BIG Thanks for the coins and the learnings y’all!

Result of the 24hr Bitcoin for BUILD.org experiment…

Last week on the eve of a big event for an incredible organization that I love called BUILD (youth empowerment through entrepreneurship) I posed a question: What would it mean to invest Crypto in BUILD and the kids it supports? Could we raise a really big number? Would people give more on average than they might if I were asking for “fiat” support? And maybe most importantly, would contributing this alternative asset class more tightly tether BUILD’s efforts and the kids’ awareness to “the future”. Get involved with BUILD NYC HERE as a mentor or judging at a competition or as a donor…

Results of experiment by the numbers:

1. We raised about $7500 in 24 hrs which was already at about $8000 by the time I showed up at the event
2. 80% of that contribution was in Bitcoin. 20% was in Ethereum.
3. This was only about 20% of my absurdly high goal of $40K but considering this was 100% organic with no marketing push or long-term campaigning, it feels like there’s an opportunity to do this even better.
4. I had multiple conversations at the event with fellow boardmembers and at least one student about a) how we might think about investing crypto as an org, b) what crypto is in general, and c) how blockchain might be relevant as a technology to some of the things kids are working on.

SO, in summary, seems like this is worth exploring in a better planned collective way. The potential for pledging alternative assets that are then deployed in a transparent and trackable way feels interesting. Maybe every year we set an “alternative asset” fundraising goal in addition to our core fundraising goals? Maybe we allocate a certain amount of crypto gains above a threshold of return as “special projects” funding that is transparently tied to outcomes (hi Smart Contracts!)? I’d love to hear your thoughts but FIRST, I’d like to say thank you to the folks who made this happen by showing love and support to BUILD on short notice.

BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOLKS🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

Pedro Torres-Mackie: Maker of jokes, investments, companies and now, code, Pedro is *literally* the most genuine person in venture on either coast. He won’t tell you any of this, but he’s the bomb and his ability to balance humility and talent is second to none. Follow him.

Baratunde Thurston: Who get’s to be funny, smart af, futuristic, genuinely about justice and entertaining? Well apparently this guy. B is one of the important voices of our times and is my favorite thinker, speaker, and doer combo. Follow him.

Henry Poydar: Serial entrepreneur, founder of StatusHero 1-man-code-show, super dad and crossfit nut who basically is in better shape now than I ever was in my 20s, this dude is a powerhouse of creative energy and one of my best adult friend finds in the 21st century. #dadsquad for the win. Follow him.

Jesse Middleton: Tell-it-like-it-is, passionate entrepreneur turned investor, this dude sees through the clutter of the OK ideas to the essential best and worst bits. Hard question asker and true believer, he’s also a crypto enthusiast who was partially inspired this experiment in the first place! Follow him.

Oz Sultan: Globe trotting crypto advocate is passionate about changing the conversation on hard things and at any given moment is somewhere on the globe helping us all figure out what comes next. Big brain, big ideas, big beard, big heart. Follow him.

Jared Lewis: Whether mashing the pedals as he blows past me in prospect park on his book, or helping teams bring innovation into physical spaces, Jared makes it all look easy.

Drop a comment and a clap if you like this. And if you’d still like to contribute, let me know! Please share this with crypto friends you believe would have thoughts on this!