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Chris Joannou ๐
VP - Ecosystem Growth at Draper University with extensive experience in startups and venture capital
Chris Joannou is the Vice President of Ecosystem Growth at Draper University, a role he has held since February 2023. In this position, he focuses on global business development and partnerships, contributing to the university's mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley.123
Before joining Draper University, Joannou served as the Head of Marketing (International) at Draper Startup House, which is known for providing a global network for entrepreneurs. He has a diverse background in corporate innovation, B2B business development, brand strategy, and design, accumulating over 11 years of experience in the startup and venture capital space.123
In addition to his role at Draper University, Joannou is an investor at Startup Grind and Bevy, and he is the founder of DreamPushers, a community-focused initiative aimed at building a lifestyle brand in the crypto space. His work includes mentoring startups and helping brands scale their communities.12
Highlights
One of the core ethos that all Draper Ecosystem funds share is backing moonshots. Why? Because they have a ceiling that goes beyond what we can predict. We analyzed how one of Tim Draperโs early-stage investments has impacted the startup ecosystem. twitchTV (formerly known as JustinTV) began as a 'lifecasting' experiment. It has since transformed into an eSports empire - revolutionizing the entertainment industry.
Twitch.tv has 3 key impacts on the startup ecosystem:
Creator empowerment: creating new ways for people to generate revenue from content creation.
eSports Acceleration: supporting the professionalization of eSports. People can now viably make a living as a professional gamer
Startup Ecosystem Giants: The original founders now play an integral role in Silicon Valley Venture Capital, investing in the next generation of startups in addition to building more innovative companies of their own
Join me as we delve into the captivating journey of TwitchTV. Exploring its humble origins, explosive growth, and enduring legacy in the startup ecosystem.
โ At Draper University and the Draper Venture Network - we are big believers in Gaming. If you want to learn more about how we can help you accelerate your gaming startups letโs chat.
Justin Kan
DREAMPUSHERS Podcast Alert! ๐ ๐ฅ โ The Future of Entertainment with Mary Spio (CEEK VR INC) - Aerospace Engineer turned Metaverse founder! โ Proudly presented by Draper University and EtherMail
In this episode of DREAMPUSHERS, host Chris welcomes Mary Spio, the visionary behind CEEK, for an enlightening discussion on her remarkable journey from aerospace engineering to revolutionizing the entertainment industry. Mary shares insights into her upbringing, influenced by her entrepreneurial mother and attorney father, and her unconventional path through the Air Force and academia.
The conversation delves into the inception of CEEK, a platform at the intersection of virtual reality (VR) and blockchain, providing immersive experiences for concerts, sports, education, and more. The episode explores how CEEK's unique approach, blending Mary's expertise in satellite technology and streaming with a focus on everyday experiences, has positioned it at the forefront of the evolving landscape of VR, blockchain, and the future of digital content consumption.
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