STARTUP PITCH

We’re committed to helping this innovative industry grow by offering support to startups and entrepreneurs. For the past two years more than 200 startups have benefited from this platform. Over 100 companies based in this dynamic and emerging sector will be selected to showcase their products and initiatives throughout the event. Each startup selected will have a 1x1m booth at the AIBC Summit. The selected 100 will also have the opportunity to be surrounded by top investors and mentors, being invited to lavish networking dinners as well as benefiting from online exposure. The Startup Pitch is only open to startup companies, meaning recently launched startups that aren’t supported by a public company. An independent panel of judges will select ten of the best companies and entrepreneurs to make it through to the Pitch during the final leg of the Summit. Taking part guarantees valuable insights and critical feedback from the judges although the prize package will give just one lucky startup a massive head start when it comes to expanding their business plans. Find out if you could be the next startup unicorn!

STARTUP? APPLY AT AIBC.WORLD

Selected 100 Startups

1x1m booth at the AIBC Summit including cost of printing and furniture

Meet top investors and mentors

Invitation to premium networking events during AIBC summits and throughout the year

Brand exposure across our publications

Winner Best 10 Startups

• Social media visibility through our websites

• Article in magazine + official photoshoot

• A free 2x2m booth at AIBC summit 2021, including printing & furniture cost

• Free consultancy and potential leads from leading industry veterans

• PR pack from AIBC

• SiGMA group will provide the VIP networking opportunities for you to connect to potential customers and/or investors

• Free co-working office space

• Title winner for best startup

3min Pitch + 3min Q&A on main stage in front of top investors

In this exclusive interview, blockchain pioneer Scott Stornetta shares his insights on the past, present, and future of blockchain technology. Interviewer Maria Debrincat offers readers a glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential figures in the industry.

Are you (or are you part of) Satoshi Nakamoto? If not, what does it feel like to be mentioned in Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin whitepaper?

I first became aware of the Bitcoin white paper not long after it was released because I received unsolicited letters and emails asking if I were Satoshi. Those queries suggested that I might be Satoshi because three of my scientific papers on time-stamping written with my collaborator Stuart Haber were cited by Satoshi and because I speak Japanese.

But, no, I am not Satoshi Nakamoto. Although many names are bantered about as being candidates for Satoshi, both Stuart Haber and I have agreed, as a matter of principle, to not speculate on matters related to the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. However, we are both happy that Satoshi had built upon our earlier work. By coupling the concept of an immutable record with money he was able to bring greater attention to our work. Although we did not agree with all of Satoshi’s engineering decisions, we have great respect for his coupling of our work with a financial system.

Looking back, did you ever think that your time-stamping invention would have had the impact that it has today?

Both Stuart and I always felt that our method was the proper way to assure the security of digital records. In fact, in 1990, I wrote, “the day may come when nearly every business document in the world will need to be time-stamped.” We assumed it was only a matter of time before all records were using this method.

Although we did envision a wide range of applications beyond business documents, we have been surprised by the great diversity and variety of applications.

What’s your say on the recent developments in the web3 space with the growth of industries such as DeFi, ReFi, GameFi, SciFi, etc...?

It has been interesting to see all the recent developments in the web3 space. Nonetheless, I think we are seeing a nascent industry that makes it easier to transfer value. And while now the use cases may seem trifling, they are a leading indicator of much more substantive uses going forward.

How do you think blockchains compare to DAGs (direct acyclic graphs) and other distributed ledger technologies?

I don’t think of DAGs (direct cyclic graphs) as being separate from blockchain. I consider them to be well within the blockchain universe, a variation on the same theme. DAGs are merely a question of trying to create more efficient ways of linking blocks.

What’s the future of AI and blockchain?

Not many people know that as a graduate student, I worked in AI and neural networks before Stuart and I wrote the papers that laid the foundation for blockchain. Needless to say, I have been following both AI and blockchain for decades.

I foresee both AI and blockchain continuing to thrive. Both will flourish. But these two areas do differ in the speed with which they will be fully integrated into our society. Blockchain requires a longer-term restructuring of current industries in order to make real gains in value creation. On the other hand, AI does not require restructuring within existing business structures to have an immediate impact. Over time I envision AI will also transform the industry by having a restructuring effect.

I know many people talk a lot about the overlap between AI and blockchain, because of AIs need for large amounts of data to analyse. But I don’t see that as much of a driver as others seem to think. Instead, blockchain uses small codes to register large amounts of data.

How do you think AIBC is contributing to the development of space?

Eman Pulis is a master at getting people to network. AIBC for several years has successfully brought together many different people involved in blockchain, AI, and other fields. I have enjoyed the opportunities to network with individuals from around the world and treasure the associations I have made.