# 14 Sheraz Ahmed: Crypto Valley, Switzerland, STORM Partners

"Unlocking the Power of Blockchain: The Journey of a Crypto Pioneer" - Dive into the fascinating world of blockchain technology with Olaf, an accomplished Venture Capitalist in the blockchain space. Discover how his educational background in law and determination to seize opportunities led him to the forefront of the crypto revolution. From the early days of Bitcoin to the current state of the space, Olaf shares engaging anecdotes, insights, and personal achievements that will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and trust your instincts in this rapidly evolving landscape. Don't miss this exciting and informative conversation that highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its ability to revolutionise various industries. 0:00 Intro 0:40 Catch Phrase – You are the creator of your own destiny! 2:00 Childhood 6:00 School Time & Teachers 7:20 Study Time 11:15 JP Morgan - Head of Corporate & Investment Banking 14:20 First Experience with Blockchain & Crypto 16:00 CV VC – Early-Stage Venture Captial+ 20:20 Have banks failed to embrace technology? 25:30 Banks vs DeFi 29:30 CV Labs in Africa 32:40 Africa the new Superpower 35:50 VC perspective on DeFi, NFTs & Metaverse 40:25 Biggest Challenge in Life 43:50 Advice for your Younger-Self 47:00 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 51:15 Best way for start-ups to reach out 53:15 Outro

"Unlocking the Power of Blockchain: The Journey of a Crypto Pioneer" - Dive into the fascinating world of blockchain technology with Alireza, an accomplished blockchain professional. Discover how his educational background in law and determination to seize opportunities led him to the forefront of the crypto revolution. From the early days of Bitcoin to the current state of the space, Alireza shares engaging anecdotes, insights, and personal achievements that will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and trust your instincts in this rapidly evolving landscape. Don't miss this exciting and informative conversation that highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its ability to revolutionise various industries. 0:00 Intro 0:45 Catch Phrase – Yes, I’m really a lawyer! 2:00 Childhood 6:00 Does gaming help with skill development? 7:30 School Time & Teachers 13:45 How to deal with the expectation of your parents 15:45 Study Time 23:15 Start into the professional career 29:35 First Experience with Blockchain & Crypto 33:35 Crypto Regulation in Germany 38:30 Questions from Clients 39:50 Bitcoin – Digital Gold 43:45 Regulation of DeFi 46:30 Regulation of the Metaverse 48:00 Biggest Obstacle in Life 52:15 Advice for your Younger-Self 54:05 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 57:10 Outro

"Unlocking the Power of Blockchain: The Journey of a Crypto Pioneer" - Dive into the fascinating world of blockchain technology with Tamara, an accomplished blockchain professional. Discover how her educational background in physics and determination to seize opportunities led her to the forefront of the crypto revolution. From the early days of Bitcoin to the current state of the space, Tamara shares engaging anecdotes, insights, and personal achievements that will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and trust your instincts in this rapidly evolving landscape. Don't miss this exciting and informative conversation that highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its ability to revolutionise various industries. 0:00 Intro 0:45 Catch Phrase – Be surrounded by people that are better than you! 1:40 Childhood, Teacher & School Time 10:40 Study Time & Physics 13:20 First Experience with Blockchain & Crypto 18:00 Reason for joining Germany 19:45 Digital Euro Association & Consultancy 22:10 CBDCs, Central Banks & Traditional Financial Institutions 25:20 DeFi, NFTs & Metaverse 29:50 Current Market Momentum in the Banking sector 33:00 Biggest Obstacle in Life 34:55 Advice for your Younger-Self 39:20 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 42:05 Outro

"Unlocking the Power of Blockchain: The Journey of a Crypto Pioneer" - Dive into the fascinating world of blockchain technology with Sheraz, an accomplished blockchain professional. Discover how his diverse educational background, passion for languages, and determination to seize opportunities led him to the forefront of the crypto revolution. From the early days of Bitcoin to the current state of the space, Sheraz shares engaging anecdotes, insights, and personal achievements that will inspire you to embrace change, take risks, and trust your instincts in this rapidly evolving landscape. Don't miss this exciting and informative conversation that highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology and its ability to revolutionise various industries. Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:45 Catch Phrase – Never settle! 2:05 Childhood, Teacher & School Time 11:50 Study Time & Power of Languages 19:50 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 25:30 Bitcoin, Ethereum & Switzerland 28:00 Professional Career in the Blockchain Space 29:20 Crypto Valley Association 32:20 STORM Partners 35:35 Crypto Valley Conference 37:30 Biggest Obstacle in Life 40:31 Advice for your Younger-Self 44:00 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 50:00 Outro

Dive into the captivating world of blockchain, sustainable finance, personal growth, and cutting-edge technology with Jürgen Schmitt, creator of ExpeditionFinance from Deutsche Bank. In this engaging podcast episode, we explore Jürgen's life journey, his passion for staying curious, and his insights on hot topics like DeFi, NFTs, and the Metaverse. Discover the importance of networking, overcoming obstacles, and embracing new experiences. Get inspired to embark on your own expedition and stay ahead in today's rapidly changing world. Don't miss this fascinating conversation on sustainable finance, transformation, and the power of curiosity! Link to ExpeditionFinance: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/expeditionfinance/   0:00 Intro 0:35 Catch Phrase – Stay curious! 1:30 Childhood, Teacher & School Time 8:10 Are influencers teacher? 9:00 Apprenticeship at Deutsche Bank 11:00 Being an Equity Trader at Deutsche Bank 12:00 Change in 2008 – Start of ExpeditionFinance 13:35 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 14:20 DeFi, NFTs and the Metaverse 17:30 Regulation of Blockchain 19:15 OpenAI, ChatGPT, DALL-E 23:40 Sustainability & ESG 26:55 Biggest Obstacle in Life 28:40 The reason why networking is so important! 32:00 Advice for your Younger-Self 35:30 Expedition Finance goes international 37:00 Innovation in other Countries 38:20 Outro

Mark Anders has a background in mechanical engineering and economics, and had a fascinating journey into the world of blockchain technology. Mark's interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency began heavily in 2021 when he discovered DeFi. He was initially skeptical of the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies but became more interested as he learned about the potential applications in machine-to-machine payments and DeFi. He began experimenting with the Binance Smart Chain and the decentralized exchange PancakeSwap. By the end of 2021, Mark decided to make a career shift and immerse himself in the blockchain industry. He applied to the Blockchain Center at Frankfurt School, where he began working in June 2022. Currently, Mark is involved in two main projects at the blockchain center: NFT Talents program and Web3Talents. The NFTs Talents program is an online mentoring program that educates students in the NFT space. 0:00 Intro 1:00 Catch Phrase – Never settle! 1:50 Childhood, Teacher & School Time 11:30 How to deal with a mistake. 14:25 Study Time & First practical experiences 24:00 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 27:35 IOTA, PancakeSwap, way into the rabbit hole 29:50 Change in the professional career of Marc 31:00 Frankfurt School Blockchain Center 32:50 Web3 Talents 34:30 FSBC Consulting Projects & side projects 38:15 DeFi, NFTs and the Metaverse 43:40 Biggest Obstacle in Life 45:20 Advice for your Younger-Self 49:30 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 52:00 Outro

Dive into the captivating world of blockchain and cryptocurrency with our special guest, Maha, who has overcome challenges and seized opportunities throughout her journey. Born and raised in Doha, Qatar, Maha's unique heritage and passion for learning led her to excel academically and professionally. Discover her inspiring story, from her early life in Doha to her current success in the ever-evolving world of digital assets. Learn about her experiences at Deutsche Börse, Trade Republic and Bankhaus Scheich, her role in shaping the digital financial industry, and her insights into regulation, the future of blockchain and digital assets. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the transformative potential of blockchain technology, the importance of regulation, and the power of perseverance and determination. Join us as we explore Maha's incredible journey and her vision for the future of digital assets. ·     0:00 Intro - If not now, when?! ·     00:35 Catch phrase ·     01:10 Childhood, School & Study Time ·     10:00 Education is key! ·     12:00 First Experience with Computers ·     13:30 First Job ·     14:50 Why Maha came to Germany ·     18:00 How was the start in Germany ·     21:20 Deutsche Börse ·     22:50 The importance of Regulation ·     23:50 First Experience with Crypto ·     24:45 Blockchain at Deutsche Börse ·     29:10 Digital Assets at Bankhaus Scheich ·     32:10 Outlook for Crypto Regulation ·     37:00 Biggest Obstacle in Life ·     38:30 Advice for your Younger-Self ·     39:15 Advice for Mothers ·     40:15 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023

For this Video Markus was not in charge for DZ BANK. His statements reflect his individual opinion.   We speak about his #life, starting in the childhood, about his educational background and how he got into the blockchain space. What does he think about #bitcoin  and #ethereum and how does he define the current status of market? What is his opinion about #defi, #nfts and #metaverse?   If you have any questions that I should ask Markus in part two, let me know in the comments!   0:00 Intro 01:20 Catch phrase 02:00 Childhood, 04:40 Entrepreneurship & Selling expertise 08:00 Teachers, School  & Study Time 22:00 Bosch Hackathon: The lonely Hearts 33:50 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 40:00 Blockchain Strategy 41:45 Challenges of Offering Crypto to Retail as a German Bank 46:00 DeFi, NFTs & Metaverse 55:00 Advice for your Younger-Self 58:30 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 01:03:30 Outro

We speak about his #life, starting in the childhood, about his educational background and how he got into the blockchain space. What does he think about #bitcoin and #ethereum and how does he define the current status of market? What is his opinion about #defi, #nfts and #metaverse? If you have any questions that I should ask Nelson in part two, let me know in the comments! 0:00 Intro 00:45 Catch phrase 02:00 Childhood, School Time & Teachers 13:10 El Salvador vs Germany 14:35 Moving to Germany & Study Time 20:40 Applying for your first job 26:20 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 29:20 Cardano NFT Experience 31:00 Bitcoin & Blockchain Philosophy 34:10 Bitcoin vs Altcoins 36:00 Ethereum & Competitors 39:40 DeFi, NFTs & Metaverse 40:50 Decentralized & Social Mining 45:50 Voting in the Web3 space 49:40 Web3 Projects & weSpark 55:45 Bitcoin Adoption in El Salvador 01:01:40 Biggest Obstacle & Success 01:05:55 Advice for your Younger-Self 01:09:10 Crypto & Personal Outlook for 2023 01:16:00 Outro

We speak about his #life, starting in the childhood, about his educational background and how he got into the blockchain space. What does he think about #bitcoin and #ethereum and how does he define the current status of market? What is his opinion about #defi, #nfts and #metaverse? If you have any questions that I should ask Jan in part two, let me know in the comments! Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 00:55 Catch phrase 01:50 Childhood, School & Study Time 12:30 First Experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum & Crypto 16:00 Blockchain at Commerzbank 18:05 Terra Luna & FTX Crash 20:40 PhD 27:20 21e6 31:30 DeFi, NFTs & Metaverse 38:45 Development of DeFi in the future 41:20 Biggest Obstacle & Success 42:40 Advice for your Younger-Self 47:30 Crypto Outlook for 2023 49:20 Personal Outlook for 2023 50:30 Outro