you’ve ever wondered: • How emotional intelligence can be built into AI and tech products • Why Gen Z prefers “bad vacations” over perfect ones—and what that means for product design • What speculative design is (and why major companies are using sci-fi to plan their strategy) • Why most enterprises still don’t talk to their customers—and how that’s holding them back • How IDEO builds for futures that don’t exist yet This one is not to be missed. About Our Guest Savannah Kunovsky is a Partner at IDEO and the Co-Lead of IDEO’s AI & Systems Futures Lab. With a background in physics and design, Savannah works at the intersection of emerging technologies, ethics, and experience design. She advises global organizations on how to integrate AI and complex systems thinking into their product strategies—often by applying speculative design, futures thinking, and human-centered research. Her work spans edtech, healthcare, quantum computing, and beyond. LinkedIn:   / savannahkunovsky

    Can AI understand emotions and help us connect better? (Savannah Kunovsky - MD @IDEO )

  6. Aug 28

    The Creator Economy Is Broken in Asia—Can Decentralization Fix It? (w/ Feng Chiu - CEO of WAZCHER)

    In this episode of Overnight Success, I’m speaking with Feng Chiu – CEO @ Wazcher, a Web3 "watch-to-earn" video platform redefining content ownership and monetization for both influencers and viewers. We dive into the bold vision behind Wazcher—from using NFTs to enable true channel ownership, to building a video compression system faster than TikTok and YouTube. Feng shares how embedded e-commerce inside video could reshape creator economics, and why decentralization gives power back to the people who create and watch content. If you’ve ever wondered: • Why Asian influencers are underpaid—and how TikTok donations changed the game • What happens when viewers earn crypto for watching content • Could NFTs give creators full ownership over their channels—and even let them sell them like digital businesses? • How does e-commerce inside a video actually work—and why is it already doing $100M+ in Taiwan? • Why mindset—not money or infrastructure—is often the biggest thing holding Asian founders back —then this episode is a must-listen. About Our Guest Feng Chiu is the founder and CEO of Wazcher, a Web3 video platform reimagining how content is owned, watched, and monetized. With a background spanning video tech, e-commerce, and decentralization, Feng is on a mission to build tools that empower influencers and viewers—especially across Asia—to think and earn globally. Resources & Links Mentioned- Feng Chiu -   / fengweb3   WAZCHER LinkedIn -   / wazcher   WAZCHER - https://wazcher.io/

    The Creator Economy Is Broken in Asia—Can Decentralization Fix It? (w/ Feng Chiu - CEO of WAZCHER)

  7. Aug 28

    What if blockchain wasn’t built for humans—but for AI? (w/ Gerald Heydenreich - Founder @ Ethermail)

    In this episode of Overnight Success, I sit down with Gerald Heydenreich, Founder & CEO of EtherMail—the wallet-to-wallet email protocol redefining how brands and communities connect in Web3. We unpack why luxury brands struggled to build meaningful communities on Discord during the NFT boom, how wallet-based email is emerging as the “new cookie,” and why email—not Telegram or Discord—remains the default channel for brand communication. Gerald shares his vision for how blockchain can become the privacy-preserving foundation that enables AI agents to transact, communicate, and operate independently on the internet. If you’ve ever wondered: • Why Discord failed luxury brands during the NFT rush • How email is making a comeback in Web3 through wallet identity • What role AI agents will play in blockchain’s future • Why EtherMail believes mass adoption starts with communication infrastructure This one is not to be missed. About Our Guest Gerald Heydenreich is the Co-Founder of EtherMail, the first Web3 email solution allowing wallet-to-wallet communication. With a background in scaling B2B marketplaces and venture-backed tech startups, Gerald is passionate about solving real-world problems through user-centric blockchain infrastructure. At EtherMail, he’s building the bridge between email, wallet identity, and next-generation communication for both humans and AI. Resources & Links Mentioned EtherMail Website [https://ethermail.io] Gerald Heydenreich on LinkedIn [  / gerald-heydenreich-a79125  ] a16z State of Crypto Report [https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/...]

    What if blockchain wasn’t built for humans—but for AI? (w/ Gerald Heydenreich - Founder @ Ethermail)

  8. Aug 28

    How “Bad Games” Became Big Business on Facebook in the 2010s w/ Vanessa Larco

    Episode Summary: In this episode I sit down with Vanessa Larco, formerly a partner at New Enterprise Associates (investors of Robinhood, ByteDance & Box). She is a former product leader at Box, Twilio and Microsoft. In our conversation we talk about Silicon Valley’s startup culture, how to spot real disruption in consumer startups & why more people should be joining big tech if they want to build their own company. If you’ve ever wondered: • What it was like to ride the Facebook gaming wave in the 2010s • Why GenAI is a once-in-a-decade opportunity for consumer startups • The pros and cons of joining Big Tech vs startup life • What creates the biggest tailwinds for innovation in consumer & gaming. —then this episode is a must-listen. About Our Guest Vanessa Larco was a Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) at the time of recording. Some of their most notable investments include Robinhood, ByteDance, and Box. Prior to investing, Vanessa was a product leader at Twilio, Box, and Microsoft. She was also a founder of a mobile gaming startup, FunLoop. She draws from deep operational experience in product management and software development to guide early-stage companies as they scale. Resources & Links Mentioned: Vanessa’s LinkedIn:   / vanessalarco   New Enterprise Associates - NEA:   / new-enterprise-associates   NEA (New Enterprise Associates): https://www.nea.com/

    How “Bad Games” Became Big Business on Facebook in the 2010s w/ Vanessa Larco
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About

Connecting you with the Creators and Entrepreneurs Shaping Tomorrow. Presented by Draper University and Hosted by Chris Joannou.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Joannou
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chris Joannou
  • Show Website
    Overnight Success