Building in Web3: 4 Creators to Watch 👩🏽‍💻

Hey hey!

Last week I started my internship with Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) Cultural Leadership Fund and let me just say this… any lingering doubts I may have had about the future of Web3 were immediately erased. The level of innovation and sheer amount of resources I’ve seen invested in this space, just at a16z alone, is a key indicator that the future is here.

As part of my internship, I’m headed to NFT NYC next week with my team! Our goal is to connect with as many NFT artists as possible, so naturally I’ve been doing my research in the space to see who the movers and shakers are, and who I need to meet. Recommendations are welcome!

This week, I want to highlight a few inspiring Web3 builders whose names you’ll probably want to remember in the future. I’m honored to personally know and work with a few people on this list, so I can vouch for the fact that they’re kind of a big deal. Check them out below! ✨

Ariana the Techie // Fine Art NFT Marketplace

“While at MoMA, [Ariana] started to talk to a curator about how they find art and was humbled to learn about the various problems they face. Later, she listened to Jay-Z’s 4:44 album, in which the rapper talks about investing in art as a tool for building long-term wealth.

Thus, the idea for what would become Mueshi was born. Ariana Waller, who is better known by her nom de plume, Ariana The Techie, has developed Mueshi as a platform for users to buy, sell, and fractionally invest in NFTs.

At the React Miami conference, Ariana announced that Mueshi has raised a $3.3M seed round led by Harlem Capital.” - Refresh Miami

Lance Davis // Enhancing the DAO Experience

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lance for the past week and I can tell you from personal experience that he is the truth! We’re currently exploring how a16z’s Cultural Leadership Fund can build a DAO for our community and one of the key challenges we expect to arise is how to manage the community once the DAO is up and running.

Well, he’s actually building a solution to solve just that! His start-up, Minnet, is “a platform for communities to better engage their members. We do this by providing a tool suite for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations that enable productivity and social interactions.”

Kirby Porter // Intersection of Web3 + Sports

Over the past year, I’ve been so impressed with Kirby’s ability to leverage her personal passions and professional interests. As a former Harvard Women’s Basketball Player, she understands the power of athletes taking their skills from their game into their professional lives. With the introduction of the NIL and the emergence of Web3 principles, ownership has become a hot topic in the sports world, especially for athletes looking to build their brand.

She’s the creator of New Game Labs, a company that helps athletes learn, connect, and create in Web3. Kirby also just co-launched tw3 Sports which is a Web3 sports consulting firm.

Andre Oshea // 3D Artist

According to the Recording Academy, “Andre Oshea made his first NFT in 2021 and skyrocketed to popularity for his soothing, sensual colors and fine art techniques. Today, his musical animations are part of the GRAMMYs x OneOf NFT partnership.”

I’ve heard great things about his shows at SXSW and can’t wait to experience this art live at NFT NYC!

I’m honestly just blown away at all of the innovation happening in Web3. It also hits different when the people around you are actively building in the space and making a name for themselves at this pivotal time in history. Can’t wait to continue celebrating all of the builders and creators to come! 💪🏽

Until next time,

Kendall