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Crypto & Web3
Podcast Lesson
"Hire for domain passion, not just raw intelligence When asked for the worst advice he ever received as a founder, Justin Blau called out "just hire smart people — they'll figure it out," specifically in blockchain-adjacent products. His experience showed that "just hiring a great engineer and hoping to train them in the ways of crypto, unless they're truly passionate about crypto, it doesn't work" — because you need someone who uses the product to have the right cultural perspective. This applies beyond crypto: in any domain where authentic user empathy is a core product requirement, passion and personal experience in that domain should be a hiring filter alongside raw capability. Source: Justin Blau, a16z crypto podcast, Creator Economy & Crypto with Bond"
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Web3 with a16z crypto
Sonal Chokshi & a16z Team
"AI Is Changing the Internet. What Does It Mean for Creators? (with Justin and Michael Blau)"
⏱ 29:50 into the episode
Why This Lesson Matters
This insight from Web3 with a16z crypto represents one of the core ideas explored in "AI Is Changing the Internet. What Does It Mean for Creators? (with Justin and Michael Blau)". Crypto & Web3 podcasts consistently surface lessons that are immediately applicable — and this one is no exception. The timestamp link below takes you directly to the moment this was said, so you can hear it in context.