Earlier this year, I was invited to present at the February investor meeting of Baylor University's angel investor network.

My goal?

To de-mystify crypto.

To share why I believe in it, and the version of the future it can help create.

To share why I chose to go all in and start a crypto fund.

To share why you should care as well.

This is my best attempt at de-mystifying crypto, why it matters, and why I believe so strongly in it.

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Read my essay on why I started a crypto fund:

Essay

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Check out my latest monthly updates for the fund:

Monthly updates

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:54) What innovation actually looks like

(04:17) The journey from luddite to starting a crypto fund

(05:19) Crypto's opportunity

(05:57) Crypto invites us to re-think how the world works

(06:39) Why am I here?

(07:10) Why does crypto matter?

(08:16) The evolution of the internet

(09:26) Web3

(11:45) What can crypto do that the internet can't?

(15:18) Crypto's future

(16:47) Why does crypto matter to early stage investors?

(18:03) From infrastructure -> applications

(18:47) Crypto re-shapes liquidity

(22:42) Where are we now?

(23:51) Where are we going?

(25:18) Q&A: quantum computing

(26:34) Q&A: AI x crypto

(29:54) Q&A: stablecoins & broader regulation

(34:13) Q&A: Bitcoin mining & security

(36:03) Q&A: blockchain technology's utility beyond currency

(38:26) Q&A: blockchain security

(43:01) Q&A: why hasn't crypto been adopted more broadly yet?

(47:03) Q&A: what do I invest in at Comma Partners?

(48:23) Q&A: how to think about value in crypto?

After months of searching, I finally found 'The Dream of Solomeo' by Brunello Cucinelli...for $500.

But I simply had to read it.

I loved it so much that as soon as I finished it, I booked a round-trip ticket to Italy to go see Solomeo - the home of the company, and the man who built it.

Here, I share what I loved, what I learned, and what stood out most.

Welcome back to the second edition of the Comma Book Club.

Come explore what it means to live a life of beauty, dignity, and humanistic capitalism in action.

Brunello's life is an incredible story of a philosopher-entrepreneur, and of bridging lofty ideals into a practical world.

A truly inspiring life - and a Life's Work.

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Read my essay for more on the impact Solomeo had on me:

Essay

Spotify

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Listen to the ⁠Founders Podcast⁠ episode that sparked my interest on Brunello Cucinelli:

Spotify

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) 'The Dream of Solomeo' by Brunello Cucinelli

(01:41) Brunello Cucinelli’s origin story: human dignity as a driving force

(03:42) Combining ethics and aesthetics

(04:04) Solomeo: a home, and a source of inspiration

(05:43) A guardian and a steward for the future

(07:44) Beauty is truth

(09:18) "Humanistic capitalism"

(10:02) Comma: modern philosophy to catalyze transformation

(11:46) World-building

(13:34) Building a school for the next generation

(15:52) Gracious technology and humanism for the future

(17:26) A new era is coming: the Transformation Economy

(18:04) Quality, craftsmanship, creativity, exclusivity, beauty

(20:32) Optimism for the future

(21:07) Beauty is an expression of our humanity

(22:07) Brunello's dream: joining the beauty of the past with the beauty of the future

What if we built worlds instead of just offices?

I went to Solomeo, the hamlet re-built by Brunello Cucinelli, where a true home has been built for his Life's Work.

I left inspired.

I think you will be, too.

"A world is a home for a Life's Work...A world is a collection of spaces for all parts of life."

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) Solomeo

(00:34) A home for a Life's Work

(03:21) In service

The Transformation Economy: how web3 is re-shaping our world

On Hypersub, the tools of the Transformation Economy, taste as an asset, and world-building

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Read or watch part 1:

⁠Essay⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

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Read or watch part 2:

Essay

Spotify

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Web3 is revolutionizing how we create, share, and value culture.

In this final part of our series on the Transformation Economy, we dive into a practical application of web3 technology: Hypersub.

"Hypersub allows us to be dynamic world-builders, instead of specific job titles.

Hypersub is technology for culture, not content. Tools for depth and connection, not follower counts. For humans, not computers."

Join me as we explore:

1. How Hypersub is revolutionizing creator-community relationships

2. How web3 enables permissionless, platform-independent, positive-sum projects

3. The emergence of cultural taste as a tangible asset

4. The shift from brand-building to world-building

Ready to embrace a world where your cultural taste has real value? Where supporting creators means sharing in their success?

Welcome to the Transformation Economy.

Made possible by web3.

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Links mentioned:

Detail on how Hypersub works

Updated detail on how Hypersub works

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) The Dawn of the Transformation Economy: web3's new era (part 3)

(01:13) Hypersub: transforming the creator economy

(02:49) More aligned and positive-sum

(03:57) Permissionless and independent

(04:50) More dynamic, less specific = more human

(06:08) Taste is an asset

(08:03) Let's talk about world-building

(09:35) Web2 vs. web3

The Transformation Economy: how web3 is re-shaping our world

On overcoming the limitations of yesterday's tools, transforming users into owners, and uniting culture and capital with web3

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Read or watch part 1:

Essay

Spotify

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Are we on the brink of a new era where technology finally delivers on its promise of meaningful connection and personal growth?

In this second part of our exploration into web3 and the Transformation Economy, we dive deeper into how this emerging technology is set to revolutionize the way we interact, collaborate, and create value.

"Web3 shifts us from users and owners to users who own."

Join me as we unpack:

1. The invention of the company and how it shapes our world

2. Why current tools fall short in aligning human needs with organizational structures

3. How web3 creates positive-sum environments with shared ownership and aligned incentives

4. The potential for web3 to scale service and foster collaboration

Ready to embrace a future where serving others means serving ourselves? Where collaboration is celebrated and humanity is at the center of our technological advancements?

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) The dawn of the Transformation Economy: web3's new era (part 2)

(01:34) The company

(02:32) Our tools shape us

(03:32) The problem with yesterday's tools

(04:50) Web3: from users and owners to users who own

(06:11) Alignment is positive-sum

(07:27) Let's get what we came for

(08:55) We now have the tools - so let's use them

The Transformation Economy: how web3 is re-shaping our world

On the evolution from content to culture, and information to transformation
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Read or watch part 2:

Essay

Spotify

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Are we entering a new era of culture and technology with web3?

Join me as I dive deep into the rabbit hole of web3 and explore how it's reshaping our cultural and economic landscape.

In this first part of a three-part series, we'll explore how we're shifting from content to culture, and why I believe we're on the cusp of the Transformation Economy.

"When content production and distribution is infinite, the important aspect is its primary function in crafting and proliferating culture."

-- Jihad Esmail

Join me as we unpack: 1. The evolution of the media landscape 2. Why value is shifting from content to culture 3. What the next stage of this evolution is about: transformation

What's next for communities, projects, and companies in this new era? How will it reshape the way we engage with and build communities, projects, and companies?

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) The dawn of the Transformation Economy: web3's new era (part 1)

(02:19) From content to culture

(04:15) Yesterday's era: the Information Economy

(04:47) Today's era: the Connection Economy

(06:01) Tomorrow's era: the Transformation Economy

An extraordinary life requires a non-ordinary path.

"At your birth a seed is planted.

That seed is your uniqueness.

It wants to grow, transform itself, and flower to its full potential. It has a natural, assertive energy to it.

Your Life’s Task is to bring that seed to flower, to express your uniqueness through your work."

-- Robert Greene in 'Mastery'

Leading with our uniqueness - not our talent, passion, nor what our culture celebrates - is what gets us to extraordinary.

It has a price.

Are you willing to pay it?

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

(00:00) Are you willing to pay the price of extraordinary?

(01:33) Extra-ordinary, above-normal, non-conventional

(03:43) The real question: are you willing to pay the price of extraordinary?

I read (and loved) 'Mastery' by Robert Greene.

Here, I share what I loved, what I learned, and what stood out most.

Shall we call it the inaugural edition of the Comma Book Club?

Come explore what it takes to achieve mastery.

Key topics include the journey of moving from apprentice to Master, the importance of finding our Life's Work, maintaining a balance between creativity and discipline, and handling complexity and anxiety.

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Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.comma.org/⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thecommaproject/⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/devbakes/⁠⁠⁠

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Chapters:

[00:00] 'Mastery' by Robert Greene

[02:43] Key insights from 'Mastery': apprenticeship to creative-active to mastery

[05:26] Our Life's Task and deep inclinations

[08:05] The goal of apprenticeship is transformation, not money or title

[09:53] Modern apprenticeship leads to self-discovery

[12:50] A creative way of being: discipline + childlike spirit = Dimensional Mind

[17:47] The limitations of language

[20:42] The Tao, The Way, intuition

[24:05] Complexity, learning, and anxiety

[27:53] Forging our own path

[28:36] Mastery

[30:19] On grace, seeing what's possible, and the Comma Book Club