Welcome to EARLY, the podcast about web3 business from Bankless Consulting.

DSide's guest today is Juan Montoya, co-founder and CEO of Rokk3r. Juan is a Web3 enthusiast who has a history of building and scaling technology-enabled business models. Prior to founding Rokk3r, Juan spent 8 years working in management consulting and Big Data modeling in economic recovery models for the government. Originally from Colombia, he graduated from Suffolk University before moving to DC, where he got his early career experience working in the 2008 financial crisis aftermath. After working for nearly a decade in this space, Juan took a sabbatical and traveled the world. He did some work for the World Bank that provided him with valuable insights into economics and real-world applications before moving to Miami to Found Rokk3r with some friends.

Rokk3r, founded 12 years ago, emerged as a venture business with a team full of diverse and extensive experiences, particularly in recovery planning. This positioned Rokk3r well to build a solid foundation for teaching businesses how to mitigate risks in the tech industry. While Miami wasn't initially seen as a tech hub, Rokk3r recognized its potential as a convergence point between Latin America and North America. The team identified a market fit in Miami that others had overlooked, establishing themselves as contributors to the region's growing technology ecosystem.

D-Side and Juan explore how Rokk3r wasn't specifically founded to service Web3. Yet they became early adopters by believing in the technology's potential, which ultimately led the company to establish its renowned accelerator program for Web3 builders. Rokk3r made a strategic decision to diversify across multiple regions and applications of blockchain technology. They partnered with Layer 1 foundations to increase volume by connecting VCs with builders across the Algorand and Moonbeam ecosystems.

Rokk3r's success stories include running three cohorts. Through the accelerator program, they have showcased the scalability and maturity of Algorand as a Layer 1 blockchain. Juan and Rokk3r firmly believe in the promise of Web3, aiming to help people build companies for a better chance of success. They see Web3 as a transformative force, addressing inefficiencies and enabling a more equitable distribution of wealth.

***Timestamps***

0:34 - Juan Montoya Introduction and Background
1:26 - Rokk3r introduction
6.20 - Culture of Technology in Miami
7:52 - Education Base from Florida Universities
11:05 - Founding Rokk3r
15:21 - Layer 1 and Layer 2 accelerator programs at Rokk3r
21:47 - Success Stories of Rokk3r
26:02 - How is Rokk3r going to make a difference in Web3
30:52 - Why Cross-chain Transactions?
37:42 - Dream Project for Rokk3r

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