These days, it often seems there&rsquo;s little we can agree on in society. Can we at least agree these are polarizing times? (See what I did there??)
One thing we&rsquo;ll surely agree on is this: One of the greatest debates of our time is &lsquo;Star Trek vs. Star Wars.&rsquo; It seems you gotta pick a side; how many people do you know that are equally Trekkies and Star Warriors/Warsies/[whatever they call themselves] people?
I fall squarely into the Trekkie camp, particularly the &lsquo;The Next Generation&rsquo; Series from the late 1980s/1990s. So when I started trying to count how many enterprise-focused businesses are building on BSV Blockchain, my mind jumped to one of my favourite episodes (Season 7, "Parallels," first aired on November 29, 1993, if you&rsquo;re curious).
In this one, Klingon crew member Lieutenant Worf is stuck in some kind of breach of the space-time continuum, and at one point, an infinite number of Starship Enterprises appear until the rift is closed. By the way, who HASN&rsquo;T been stuck in a space-time continuum breach at one point in their lives, eh?
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d41e5568f1.jpg" alt="" />
The Great &lsquo;Enterprise vs. Consumer&rsquo; Debate, Continued
This is an occasional hotly debated topic in blockchain circles. Which is the bigger driver of growth, adoption, value, valuations, etc. &ndash; consumer facing businesses (&lsquo;B2C&rsquo;) or enterprise-focused businesses (&lsquo;B2B&rsquo;, or &lsquo;B2B2C&rsquo;, if your offering helps businesses ultimately serve consumers). And does it matter?
I still believe enterprise-focused businesses are &lsquo;a cut above,&rsquo; and deservedly so. For a business to win over other businesses, especially large, enduring companies, you need to bring a very high level of professionalism, an excellent product offering, demonstrate they can scale quickly, possibly help them with global adoption, and if you&rsquo;re successful, these can be very fruitful, &lsquo;sticky&rsquo; clients &ndash; especially if you have a SaaS (or BaaS)-like long-term offering.
Having Said That&hellip;
However, there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with consumer-facing businesses, including fintech companies that help users get onboarded and offer on/offramps, and importantly, gaming companies and loyalty programs, which can also scale very quickly. Witness nChain CEO Christen Ager-Hanssen&rsquo;s company STUK, which <a href="https://coingeek.com/stuk-gamifies-e-commerce-with-incentives-with-bsv-blockchain-as-lubrication-tech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched BSV support in its loyalty program in mid-March</a> and instantly became one of the top BSV Blockchain transaction generators every day since!
Enterprise Use Cases &ndash; Q1 2023 Update 
Let&rsquo;s catch up on enterprise adoption. Here are just a few of the announcements we saw in Q1 2023:
nChain was busy with enterprise-related announcements &ndash; <a href="https://nchain.com/symplify-and-nchain-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-in-responsible-gaming-and-blockchain-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leading iGaming CRM platform Symplify and nChain announced a partnership to revolutionize that industry</a> with &ldquo;&hellip;cutting-edge solutions that will bring an enhanced layer of efficiency, security, and transparency to the industry.&rdquo; Other key announcements: A <a href="https://nchain.com/nchain-and-tradewindow-redefining-global-trade-with-web3-solutions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TradeWindow supply chain solutions MoU</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/nChainGlobal/status/1633410825217093635?s=20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">working with E-Livestock</a> to &lsquo;tokenize cows&rsquo; and improve African farming, partnerships with W2 and Crucial Compliance, investment and partnerships with Gate2Chain, Transmira, UNISOT, Asset Layer, etc.
Property management software company and newest Ayre Ventures investee company <a href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/over-c-announces-1-million-investment-from-ayre-ventures-will-build-insurance-industry-focused-blockchain-based-risk-solutions-on-bsv-blockchain-301764495.html?tncpw_session=2cf92c8d949c513e380ab7b24bca29c24792c383c05d596d0466e71520b7a2fe" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Over-C will build insurance industry-focused blockchain-based risk solutions on BSV Blockchain</a>.
Vaionex <a href="https://twitter.com/Relysia_SV/status/1626929234768699392?s=20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">tweeted that a Fortune 500 company had selected their Relysia unit&rsquo;s infrastructure</a> and was actively in test mode, not to mention that many BSV Blockchain companies, including stablecoins (plural!), are Vaionex clients.
Payments platform company <a href="https://centi.ch/newest-announcement-centi-issues-swiss-franc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Centi launched its stablecoin</a>, the first on BSV. This will blow the doors wide open for their merchant partners. As Centi stated, the Swiss Franc-pegged stablecoin, part of its Global Payment Network, &ldquo;allows merchants to get direct payment settlement into their banks&hellip;without the need to change accounting procedures [and provides] them with the same service they are used to from the Credit Card industry while cutting fee costs by up to 99%.&rdquo;
Furthermore, Centi&rsquo;s solution &ldquo;offers seamless integration with online, POS, and cashier payment systems,&rdquo; providing a complete solution to online and brick-and-mortar merchants, such as online payments partner Payrexx, who announced that its 50,000 merchants can now offer Centi as a payment method and accept its Swiss franc stablecoin.
Enterprise BaaS provider mintBlue was busy! The company <a href="https://coingeek.com/mintblue-enhances-e-invoicing-security-with-new-integration/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">announced the enhancement of its e-invoicing solution</a>, in collaboration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and its customer VISMA | yuki; it allows for automatic ID verification of senders and recipients of invoices, improving efficiency, transparency, and the reduction of risk of e-invoicing fraud.
Oh, and they also <a href="https://mintblue.com/world-record-transactions-push/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">set a world record for daily transactions</a> on a public blockchain. mintBlue said, &ldquo;As a startup serving large corporate clients, we value proof points of our scaling capabilities. Instead of asking them nicely to trust us, we took it as an opportunity to stress test our infrastructure and prove our abilities while doing it. Each [of the 50.53 million transactions] contained documents, such as contracts, credentials, invoices, micropayments and receipts,&rdquo; and very importantly &ndash; when dealing with enterprise clients that rightfully demand low and stable costs, the &ldquo;experiment only incurred &euro;400 in fees.&rdquo;
Rekord &lsquo;hit the ball outta the park&rsquo; (that&rsquo;s a baseball analogy, <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesRMarchant" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">James Marchant</a>) testing its Industrial Internet of Things (&lsquo;IIoT&rsquo;) solutions with a 3D printer client on only six machines that essentially &lsquo;live streamed&rsquo; their manufacturing data. Like mintBlue, Rekord proved yet again what is only possible on BSV Blockchain: Rekord&rsquo;s tests peaked at 23.66MM transactions on-chain in one day, with a total data size of 8.9GB and for total fees of $473.14, a per-transaction fee of $0.00002 (note that mintBlue&rsquo;s per-transaction fee was $0.000008 &ndash; that&rsquo;s &lsquo;five zeroes then an 8&rsquo;, but who&rsquo;s counting!).
James said, &ldquo;All new 3D printers [of our client] will have Rekord IoT devices installed, allowing a huge variety of applications to be developed on top of the BSV Blockchain, bridging the gap between blockchain, IoT and robotics/manufacturing.&rdquo;
In its tests, Rekord not only demonstrated IIoT solutions for clients, but also helped &lsquo;pave the path forward&rsquo; regarding Bitcoin transaction processing fees; after all, the &lsquo;mining reward,&rsquo; as Satoshi Nakamoto made clear in the White Paper (and countless times since) is a declining subsidy that will halve again next year. As James stated, &ldquo;I'm now totally certain Rekord can singlehandedly not only make up for the reduced block subsidy at the next halving but start to push back the other way&hellip;in terms of transactions fee generation offsetting against the reduction in subsidy.&rdquo;
Wait&hellip;How Many Enterprises?&nbsp; 
As I recapped these highlights, I wondered just how many with a B2B or B2B2C focus are using BSV Blockchain? Many more than I&rsquo;d have guessed!
JUST SOME of the Enterprise-Focused Businesses on BSV Blockchain We&rsquo;re Aware of:
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d42dc55182.png" alt="" />
To recap, these companies are using BSV Blockchain for their customers (who are themselves enterprises or government agencies) in specific industries, such as supply chain, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, Bitcoin infrastructure itself, real estate, property management, media/entertainment, and on and on&hellip;or they&rsquo;re using BSV Blockchain for their own internal purposes.
So, how many enterprise-focused companies are using BSV Blockchain?
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d42c6ee7a3.jpg" alt="" />
The &lsquo;Flight of the Conchords&rsquo; Team Sympathizing with Me
Enterprise vs. Consumer Adoption &ndash; Who Rules the Roost?
I wanted to dig a little deeper and find out which focus generates more value, and one way to look at this is through the lens of the capital markets and how investors faired.
It used to be the case that enterprise-focused businesses brought more investor value than consumer businesses, but this has reversed course in recent years when it comes to IPOs (companies going public on the various stock markets of the world).&nbsp;
However, on the mergers &amp; acquisitions front, the vast majority of value is still derived from enterprise-focused businesses (more than 2x that of consumer-focused companies, in M&amp;As of $1B+. Source: Sapphire Ventures). Also of note, there are more $1B+ enterprise IPOs than consumer IPOs.
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d42b528f64.png" alt="" />
So, What IS the Point!?
This: Big consumer use case wins in BSV Blockchain may be as important as enterprise wins, and we at Ayre Ventures would be delighted to see HandCash, Centbee, or FYX Gaming &lsquo;win the race,&rsquo; to pick a few examples.
Ultimately, it could be &lsquo;six of one, half dozen of the other&rsquo; (or for our British friends, &lsquo;it&rsquo;s as broad as it is long&rsquo;)&hellip;but I&rsquo;ll still argue there&rsquo;s a higher level of &lsquo;wow&rsquo; attributable to corporations big and small using enterprise solutions via BSV Blockchain to create or solidify &lsquo;unfair advantage&rsquo; by mintBlue, nChain, UNISOT, Vaionex, or Over-C, for examples.
What about the Bigguns? 
If you&rsquo;re saying &lsquo;ok, but when are the big corporates coming?&rsquo; Not sure when we might see Starbucks or FedEx or Lloyd&rsquo;s of London announce a deployment on BSV Blockchain, but meanwhile:
<ul>
<li>mintBlue long ago announced massive cloud software company VISMA as a client (with public commentary from VISMA). VISMA had over &euro;2B in 2022 revenue and 14,000 employees.</li>
<li>CertiHash works with IBM.</li>
<li>Vaionex is working with an as-yet-unnamed Fortune 500 company.</li>
<li>Over-C&rsquo;s partners include Hitachi, Eli Lilly, and Savills.</li>
<li>ROW8/Rad works with many (all?) Hollywood studios.</li>
</ul>
So, they&rsquo;re already here, and many more are coming, guaranteed.
Meanwhile, Everywhere Else in &lsquo;Blockchain&rsquo;&hellip;Crickets
I&rsquo;d say we&rsquo;re well on our way and are outshining LITERALLY ALL OTHER BLOCKCHAINS in terms of enterprise adoption, not to mention all other measures of actual utility and scalability.
Importantly, ain&rsquo;t it fun that we have the luxury of having the &lsquo;enterprise vs. consumer&rsquo; debate, not to mention the debates about the validity of 50 million+ daily transactions going on-chain that are &lsquo;just test transactions&rsquo; (note the BSV Blockchain network held up just fine)&hellip;while some other blockchains can&rsquo;t figure out how to keep the lights on every day?
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d42a10c685.jpg" alt="" />
Actual Footage of Solana Team Upgrading Their Network&hellip;
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/03/28/6422d428b4f8d6.png" alt="" />
About Ayre Ventures 
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are 'positively disruptive', supporting their expansion with the Group's extensive network and industry partners.

Which is the bigger driver of growth, adoption, value, valuations, etc. – consumer facing businesses or enterprise-focused businesses. And does it matter?

BSV Blockchain, Ayre Ventures, nChain, Over-C, Vaionex, Centi, mintBlue, STUK, Rekord

The enterprises are coming! The enterprises are coming!

the-enterprises-are-coming-the-enterprises-are-coming

Centi, based in beautiful Zurich, Switzerland, set out to create an entire payment system [back in 2020], and its new BSV-native stablecoin may be the final piece of that puzzle.
Centi founder/general manager Bernhard M&uuml;ller has had an interesting journey. He got his start in plant pathology, then spent a decade testing medical instruments before being hired by a financial services firm in his native Switzerland to handle business development and compliance.
Long before then, he&rsquo;d caught the Bitcoin bug. Bitcoin&rsquo;s direct peer-to-peer transfer model appealed to M&uuml;ller, who&rsquo;d seen how much of traditional payment systems seemed broken&hellip;particularly, the role of fat-cat middlemen who got in between merchants and consumers wanting to pay with credit cards.
After running into Ralf Zellweger at a Bitcoin meet-up, the pair saw an opportunity to collaborate on what Muller called &ldquo;a real paradigm shift in payments.&rdquo; And with that, the pair co-founded Centi in 2020.
M&uuml;ller has described Centi as targeting &ldquo;people who don&rsquo;t care about Bitcoin.&rdquo; True to form, customers who use Centi at a growing number of both retail and online merchants may not even be aware of the app&rsquo;s Bitcoin SV (BSV) association. They only know it works, seamlessly, for payments large or small.
While customers can fund their Centi accounts with BSV, they can also use credit cards, other payment apps such as Twint as well as IBAN transfers. In February, Centi&rsquo;s Swiss customers were also given the option of popping into a local post office to top up their Centi accounts with cash!
Merchant appeal
As for where users can spend the funds in their Centi accounts, the company has set a goal of onboarding over 1,000 merchants by the end of this year. M&uuml;ller said this ambitious goal is looking &ldquo;very realistic&rdquo; given <a href="https://centi.ch/centi-integrated-payrexx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Centi&rsquo;s new &ldquo;very big partnership&rdquo; with PayRexx</a>, the Swiss e-payments aggregator that has relationships with over 40,000 Swiss businesses.
While Centi continues to fully onboard merchants on its own &ndash; including its first customer in Denmark, where Centi has been approved to operate &ndash; M&uuml;ller says the PayRexx deal (which will be integrated in April) offers Centi &ldquo;a lot of access to the market.&rdquo; It helps to have a good product to convince these merchants to hop onboard and Centi&rsquo;s pitch is compelling to say the least.
First, merchants respond favorably to the fact that a Centi user can purchase items that cost less than a single franc &ndash; say, a pack of gum &ndash; via the app. The lack of a financial middleman in this transaction means the merchant retains his/her profit on the product, whereas a credit card company&rsquo;s charges would eat up the merchant&rsquo;s entire margin.
Second, direct payment means there are no chargebacks or dispute options. Obviously, the merchant can still offer refunds for defective products, but the customer cannot hold the merchant&rsquo;s money hostage for 180 days by escalating the matter through the payment system.
Yet another perk for merchants is Centi&rsquo;s open API (application programming interface). Visa and Mastercard restrict access to their APIs to certified providers, with whom merchants must first onboard, installing yet another middleman in the transaction chain.
Centi merchants &ndash; currently a 50/50 split between online and retail &ndash; can also customize what they accept as payment. This can include a mix of cash and bespoke rewards/loyalty points, even tokens issued by other merchants if they have a relationship &ndash; or decide to band together to form a new one.
BUT WAIT&hellip;THERE&rsquo;S MORE: A stablecoin for non-Bitcoin nerds!
M&uuml;ller said Centi spent over two years building technology, first on the merchant side, ensuring that its payment method was fully compatible with existing BSV wallets. After that, the focus turned to fine-tuning Centi&rsquo;s own app, which landed in Android and iOS app stores last September, adding features that many other apps didn&rsquo;t have, such as top-ups.&nbsp;
The missing piece of this puzzle was a BSV-native stablecoin, which M&uuml;ller views as crucial for onboarding people other than &ldquo;Bitcoin nerds like myself.&rdquo; The traditional volatility of digital assets is a major turnoff for neophytes, who might have $200 on their app, spend $30, then might not touch the app for weeks or months. When they next open the app, they expect to see $170 there. And it better all be there.
M&uuml;ller says <a href="https://coingeek.com/bernhard-muller-centi-stablecoin-is-the-missing-link-in-bitcoin-mass-adoption-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centi&rsquo;s CCHF stablecoin</a> &ndash; which debuted on March 21 &ndash; has three key differentiators from others of its ilk. First, befitting a BSV-based product, its focus is on utility and consumer payments, including minor payments. Other stablecoins primarily focus on arbitrage traders who want to move a lot of money from one exchange to another to take advantage of a perceived price advantage in this or that token.
Secondly, unlike the constant questions surrounding the reserve assets of Tether or USDC, Centi&rsquo;s stablecoin is fully backed by a Swiss bank guarantee. Even if Centi were to default, the bank will guarantee the 1:1 recoverability of its stablecoin.
Third, Centi will sell and accept stablecoins directly from customers. No need to go through an exchange, no million-dollar minimum purchases. It&rsquo;s a stablecoin made for payments by everyday users, with similar top-up capabilities available via the app.
Despite his excitement for Centi&rsquo;s near-term expansion, M&uuml;ller says the ecosystem as a whole has a long way to go before the masses are ready to embrace direct payments with digital assets. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like trying to convince everyone in the U.S. to speak Chinese tomorrow.&rdquo; But with all the pieces of Centi&rsquo;s payment system falling into place, M&uuml;ller believes Centi has &ldquo;a very good chance of becoming a billion-dollar company.&rdquo;

While Centi continues to fully onboard merchants on its own – including its first customer in Denmark – the PayRexx deal offers Centi “a lot of access to the market.”

SPOTLIGHT ON CENTI: Centi completes its payment system with launch of BSV’s first native stablecoin

spotlight-on-centi-centi-completes-its-payment-system-with-launch-of-bsv-s-first-native-stablecoin

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/global-blockchain-payments-wallet-centbee-raises-1-million-pre-series-a-funding-from-ayre-ventures/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on December 23, 2022.
London &ndash; December 23, 2022: Blockchain payments company, <a href="https://www.centbee.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Centbee</a>, announced today that it has closed its pre-Series A round with entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, founder of <a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayre Ventures.</a> Ayre Ventures first invested in Centbee in 2019. Speaking on the new raise, Ayre said, &ldquo;My faith in Centbee has been rewarded through Angus and Lorien&rsquo;s ongoing commitment to making Bitcoin &ndash; the original protocol in the form of BSV &ndash; easily usable and accessible to everyone. Unlike other blockchains, BSV is focused on utility, not speculation, and Centbee is working hard to further Bitcoin&rsquo;s adoption as a true peer-to-peer electronic cash system.&rdquo;
Centbee Co-CEO, Lorien Gamaroff, added, &ldquo;We have the right vision, products and team to drive exponential growth for our investors. Consumers around the world are looking for better, easier ways to pay, and our blockchain-based payment wallet does just that. Our latest feature, ChatPay, makes it easy to send money via an in-wallet chat application.&rdquo;
Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with offices in South Africa, Centbee was founded by co-CEOs, Lorien Gamaroff and Angus Brown. Gamaroff is a leading expert in blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. He has consulted and advised regulators and corporates internationally and is highly regarded globally as an educator and presenter. Brown has 20 years of experience in payments and banking including the role of CEO of eBucks.com, a world-first bank-backed digital currency created in 2000. Brown was appointed Chairman of the BSV blockchain&rsquo;s Technical Standards Committee earlier this year.
&ldquo;Centbee has a suite of digital cash products and services that make payments easy, even cross-border,&rdquo; says Angus Brown, Co-CEO. &ldquo;Our cross-border remittance service, Minit Money, enables people to move money simply and cheaply across borders to support family and friends and has already processed over 35 000 remittances into Africa. The investment by Ayre Group will be used for scaling and growth as well as strengthening technical and operating capacity.&rdquo;
The Centbee and Minit Money apps are available in the Apple Store, Google Play store and Huawei app gallery.
About Ayre Ventures
Founded by entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, the <a href="http://www.ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayre Group</a> has investments and interests across the world. With a passion for content and publishing, fintech, real estate and property in seven countries around the world, Ayre Group supports and drives the world&rsquo;s most disruptive innovations.
About Centbee
<a href="https://centbee.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Centbee</a> is a digital cash wallet that makes it easy for global consumers to buy, spend and send digital cash to their friends and family on their mobile phones using the BSV blockchain.

Blockchain payments company, Centbee, announced today that it has closed its pre-Series A round with entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, founder of Ayre Ventures.

Global blockchain payments wallet, Centbee, raises $1 million pre-Series A funding from Ayre Ventures

global-blockchain-payments-wallet-centbee-raises-1-million-pre-series-a-funding-from-ayre-ventures

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/row8-acquires-rad-to-power-its-premium-movies-streaming-service-with-nfts/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on December 22, 2022.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ &mdash; ROW8, the Premium Movie Streaming service with the latest Hollywood films like Black Adam with Dwayne &ldquo;The Rock&rdquo; Johnson, Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney, and Bullet Train with Brad Pitt, has&nbsp;<a class="wpse_pid" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/row8-acquires-rad-to-power-its-premium-movies-streaming-service-with-nfts-301708127.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">acquired</a>&nbsp;the metaverse and web3 streaming platform Rad. ROW8 has premium video on demand movies from every major studio on its platform, with all of its studio partners exploring NFTs in some way. Rad has been building immersive streaming technology and leveraging smart contracts for over 5 years, and has many of the same studio partners for VR and blockchain-based content. Combined, the two companies will work with major studios and the top NFT projects building for web3 and the metaverse.
&ldquo;Rad&rsquo;s suite of web3 creator tools alongside ROW8&rsquo;s library of Hollywood films will make our platform the premier destination for both digital collectibles and your favorite movies&rdquo; said Jasmina Christoph, Founder and President at ROW8.
&ldquo;ROW8 is easily the best positioned company in the world to bring Hollywood into the future, with its patented technology, app footprint, and deep relationships with the biggest studios in the world&rdquo;, said Tony Mugavero, CEO of Rad. &ldquo;They have the highest level pipeline of content you can have in the entertainment industry, and Rad works with the same studios in web3 and XR, which means we can accelerate adoption of forward-thinking distribution from a place of trust.&rdquo;
ROW8 has streaming deals in place with every major movie studio, including Disney, Universal, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and it offers over 1800 theatrical release-windowed movies. ROW8&rsquo;s patented technology includes the ability to geo-locate viewers and share revenue with nearby theater chains, dynamic &ldquo;Scene Alerts&rdquo; to give viewers a peek into seeing if the next scene is scary or has adult themes, and their proprietary &ldquo;Movie Love Guarantee&rdquo; which allows viewers to return a movie and swap it for another one if they weren&rsquo;t enjoying it.
Rad has streamed innovative content with every major studio and broadcaster globally by licensing content or powering experiences in VR and web3, and has streaming apps on PlayStation 4 and 5, Android TV, iOS, and Meta Quest, and built a globally leading position in VR, distributing content to devices like PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality. Rad was the first streaming service to offer an NFT subscription and is launching its full NFT Stream Pass in December 2022. Rad has done NFT releases with companies like DKNY, Hacksmith, Cinedigm, and directly with creators like Elliot Sloan and platinum rapper Calboy. Rad also worked with ConsenSys to build its cross-blockchain-based platform Ara with the ARA token, which will power ROW8&rsquo;s NFT platform. Additionally, Rad has numerous studio and well known media investors like Disney, Sony Innovation Fund, A+E Networks, WWE, Warner Music Group, Gary Vaynerchuk, and more.
Tony Mugavero will become CEO of the combined companies, and Rad&rsquo;s leadership team will all stay as part of the transaction.
&ldquo;We couldn&rsquo;t be more excited to join forces with ROW8,&rdquo; said Brooklyn Earick, Chief Marketing Officer at Rad, who will be staying on as Chief Strategy Officer post-acquisition. &ldquo;Combined, we&rsquo;ll be the first platform to offer movies like Avatar and Top Gun alongside NFT&rsquo;s from Hollywood studios and web3 creatives.&rdquo;
The combined companies have secured funding in a round led by Ayre Ventures.
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre celebrated the acquisition, calling it &ldquo;the perfect marriage of content and delivery, the intersection of preparation and opportunity. ROW8&rsquo;s vast library of marquee content will discover new ways to reach consumers through Rad&rsquo;s BSV-based NFTs. BSV is the only blockchain with the scaling capacity and ultra-low transaction fees to realize the promise that web3 holds for creators, distributors and consumers.&rdquo;
Also participating in the round are Intersect VC, who are investors in Dapper Labs and Triller; former New England Patriot Super Bowl Champion and Pro Bowler Richard Seymour&rsquo;s 93 Ventures; Alvin Kwan, former head of Corporate Development at Fox and Board Member at Fubo TV; Rusty Matveev, who is CSO at Calaxy and formerly a partner at MSG Ventures; Revere VC; Stacks; and Jason Campbell, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.
Upon completion of the acquisition, Paul Rajchgod, Managing Director, Private Equity for Ayre Ventures, will be appointed to ROW8&rsquo;s board.
About Rad
<a class="wpse_pid" href="https://rad.live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Rad NFTV</a>&nbsp;is the first streaming platform powered by NFTs. Rad&rsquo;s suite of apps allows you to stream Live TV, Premium Video, and Live Events all unlocked through NFTs. Discover content in ESports, Music, Comedy, and Sports Entertainment from companies like Complex, Whistle, CoinDesk, DeadHeads, Knights of Degen, and Virtue Animation Studio. Rad NFTV&rsquo;s library of fast and loud content, NFTs, crypto rewards, and OTT footprint creates a streaming metaverse for the next generation of creators and fans.
The platform can deliver a broad range of NFT and content experiences, with 2D, 3D, 4K, Live, 360&deg; / 180&deg; VR, and traditional video across devices like PlayStation 5, PSVR, Oculus Quest, iOS, Google TV, and more. Viewers can earn&nbsp;<a href="https://ara.one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ARA</a>&nbsp;rewards and become peers in the network powered by Ara&rsquo;s blockchain and P2P networking technology, and the company&rsquo;s Rad Pandas can be used to unlock lifetime subscriptions as well as get additional ARA rewards.
About ROW8
<a href="http://www.row8.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">ROW8</a>&nbsp;is a subscription-free movie only OTT service featuring both new and catalog titles and has distribution deals with all major Hollywood studios. It also features its proprietary &ldquo;Movie Love Guarantee&rdquo; allowing customers to return their film within the first 30 minutes and exchange it for another without any additional fees, and its patent pending &ldquo;Scene Alert&rdquo; monitoring system which alerts parents to inappropriate scenes before they air, giving them control over what content their children see.

Metaverse and Web3 streaming platform Rad has been acquired by premium movie streaming ROW8 to cater to the growing demands of the industry.

ROW8 acquires Rad to power its premium movies streaming service with NFTs

row8-acquires-rad-to-power-its-premium-movies-streaming-service-with-nfts

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/ayre-ventures-participates-in-seed-funding-round-for-saas-tokenization-platform-buzzmint/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on August 9, 2022.
Buzzmint, the Software as a Service (SaaS) platform that allows brands, creators, media-specific businesses, and individuals to simply and quickly ideate, create and deploy utility-led NFT/token projects, has secured seed funding from a group of investors, including Ayre Ventures, the venture capital arm of Calvin Ayre's Ayre Group.
Buzzmint enables the delivery of NFT (non-fungible token) projects within its customers' own digital infrastructure, eliminating the need to send audiences to an external NFT platform. Customers lacking their own infrastructure will be able to publish directly to Buzzmint's own NFT marketplace, which is slated to launch later this year.
With lengthy track records in media and publishing, Buzzmint's founders saw NFTs and the <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/">Bitcoin SV (BSV)</a> blockchain as the solution for content producers, media, and publishing companies looking to monetize legacy, current and future content. BSV is the only blockchain that combines low transaction fees with the capacity to scale to handle enterprise-level transaction volume. This capacity allows NFTs to be stored directly on the blockchain&mdash;not on a proprietary third-party server&mdash;offering users absolute control over their digital assets.
Buzzmint's view of NFTs isn't limited to the common perception of primitive digital artwork with limited utility, focused purely on speculation. Buzzmint sees NFTs as purpose-driven technology capable of multiple types of functionality, be it ticketing for events, keys to unlock access to special content, or equipping brands with the means to engage in two-way communication to create new and meaningful connections with their communities.
Buzzmint <a href="https://coingeek.com/inside-the-school-for-bsv-entrepreneurs-video/">took part</a> in the first cohort of Satoshi Block Dojo, the London-based technology startup incubator that assists entrepreneurs building businesses on the <a href="https://bsvblockchain.org/">BSV blockchain</a>. Between their existing contacts and those supplied by the Dojo's mentor program, Buzzmint's founders are currently in discussions with media, sports, and luxury fashion brands about potential NFT opportunities.
Buzzmint co-founders Charles Symons and Design Director Neil Ferguson celebrated the funding, saying:
"As a company that allows businesses, brands and content creators to plug into the power of blockchain, digital assets and the potential of Web 3, it was vitally important that we sought the financial backing of an organisation who not only understood the technology we are developing but who were able to fully buy into our vision of how we see our customers, clients and content collaborators to using it and moreover 'why'! We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to have found that backing through Ayre Ventures."
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre said:
"From the start, Charles and Neil impressed me with their vision of creating utility-based NFTs with use cases limited only by one's imagination. Buzzmint embodies the great work that Satoshi Block Dojo is doing in developing founders who have both the vision to build great products on the BSV blockchain and the drive to realize those visions."
Jay Gujral, Satoshi Block Dojo Managing Director, U.K. added:
"Buzzmint came into The Dojo programme with an incredibly interesting idea and a very experienced team that we knew could create some magic. We brought them in to help them build on BSV, introduce them to clients, bring them some valuable advisors and then ultimately hone their business model to resonate with the market. They have been a fantastic success for Cohort One, but this is just the beginning, Buzzmint will be creating history for BSV and The Dojo and we cannot wait to help them succeed!"
About Buzzmint
<a href="https://buzzmint.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Buzzmint</a>&nbsp;enables brands to quickly and easily create tokens/NFTs of their digital assets to market + sell to their loyal customers with a fully integrated storefront. Buzzmint is a full-service creative crypto agency from ideation, creation, and delivery.
About Ayre Ventures
<a href="https://ayre.group/">Ayre Ventures</a>, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are 'positively disruptive,' supporting their expansion with the Group's extensive network and industry partners.
About Satoshi Block Dojo
The mission of&nbsp;<a href="https://blockdojo.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Satoshi Block Dojo</a>&nbsp;is to nurture and support start-ups that will change the world. This means providing a pathway to educate, train and elevate start-up entrepreneurs to the highest standards by providing best-in-class mentors and teaching with the latest tech tools. The Block Dojo is the first start-up incubator focused exclusively on Bitcoin SV; it mentors and develops entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, as well as taking care of the administrative hassle of getting a great idea off the ground, so that founders can focus on bringing their tech solution to market.

Buzzmint, the SaaS platform that allows businesses and individuals to ideate, create, and deploy utility-led NFT projects, has secured seed funding from a group of investors, including Ayre Ventures. 

Ayre Ventures participates in seed funding round for SaaS tokenization platform Buzzmint

ayre-ventures-participates-in-seed-funding-round-for-saas-tokenization-platform-buzzmint

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/vaionex-doubling-down-on-fast-and-efficient-bsv-blockchain-development/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on June 15, 2022.
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>, the investment group founded by&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/calvin-ayre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Calvin Ayre</a>, has closed&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/vaionex-closes-major-investment-round-with-ayre-ventures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">a $1.23 million funding round</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/vaionex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Vaionex Corporation</a>, the Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) firm that has become a crucial part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/bsv-blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Bitcoin SV&nbsp;</a>(BSV) ecosystem.
In a statement, Ayre hailed Vaionex for creating &ldquo;a funnel that brings developers and non-developers alike into the BSV ecosystem, identifying major pain points and simplifying them for both entrepreneurs looking to build new businesses as well as existing companies looking to incorporate blockchain benefits into their operations.&rdquo;
Indeed, Vaionex co-founder&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/robin-kohze/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Robin Kohze</a>&nbsp;describes his company as an ecosystem all by itself. From humble beginnings, Vaionex is now a group of companies based on the view that &ldquo;all enterprises ultimately need to have some blockchain component in it, for micropayments, tokenization, ownership aspects and more.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Vaionex operates three separate business units - Joint Ventures, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blockchain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blockchain</a> as a Service and Consultancy. We see these as key strategic units to growing the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BitcoinSV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BitcoinSV</a> ecosystem and accelerating global adoption. Get in touch with us via one@vaionex.com to find out more. <a href="https://t.co/Ghd5CjS0eX">pic.twitter.com/Ghd5CjS0eX</a>
&mdash; Vaionex (@Vaionex_Corp) <a href="https://twitter.com/Vaionex_Corp/status/1486712872210104330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
Kohze believes&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bitcoin101/from-digital-to-real-life-7-problems-blockchain-can-solve/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">blockchain technology</a>&nbsp;is just &ldquo;so much leaner than the existing infrastructure. Where once you needed a team of 20 coders and an extended support team, you can now build the same product with a single developer.&rdquo;
But while interest in blockchain is high, resistance to incorporating blockchain tech remains, in part due to the perception of the challenges involved. Vaionex aims to alleviate these concerns by providing companies with a way to seamlessly integrate blockchain tech while ensuring reliability, all without breaking one&rsquo;s budget.
Humble beginnings at Cambridge
Kohze, a genetics department PhD student at the University of Cambridge just months short of graduation, is no newcomer to BSV. Kohze was taken by&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/dr-craig-wright/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Dr. Craig Wright</a>&rsquo;s insistence that the original Bitcoin protocol could easily transcend the capacity restrictions zealously enforced by the BTC developer team. A step BSV has taken to create &ldquo;one global blockchain&rdquo; that focuses on worldwide infrastructure utility rather than short-term monetary schemes.
As Kohze told CoinGeek, Bitcoin&rsquo;s status as the initial blockchain-based technology makes it &ldquo;the most stable token protocol out there.&rdquo; If Bitcoin was scalable without protocol changes it would make it &ldquo;pretty much superior to all the other blockchains.&rdquo;
In November 2018, directly after the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/original-bitcoin-reborn-bitcoin-sv-bsv-bch-hash-war-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">BSV/BCH split</a>, Kohze invited Wright to discuss the future of BSV in Cambridge. The pair discussed the possibilities that would arise once BSV demonstrated its ability to scale to not only meet the requirements of a truly cost-effective digital currency but also an immutable data storage platform. Kohze says Wright explained his belief and confidence that BSV would ultimately &ldquo;roll up all the different blockchains into BSV,&rdquo; which would allow all developers to build on one platform, much as they build on one internet.
Inspired by Wright&rsquo;s vision of a&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/metanet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Metanet</a>, Kohze founded the Cambridge University&nbsp;<a href="https://metanet-society.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Metanet Society</a>&nbsp;in April 2019 to support the study and development of BSV with the ultimate aim of building blockchain-driven Metanet applications. With financial assistance from the&nbsp;<a href="https://bitcoinassociation.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Bitcoin Association</a>, the Society has conducted dozens of events in addition to its&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/cambridge-university-metanet-society-announces-phoenix-challenge-winners/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Phoenix Challenge</a>&nbsp;coding competition.
Kohze himself is no slouch in the coding arena, having received two Google Summer of Code stipends and winning a series of competitions. Among them, Kohze won CBhack 2019, a Cambridge hackathon with 120 participants and got second-place at the international&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/winners-of-2nd-bsv-hackathon-announced-at-coingeek-seoul-conference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">CoinGeek Seoul Hackathon</a>.
The success of the Metanet Society led Kohze to team with long term acquaintance and former supervisor Dr. Samuel Schmidt, a previous postdoc at Cornell University with an enthusiasm for BSV to match Kohze&rsquo;s, leading to the launch of Vaionex in 2020. One of their first endeavors was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.satolearn.com/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Satolearn</a>, a blockchain education platform that was built in a matter of months at a cost of only $4,000 but has since had sustained student success and even became an integral part of the fintech curriculum at the University of Exeter. Talks are ongoing with other schools interested in adding Satolearn to their curriculum.
Kohze said Satolearn was designed as a &ldquo;fun interactive learning experience&rdquo; that would also challenge users by requiring them to interact with the blockchain through coding. By the time a student has finished the program, they&rsquo;re not just better educated on blockchain matters but actual blockchain developers. The platform has been so successful that commercial companies are increasingly using it to &lsquo;upscale&rsquo; their employees.
Bitcoin&rsquo;s Swiss Army knife
Kohze and Schmidt recognized that many companies would like to integrate the positive aspects of blockchain technology but didn&rsquo;t want to impose unnecessary delays on their progress. This inspired Vaionex to develop&nbsp;<a href="https://www.relysia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Relysia</a>, the &lsquo;super-tool for developers and entrepreneurs.&rsquo; More specifically, Relysia is a BaaS development suite that employs over 60 Application Programming Interface (API) endpoints that ensure swift and reliable integration of wallet creation, token issuance, smart contracts and more.
Kohze said Relysia &ldquo;can cover almost any possible blockchain application,&rdquo; a claim borne out by the experiences of 16 projects completed over the past 18 months. Vaionex has been rolled out to 22 companies this year alone and directly collaborates with firms to continue to improve the robustness of its systems.
An extension of Relysia infrastructure is&nbsp;<a href="https://metashard.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Metashard</a>, a resource-efficient platform for registering and managing data for which authenticity is essential. In keeping with Vaionex principles, integration doesn&rsquo;t require users to make any technical configurations, easing their way to storing files on-chain with guaranteed integrity while remaining easily accessible.
At the recent&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bsv-global-blockchain-convention-frictionless-use-of-bitcoin-by-vaionex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">BSV Global Blockchain Convention</a>&nbsp;in Dubai, Kohze unveiled a number of new Vaionex initiatives, including Transpiler, a &lsquo;wormhole to efficiency&rsquo; that reduces transaction fees by 99.99%. Just by going to&nbsp;<a href="https://transpiler.bitcoinsv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">transpiler.bitcoinsv.com</a>, a developer can enter an existing smart contract and get an&nbsp;<a href="https://scrypt.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">sCrypt&nbsp;</a>contract that can with one click be converted to low-level Bitcoin Script language.
<img src="http://cms.ayre.group/storage/uploads/2023/01/09/63bbd9eb8ec75inline-1.JPG" alt="" />
Kohze also touted&nbsp;<a href="https://sv.agency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">SV Agency</a>, which (among other things) will allow WordPress users&mdash;who are responsible for 43% of internet content &ndash; to post not only to the internet but simultaneously to the BSV blockchain. With the concept of &lsquo;truth&rsquo; being somewhat malleable these days, there&rsquo;s a need to ensure that the content users post is &ldquo;unchanged, authentic and yours,&rdquo; something only the immutable blockchain can provide.
Vaionex is also bringing some badly needed utility to the NFT sector with NFTech, a partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/gravity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Gravity&nbsp;</a>that enables users to commoditize different assets. Utility is also the focus behind Vaionex&rsquo;s STAS smart contract platform that can handle dynamic data tokens, royalty tokens that pay the initial user with every transfer and multi-output tokens that can be sent to dozens of users with a single transaction.
Transaction volume is the real &lsquo;number goes up&rsquo;
Kohze cited a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/ethereum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Ethereum</a>&nbsp;presentation that cited higher token price leading to a greater market cap that creates bandwidth for greater investment. Kohze wasn&rsquo;t sure this would apply at the enterprise level, because while Ethereum had a large investor community, nearly all enterprise activity on Ethereum has moved to Layer 2 solutions like&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/polygon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Polygon&nbsp;</a>because Ethereum&rsquo;s base layer simply can&rsquo;t scale to meet enterprise-level requirements. Now Polygon has its own scaling issues, and Kohze notes that adding additional layers/protocols brings security issues that tend to make enterprises nervous.
Kohze is confident of BSVs competitive advantage &ldquo;for the simple reason that when you build on Ethereum you have to ask for the transaction fees, therefore you cannot just start developing.&rdquo; By comparison, the BSV blockchain&rsquo;s ability to enable&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bsv-tops-20-million-transactions-in-a-day-aims-for-much-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">true micro-transactions</a>&nbsp;allows Relysia to offer plans that cost as little as $30 for one million on-chain transactions. &ldquo;With Relysia, you can directly start developing without any transaction fee burden and thus less onboarding friction than any blockchain platform out there, and that gives us the long-term advantage.&rdquo;
The plans ahead
With sustained business success over the past 18 months, Vaionex has grown to a company of 33 members and aims with the new office extensions in Dubai and India to meet operational demands. Kohze states, &ldquo;Vaionex has always stood for fast and efficient blockchain development at competitive price levels. Staying lean allowed us to be competitive, experimenting with new software architectures not explored previously. We will uphold our core philosophy during this transformative process with significantly more resources at hand.&rdquo;
To the nature of the investment, Kohze responded: &ldquo;Investment should always proceed product market fit. After Vaionex grew from a small company to one with significant revenue growth we are now confident to double down on the path taken and were thus keen to raise the required funds to accelerate the process. Ayre Group came at the right time as their biddings not only matched competitive funds, but moreover represented a deeply reliable partner in our growth path within the BSV ecosystem.&rdquo;
Watch: BSV Global Blockchain Convention presentation, Vaionex: Frictionless Blockchain Solutions
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Ayre Ventures, the investment group founded by Calvin Ayre, has closed a $1.23 million funding round with Vaionex Corporation, the Blockchain-as-a-Service firm that has become a crucial part of the Bitcoin SV ecosystem.  

Vaionex doubling down on fast and efficient BSV blockchain development

vaionex-doubling-down-on-fast-and-efficient-bsv-blockchain-development

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/vaionex-closes-major-investment-round-with-ayre-ventures/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on June 13, 2022. 
Antigua, June 13 2022: <a href="https://www.vaionex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Vaionex Corporation</a>, the Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) company that has become a crucial part of the <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BitcoinSV (BSV) ecosystem</a>, has closed a significant investment round of $1.23M USD with <a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayre Ventures</a>, marking its largest funding round to date.
CEO and co-founder, Robin Kohze, described Vaionex as a group of blockchain companies focused on core infrastructure (Relysia), on-chain database storage and management (Metashard), smart contracts (Transpiler), tokenization (STAS), and non-fungible tokens (NFTech). Vaionex aims to reduce BSV development time by as much as 95%, while eliminating the friction that prevents companies from embracing blockchain technology on their own.
Kohze, a genetics department PhD student at the University of Cambridge, started Vaionex after co-founding the Cambridge Metanet Society in 2019. Metanet Society events and debates led to the launch of Satolearn, a platform that teaches users how to program blockchain-based applications which is now part of the FinTech MSc program at the University of Exeter. To date, Satolearn has educated over 1,500 graduates and has become a major learning source for BSV ecosystem companies.
Kohze commented on the investment: &ldquo;Essential societal shifts towards digitally driven decision-making created the need for verifiable data sources and their management. Immutable blockchain components will soon transform the ability and reliability of data-driven platforms of nearly any vertical in the world. While it is no easy feat to stand at the forefront of blockchain transformation, we focused on the base needs of our growing list of enterprise partners in that process. Ayre Ventures joins Vaionex at a strategic point in time to significantly upscale our operations in the endeavor to build out seamless blockchain services.&rdquo;
The heart of Vaionex&rsquo;s operations is <a href="https://www.relysia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Relysia</a>, a BaaS development suite with over 60 Application Programming Interface (API) points that cover almost any blockchain application. Relysia integrates all aspects of wallet creation, issuing tokens, smart contracts, uploads, and addresses, cutting development time while ensuring application reliability.
At the recent <a href="https://globalblockchainconvention.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BSV Global Blockchain Convention</a> in Dubai, <a href="https://coingeek.com/bsv-global-blockchain-convention-frictionless-use-of-bitcoin-by-vaionex/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vaionex</a> unveiled several new initiatives, including <a href="https://transpiler.bitcoinsv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transpiler</a> (working with California-based sCrypt Inc.); a &lsquo;wormhole to efficiency&rsquo; that enables developers to easily convert Ethereum-based smart contracts, NFTs and tokens into BSV scripts, thereby taking advantage of the 99.99% reduced transaction fees available on the BSV blockchain.
Ayre Ventures&rsquo; founder Calvin Ayre celebrated his group&rsquo;s investment in Vaionex: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m thrilled to support Vaionex, which has established itself as a core company involved in BSV development. Vaionex has created a funnel that brings developers and non-developers alike into the BSV ecosystem, identifying major pain points and simplifying them for both entrepreneurs looking to build new businesses as well as existing companies looking to incorporate blockchain benefits into their operations.&rdquo;
About Vaionex
Vaionex Corporation was co-founded by Robin Kohze and Dr. Samuel Schmidt to transform blockchain adoption across the globe. In the two years since its foundation, Vaionex has acquired strategic equity in a variety of companies to build an ecosystem of rapid blockchain service adoption and offers software consultancy to major enterprise partners in the BitcoinSV ecosystem.
About Ayre Ventures
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the <a href="https://bsvblockchain.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BSV blockchain</a> ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are 'positively disruptive', supporting their expansion with the Group's extensive network and industry partners.
Lightning Sharks on behalf of Ayre Ventures
Key contact: Haris Khan Email: <a href="https://cms.development.ayre-ag.staging-itoassistcom.co.uk/h.khan@lightningsharks.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">h.khan@lightningsharks.co.uk</a> Mobile: +44 (0) 7503 581 563

Co-founded by Robin Kohze and Dr. Samuel Schmidt, Vaionex aims to reduce BSV development time by as much as 95%, while eliminating the friction that prevents companies from embracing blockchain technology on their own.

Vaionex closes major investment round with Ayre Ventures

vaionex-closes-major-investment-round-with-ayre-ventures

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/rad-looks-to-bsv-as-source-of-truth-across-nft-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on March 29, 2022.
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>, the Ayre Group&rsquo;s venture capital division, has&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/rad-announces-new-funding-from-ayre-ventures-plans-to-build-cross-blockchain-nft-management-platform-on-the-bsv-blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">announced a significant investment</a>&nbsp;in Rad NFTV, the innovative content distribution and NFT streaming platform that is looking to BSV for help in managing the increasingly complex NFT/Web3 ecosystem.
<a href="https://rad.live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Rad</a>&nbsp;began life midway through the last decade under the name Littlstar, a streaming network with a focus on virtual reality (VR) video content. Littlstar was a launch partner on all the major VR devices and headsets, including PlayStation VR, Oculus and Google Daydream. Littlstar also had content deals with major film and TV studios, including Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal and Viacom.
While Littlstar was able to build trust on the content side with these companies as well as a respectable customer base via its consumer-facing app, Rad CEO Tony Mugavero told CoinGeek that the VR content produced by the studios at the time was largely exploratory, and the companies began scaling back or shutting down their VR operations around the end of 2017.
With VR not yet ready for prime time, Rad began supporting traditional video content, which offered access to a broader range of devices beyond VR headsets. Rad inked a raft of partnerships that saw its app appear on PlayStation 5, Android TV and Apple devices. More recently, Rad struck a deal with Chinese tech giant Huawei that will see its app pre-installed on a couple hundred million TVs.
However, the shift to traditional video streaming meant Rad was now in competition with mainstream giants such as Netflix and Hulu, leaving the company searching for an answer to why consumers should choose their service. Having been an early adopter of Bitcoin and other major digital assets, Mugavero began studying the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bitcoin101/from-digital-to-real-life-7-problems-blockchain-can-solve/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">potential advantages that blockchain technology could offer</a>.
Ahead of the curve
In 2017, Mugavero wrote a white paper based on his view that content should be using&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bitcoin101/bitcoin-smart-contracts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">smart contracts</a>&nbsp;to handle revenue shares/resales and should be loosely coupled to a content delivery network.
The platform that emerged was powered by Ara, a P2P ecosystem with built-in commerce and content delivery layers. It allowed network peers to host and deliver content, creators to sell content through the network and consumers to purchase content. Peers were rewarded with an Ethereum-based token called ARA, while those who were either pushing content in or pulling it out were interacting with blockchain tech to prove ownership.
But once again, Rad found itself ahead of the curve. Major content providers were happy to take meetings with Rad to discuss this promising new technology, but these meetings always ended with expressions of enthusiasm for the future possibilities without any concrete plans for the here and now.
Things changed dramatically around the end of 2020 as interest in the NFT space exploded thanks to NBA Topshot. That led consumers to the OpenSea marketplace, which enjoyed exponential volume growth from one month to the next. Seizing the moment, Rad announced plans for its own NFT marketplace in 2021.
No ice bucket challenge videos
Rad&rsquo;s initial forays into the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bitcoin101/what-is-nft-the-rise-of-non-fungible-tokens-in-cryptocurrency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">NFT</a>&nbsp;world saw it launch some auctions directly on its platform, mainly comprised of a few &ldquo;higher touch&rdquo; efforts with fashion outfit DKNY and streaming giant Cinedigm that Mugavero said allowed Rad to &ldquo;get a handle on what&rsquo;s working and what&rsquo;s not.&rdquo;
Brooklyn Earick, CMO at Rad NFTV, didn&rsquo;t see pitching its services to the hordes of individuals creating vacation videos or TikTok dances. Instead, Rad focused on &ldquo;the premium end of YouTube,&rdquo; aka the creators of animated series, short films and the like.
In stark contrast to the prevailing model that requires creators to engage with as many as five or six different services to launch an NFT initiative, the Rad platform&rsquo;s tools offer creators everything they need to create/distribute/market their own NFTs without needing to talk directly to Rad. Earick says this one-stop-shop concept &ldquo;has been resonating really well with the NFT natives as well as our existing content partners who are now saying &lsquo;how do we get into this.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Rad&rsquo;s team has a number of members who are well familiar with&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/news/tag/ethereum/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Ethereum</a>, and Earick said that chain was &ldquo;the tip of the spear to build for.&rdquo; However, Earick noted that &ldquo;it&rsquo;s very expensive to build [on Ethereum] from a gas perspective.&rdquo; (Ethereum&rsquo;s inherent volatility was on full display last Friday as gas prices soared with the launch of the NFT-affiliated APE token.)
The hurdles imposed by Ethereum&rsquo;s unpredictable transaction fees were among the factors that led the Rad team to investigate BSV&rsquo;s potential role in Rad&rsquo;s operations. Earick said BSV&rsquo;s clear advantages in terms of cost and scale were &ldquo;obviously very interesting&rdquo; because &ldquo;if you present consumers with options, they&rsquo;ll largely gravitate towards the one that creates the least friction, makes their lives easier and costs less.&rdquo;
BSV holds the same appeal for creators who face the costs of minting hundreds or even thousands of individual NFTs to launch their own collection. &ldquo;If they have the option of doing so at x price and 100x price, they&rsquo;ll naturally gravitate toward the cheaper option.&rdquo;
The BSV blockchain&rsquo;s commitment to large blocks also allows creators to include a greater amount of NFT metadata on-chain. While BSV&rsquo;s capacity has yet to scale to the point where it makes sense to upload Blue Ray-quality copies of every film in a studio&rsquo;s library, creators can include cast information, subtitles and other metadata that add value to individual NFTs.
The master plan? A master ledger
Mugavero is even more intrigued by what BSV can offer a company&rsquo;s back office operations, including distributing files that require a chain of custody. Mugavero cited the example of film editors submitting changes for review, which may involve multiple individuals in multiple departments. BSV can be used for entitlements inside an organization with the ability to track an asset&rsquo;s progress, an option that Mugavero said a number of studios have expressed interest in exploring.
However, this interest would quickly cool if the studios faced paying excessive ETH gas fees every time an asset is transferred within a large organization. &ldquo;If it&rsquo;s pennies, it&rsquo;s not a big deal. If it&rsquo;s $100 every single time they move around ownership, that&rsquo;s a problem.&rdquo;
Mugavero also sees great potential in using BSV to enable &ldquo;highly complex payout setups like royalty payments.&rdquo; A movie or music project may involve hundreds of individuals, each of whom performed different roles with different compensation structures. A complex smart contract would be required to manage all those payouts each time an asset is sold and certain benchmarks are reached, which again only makes sense if the chain on which that contract operates has a low-fee structure of the type offered by BSV.
Currently, if you wanted to understand all NFT activity across all chains, you&rsquo;d need to write bots to scrape data from each individual chain, then somehow cobble those separate files into a single database. Mugavero says Rad plans to use BSV as &ldquo;an aggregator of all cross-chain data, so if someone mints something on Ethereum or Solana or wherever, Rad can in parallel fire off an entry into BSV, so it becomes a master ledger.&rdquo;
Mugavero says &ldquo;there&rsquo;s an interesting opportunity there as a source of truth across the ecosystem. That could potentially be done on various different chains but that&rsquo;s where the low cost and potential larger amounts of metadata capabilities come in on the BSV side.&rdquo;
Mugavero says BSV&rsquo;s ability to manage &ldquo;the guts of the business&rdquo; will have strong appeal for entities looking to bring a greater sense of order to the burgeoning NFT sector. Rad is already building on BSV and will soon be minting NFTs on Testnet, and Mugavero expects to have a cross-chain single ledger of transactions in place within 12 months.
Like many pioneering technology outfits, Rad has long been ahead of the curve, waiting for the rest of the world to catch on to what it already knows. At long last, with a little boost from BSV, Rad is poised to reap the benefits of being in the right place at the right time.
Watch: CoinGeek New York panel, The New World of NFTs
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The shift to traditional video streaming meant Rad was now in competition with mainstream giants, leaving the company searching for an answer to why consumers should choose their service.

Rad looks to BSV as ‘source of truth’ across NFT ecosystem

rad-looks-to-bsv-as-source-of-truth-across-nft-ecosystem

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/rad-announces-new-funding-from-ayre-ventures-plans-to-build-cross-blockchain-nft-management-platform-on-the-bsv-blockchain/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on March 21, 2022.
<a href="https://rad.live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Rad</a>, the innovative content distribution and NFT streaming platform, has secured significant funding in a round led by Ayre Ventures; Intersect VC, who are investors in Dapper Labs and Triller; former New England Patriot Super Bowl Champion and Pro Bowler Richard Seymour&rsquo;s 93 Ventures; Alvin Kwan, former head of Corporate Development at Fox and Board Member at Fubo TV; Rusty Matveev, who is CSO at Calaxy and formerly a partner at MSG Ventures; Revere VC; and Jason Campbell, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.
Rad recently launched NFTV, redefining video streaming by combining major content creators and studios with future foundational technologies like web3, blockchain, and virtual and augmented reality (XR). It&rsquo;s the first network to make NFTs accessible via a rapidly expanding network of over 500m devices worldwide &ndash; including Sony PlayStations 4 &amp; 5, Android TVs and Apple platforms. Rad currently offers an unprecedented range of Gen Z-focused entertainment spanning gaming, music, on-demand video, live events, and sports. Rad has done content deals with the likes of Disney, NBCUniversal, Fox, Showtime, Warner Brothers, Sony, Complex Magazine, Whistle Sports, Cinedigm, Esports TV, Anthem Sports &amp; Entertainment, and hundreds of others, and is trusted by the biggest content and hardware companies in the world.
Rad&rsquo;s streaming platform is powered by Ara, which is a P2P ecosystem for content creators that uses an Ethereum-based token (ARA) for governance, incentives, and staking with royalties for NFTs sold through their platform. The platform is built to incorporate numerous chains and will make discoverability of content and NFTs across chains more efficient and approachable to creators and consumers alike. Rad&rsquo;s integration of the <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain</a> will include support for <a href="https://bitcoinassociation.net/bullishart-lists-new-puggo-sapiens-nft-collection-minted-on-bsv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BSV-based NFTs</a> with on-chain storage of large NFT files including full-length movies, video holograms and AR/VR content. Rad will also leverage the BSV blockchain&rsquo;s low-cost and high-scaling capacity for managing and tracking NFTs across multiple chains.
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayre Ventures</a> joins existing investors The Tornante Company which is Michael Eisner&rsquo;s fund, Sony Innovation Fund, A+E Networks, WWE, Warner Music Group, and Disney via the Disney Accelerator.
Commenting on the funding round, Rad CEO Tony Mugavero said:
&ldquo;Rad couldn&rsquo;t be more excited to partner with Ayre Ventures and support the <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BSV ecosystem</a>. Consumers buying, and creators making movies, XR, and clips leveraging blockchain-based technologies need low cost and high throughput transactions that compliment high performance streaming,&rdquo; said Tony Mugavero, CEO of Rad. &ldquo;<a href="https://bsvblockchain.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain technology</a> should be largely transparent to consumers and creators, and they&rsquo;ll always go for the most cost-effective and performant option, which the BSV blockchain solves for.&rdquo;
Rad CMO Brooklyn Earick added:
&ldquo;We are pumped to offer our users a fast and inexpensive option to scale at enterprise levels on Rad. We foresee a future where creators can tokenize everything, digital and IRL, to fund content creation, art collections and more. BSV will allow our users to both think long-term and execute quickly without the worry of what gas fees might be that day.&rdquo;
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre commented on his group&rsquo;s $1.5m investment in Rad, saying:
&ldquo;BSV is the perfect home for future-focused companies like Rad that have outgrown the constraints imposed by other public blockchains. I&rsquo;m thrilled to partner with Rad as they push the boundaries of what a streaming platform has to offer and meet the public&rsquo;s insatiable demand for an ever-widening variety of digital entertainment options.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Rad previously secured investment from a number of prominent entities, including A&amp;E Ventures, Sony Corporation of America, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., Warner Music Inc., and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Rad&rsquo;s media partners include Disney, Fox, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS and Warner Music.&nbsp;
About Rad
Rad is redefining streaming for the modern era with NFTs, on-demand, live events, and TV featuring the biggest content creators and studios in the world; all powered by future foundational technologies like blockchain and XR. Discover the best in Music, Movies &amp; TV, Comedy, Sports, Gaming and more! Rad supports on demand, live, holograms, 180&deg;, 360&deg;, 3D content and NFT collectibles (non-fungible tokens). Watch thousands of hours of content, join watch parties, buy limited edition NFTs, get XR experiences, and collect crypto rewards.
Discover more at rad.live and download our iOS app, Android TV app, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, or PSVR apps.&nbsp;
About Ayre Ventures&nbsp;
<a href="https://ayre.group/portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayre Ventures</a>, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are 'positively disruptive', supporting their expansion with the Group's extensive network and industry partners.

Rad recently launched NFTV, redefining video streaming by combining major content creators and studios with future foundational technologies like web3, blockchain, and virtual and augmented reality (XR).

Rad announces new funding from Ayre Ventures; plans to build cross-blockchain NFT management platform on the BSV Blockchain

rad-announces-new-funding-from-ayre-ventures-plans-to-build-cross-blockchain-nft-management-platform-on-the-bsv-blockchain

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/blockchain-as-a-service-provider-mintblue-closes-substantial-seed-round-financing-of-euro-2m/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on March 10, 2022.
Blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform provider mintBlue has secured &euro;2 million in a round led by Two Hop Ventures, with additional support from a Dutch angel investor and Ayre Ventures.
mintBlue is the go-to platform for developers to build with blockchain. mintBlue offers a proprietary API that allows companies large and small to migrate data to the public blockchain, thereby increasing data security, interoperability and traceability. As the leading blockchain development suite that provides data storage directly on the blockchain, mintBlue aims to become the &lsquo;decentralized AWS.&rsquo;
mintBlue&rsquo;s solutions are non-custodial; this means that end users control their data and have no lock-in issues. The software supports a commercial level scale that allows for monetisation opportunities down to a thousandth of a cent.
mintBlue&rsquo;s software allows a growing list of companies to focus on their core operations without the need to devote time and resources to understanding complex blockchain infrastructure. Learn more about mintBlue&rsquo;s product offering &ndash; including NFT invoicing, data integrity and document verification &ndash; at<a href="https://mintblue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> mintblue.com</a>.
mintBlue was recently selected by VISMA | yuki, a leading European cloud accounting solutions provider, to integrate blockchain-based functionalities into its bookkeeping. mintBlue has already handled over 700,000 NFT invoices for VISMA | yuki at an extremely low cost per invoice, improving efficiency while eliminating vectors for financial malpractice.
The Dutch angel investor backing mintBlue commented:
<blockquote>
Blockchain technology is fascinating, and the mintBlue team has managed to develop one of the world's first real-world use-cases for a public blockchain with VISMA, with more to come.
</blockquote>
Commenting on the investment round, mintBlue CEO Niels van den Bergh said:
<blockquote>
With this investment, mintBlue will start its trajectory to become the de-facto blockchain infrastructure provider for web3. Platforms will lose market share over protocols, and we will be there to support that change.
</blockquote>
Two Hop Ventures general partner Alex Fauvel said:
<blockquote>
mintBlue is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced teams in the blockchain industry, and Two Hop Ventures is proud to support them in their first funding round. With large partners and customers experimenting with putting and managing data on-chain, it is only a matter of time until traditional and modern enterprises are using mintBlue for all their blockchain integrations.
</blockquote>
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre added:
&ldquo;<a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BitcoinSV</a>&nbsp;(BSV) is the only public enterprise blockchain to offer unbounded scaling, and mintBlue exemplifies BSV&rsquo;s unique capacity to handle large transaction volumes at a minimal cost. I look at mintBlue as Europe&rsquo;s answer to Alchemy, the U.S. blockchain developer platform that recently raised $200m at a $10b valuation. As word spreads of mintBlue&rsquo;s capacity to boost business via the BSV blockchain, I see mintBlue mirroring Alchemy&rsquo;s meteoric rise.&rdquo;
ABOUT MINTBLUE
mintBlue makes blockchain development easy. Users can focus on their solution instead of the complex underlying blockchain infrastructure. We offer data solutions to store, share and monetise data without giving up ownership.
mintBlue is Europe's first public blockchain platform used at scale.
<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rmSnXo5QMNspQ5ONuTkEoAMvDBdh285V?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">mintBlue PR Kit link</a>
ABOUT TWO HOP VENTURES
Two Hop Ventures is a venture capital fund focused exclusively on start-ups building infrastructure for the next generation of the Internet. The infrastructure behind this leap forward allows data and other assets to be held by the users, not Facebook, Google etc., via the combination of the blockchain and Internet. Two Hop believes that the Bitcoin SV Blockchain is the only viable solution.
The fund has a traditional structure, is registered at the AFM in The Netherlands and operates under the EU AIFMD light regime. It holds no BSV or other crypto and is strictly equity and debt only. Investments are made exclusively in early-stage start-ups building on the Bitcoin SV blockchain and are without geographic limitation. The manager seeks to maximize investor returns by creating a balanced portfolio across the core infrastructure sectors of this flourishing ecosystem.
ABOUT AYRE VENTURES
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist <a href="https://bitcoinassociation.net/calvin-ayre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Ayre</a>, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are 'positively disruptive', supporting their expansion with the Group's extensive network and industry partners.

mintBlue’s software allows a growing list of companies to focus on their core operations without the need to devote time and resources to understanding complex blockchain infrastructure.

Blockchain-as-a-service provider mintBlue, closes substantial seed round financing of EURO 2M

blockchain-as-a-service-provider-mintblue-closes-substantial-seed-round-financing-of-euro-2m

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/ayre-ventures-joins-satoshi-block-dojo-growing-database-of-investors-and-vcs/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a>&nbsp;on February 24, 2022.
Ayre Ventures has made a significant investment in technology startup incubator&nbsp;<a href="https://blockdojo.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Satoshi Block Dojo</a>&nbsp;(SBD), offering additional opportunities for BSV-focused entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality.
This week,&nbsp;<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>&nbsp;announced that it had made a significant investment in the London-based Satoshi Block Dojo, which operates an intensive 12-week in-house training program for BSV-focused startups that offers these fledgling projects much more than simply desk space and the occasional word of encouragement.
Launched in August 2021, the Dojo announced its mission as taking responsibility for the more mundane and financially draining aspects of starting a company in order to let founders focus on the development of their idea into a tangible and truly viable product.
Following an application and vetting process, each of&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/satoshi-block-dojo-welcome-day-experience-a-piece-of-the-magic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">the Dojo&rsquo;s first &lsquo;cohort&rsquo; of startups</a>&nbsp;entered the Dojo offices in East London on January 15 with a &pound;10,000 &lsquo;golden hello.&rsquo; Over the next 12 weeks, these teams&mdash;minimum two-person groups, ideally consisting of one commercial/CEO and one technical/CTO, although Dojo can help find technical talent&mdash;will enjoy a weekly rhythm of workshops, masterclasses, 1-2-1&rsquo;s and socials, but the assistance on offer will also have an external component.
Getting corporates involved early
Dojo co-founder&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/craig-massey-bitcoin-sv-is-the-golden-goose-to-lay-the-golden-eggs-video/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">Craig Massey</a>&nbsp;said his company was &ldquo;trying to be more proactive by getting corporates involved right from the start.&rdquo; Massey, a startup veteran with five successful exits to his credit, said the lesson he took from his failures was &ldquo;not getting a potential client involved soon enough in the process of building the technology.&rdquo;
As such, Dojo aims to connect its cohort teams with R&amp;D partners early on. Once these partners are on board, &ldquo;they can feedback, advise, iterate. It stands to reason that you might end up with a letter of intent or at least some validation that it&rsquo;s actually going to be a more viable product as opposed to &lsquo;build it and they will come.&rsquo;&rdquo;
Potential R&amp;D partners will be able to study the cohort teams through the new Dojo Discover platform, which is scheduled to launch by the end of Q1. Cohort participants will also be able to update potential investors as to their progress throughout the 12-week program and afterwards (in theory up to their Series A funding and beyond). Investors interested in gaining early access to the Dojo Discover platform can sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://lnkd.in/ewMcpRJM" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">here</a>.
At the conclusion of the first cohort on April 7, the individual teams will take part in Demo Day, aka the investor pitch event, with &pound;140,000 in Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) funding potentially awaiting each team. Dojo principals will help cohort teams prep for their moment in the spotlight.
Get to know the cohort
Massey and Dojo CIO James Marchant&mdash;who also has a history of successful business exits&mdash;believe several of the current cohort are strong contenders to finish strong on Demo Day. Marchant singled out two&mdash;Buzzmint and Soundoshi&mdash;as his choice for the first teams to score significant investor interest.
Buzzmint is a platform that will allow brands, creators, media-specific businesses and individuals to simply and quickly ideate, create and deploy utility-led NFT/token projects. Customers can integrate their own branded version of the Buzzmint platform into their websites or publish directly to Buzzmint&rsquo;s own marketplace, which is set to debut in Q3.
Soundoshi&mdash;formerly known as Banach Group&mdash;is described by its Polish founders as an ownership-based streaming platform, using&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bitcoin101/what-is-nft-the-rise-of-non-fungible-tokens-in-cryptocurrency/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">NFTs</a>&nbsp;as a new music carrier/container. Users can not only own the music but also send, trade or exchange it. The platform, which expects to launch in Q2/Q3, is currently in talks with key Polish music publishers about onboarding their catalogues.
Massey&rsquo;s top cohort picks include Sattva Meta, who are building a platform to help construction companies reduce their carbon impact and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. There&rsquo;s also pay-for-play game Ninja Punk Girls and a call-to-earn app called +App, which Massey touted as ideal for professionals who charge by the minute for their services, including lawyers, counsellors and therapists.
BSV investor appetite growing
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre is a noted BSV proponent and his Ayre Group has made a number of investments in BSV-based projects. As such,&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bsv-blockchain-startup-incubator-receives-investment-from-ayre-ventures/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="internal">his interest in supporting Satoshi Block Dojo</a>&mdash;and the multiple successful projects that will likely emerge from its cohorts&mdash;seems a no-brainer.
But Ayre&rsquo;s willingness to back up his vocal support for BSV with generous financial support has led critics to claim that the BSV ecosystem couldn&rsquo;t survive without him. Massey and Marchant&rsquo;s history of successful exits have left them with a vastly different view of the field.
The Dojo has a database of over 3,500 angel investors, 250 family offices and early-stage VCs on which they can draw for potential cohort partners. Massey believes Ayre Ventures invested in the Dojo &ldquo;because it makes a lot of sense but the Dojo is also bringing in lots of new money into the BSV arena.&rdquo; Ayre Ventures&rsquo; willingness to take the lead on this current funding round will &ldquo;provide confidence to other investors, who are totally outside of the blockchain space, to make significant investments into the Dojo.&rdquo;
Marchant echoed this view, saying that &ldquo;as more startups choose to use BSV both inside and outside the Dojo, there is significant growing interest and demand for investment opportunities into attractive business models that are utilising this scalable tech. I would go so far as to say investor appetite outweighs early-stage BSV investment opportunities and this is a problem where the Dojo is aiming to have an impact.&rdquo;
The future is about scalability
As befitting a company based on accelerating project development, the Dojo is expanding its operations internationally to create a constant flow of new BSV startups and investment opportunities. Marchant said the plan is to open the first international Dojo within the next six to nine months and then add two new locations per year onwards.
The specific locations have yet to be finalized but Marchant said Dojo was weighing options in the Middle East, Central Europe and the United States. Each of these new locations will require an initial round of investment but, as with its original U.K. Dojo, investors will also receive equity in each startup that comes through a specific location. Interested parties are invited to contact Marchant at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:James@blockdojo.io" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">James@blockdojo.io</a>.
In the meantime, the Dojo&rsquo;s London offices will welcome their second cohort about a month after the first bunch &lsquo;graduates&rsquo;. Entrepreneurs interested in being part of the Dojo&rsquo;s second cohort need to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.f6s.com/sbd-incubator-cohort-two-may-2022/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">submit their applications</a>&nbsp;by March 31, with successful applicants scheduled to begin their Dojo experience on April 30. Subsequent cohorts will follow this rough pattern of three months on, one month off.
The Dojo is also hosting its first Ideation Jam on March 23, 2022, in partnership with the UCL Business School. The event will take place in the Lloyds building in London and is appropriately aimed at the insurance industry. Twenty teams of three students apiece will listen as insurance executives cite specific issues/areas in which blockchain tech might offer solutions. A pitch day will follow in which the student teams will present their ideas to a panel of Dojo judges, with the top three teams gaining automatic entry into the Dojo.
Massey said the Dojo has a &lsquo;no one gets left behind&rsquo; mantra and this philosophy has trickled down to the current cohort participants. &ldquo;I have witnessed extraordinary help and collaboration between all the different companies who genuinely, become each other&rsquo;s business associates.&rdquo; This spirit of cooperation, combined with the connections made during the 12-week programs, will serve both the Dojo&rsquo;s cohort teams and the greater BSV ecosystem well in the years to come.
Watch: Satoshi Block Dojo opens doors to next generation of BSV entrepreneurs
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Ayre Ventures has made a significant investment in technology startup incubator Satoshi Block Dojo, offering additional opportunities for BSV-focused entrepreneurs to turn their visions into reality.

Ayre Ventures joins Satoshi Block Dojo’s growing database of investors and VCs

ayre-ventures-joins-satoshi-block-dojo-growing-database-of-investors-and-vcs

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/bsv-blockchain-startup-incubator-receives-investment-from-ayre-ventures/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a>&nbsp;on February 23, 2022.
<a href="https://bitcoinassociation.net/satoshi-block-dojo-accelerating-cutting-edge-bsv-start-ups/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Satoshi Block Dojo</a>, the London-based technology startup incubator that assists entrepreneurs building businesses on the&nbsp;<a href="https://bsvblockchain.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain</a>, has secured significant investment funding from Ayre Ventures, the venture capital arm of Calvin Ayre&rsquo;s Ayre Group.
Satoshi Block Dojo operates a 12-week in-house training program for BSV-focused startups that goes well beyond the standard &lsquo;desk space and encouragement&rsquo; model. In addition to business mentorship, technical guidance and a host of support services, Satoshi Block Dojo connects its participating cohorts with potential corporate partners at an early stage to help shape the ideas being developed into truly viable products. Successful cohorts are eligible to receive an additional &pound;140,000 in SEIS funding from Satoshi Block Dojo and its network of investors.
This hands-on approach is also reflected in the Dojo&rsquo;s nationwide roadshow of 47 of the UK&rsquo;s premier universities. The company will also launch its first Ideation Jam on March 23rd, in which six of the largest insurance companies will detail specific issues and inefficiencies that could be remedied through blockchain solutions. Twenty teams will compete to devise the best technical fixes, with the top three teams gaining automatic entry into the Dojo.
Satoshi Block Dojo was founded by individuals who together have multiple large business exits totaling over &pound;90 million. As a result, the company has a database of over 3,500 angel investors, 250 family offices and early-stage VCs that will have access to the new Dojo Discover platform, which will launch at the end of Q1 2022. Through this platform, investors can search for Dojo startups by sector while startups can update investors on their progress through the 12-week program and beyond.
Dojo co-founder Craig Massey said:
&ldquo;Having demonstrated our capacity to bring significant outside funding into the&nbsp;<a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">BSV ecosystem</a>&nbsp;from a wide variety of sources, we are thrilled to add Ayre Ventures, the premier funder of BSV-based companies, to this group. Ayre Ventures&rsquo; involvement will provide confidence to other investors, including those totally outside the blockchain space, to make significant investments into the Dojo for their multiple startups.&rdquo;
Dojo CIO James Marchant added:
&ldquo;As more startups choose to use BSV both inside and outside the Dojo, there is significant growing interest and demand for investment opportunities into attractive business models that are utilising this scalable tech. Investor appetite currently outweighs early-stage BSV investment opportunities, an area in which Satoshi Block Dojo aims to have an impact.&rdquo;
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre said he was delighted with the opportunity to support Satoshi Block Dojo.
&ldquo;Satoshi Block Dojo has a vision that goes far beyond the &lsquo;build it and they will come&rsquo; model. I am excited to see what solutions emerge from their current cohort of&nbsp;<a href="https://bitcoinassociation.net/calvin-ayre-reaches-out-for-further-investment-opportunities-in-bitcoin-bsv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">teams</a>&nbsp;building on the BSV Enterprise Blockchain, the only blockchain that combines minuscule transaction fees with the capacity to scale to meet the future needs of companies large and small.&rdquo;
The next Dojo program will get underway on April 30 and interested startups must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.f6s.com/sbd-incubator-cohort-two-may-2022/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">submit their applications</a>&nbsp;by March 31. The company plans to launch its first international Dojo later this year and add two new locations per year onwards. Entities that invest in new Dojo locations will also receive equity in each startup coming through that location. Investors interested in the deal flow coming out of the Dojo as well as getting early access to the Dojo Discover platform can sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://lnkd.in/ewMcpRJM" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">here</a>.
About Satoshi Block Dojo
The mission of&nbsp;<a href="https://blockdojo.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" data-wpel-link="external">Satoshi Block Dojo</a>&nbsp;is to nurture and support start-ups that will change the world. This means providing a pathway to educate, train and elevate start-up entrepreneurs to the highest standards by providing best-in-class mentors and teaching with the latest tech tools. The Block Dojo is the first start-up incubator focused exclusively on Bitcoin SV; it mentors and develops entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, as well as taking care of the administrative hassle of getting a great idea off the ground, so that founders can focus on bringing their tech solution to market.
About Ayre Ventures
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are &lsquo;positively disruptive&rsquo;, supporting their expansion with the Group&rsquo;s extensive network and industry partners.

In addition to business mentorship, technical guidance and a host of support services, Satoshi Block Dojo connects its participating cohorts with potential corporate partners at an early stage to help shape the ideas being developed into truly viable products.

BSV Blockchain startup incubator receives investment from Ayre Ventures

bsv-blockchain-startup-incubator-receives-investment-from-ayre-ventures

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/ayre-ventures-completes-follow-on-investment-in-mijem-inc/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a>&nbsp;on January 13, 2022.
First Marketplace with&nbsp;&lsquo;Get Bitcoin SV-Back&rsquo;&nbsp;Loyalty System &ndash; Users Benefit from New Crypto Wallet Functionality and BSV Loyalty Program
TORONTO, Canada &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mijem.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Mijem Inc.</a>, the Canada-based social marketplace and technology company, closed a follow-on investment in its RTO concurrent financing with noted technology entrepreneur Calvin Ayre, founder of venture capital firm&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>. Mijem Inc., having recently amalgamated into Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc., is currently trading on the CSE under ticker MJEM.
Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. is the developer of the popular Mijem social marketplace, an intuitive online platform and application ecosystem that connects students with their peers to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem social marketplaces center around Gen Z communities, including post-secondary institutions, in the United States and Canada. To date, Mijem has established relationships with more than 70 university and college communities, including those at the University of Texas, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, the University of Michigan and the University of Miami.
Commenting on the investment, Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre, said, &ldquo;Mijem&rsquo;s integrated Bitcoin SV (BSV) loyalty system is a key development for its users because Bitcoin SV is an everyday digital currency with important advantages with regard to scalability, speed, eco-friendly footprint, and low costs. We see a great opportunity to continue working with their team to further develop the Mijem offering with Bitcoin SV and play a part in their ongoing success story.&rdquo;
Mijem founder Phuong Dinh said, &ldquo;Bitcoin SV is what the original Bitcoin white paper envisioned, namely, a fast, inexpensive, peer-to-peer electronic cash system &ndash; and all these characteristics are important for Mijem&rsquo;s Gen Z target market. Mijem is connecting communities, building trust, and providing features like links to digital asset wallets and BSV rewards that Gen Z demands. On behalf of Mijem, I&rsquo;d like to thank Ayre Ventures for their investment and continued support.&rdquo;
About Bitcoin SV
The&nbsp;<a href="http://bitcoinsv.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Bitcoin SV</a>&nbsp;network is an enterprise-grade public blockchain that benefits from its ability to scale unbounded, offering greater data capacity and functionality, in addition to super low transaction fees (median transaction fees on the BSV network for payments have ranged from 1/25 to 1/100 of a U.S. cent), enabling it to serve as a powerful global data ledger for business, as well as a fast and efficient peer-to-peer electronic cash system.
About Mijem Inc.
<a href="http://www.mijem.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Mijem</a>&nbsp;is a Canadian-based social media and technology company that provides innovative solutions to create a vibrant social marketplace for Generation Z to connect and to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem&rsquo;s patent-pending flagship technology currently permits thousands of university and college students across the United States and Canada to both connect online and engage in consumer-to-consumer commerce.
About Ayre Ventures
<a href="http://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist&nbsp;Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem. Ayre Ventures targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are &lsquo;positively disruptive&rsquo;, supporting their expansion with the Group&rsquo;s extensive network and industry partners.

Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. is the developer of the popular Mijem social marketplace, an intuitive online platform and application ecosystem that connects students with their peers to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services.

Ayre Ventures completes follow-on investment in Mijem Inc.

ayre-ventures-completes-follow-on-investment-in-mijem-inc

This article was originally published on&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeek.com/buzzcast-secures-4-35m-seed-round-to-integrate-nfts-into-premium-virtual-events/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on October 7, 2021. 
Round led by blockchain visionary Ayre Ventures with participation from TheSyndicate.com
Los Angeles, CA &ndash; October 7, 2021 &ndash; BuzzCast, the premium virtual events platform, today announced that it has closed a $4.35 million seed round that it will use to integrate NFTs into premium virtual events. The round was led by Ayre Ventures with participation from The Syndicate, a group of 9,000+ accredited investors led by Jason Calacanis.
BuzzCast recently emerged from stealth mode as an established player in the high-end of the virtual and hybrid event landscape. The platform is unique in that it delivers a broadcast-quality experience, can scale to support hundreds of thousands of attendees with zero down-time, and supports complex tracks and formats with advanced networking features. BuzzCast clients include global brands and organizations, including Anthem, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The World Trade and Tourism Council, Just for Laughs, and Uber.
&ldquo;We are producing high-profile conferences and industry events where the interactions between attendees can change the world or move markets,&rdquo; said Ryan Byrne, co-founder and CEO of BuzzCast. &ldquo;Our vision is to make ticketing and transactions highly secure and non-fungible, so there is a clear record of all of the people who attended and the digital interactions that took place at a BuzzCast event. The BSV enterprise blockchain is known for its safety and security, low transaction costs and ability to scale, which make it a natural choice for what we want to build as the next generation of our platform.&rdquo;
BuzzCast will also allow event hosts and sponsors to gamify the attendee experience in both virtual and hybrid events, enabling them to drive behavior, reward visitors with prizes and incentives, and extend their interaction with guests before, during and after the event, all built on BSV. The low transaction price and large block size will enable us to turn content, rewards and contact information into micro-NFTs that visitors can collect and trade at will.
Ayre Ventures founder Calvin Ayre said, &ldquo;BuzzCast has uncovered an exciting market opportunity that has the potential to transform how virtual and hybrid events are produced, setting a new quality standard for sponsors and attendees. BuzzCast embodies the possibilities that BSV&rsquo;s infinite scaling capacity offers to forward-looking enterprises.&rdquo;
Said Jason Calacanis, of The Syndicate, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re excited with BuzzCast&rsquo;s early progress and excited to see where this funding takes them.&rdquo;
To learn more about BuzzCast, attend (in person or virtually) the<a href="https://coingeekconference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">&nbsp;CoinGeek New York</a>&nbsp;conference, the year&rsquo;s biggest BSV blockchain event (October 5-7, 2021), at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. BuzzCast CEO Ryan Byrne will participate in the&nbsp;A Better Internet Experience using Blockchain&nbsp;panel on Thursday, October 7.&nbsp;
About BuzzCast
BuzzCast is the premium virtual events platform, powering the world&rsquo;s most buzzworthy events. Trusted by global brands including Anthem, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The World Trade and Tourism Council and Uber, BuzzCast delivers a broadcast-quality experience with zero downtime &ndash; 100% of the time. BuzzCast features advanced networking capabilities and supports complex ticketing access, tracks and formats, making it an ideal platform for global summits, investor conferences and high-profile industry events.&nbsp;
BuzzCast recently won a Gold Stevie Award&reg; for Start-up of the Year 2021 in the 18th&nbsp;Annual International Business Awards&reg;. The award recognizes best-in-class virtual events that were held in 2020 when the event industry was forced to rapidly innovate in response to the global pandemic. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://buzzcast.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">BuzzCast.com</a>&nbsp;or read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.g2.com/products/buzzcast/reviews" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">BuzzCast&rsquo;s five-star customer reviews on G2</a>.
About BSV
The BSV network is an enterprise-grade public blockchain that benefits from its ability to scale unbounded, offering greater data capacity and functionality, in addition to super-low transaction fees (the median transaction fee on the BSV network in 2020 was less than 1/100 of a U.S. cent), enabling it to serve as a powerful global data ledger for business, as well as a fast and efficient peer-to-peer electronic cash system.
About Ayre Ventures
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are &lsquo;positively disruptive&rsquo;, supporting their expansion with the Group&rsquo;s extensive network and industry partners.

BuzzCast will allow event hosts and sponsors to gamify the attendee experience in both virtual and hybrid events, enabling them to drive behavior, reward visitors with prizes and incentives, and extend their interaction with guests before, during and after the event, all built on BSV.

BuzzCast Secures $4.35M Seed Round to Integrate NFTs into Premium Virtual Events

buzzcast-secures-4-35m-seed-round-to-integrate-nfts-into-premium-virtual-events

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/fyx-gaming-announces-follow-on-seed-round-financing/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on October 1, 2021. FYX Gaming, the Raleigh-based esports infrastructure and technology provider behind the popular skill-based strategic fighting game CryptoFights, has announced follow-on seed round financing. FYX has attracted commitments from several prominent investors as part of the ongoing funding round, including Ventek Ventures and Ayre Ventures, with opportunities now available for new participants to join the round.
CryptoFights, which allows players to enter real-money tournaments using its native cash on the BSV blockchain, has already attracted over 100,000 registered users. These users are currently generating hundreds of thousands of transactions each day, a feat made possible by the BSV blockchain&rsquo;s unbounded scaling capacity.
This latest funding round involves a mix of new and existing investors, with the former led by Los Angeles-based Ventek Ventures, an early stage cross-border venture capital fund focusing on the US, China, and Southeast Asia.
Ventek founding partner Tony Zhang said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of hype surrounding the Metaverse and NFTs right now, but there are also a few innovative Play to Earn companies creating actual value for users. FYX is one of them. By combining best of class game play with a sophisticated virtual economy based on years of experience in gaming, FYX has figured out a way to make games both fun and lucrative. We are proud to partner with FYX as it continues to reward players by building a powerful, inclusive platform that players can leverage to generating more income.&rdquo;
Among the existing investors raising their stake is Ayre Ventures, whose founder Calvin Ayre expressed delight in renewing his support for FYX. Ayre called CryptoFights&rsquo; daily transaction volume &ldquo;emphatic proof of the possibilities that can only be achieved on the BSV Enterprise Blockchain. CryptoFights is an engaging product with unlimited growth potential thanks to BSV and the dedication of the FYX team.&rdquo;
FYX CEO Adam Kling said he was pleased that his company had &ldquo;joined the growing ranks of gaming companies, including Mythical Games and Sky Mavis, that are sparking investors&rsquo; interest.&rdquo; Kling added that FYX was looking forward to closing its Series A funding next year.
Kling says FYX will use capital raised via the current funding round on new hires to grow its infrastructure and boost CryptoFights&rsquo; capacity to handle millions of users. The FYX platform recently expanded players&rsquo; funding options through the addition of Simplex, for fiat-to-BSV transactions, and will soon launch&nbsp;<a href="https://fabriik.com/markets/trading-api/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Fabriik&rsquo;s Weave API</a>, for crypto-to-BSV transactions. This will enable players to more easily fund their game play and to buy and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the FYX marketplace. Additional capabilities to allow users to create their own NFTs are in the works.
To learn more about FYX, attend (in person or virtually) the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeekconference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">CoinGeek New York</a>&nbsp;conference, the year&rsquo;s biggest BSV blockchain event (October 5-7, 2021), at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. FYX CEO Adam Kling will participate in the&nbsp;Licensing IP for NFTs: Graphic Novels, Comic Books &amp; Brands&nbsp;panel on Wednesday, October 6.
About FYX
FYX Gaming is an esports infrastructure and technology provider, specializing in the development and implementation of blockchain technologies. The company offers a full suite of specialized esports products and services, with innovative solutions spanning game monetization, integrity, data and analytics. In 2020, FYX was admitted as a member of the esports Integrity Commission (ESIC).
About Ventek Ventures
Ventek Ventures is an early stage cross-border venture capital fund focusing on companies with the technology, team and timing to capture sustainable markets in the US, China, and Southeast Asia.
About Ayre Ventures
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are &lsquo;positively disruptive&rsquo;, supporting their expansion with the Group&rsquo;s extensive network and industry partners.

The latest funding round involves a mix of new and existing investors, including Ayre Ventures and Los Angeles-based Ventek Ventures, an early stage cross-border venture capital fund focusing on the U.S., China, and Southeast Asia.

FYX Gaming announces follow-on seed round financing

fyx-gaming-announces-follow-on-seed-round-financing

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/blarecast-systems-announces-seed-round-financing/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on September 30, 2022.
<a href="https://www.blarecastsystems.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Blarecast Systems</a>, the UK-based startup aiming to provide an elegant and equitable solution for the music industry with BSV blockchain technology, has closed a seed funding round led by&nbsp;Ayre Ventures, supported by a number of other high-net-worth investors.
Utilizing&nbsp;unique patent pending technology,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.blarecast.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Blarecast</a>&nbsp;is an innovative music distribution&nbsp;platform built for artists by artists. A project that has been over two years in the making, Blarecast is now ready to harness the power of the BSV blockchain &ndash; including its efficient micropayments capabilities &ndash; to streamline a range of next-generation use cases.
Blockchain-based music distribution&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t new, but previous projects were dogged by economic and technical problems due to incorrect methods of payments via inflationary and pre-mined tokens. Blarecast&rsquo;s BSV-based platform allows artists to upload, publish, distribute and sell their exclusive digital content and physical merchandise to their fans at a price set by the content creators, who receive payments instantly (even in micropayments), not months (or even years) after the fact.
Commenting on the funding round, co-founder and CEO Shem Booth-Spain said, &ldquo;the trust, support, and direction of these partnerships will offer the Blarecast platform access to further technologies &amp; expertise for the benefit of artists&nbsp;worldwide.&rdquo;
Co-founder and COO Luke Mayernik added that, &ldquo;Blarecast allows all rights holders (artists, bands, and record labels) to harness the power of the BSV blockchain to monetize their content securely within a truly&nbsp;innovative, simple, yet elegant application.&rdquo;
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>&nbsp;founder Calvin Ayre said Blarecast&rsquo;s platform &ldquo;is music to the ears of those who believe in the BSV enterprise blockchain&rsquo;s ability to reshape industries through its infinite scaling capacity, unparalleled data storage and cost-effective micro-transactions. With BSV as its foundation, Blarecast is poised to transform the music business in a way that prioritizes creators over gatekeepers.&rdquo;
To learn more about Blarecast, attend (in person or virtually) the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeekconference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">CoinGeek New York</a>&nbsp;conference, the year&rsquo;s biggest BSV blockchain event (October 5-7, 2021), at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. Blarecast&rsquo;s Shem Booth-Spain and Luke Wenceslas Mayernik will give a presentation on their plans to Re-Invent the Music Industry with BSV Blockchain on Wednesday, October 6.

Blarecast’s BSV-based platform allows artists to upload, publish, distribute and sell their exclusive digital content and physical merchandise to their fans at a price set by the content creators, who receive payments instantly.

Blarecast Systems announces seed round financing

blarecast-systems-announces-seed-round-financing

This article was originally published on <a href="https://coingeek.com/transmira-announces-multi-million-dollar-seed-funding-round/" target="_blank" rel="canonical noopener">CoinGeek</a> on September 29, 2022. <a href="https://transmira.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Transmira, Inc.</a>, the Raleigh-based start-up pioneering Experiential Reality (XR) technology on the BSV blockchain, today announces it has opened a multi-million-dollar seed funding round. Transmira has attracted commitments from several prominent investors as part of the ongoing funding round, including Ventek Ventures, Ayre Ventures and other family offices, with opportunities now available for new participants to join the round.
Transmira is spearheading development of the Metaverse, in which the reality of the physical world meets the infinite space of digital gaming. Transmira&rsquo;s Omniscape&trade; platform brings location to life, allowing businesses to engage with consumers by combining Augmented Reality (AR) with Virtual Reality (VR) in the exciting new XR environment.
Transmira CEO Robert Rice, who Advertising Age recognized as an Internet Gaming Pioneer, has described XR as branded AR combined with geolocation. Rice says XR helps businesses grow by putting content where their ideal customers are located.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Transmira&rsquo;s groundbreaking patent on virtual goods and 3D non-fungible tokens (NFTs) linked to real-world assets will be fundamental in driving the new virtual economy and commerce in the metaverse. Transmira is beginning to roll out early features for Omniscape, starting with tokenized virtual real estate, a 3D NFT Marketplace, MetaPets&trade;, and much more. Some of this will be on display at CES 2022 in Las Vegas in January.&rdquo;
The funding round&rsquo;s supporters include Los Angeles-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ventek.vc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Ventek Ventures</a>, an early stage cross-border venture capital fund focusing on the US, China, and Southeast Asia.
Founding partner Tony Zhang said that since Ventek was &ldquo;the first investor in China&rsquo;s social metaverse Soul (now majority owned by Tencent), we are very excited to work with Transmira and be part of the coming metaverse revolution. We have met multiple companies in this space, but we were by far most impressed by Robert and his team. Their unique understanding of XR and its applications, combined with years of experience in the industry, will allow them to aggregate brands and IPs to monetize metaverse technologies seamlessly.&rdquo;
<a href="https://ayre.group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Ayre Ventures</a>&nbsp;founder Calvin Ayre said he was &ldquo;proud to support Transmira, an innovative start-up using the power and versatility of the BSV Enterprise Blockchain to explore exciting new ways for businesses to connect with consumers, particularly with younger demographics. Robert is a visionary with the drive to realize Omniscape&rsquo;s fusion of the physical and the virtual worlds.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Rice said Transmira was &ldquo;very excited to welcome a group of investors who bring global perspectives, experiences and deep networks of resources that we will be able to leverage as we begin releasing various elements of the Omniscape platform in Q4.&rdquo;
Rice said the new capital will give Transmira &ldquo;the ability to scale quickly as we prepare to disrupt the market and seize a leadership position as the first fully blended AR/VR metaverse platform that truly bridges the real and the virtual.&rdquo;
To learn more about Transmira, attend (in person or virtually) the&nbsp;<a href="https://coingeekconference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">CoinGeek New York</a>&nbsp;conference, the year&rsquo;s biggest BSV blockchain event (October 5-7, 2021), at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. Transmira CEO Robert Rice will detail his vision for blockchain-based AR, VR and the Metaverse on Tuesday, October 5.&nbsp;
About Transmira
Transmira, Inc. are a Raleigh, North Carolina-based start-up monetizing Metaverse XR technologies. The company is the developer of Omniscape&trade;, the first blockchain-based XR platform that blends augmented and virtual reality together with a focus on location, virtual goods, and commercial opportunities for brands, businesses, smart cities, and content-creators.
About Ventek Ventures
Ventek Ventures is an early stage cross-border venture capital fund focusing on companies with the technology, team and timing to capture sustainable markets in the US, China, and Southeast Asia.
About Ayre Ventures
Ayre Ventures, founded by celebrated entrepreneur and philanthropist Calvin Ayre, provides capital to scalable, high-growth businesses within the BSV blockchain ecosystem, the only infinitely scaling enterprise public blockchain. The Group targets investment in innovative ideas and ambitious projects that are &lsquo;positively disruptive&rsquo;, supporting their expansion with the Group&rsquo;s extensive network and industry partners.

Transmira is spearheading development of the Metaverse, in which the reality of the physical world meets the infinite space of digital gaming. Transmira’s Omniscape™ platform brings location to life.

Transmira announces multi-million-dollar seed funding round

transmira-announces-multi-million-dollar-seed-funding-round

Baby Kairo&rsquo;s parents, Jusette James and Tarik Spencer, now alive with optimism, expressed gratitude for having received the donation they almost thought would have been impossible, after reaching out to various organizations.
Kairo was born prematurely on January 16th and was diagnosed with Small Bowel or Intestinal Atresia. The condition is one in which there is a narrowing of the segment of the intestine that connects the stomach to the large intestine. As such, Kairo has not eaten since birth and often regurgitates any food given to him via intravenous methods.
According to cincinattichildrens.org website, all children with intestinal atresia and stenosis require an operation, and the exact type of operation differs depending on the location of the obstruction.
With no on-island paediatric surgeon to perform this type of surgery, the family was faced with waiting for a visiting surgeon, before Kairo could be examined. The significant impact on travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, would delay Kairo&rsquo;s chance of survival, as his condition would become critical after two weeks without&nbsp;immediate medical intervention.
When the CAF team met with the parents and uncle of Baby Kairo, it was a meeting punctuated by anxiety, hushed tones to disguise tears, but mostly of hope.
Speaking on their feelings of their precious son&rsquo;s condition, Jusette, a nurse by profession, said &ldquo;I think that this (being a nurse) is the hardest part for me; seeing and knowing the drastic ends of both of it. I know first-hand that anything can happen, at any time. This is the hardest thing I&rsquo;ve ever had to deal with &ndash; I never expected to have so much difficulty having my first child. Some days I don&rsquo;t know feel like I can cope with it &ndash; I don&rsquo;t know what else to do.&rdquo;
Tarik added that for him, this was a very emotional time seeing Kairo like this, struggling and seeing Jusette stressed out and crying everyday. &ldquo;I just want him to get through it and for him to be okay,&rdquo; he said.
During the emotional presentation on Tuesday at the Ayre Group&rsquo;s Canada Place Headquarters, the family accepted the donation in the amount of ES$67, 327. This will cover Kairo&rsquo;s flight by air ambulance to Jamaica&rsquo;s Bustamante Children&rsquo;s Hospital, the cost of surgery and hospitalization.
CAF&rsquo;s Executive Director, Corinna Delowsky, said, &ldquo;We receive so many applications for assistance and the task of selecting the causes we support is very difficult. We would love to assist many more. Covid-19,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;has posed an immense challenge and we have had to refocus towards Pandemic Relief. This new baby, who is only two weeks old, and his first time parents&rsquo; story really stood out to us. We hope our contribution gives Kairo a fighting chance.&rdquo;&nbsp;
According to Ayre Group&rsquo;s Media Relations Specialist, Jamilla Kirwan, &ldquo;Kairo&rsquo;s story is very relatable, as many families can envision themselves going through something similar and can empathize with his family and how they are navigating this challenging ordeal. We, at the CAF, are so elated to be able to assist this family in covering their medical expenses, including the medical airlift, hospitalization fees and fees for Kairo&rsquo;s surgery.&rdquo;
Curlson James, Kairo&rsquo;s uncle and the family member that reached out to the Calvin Ayre Foundation, described the bittersweet ordeal as such; &ldquo;You watch your siblings everyday and when something like this happens, you can&rsquo;t help them and you don&rsquo;t know the extent of stress they&rsquo;re going through but being able to sit behind a computer and send out a plea (requesting assistance) and getting the response we have, is remarkable.&rdquo;
Under the consultation of Dr. Abel of the Mount St. John&rsquo;s Medical Centre (MSMJC), the arrangements to have Kairo flown out can now be made.
The advent of Kairo&rsquo;s surgery is promising as it is medically shown that children who undergo surgery for intestinal atresia, in general, do well and complications after surgery are rare. (<a href="http://www.cincinattichildrens.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.cincinattichildrens.org</a>)
The Foundation, was founded by business mogul and Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre in 2005. CAF&rsquo;s Pillars of giving are Emergency Response, Social Development, Education and Sports.
&nbsp;
UPDATE: It is with much sadness that we inform of Baby Kairo&rsquo;s passing, due to complications he developed. Kairo&rsquo;s story is dear to us as we felt like he was our baby too.
We send our condolences to his family at this time of immense loss.
- Executive Director, Corinna Delowsky

One grateful family is now moving forward with hope upon learning that they would receive a donation for their two-week old son, Kairo Spencer’s, emergency airlift and expenses, from the Calvin Ayre Foundation, in the amount of EC$62,327.00.

Baby Kairo Receives Medical Emergency Funding From Calvin Ayre Foundation

baby-kairo-receives-medical-emergency-funding-from-calvin-ayre-foundation

The post originally appears on <a href="https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer">https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano/</a>&nbsp;and we republished with permission.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, has selected CalvinAir Helicopters (CAH) as the top helicopter operator in the Caribbean to carry out the work of assisting scientists with monitoring the La Soufriere volcanic activity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to a recent agency report, this support is extremely urgent to allow the scientists to analyze the data and present to the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines an informed interpretation of the current volcanic events.
It is against this backdrop that CAH was selected to assist the team with this undertaking, and will be responsible for providing The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre&rsquo;s (SRC) scientists with helicopter services for a period of seven (7) days, and then on an &ldquo;as needed&rdquo; basis.
According to CAH&rsquo;s Director of Aviation, Mark Fleming, the decision was made after considering several other regional helicopter operations. &ldquo;One of the requirements was to secure pilots with extensive mountainous terrain flying, as the peak is over 4,000 feet.
So it can be quite challenging with the strong winds at that altitude.
Additionally,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;CalvinAir Helicopter pilots actually have extensive experience with flying for the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) with a scientist there. So we will be doing very similar flying on this mission; conducting observation flights around the dome; transporting equipment and supplies to monitoring sites; transporting the seismic research scientists and trying to find safe landing spots, where they will be able to set up and maintain their remote monitoring stations to analyze data.&rdquo;
According to Fleming, the Antiguan-based helicopter operation conducts tours and charters around Antigua and Barbuda and surrounding islands.
&ldquo;As well,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll do more humanitarian work with Medevac flights as well as search and rescue and emergency missions like these, with the Montserrat Volcanic Observatory and now St. Vincent.&rdquo;
The operation&rsquo;s aircraft are stateof-the-art and not seen before in the Caribbean region. The Airbus EC130 is known to be the gold standard in helicopter aerial touring machines.
In addition, the style of its tail rotor reduces outside noise by up to fifty per cent, earning it the nickname &ldquo;ECO-Star&rdquo;.
&ldquo;CalvinAir Helicopters is the best of its breed in all-purpose helicopter operations,&rdquo; said Calvin Ayre, owner of the company. &ldquo;I am extremely proud of what our team has put together.
We can offer services across the spectrum, from search and rescue or medical airlift.&rdquo;-&nbsp;POINTE EXPRESS

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, has selected CalvinAir Helicopters (CAH) as the top helicopter operator in the Caribbean to carry out the work of assisting scientists with monitoring the La Soufriere volcanic activity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

CalvinAir Helicopters assisting with monitoring St. Vincent volcano

calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano

Bitcoin is a revolutionary technology and can be quite complex; for most people, it&rsquo;s a steep learning curve - but it doesn&rsquo;t have to be.
The following article, originally published on December 29th on CoinGeek.com, announces the launch of the BitcoinSV Academy, developed by the Bitcoin Association.
As part of the Bitcoin SV Academy, Bitcoin Association has curated a range of educational information and resources to establish a curriculum, from which training modules and courses have been developed to best serve the needs of the Bitcoin SV community.
ZUG, Switzerland &ndash; December 29, 2020 &ndash; &nbsp;<a href="http://bitcoinassociation.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bitcoin Association</a>, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the <a href="http://bitcoinsv.com/">Bitcoin SV</a> blockchain, today announces the official launch of <a href="http://bitcoinsv.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bitcoin SV Academy</a> &ndash; a dedicated online education platform for Bitcoin, offering academia-quality, university-style courses and learning materials.
Developed by Bitcoin Association, Bitcoin SV Academy has been created to make learning about Bitcoin &ndash; the way creator Satoshi Nakamoto designed it - accessible, accurate and understandable. Courses are available in their entirety online and offered in three distinct streams:
Bitcoin Theory &ndash; covers the design of Bitcoin as a system as prescribed by Satoshi Nakamoto.
&shy;&shy;Bitcoin Development &ndash; provides vanguard information for application developers building with Bitcoin, including tools and techniques for leveraging the unique features of the network.
Bitcoin Infrastructure &ndash; looks at the underlying architecture of both the Bitcoin network and ledger, including how the network is constructed and scales.
Within each stream, courses are offered at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels, following a progressive structure designed to build on the concepts and knowledge introduced in the preceding course. At the conclusion of each course, participants will undertake an online assessment to test their understanding of the material, with certification available to those who pass.
The first course to launch, the introductory module of the Bitcoin Theory stream, is now available for enrolment at <a href="http://www.bitcoinsv.academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.bitcoinsv.academy</a>. Introductory level courses will be offered free of charge for the foreseeable future, part of Bitcoin Association&rsquo;s commitment to making Bitcoin education available to as wide of an audience as possible.
Speaking on today&rsquo;s announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commented:
&lsquo;Education is a cornerstone of the work we do at Bitcoin Association, as we help businesses and individuals alike understand the Bitcoin system envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto, and how Bitcoin SV is the only project implementing that Satoshi Vision. Bitcoin SV Academy will be a key component of that work moving forward, providing a platform to deliver a robust curriculum tailored to all levels of ability and knowledge, as we educate the world about just what&rsquo;s possible with the power of the original Bitcoin protocol.&rsquo;
Also commenting, Steve Shadders, Technical Director of the Bitcoin SV Infrastructure Team, said:
&lsquo;The most important piece of infrastructure that Bitcoin can have is access and availability of education - not only does it broaden the pool of talent available to work and build with Bitcoin, but it also helps to spread awareness of what Bitcoin as an entire technology system can do and is truly capable of. The launch of Bitcoin SV Academy is a huge step forward in making meaningful change in this area &ndash; and having taken the first course myself, I can confirm that there really is something for everybody to learn in there.&rsquo;

Bitcoin is a revolutionary technology and can be quite complex; for most people, it’s a steep learning curve - but it doesn’t have to be.  The following article, originally published on December 29^th^ on CoinGeek.com, announces the launch of the BitcoinSV Academy, developed by the Bitcoin Association.  As part of the Bitcoin SV Academy, Bitcoin Association has curated a range of educational information and resources to establish a curriculum, from which training modules and courses have been developed to best serve the needs of the Bitcoin SV community.

Bitcoin Association launches online education platform Bitcoin SV Academy

bitcoin-association-launches-online-education-platform-bitcoin-sv-academy

In the December 2020 issue of the Luxury Locations magazine (pages12-14), a stellar feature is presented on Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre; which includes his vision, his views on the super powers of Bitcoin SV and its utility, and his plans for the future.&nbsp;
Visionary, entrepreneur, industry pioneer and philanthropist, are just a few adjectives that have been used to describe Calvin Ayre. The phenomenal backstory about his rise to billionaire status is definitely one for the books.
Born in 1961, Calvin credits his modest upbringing on his family&rsquo;s pig farm in rural Canada, for tempering his extraordinary ambition with humility and a heart for humanity, particularly the less fortunate.
From early entrepreneurial ventures such as fruit delivery and internet service provider, to revolutionizing online gaming, Calvin pursued every opportunity that presented itself with passion and determination.
Calvin&rsquo;s success and reputation as the leading man in the online gaming industry were firmly established in the early 2000&rsquo;s. His re-invention; transitioning from the Bodog online gaming brand to blockchain technology - specifically Bitcoin SV - illustrates his relentless inventiveness and ability to transform entire industries.
Through his strategic partnerships with Bitcoin industry leaders, Calvin now uses his various platforms, including CoinGeek.com, to educate the world - from major businesses, investors and policy-makers to the man-on-the-street - about the unique superpowers of Bitcoin SV.
We think this is the just the beginning of the epic second chapter to a phenomenal&nbsp;career, destined to be ranked among the best of the century.
<ol>
<li>The Digital Assets Business Bill has recently passed into law in Antigua &amp; Barbuda. We understand that you were involved with the bill and its creation, are you happy with the outcome, what changes do you think will come in the future?</li>
</ol>
Yes, I am definitely happy with the outcome. Antigua&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation was inspired by the Bitcoin SV blockchain and has the potential to usher in a new era of safe, credible and regulated digital asset businesses coming together to foster economic innovation.&nbsp;
I say that the legislation has potential to revolutionize the economic landscape because, in order to take full advantage of the legislation to foster economic innovation, while ensuring safety and credibility, Antigua and Barbuda must only support technology and a platform that works within the existing and coming legal frameworks of the free world, which is only possible via the Bitcoin SV blockchain. Other platforms and technologies seek anonymity and attempt to enforce their beliefs through rebellion, as opposed to through legal mechanisms, which cannot be tolerated in a functioning society. The foundations of these other technologies and platforms enable criminals to violate the law with impunity, which would create a system in Antigua and Barbuda that not only creates unworkable businesses that do not comply with the law, but a system that would enable terrorist funding and other extremely serious crimes. The Bitcoin SV blockchain does not allow illegal activities in any form and would facilitate an honest system that would allow this innovative legislation to achieve its potential on a global stage.&nbsp;
In terms of innovation, I believe the future will be driven by the tokenization of everything, all assets, and that means real assets too, not just digital. Similar to my views above regarding choosing the right technology and platform, in order to maximize the opportunities presented by Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation, scaling and utility will be vital, which again is only possible on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. Other platforms do not scale and are focused on short-term results and fast money, which has created a market of worthless projects and tokens that have no utility other than pumping and dumping for profits, which has destroyed the personal wealth of honest people and will damage Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s economy. The Bitcoin SV blockchain is a massively scalable blockchain, with real utility, that will create a long-term and sustainable economy that has the potential to revolutionize the world.&nbsp;
Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s legislation lays the foundation but the Bitcoin SV ecosystem&nbsp;is what will allow Antigua and Barbuda and responsible businesses to realize the possibilities and opportunities of this innovative and unique network.
<ol start="2">
<li>How will the bill affect businesses in Antigua and do you think it will stimulate an industry for crypto currencies based businesses to operate from Antigua?</li>
</ol>
As mentioned above, to affect businesses positively, realize real economic value and ensure Antiguan businesses are rooted in credibility, we need to ensure growth is fostered through innovative, safe and credible technology, which is only possible through the Bitcoin SV ecosystem. If the wrong platform is used, the amazing potential of this Act will not be realized.&nbsp;
The legislation has the potential to significantly stimulate the Antiguan economy as it provides a complete structure to govern a wide range of digital assets, which is not easily found in other jurisdictions. The Act is also intended to foster adoption and innovation through regulations that will encourage and make it easier for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda to run responsible digital asset businesses, which will ensure we create a sustainable economic vision and future for Antigua and Barbuda.&nbsp;
We all need to do our part to ensure only the highest quality businesses are allowed to operate within our perimeter and the first line of defence is ensuring only businesses working within&nbsp;the Bitcoin SV ecosystem can take advantage of this valuable law. Not only will the Bitcoin SV platform uphold Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s reputation as a highly reputable jurisdiction, but it will solidify its reputation as a technological inspiration as only the Bitcoin SV ecosystem has the ability to scale and bring to fruition the full utility of the original Bitcoin protocol, and grow a system in which Bitcoin is used to change the world as Satoshi intended.&nbsp;
<ol start="3">
<li>Have you applied for your license under the bill? How was the process for you?&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Not only will I be applying for a license under the Act as soon as the regulations are finalized, but as part of my work with the government and as an Ambassador, Economic Envoy for&nbsp;Antigua&nbsp;and Barbuda, I feel it is my responsibility to bring reputable businesses to Antigua and Barbuda to help shape its future as the jurisdiction of choice for innovative and credible digital asset businesses. An example of one of these businesses is The Bayesian Group (Fabriik), a collective of companies operating in the fintech and digital asset market with a focus on solutions for a digital asset-based business world. It decided to build its businesses on the Bitcoin SV blockchain after evaluating other platforms, including, Ethereum, BCH and Litecoin, primarily due to the Bitcoin SV ecosystem's safety and security, low transaction costs and ability to scale, thus leaving the Bitcoin SV blockchain as the only viable and realistic base on which to build new and honest financial and exchange networks. Credible companies such as the Bayesian Group (Fabriik) will be vital to Antigua and Barbuda's growth as a global economic leader in the digital asset space.
<ol start="4">
<li>You have invested significantly in real estate projects in Antigua. What are your plans for the next five years with respect to those projects?</li>
</ol>
Ayre Group&rsquo;s state-of-art headquarters, Canada Place, is a sought-after multi-tenant office complex, which is home to our various pioneering technology companies. It is now fully functional and capable of housing several companies and up to 600 persons.
I&rsquo;ve just completed construction of my own home on the island, so now I am able to concentrate my efforts on the Ayre Resort luxury property brand. The first of several 5-Star Ayre Resort luxury properties around the world will be developed on the white sand beaches of Valley Church, on the verdant west coast of Antigua. Each Ayre Resort will offer guests thrilling moments in the Bodog Casino Club, relaxing beach clubs, world-class restaurants and a unique opportunity to enhance their lives by experiencing the Ayre Wellness Centre and Spa.
My hope is to attract visitors who are interested in experiencing the island&rsquo;s landscape and culture, as opposed to those who prefer spending their entire vacation in the confines of their hotel.
As Special Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, I fully support the Government&rsquo;s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island.
I strongly consider the island to be a prime location for high net-worth individuals to be able to live and work. It is my hope that others, especially knowledge-based experts, will in turn, be motivated to invest and contribute to the diversification of the workforce, through a transfer of knowledge. The recent passing of the Digital Assets Bill, again, provides significant scope for such knowledge and skills sharing.
With one of the focuses of the Ayre Group being Real Estate, I have the capability of providing first-class accommodation, fully equipped with high speed internet and nearby to convenient amenities and, of course, the beach.
<ol start="5">
<li>You have had an illustrious career in online gaming, crypto currency and now real estate projects, what does the future hold for Calvin Ayre?</li>
</ol>
My future is envisioned as a world I helped make a better place.&nbsp;
On the business front, I have always strived to play a pivotal role in developing industries that will benefit people and the economy. You may have noticed that I have a passion to grow and develop the Bitcoin SV landscape. As I see other platforms and technologies destroying global economic well-being, I will fight hard to develop an economy founded on innovation, honesty and doing things the right way, which can only be accomplished using the Bitcoin SV blockchain as an anchor. Part of this mission will be to continue to invest in companies that are contributing to a better world by growing the Bitcoin SV ecosystem.&nbsp;
As mentioned above, I am also focused on growing the economy of Antigua and Barbuda in other ways, such as through the development of a new resort that will focus on health and well-being.&nbsp;
With respect to my philanthropic efforts, I will maintain and strengthen my commitment to The Calvin Ayre Foundation, which continues to make a difference and ensure that we leave the world in a much better place than we found it.&nbsp;
<ol start="6">
<li>What advice would you give individuals who are interested in getting into or learning more about the industry?</li>
</ol>
To those interested in getting into or learning more about the industry, my advice is to avoid short-sighted platforms that damage economic and social welfare and instead educate yourself about the Bitcoin SV blockchain, as it is the original Bitcoin protocol and only platform that realizes Satoshi&rsquo;s intentions to transform our world.&nbsp;
<ol start="7">
<li>Where is your favourite place in Antigua and why?</li>
</ol>
My favourite area of the island is the entire west coast; from Pearns Point, south to Turners Beach. My home atop Ayre Estate Hill, has a breathtaking view of the entire area. You just can&rsquo;t beat the natural beauty, calm, warm Caribbean waters and the relaxing lifestyle.
For more information, visit <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://bitcoinsv.com/en</a> or <a href="http://www.ayre.group.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.ayre.group.com</a>

In the December 2020 issue of the Luxury Locations magazine (pages12-14), a stellar feature is presented on Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre; which includes his vision, his views on the super powers of Bitcoin SV and its utility, and his plans for the future. 

Calvin Ayre: How Bitcoin SV can help create a brighter future

calvin-ayre-how-bitcoin-sv-can-help-create-a-brighter-future

St. John&rsquo;s, Antigua: Thursday, August, 20, 2020: Imagine being able to choose between 365 beaches for your morning jog and then working while overlooking the ocean. 
These are just a few of the perks which anyone can look forward to, if they choose to reside in Antigua and Barbuda for up to two years. Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre, says he fully supports of the Government&rsquo;s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island. Details of the program will be launched on a dedicated government website shortly.
The idea behind this initiative is to grant eligible persons a special resident authorization that will be valid for up to two (2) years in the first instance. &nbsp;Antigua and Barbuda has successfully and impressively managed the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting infection and spread to comparatively very small numbers. &nbsp;Further, its reliable and fast telecommunications network offers a unique setting to work comfortably in an idyllic setting. &nbsp;All applicants would be subject to due diligence and COVID-19 pretesting. 
According to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that approximately 50% of &ldquo;information workers&rdquo; in the United States (US) are presently working remotely. Companies in Europe with a work from home policy are at a high of 88%, up from 4% that was reported prior to the health crisis. With many technology-based companies, such as Twitter, becoming more open to the decentralizing of their workforce, many are supporting employees in working from anywhere in the world.
Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s long-stay program will allow persons and their dependents to reside in Antigua, enjoy the ease of working from a &ldquo;COVID-controlled&rdquo;, luxury destination, and also be able to enjoy all the wonderful amenities that the island has to offer. &nbsp;
With one of the focuses of the Ayre Group being Real Estate, Ayre is ready to offer first-class accommodation, fully equipped with high speed internet and nearby to convenient amenities and, of course, the beach.
Having established his Ayre Group headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda, he strongly considers the island as a prime location for high net-worth individuals to be able to live and work. It is his hope that others, especially knowledge-based experts, will in turn, be motivated to invest and contribute to the diversification of the workforce, through a transfer of knowledge.
The recent passing of the Digital Assets Bill provides significant scope for such knowledge and skills sharing.
Digital Assets Bill
This Bill provides a framework for the establishment of digital assets companies in Antigua and Barbuda and improves the commercial prospect for existing local businesses.
These recent regulations provide an appealing environment for leading players and participants in the digital eco-system, as businesses will, in short order, be able to accept digital currency as a payment option.
Johnny Jaswal, General Counsel at The Bayesian Group, believes that the Antigua and Barbuda legislative framework hits the right balance of regulation and industry flexibility so companies can operate effectively.&nbsp; Governments will use Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation as a benchmark for how to bring safe, credible and regulated digital asset businesses together to foster economic innovation. &rdquo;
Roy Bernhard, CEO &amp; Chief Visionary of The Bayesian Group, added - &ldquo;We were impressed to see the Government of Antigua and Barbuda pass such progressive and well-rounded legislation. It is clear that much thought for, not only, the current digital asset business &amp; fintech industry, but also its many potential future uses, were taken into consideration.&rdquo;
Against this backdrop, Antigua and Barbuda offers the ideal remote-work solution.
&lsquo;Unplugging after work&rsquo;, will no longer be an issue, as persons will have enough motivation to step away from the desk and enjoy Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s rich recreational options. Get ready to #WorkWhereYouVacay.
About Ayre Group:
We are a global investment group that fund ground-breaking businesses and technologies. We invest in building ventures in real estate, blockchain technology, media, publishing, health &amp; wellness and travel &amp; leisure.
We build and support technology and businesses that break down barriers to entry, democratize opportunity, and positively enhance people&rsquo;s lives.
Visit: <a href="http://www.ayre.group" target="_blank" rel="&quot;noopener">www.ayre.group</a>.com
For more information&nbsp;contact: <a href="mailto:jamilla@ayremedia.com" target="_blank" rel="&quot;noopener">jamilla@ayremedia.com</a>

Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre, says he fully supports of the Government’s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island.

Calvin Ayre supports government’s long stay visa initiative and passing of Digital Assets Bill

calvin-ayre-supports-government-long-stay-visa-initiative-and-passing-of-digital-assets-bill

In the following article, Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre discusses plans for his upcoming wellness resort retreat and the exceptional experience it will offer. This article, that appeared on the <a href="https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvin-ayre-insulted-by-all-inclusive-resorts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antigua Newsroom</a> online portal, was published on June 15, 2020.
Billionaire Antiguan businessman Calvin Ayre says he is opposed to the &ldquo;all inclusive&rdquo; model of tourism in Antigua &amp; Barbuda.
Ayre was at the time speaking about his US$ 100 million investment in a wellness resort retreat at Valley Church Beach which he says will not be all inclusive because he disagrees with that model.
&ldquo;It will have everything and more but it absolutely won&rsquo;t be all inclusive,&rdquo; Ayre told a radio interview alongside Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Saturday.
&ldquo;I am fundamentally against all inclusives at every level, I think they are horrible experiences and I think they are bad for Antigua,&rdquo; Ayre said.
He added, &ldquo;I find them insulting as an Antiguan when I try to go use one of them and they say no to me.&rdquo;
Speaking of his own resort the businessman said, &ldquo;what I would like to do there is create a wellness community&hellip;the idea would be to bring people in here and introduce them to Antigua and have a fully functioning wellness retreat resort.&rdquo;
He said once completed it will be the best in the Caribbean.
&ldquo;The way I am anticipating doing it is going to be much more extreme on the medical wellness side of it more than anything that&rsquo;s in the region. It will be unique in the whole region,&rdquo; Ayre the Chairman of the Ayre Group said.
Apart from the resort the billionaire says he wants to bring other investments into Antigua &amp; Barbuda in the future.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, some of my plans are immature so I can&rsquo;t get into them right now but I do want to be part of creating some of the solutions to make the problems from the pandemic,&rdquo; he said.
Ayre said COVID-19 has given Antigua &amp; Barbuda and opportunity to diversify the economy.
&ldquo;I think on the tourism side the low-end tourism is not going to come back all that quickly and this is an opportunity to reset Antigua with no risk because the risk is upon us already by the pandemic.&rdquo;
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he accepts the recommendation to diversify not only tourism but other sectors.
&ldquo;And that is something our government is actively pursuing.&rdquo;

In the following article, Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre discusses plans for his upcoming wellness resort retreat and the exceptional experience it will offer. 

Calvin Ayre feels insulted by All Inclusive Resorts

calvin-ayre-feels-insulted-by-all-inclusive-resorts

There is no doubt that the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus pandemic gravely disrupted how businesses operate. In this article, we take a look at how the Ayre Group implemented their Work-From-Home policy, as a solution to the high level of lay-offs that some companies faced. Orville Williams of the <a href="https://antiguaobserver.com/ayre-group-pioneers-social-distancing-policy-to-combat-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antigua Observer</a> tells the story originally published on March 18, 2020.
 More than 100 employees of the Ayre Group have been told to work from home as the company &ndash; headed by the Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre &ndash; implements strategies to fend off the coronavirus.
The firm &ndash; headquartered at Canada Place in Woods &ndash; is taking the lead in the private sector, by enforcing a group-wide social-distancing, work-from-home policy, amid COVID-19&rsquo;s global spread.
The coronavirus had had a significant socio-economic impact worldwide since its inception and has escalated drastically, affecting both the public and private sector. In severe cases across the world, employees have been placed on unpaid, leave had their contracts suspended and even been laid off, as businesses struggle to cope with the impact of the virus.
The Ayre Group, however, is striving to both adhere to international health regulations and support its staff during the crisis. In a media release yesterday, the group explained that the policy will allow employees to work remotely &ndash; given their duties enable them to do so - in &ldquo;protecting the health and well-being of the employees operating in the building&rdquo;.
The company&rsquo;s media relations specialist, Jamilla Kirwan, explained how the decision was made.
&ldquo;We have the capabilities, within our group, to work from home. I know that not many companies have that kind of option and so, I&rsquo;m sure that many people are trying to figure out how they&rsquo;re going to manage staffing, children being home and that sort of thing.
&ldquo;A lot of our work, obviously, is electronic. You know, we&rsquo;re on emails (and) if we need a meeting, we do video-conferencing and so, we&rsquo;re basically just encouraging anyone who has that kind of capability to do the same,&rdquo; she explained.
Kirwan said the company had had a &ldquo;coronavirus-free&rdquo; bill of health among the employees and was actively practicing social distancing to keep it that way.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We have not had any cases of anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, however, we feel that one of the ways we could help to mitigate the spread of the virus is to teach people how to do social distancing.&rdquo;
&ldquo;With our over-100 employees, we thought this would be the best way to assist with the social side of things &ndash; having our people stay home, stay with their families and limit the amount of people coming into their homes,&rdquo; she said.
Additionally, the group announced that one of its subsidiaries &ndash; the Bodog Beach Club &ndash; will be temporarily closed until further notice, also to regulate the spread of the virus.
This temporary closure will not affect staff financially, however, as &ldquo;all employees within the Ayre Group, including: Bodog Beach Club, Calvin Air Helicopters and the Calvin Ayre Foundation, will continue to be paid during the period of social-distancing.&rdquo;

More than 100 employees of the Ayre Group have been told to work from home as the company – headed by the Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre – implements strategies to fend off the coronavirus. 

Ayre Group pioneers ‘social distancing’ policy to combat COVID-19

ayre-group-pioneers-social-distancing-policy-to-combat-covid-19

The impressive five-story, Canada Place located in St. John&rsquo;s, Antigua, is not only home to the Ayre Group&rsquo;s various pioneering technological companies but serves as a beacon of inspiration for its employees and Antigua on a whole. Dubbed &ldquo;The Greenest Multi-complex in the Caribbean,&rdquo; Canada Place is a highly sought-after office facility, capable of housing several companies and up to 600 persons. As the Ayre Group navigates this COVID-19 new normal, with gradual resumption of work from office, building occupants found it easy to return to this environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art facility. This article serves as a fitting throwback to the building&rsquo;s official opening in 2019. The article was written by Latrishka Thomas and published in the <a href="https://antiguaobserver.com/calvin-ayre-opens-most-impressive-building-on-the-island-deemed-a-modern-green-facility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antiguan Observer</a> on November 25, 2019.
&ldquo;This is now easily the most impressive building on the island, hands down. There is no other office complex on the island that could actually challenge Canada Place,&rdquo; Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Friday of the newly opened Canada Place.
Business mogul Calvin Ayre on Friday, opened his global headquarters, which he said &ldquo;shall be home for various pioneering technologies that, it is hoped, will make a significant impact on the economy of Antigua &amp; Barbuda.
&ldquo;In this regard, we have been steadily increasing our employment of Antiguan and Barbudan nationals and expect that our employment levels should approach 600 during 2020.&rdquo;
The five-storey building, which is located close to Woods Malls, is a modern green facility.
Local media relations representative for the Calvin Ayre Group, Anika Potter, described one of the major features in Canada Place as being &ldquo;our solar farm which is actually our car-park for our employees so they have covered parking and that I believe, transmits over 500 kilowatts of energy, so technically our building should be able to function solely on the solar farm, on solar energy&rdquo;.
She said another key feature is &ldquo;the fifth floor which is our employee lounge. It houses our indoor cafeteria, our outside eating area, a games room, our library for our staff to just be able to relax and just unwind.&rdquo;
The media representative also revealed that there are many other amenities within the complex that promote energy efficiency.
&ldquo;The building in and of itself is massive and when I say massive, I don&rsquo;t necessarily just mean in size. I mean in all of the amenities, all of our kitchenettes are equipped with coffee machines and bottle less water coolers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, what we&rsquo;ve done, instead of just using the regular water cooler with a bottle we do filtered water through a UV system and that is what our employees use to drink so we don&rsquo;t deal with water bottles. We are trying to have the building be able to operate on its own as well as minimizing our carbon footprint,&rdquo; she continued.
And, according to Ayre, &ldquo;greater reliance on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, will redound to the benefit of humanity. I, therefore, fully endorse the government&rsquo;s policy of seeking to transition from the use of fossil fuels to green energy. This magnificent complex is a symbol of this commitment to a pollution-free Antigua.&rdquo;
In addition, the building, a &ldquo;US $40 million investment into the Antiguan economy,&rdquo; is equipped with a day care and gym which Ayre said is meant to ensure that all of the employees feel appreciated.
&ldquo;We tried to create an environment where basically the employees feel valued. And I think in the presentation I made earlier (Friday evening) one of the statements that I made was about the fact that, unlike just about every other building I&rsquo;ve seen in my life, the executive suites aren&rsquo;t on the top floor.&rdquo;
Prime Minister Browne, in addressing attendees during Friday&rsquo;s opening ceremony, praised Ayre saying that &ldquo;unlike other exploiters we have a true partner in Calvin Ayre who is conjointly with the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda to ensure the advancement of this beautiful twin island state&rdquo;.
Calvin Ayre is a Canadian entrepreneur based in Antigua and Barbuda who founded the Ayre Group and Bodog entertainment brand and also manages other business entities on the island.
In 2000, Ayre launched online gambling company, Bodog, the success of which made him a billionaire and in Ayre&rsquo;s speech on Friday he credited the success to &ldquo;small but solid steps&rdquo; saying that &ldquo;the initial step taken by me in 2006 when I started business operations in Antigua has had several giant steps added to bring us to where we are today&rdquo;.

Business mogul Calvin Ayre, opened his global headquarters, which he said “shall be home for various pioneering technologies that, it is hoped, will make a significant impact on the economy of Antigua & Barbuda.

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