1.) Preferred Display Name and Age (If you do not want to enter your age, enter that you are above 21 years of age, which is the minimum)
Name: Ian
Age: 22
Social Media Handles
Twitter: @STWei8 - https://twitter.com/STWei8
Discourse: kj_chou -https://govern.iota.org/u/kj_chou/summary
Linkedin: Yi-Wei Lin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/y6l/
Discord: yl9507
Telegram: @jgnsll
2.) What motivates you to apply for this position?
Trained as a tech investor, I firmly believe that IOTA/Shimmer represents a promising use case of DLT that can be implemented on a massive scale for the public. It also aligns with the fat protocol theory, working from the top down, and the IOTA/Shimmer community is indeed amazing. I aim to assist IOTA/Shimmer in building up its application layer (such as DeFi, RWA, and blockchain-empowered products) and in gaining awareness to help IOTA get more closer relationship with corporate through initiatives like Corporate Branding and Tech Summits with my experience and expertise in the crypto space, leveraging the Shimmer community treasury.
3.) What is your educational and professional background?
Educational Background
- Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance) with Honours, Nanyang Technological University, 2020 - 2023
Web3/Crypto Background
- IOTA Builder & Friends and Become Contributor since 2020
During my high school years, I was part of the founding team for Turing Space, where we embarked on an ambitious project to create a global counter-fraud credential system using IOTA’s DLT. Our goal was to revolutionize identity verification through a worldwide passport and decentralized identity system. This initiative marked my introduction to IOTA, sparking my deep interest in understanding its mechanics and potential applications. Since 2020, our efforts have expanded across 10 countries and regions, issuing over 100,000 credentials on IOTA and collaborating with more than 70 government agencies, showcasing the scalability and versatility of this technology.
My journey continued at Nanyang Technological University, where I had the privilege of meeting Kowei, the Asia Ecosystem Lead for IOTA, in Singapore. Our discussions opened my eyes to further opportunities within IOTA and the innovative developments on its Shimmer platform. Our collaboration grew stronger over time, with regular discussions focusing on tech innovation and the DeFi ecosystems, exploring IOTA’s history, its current applications, and organizational structure.
In 2021, my career path led me to venture capital, where I gained valuable professional experience. Through Kowei, I met Charle, the founder of Bloom Wallet, deepening my understanding of the IOTA ecosystem and gaining insights into the developers and founders within the community. This experience ignited my passion for contributing more significantly to IOTA. Motivated by this, I joined Touchpoint, sharing my knowledge on “How VCs Evaluate Startups” through a speaking engagement in their Discord channel.
I am convinced of IOTA’s promising future and am eager to further contribute to the community’s growth, leveraging my insights and experience to ensure the effective use of capital and foster innovation within this vibrant ecosystem.
- DeFi Enthusiasm since 2020
I deeply studied DeFi before the 2021 bull run began. I tried the first version of DeFi protocols such as Aave, and Compound, and then shifted to the first generation of the BSC ecosystem, including PancakeSwap, Autofarm, and algorithmic stablecoins at that time. The more I used DeFi, the more intrigued I became, spending more time exploring different ecosystems. Although I didn’t run any community, I have collaborated with several Taiwanese communities for a couple of years and am keen to study the latest mechanisms in the industry. I would say I am eager to invest and participate in newly experimental DeFi protocols such as OHM, TIME, and so on. Currently, I am looking for dynamic option pools and restaking security sectors.
- Crypto Primary Market Actives since 2021
By spending more time in the crypto industry, I became fascinated with Coinlist (Launchpad) as well. It motivated me to study more about primary market protocols and investment funds and drove my involvement in the investment arm. Since then, I have contributed my knowledge to pure token funds, corporate venture capital, and Web2-focused venture capital. These experiences have equipped me with diverse perspectives when conducting investments and reviewing projects. I believe this can undoubtedly benefit the IOTA ecosystem and make the ecosystem continuously grow on the desirable path.
- Advisor in Designing Tokenomics and Business Plans since 2022
Having been involved in the primary investment industry for a while, I have realized that portfolio management and founder support are extremely important. Simultaneously, I spend more time guiding experienced Web2 founders into the Web3 industry by leveraging my industry know-how and connections. This is meaningful and also benefits me in terms of solidifying my Web3 expertise and establishing wider connections within the respected founder community. My advisory services usually include DeFi introduction, community building, legal establishment, and investor references.
Professional Background
- Head of Investor Relationships at Turing Space since Aug 2020
- Blockchain Analyst at Red Building Capital from Aug 2021 - Mar 2022
- DeFi Research at OTSO Finance Corp. from Sep 2021 - Present
- Investment Analyst (Blockchain) at Cobo Ventures from Jan 2022 - Oct 2022
- Advisor at Term Structure (DeFi Fixed Income Protocol) from Aug 2022 - Present
- Investment Analyst (Blockchain) at Bixin Ventures from Oct 2022 - May 2023
- Token Researcher at Old Fashion Research from Jun 2023 - Sep 2023
- Investment Analyst (Blockchain) at Openspace Ventures from Jan 2023 - Present
4.) What experience do you have relevant to this position (grant reviewer, Project manager, etc.)? Please describe
As previously articulated, my expertise encompasses experience in primary market investments, augmented by an advisory capacity that is poised to catalyze growth and unearth promising protocols within the ecosystem. Parallel to this, my entrepreneurial ventures, in Turing Space, as a founding member of startups, guiding them from inception through to Series A funding, stand as a testament to my comprehensive experience. This journey has endowed me with valuable insights and a deep understanding of the challenges and milestones faced by early-stage companies. I am keen to leverage this wealth of experience to contribute to the community, offering innovative perspectives and thorough evaluations in the grant review process, thereby enriching the ecosystem with fresh ideas and fostering its growth. My approach to problem-solving is rigorously thesis and research-driven, prioritizing empirical evidence and analytical depth over subjective impressions or untrackable records. As a seasoned DeFi enthusiast, having navigated through an array of Layer 1 and DeFi ecosystems, I bring to the table a profound understanding of how to evaluate application projects. This expertise allows me to discern their potential to enhance the Shimmer network by introducing innovations and economic value, thereby infusing new vigor into the ecosystem. Moreover, my tenure in corporate governance, particularly with a leading firm in the domain, equips me with the capability to offer well-grounded insights into governance processes, further enriching my contribution to Dao governance.
5.) Are you a software developer? If yes, please provide info on your skills and proof of the projects you already have built/worked on (Github, languages, certificates, etc.)
I am not a software developer, but I have spent considerable time on data analytics and on-chain data research in my leisure. In fact, I am at an intermediate level in Python and SQL, which I use for public investment and due diligence on private companies.
6.) Do you have affiliations that may cause a conflict of interest when reviewing applications? The community would like to know particularly if reviewers are involved with projects as a creator, on the board, or employed. Please list any projects or applications you have affiliations to.
Note: This will in no way prevent you from being elected to the position. It is the opposite. We seek experienced reviewers that are specialists in different industries. The reviewers with affiliations will not be able to review grants within their category; however, they will be great resources and act as subject matter experts.
- I will work for Openspace Ventures as a Web3 Investment Analyst for the next year
- I will work for Turing Space as an Investor Relationships for the next year
- I will work for Term Structures as an Advisor for the next year
7.) Are you willing to sign a legally binding service provider contract and reveal and verify your identity through a KYC process with the legal entity of the Treasury Committee?
Note: KYC is required for this position. If you are unwilling to KYC and sign a service provider contract, you will not be accepted to the Shimmer Community Treasury.
Yes - If yes, delete no and type statement: yes - I am willing to KYC and sign a service provider contract with the Shimmer Community Treasury.
8.) Can you commit 10 hours weekly on average to work as a grant reviewer for the Shimmer community over the next 12 months?
Yes - If yes, delete no and type statement: yes - I am willing and able to commit 10 hrs a week to the Shimmer Community Treasury.
9.) If you are voted in the top 2 reviewers, you may have the option to join the Growth Committee and work with the TEA representatives. In this case, you may be required to work hours over the required 10 hrs per week. Are you able to commit to this if required?
Yes - If yes, delete no and type statement: yes - I am willing and able to commit to the Growth Committee and the Shimmer Community Treasury if required.
10.) Are you willing to sign a service provider contract, including an NDA with the Tangle Ecosystem Association, and respect the Non-Disclosure Agreement if selected as a member of the Growth Committee? Breaking the Non-Disclosure Agreement may bring consequences financially and or legally.
Yes - If yes, delete no and type statement: yes - I am willing to sign a service provider contract and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). I absolutely will respect all binding effects within such agreement contracts.
11.) Provide any web links or supporting documentation you would like the community to see when assessing you for the Shimmer Community Treasury Grant Reviewer position.
Please review my research articles here.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1OtE9yO-0uxGw7nr8YoAlPgg_0OCLhZgk?usp=drive_link
12.) What is your long-term vision of the Shimmer Community Treasury? How do you see the Community Treasury affecting the Shimmer & IOTA ecosystem, and what does the Shimmer & IOTA Ecosystem look to you in three years?
IOTA/Shimmer represents a pioneering initiative that capitalizes on DLT to integrate real-world economic principles into its ecosystem, covering areas such as the IoT, big data, and digital identity verification. The ambition extends beyond catering to niche markets, aiming to influence significant global advancements and exert a profound impact on the wider public. IOTA/Shimmer is distinguished by its cutting-edge technology and robust, amiable networks with key stakeholders, essential for broadening its application scope. Nonetheless, the ecosystem currently faces a shortfall in native applications capable of meeting external demands, indicating a pressing need for a more robust developer community dedicated to creating innovative solutions.
The Shimmer Community Treasury emerges as a pivotal mechanism to address this gap, offering financial support to projects that are sufficiently motivated to focus on innovation and real-world value creation, without fostering an environment of complacency. By effectively aligning KPIs with grant allocations and maintaining diligent oversight, we can stimulate organic and exponential growth within the ecosystem.
Looking ahead, I am confident that IOTA/Shimmer will ascend to a premier position among Layer 1 solutions, characterized by a diverse array of application chains built atop its Tangle technology, leveraging IOTA for security or direct settlements. This will unlock the full potential of premier DLT technologies, positioning IOTA/Shimmer as the definitive solution in the DLT space and paving the way for widespread adoption across numerous applications.
- Yes