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Yida Gao (Forbes 30 Under 30) founded Shima Capital, an early stage VC firm investing in disruptive crypto and Web3 companies. The fund is backed by Dragonfly Capital, Digital Currency Group, Tiger Global and other strategics (e.g. Huobi, ByBit, OKex, Animoca, Republic). Shima works closely with its founders to hire talent, build community/product, fundraise, and amplify their narratives. Yida formerly worked as a technology investor at NEA, a $25Bn+ AUM VC, and M&A banker at Morgan Stanley. He graduated from MIT (math/cs) and dropped out of Stanford GSB. He teaches the 15.492:Crypto Finance course every spring semester at MIT. 

10+ years of experience in finance, investments and technology. Previous to Chiron, Sean was Director at Diginex, a NASDAQ-listed digital assets exchange, and Diginex Solutions, its sister company that focuses on blockchain ESG solutions. Prior to this, he was Vice President at Cantor Fitzgerald, the global investment bank, specializing in APAC structured finance and special situations financing. Sean is also an early investor and advisor to multiple gaming companies including Talon Esports, Insights.gg, and Altava. 

Sven Oud is a seasoned business strategy expert and veteran in business development. He began his career at RTL, Europe’s largest broadcaster, overseeing international sales. Transitioning to entrepreneurship, Sven founded his own international media agency before venturing into online media trading and networks. His entrepreneurial journey also included ownership of a worldwide payment processing company. Three years ago, Sven successfully sold his ventures and has since become an active angel investor, leveraging his expertise to support promising startups. 

Michael Gord is a serial entrepreneur, with 3 exits and 4 acquisitions, and investor, with 70+ portfolio companies (4 seed stage to unicorn) in Web 3.0, who has focused on the mainstream adoption of digital assets full time since 2013.

Brian co-founded Grinding Gear Games and guided their flagship and award winning game: Path of Exile. Path of Exile was acquired by Tencent in 2018. Brian is also a former Magic Pro Player. From mid 1994 to 1999, Weissman was among the most recognized and respected professional players of Magic: The Gathering and he appeared on ESPN 2 to provide play by play commentary for a number of Pro Tour top 8 and World Championships broadcasts. 

Germaine Gioia and Playlife Company work with premier content holders, experienced digital game and technology developers, and proven manufacturers and distributors, connecting them and creating strategies that maximize their potential in the on and offline worlds. Playlife focuses on creating branded console, PC, and mobile games, as well as developing licensed merchandise across categories, and delivering global distribution solutions – enabling consumers to play what they love in life. Playlife has a long history of introducing proven interactive developers with relevant, top-tier brands to facilitate innovative, license-driven content. The company represents a variety of preeminent properties, digital developers, manufacturers, and distribution platform solutions, including Dorna Sports’ MotoGP; Play Mechanix’ Big Buck Hunter; Masked Republic’s roster of esteemed Mexican luchadores, and related content; the diverse talent and fast growing league of Major League Wrestling (MLW); Chuck Norris; blockchain-based technology and metaverse platform, Virtua; globally distributed KESS Co. and Blacklist board games, outdoor toys and puzzles; Fanroll premium gaming dice; limited edition NERDS Clothing; and more. Germaine has made her career in the interactive and licensing space, identifying lifestyle trends — in film, TV, sports, toys, and fashion — and then negotiating and overseeing their evolution across game and merchandise platforms. Prior to founding Playlife, Germaine headed business development and licensing efforts for global game publishers THQ and Capcom Entertainment, securing premier properties from Lucasfilm, Disney/Pixar, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Sanrio, Saban, the WWE, MotoGP, NFL, MLB, NBA, Nickelodeon. Marvel, and others for development in the interactive space. She also led merchandising partnerships for THQ and Capcom’s broad portfolio of renowned original content. Germaine holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Germaine is a member of Women in Games International; Women in Toys (WIT); Licensing International (formerly LIMA). 

Sven Römer is the Founding Partner of BlockFo Blockchain Forensics (blockfo.eu) and an expert in Cryptocurrency and Blockchain investigations. With over eight years of experience as an entrepreneur in the Blockchain sector, he is dedicated to enhancing market safety and supporting victims of financial crimes. At BlockFo, he leads a team of analysts specializing in tracking, tracing, and recovering digital assets, serving accountants, legal teams, and law enforcement agencies. In his free time, Sven develops systems to enhance team performance based on the latest research, aiming to create effective, purpose-driven teams. 

Tony has decades of business development and management experience in valuation (business and real estate, etc.) and property consulting services in the Greater China region. He has been involved in projects such as IPO, M&A, fundraising, restructuring and financial reporting. Tony also has experience in managing an international property consulting firm in China and serving a global surveying professional body for the Asia region.

Kirk Furniss is an Emmy-nominated multiple award winning Sound EFX designer and Music Producer, operating out of Vancouver BC, Canada. He has been producing SFX for over 20 years on some of the most successful children’s shows of the time including Reboot, Beast Machines, My Little Pony, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Carmen San Diego, Johnny Test, and many others. ‘Capt Kirk’ has worked on music with artists as diverse as Steven Segal, to the Irish Rovers, Buddy Miles, to John Riechsman, Carol Burnett to Craig Smart, Randy Bachman to David Usher. Mr. Furniss is also the chief product designer and director of FKN Inc, a Canadian beverage company.