Octant

This week, we'd like to introduce you to Marta Brewer, Octant's Commucations Officer! ✨ ⭐ Marta, what do you do at Octant? At Octant, I help with our comms. I’ve written posts for our blog, done interviews with people who work in the space and taken care of our socials (I’m the one posting here on LinkedIn, hi!). I love that this means collaborating with the whole team. I also get to explore and experiment with the ways in which we communicate what’s important to us as a project. Creative freedom is something that’s very much alive at Octant. ⭐ What’s your favourite thing about what we’re building? I think it’s the fact that we’re creating a place where great ideas can flourish. There’s nothing better than the satisfaction you get when you know you’ve been able to play even the smallest part in the journey of something that’s making the world better. ⭐ What’s the best thing you’re read/watched recently? I recently read the essay by British mathematician G. H. Hardy called “A Mathematician’s Apology”. It offers an insight into the mind of a very interesting human and shines a light on the beauty of mathematics. I think it’s quite moving in a way. ⭐ What are you currently listening to on repeat? I’m completely and utterly obsessed with Maruja’s new EP called “Connla’s Well”. It’s an incredible concoction of punk, harsh noise, with strong jazz influences. Also, this Jazz Jamboree performance commemorating Krzysztof Komeda from 1994 is something I’ve been listening to while working and studying - https://lnkd.in/dNKaQDWY.

"Right now we are at this point where because of the network effects and the market changes in the emerging of new technologies, a lot of tech companies have enormous capital. These are the dragons of the tech space and they need to recognise their responsibility and take action to move in the positive direction." 🐉 By leveraging the substantial resources responsibly, these dragons can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future. 💫 Watch Artem's full talk from BlockSplit via the link in the comments 👇

When it comes to #web3, it's always good to ask questions. 🤔 Are you someone who doesn’t plan on going into the developer-side of web3? There’s a good chance you don’t need to go into the technical side of things too deep. 🤖 Of course, it’s very interesting and makes you appreciate everything more. But there’s no shame in accepting there are certain things you just don't have enough time to grasp! That’s what collaboration is for - complementing each other’s knowledge. Feeling defeated by complex ideas is an understandable occurrence, but it’s one that only prevents us from exploring it, the only thing that can actually offer knowledge about it. 🤝 Do you have any other advice for people who might be starting their journey in web3?

You've heard of Dungeons and Dragons... but what about Degens and Dragons? 🐉 ✨ Watch Octant's Artem B. describe the challenges of sustainable public goods funding in the current crypto landscape and the ways Octant is addressing it: https://lnkd.in/dKKHK2PD

This week, we'd like to introduce you to Mattias Nyström, Octant's Partnership Officer! ✨ ⭐ Mattias, what do you do at Octant? At Octant, I focus on partnerships, particularly managing relationships with project representatives who apply for funding. My responsibilities include overseeing the submission process, updating documentation, gathering feedback, and liaising with representatives. Additionally, I engage in community activities such as organizing online calls and offering office hours for one-on-one consultations. ⭐ What’s your favourite thing about what we’re building? I like that there’s such a large variety of projects, it makes it interesting to learn about each one when they apply. Categories of projects include DeSci, climate, open source software / DApps, Universal Basic Income (UBI), Education, and web3 community building. I also like that there’s already a significant number of users and TLV so early on in Octant’s progress, it’s great for getting feedback. Also, it’s nice that Octant gives out funding to public good projects that need it! ⭐ What’s the best thing you’re read/watched recently? I just saw "Challengers" and really got into it. It’s this movie that mixes tennis, love, and all sorts of relationship drama. The main character, Tashi, is kind of a handful—really narcissistic and super manipulative, which honestly made it pretty gripping to watch. ⭐ What are you currently listening to on repeat? Nothing at the moment, though I live right next to a main road, train tracks, and a lake. So I’m listening to a balance of cars, trains, and waves, on repeat. A bit of a blend of natural and urban sounds.

The world of Web3 is vast! 😍 This is great, but... how do I find my place? 🤔 Blockchain is not only revolutionary, but also - just like everything we create - based on our needs and preferences, and often it’s simply an upgraded reflection of the world we are already familiar with. So if you ❤️: 🔬 then you might love the science of protocols. 📈: then you might love the economics of crypto. 🎨 then you might love the art of NFTs. 🏛 then you might love the politics of blockchain governance. 🌐 then you might love DAOs - and a plethora of ideas on how to bring all manner of human activities and needs into the decentralised space. So start with what interests you already and see how that’s being already explored in the web3 space or if perhaps there’s room for coming up with novel ideas! ✨

Yay, it's Friday! Time to meet James Kiernan, Octant's Head of Community! ✨ ⭐ James, what do you do at Octant? I wear a handful of hats, but most of my time is spent either engaging directly with our community and potential community members, or building programs that will foster community growth. ⭐ What’s your favourite thing about what we’re building? What I love most about what we are building is being able to participate in such a collaborative and intelligent ecosystem. Funding underserved areas, exploring new funding models, and being able to be a part of this large experiment many of us are working on is so much fun. ⭐ What’s the best thing you’re read/watched recently? Best thing I've read in the last 6 months has been "The Romance of Reality" by Bobby Azarian. ⭐ What are you currently listening to on repeat? Music wise, I'm all over the place. Thievery Corporation finds itself playing a lot on Spotify. I also find myself watching this from time to time: https://lnkd.in/gfyrFG5x

Exciting news, folks! 🎉 ✨ We’re launching the first round of our Octant Community Fund ✨ We’ve got 50 ETH available in grants funding for 3 categories: 🔨 Tools + Integrations Grants (≈ 15 ETH) We want Octant to be more accessible + functional. We’re funding the creation of new tools or enhancements to existing ones that make it easier for users to interact with Octant, submit proposals, or track funding outcomes. 📈 Marketing + User Acquisition Grants (≈ 20 ETH). We’re funding initiatives that will bring new users to Octant. If you're a marketing/growth whizz, apply! We're funding: - Development + execution of marketing campaigns - Community engagement initiatives - Educational content - Research 💚 Public Goods Community Collab Grants (≈ 15 ETH). We're funding community rounds and collabs. Earlier this year, we had two incredible rounds with SheFi + GreenPill.Network. If you’ve got an engaged community interested and want to run a grants round with us, consider applying! These categories represent the key challenges + opportunities we’re looking to actively support, to grow Octant and our PGF ecosystem. Find more details via the link in the comments! ⬇

Been well over a decade since I was last in Texas. Looking forward to being back again-- this time to talk about all things grants + public goods at Consensus in a few weeks. Hit me if up if you'll be there. My sesh is on Friday afternoon/31st May. #Consensus2024

Looking for a good read to start off the week? 📚 ✨ In his latest post Vitalik Buterin looks at the delicate balance between decentralization and efficiency, highlighting the trade-offs inherent in both fully decentralized and semi-centralized systems. ⚖ He emphasizes that while decentralization is a core principle, it should not be pursued blindly. 👀 Check out Vitalik's post: https://lnkd.in/d6Nebk6m