DLT Fridays | #2 | The Interplay of Identity and Privacy
DLT Fridays | Every Friday 9am ET | 6am PT | 2pm CET | 10pm HKT | Your weekly dosage of everything DLT brought to you by co-hosts James...
Founded in 1996, PALcapital is a merchant bank focused on advising and investing in digital businesses globally with offices and partnerships in New York, Oslo, San Francisco, Miami, Beijing, London, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires. The firm's specialty is early stage advisory, investments, exit strategies and M&A. Since inception, PALcapital has financed, invested in and sold over 50 companies in the digital, internet, wireless and mobile media, technology and communications businesses.
Staying ahead of the next quantum shift, PALcapital is now focused on Distributed Ledger Technology and businesses that are leveraging the digitization of information and value. We are guided by the core belief that decentralized, open innovation will determine the future of asset ownership, business services, social and economic cooperation and capital formation. We work with founders, CEOs, and shareholders to create value for all stakeholders through the execution of strategic business development and transactions.
James has been at the forefront of the global emerging markets Merchant Banking, Investment banking and venture capital industries for over 30 years, focusing on product-market fit, business development and liquidity strategies for early-stage disruptors and investors.
He has been an advisor to over 100 venture-backed and blockchain-based entities and is the founder of PALcapital, as well as:
Founder, StartupHubNYC
Co-founder, CryptoOracle
Co-Founder, CryptoMondays
Co-Founder, ClimateCoin
Co-Founder, NXTPLabs
Co-Founder, Condo.com
In 2011, James launched the PALgenesis Fund which is now in harvest mode having made 8 investments in internet startups as the initial investor. Co-investors in PALgenesis companies include: Sequoia, US Venture Partners, Stanford University, Google, UPS, Amazon, Box Group, Jerry Yang (Yahoo) and Pantera. PALgenesis is expected to return a 30% IRR over the life of the fund.
Prior to PALcapital, James was MD of Asian Investment Banking in HK for Bear Stearns and was the MD of Latin American Equity Capital Markets at INGBarings, and founder and MD of Emerging Markets Investment Banking at Furman Selz.
After spending nearly a decade working in an array of roles within banking and bringing products from ideation to commercialization and across the product lifecycle, Jane has had extensive experience in marketing, operations, product and business development and customer acquisition. She has worked with executives, entrepreneurs and service providers at all levels and across different industries.
Since moving to the States two years ago, Jane has been working with vetted companies to build out their brand and presence globally and through various applications and strategies.
Jane is an extraordinaire networker and currently leads Global Development and Partnerships at PALcapital. She is also an advisor to several emerging tech companies.
Steve has over 25 years of comprehensive experience in the areas of business management, venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, business development. He has worked with many start-ups and emerging growth companies, started several successful ventures and have served both private and public companies at the CEO, COO and Director level. Steve has extensive knowledge and practical experience in starting a business, taking it to market and making the business profitable.
In addition, he has spent over 10 years doing business in China and Hong Kong working with companies in the real estate development, commercial construction, environmental, and technology sectors in Asia.
Most recent Experience:
Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of CasperLabs;
Co-Founder and General Partner at Reflective Venture Partners