253: Polyhedra’s Eric on Scaling Secure AI with ZK Proofs and Real-Time ML Verification
Eric from Polyhedra joins Sam Kamani to unpack how zero-knowledge proofs are redefining interoperability, AI verification, and developer tooling. They dive into the launch of ZK PyTorch, EXP Chain, and how verifiable AI could become the new standard for trusted machine learning. If you’re building with LLMs, exploring trustless infrastructure, or care about blockchain security—this episode is for you.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam welcomes Eric from Polyhedra and previews the conversation on ZK proofs, AI, and Web3.[00:01:00] Polyhedra Origin: Eric shares how he met the team while working at LayerZero and why he joined the project.[00:02:30] The Problem with Bridges: Why Polyhedra’s ZK-based approach makes interoperability more secure.[00:04:00] What is Expander?: A fast, scalable ZK proof system designed for real-time verifiability.[00:06:00] ZK PyTorch: Turning any PyTorch model into a verifiable model in minutes.[00:08:00] Verifiable AI Use Cases: Why financial applications like agents handling payments need proof-backed AI.[00:10:00] Developer Workflow: How easy it is to integrate ZK PyTorch into existing machine learning pipelines.[00:13:30] ZKML Festival & Community: Polyhedra’s push to educate AI developers on trust-minimized systems.[00:15:30] Marketing Advice: Eric’s background in content-driven growth, and why domain-specific content still wins.[00:19:30] EXP Chain: Polyhedra’s new L1 for verifying ZK proofs cheaply and efficiently on-chain.[00:23:30] The Future of Verifiable AI: The team’s goal to bring sub-second ZK proofs to large language models.[00:25:00] Call to Action: How developers, users, and founders can get involved with Polyhedra’s ecosystem.Connecthttps://www.polyhedra.network/https://x.com/PolyhedraZKhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/polyhedrazk/https://x.com/vreelandhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/evreeland/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
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252: How Sapien is Empowering the AI Gig Economy with Blockchain and Real Rewards, with Ben Noble from Sapien
How do you power the next generation of AI — without centralized data monopolies?In this episode, I talk with Ben Noble, Marketing Director at Sapien, about how Sapien is building the world’s first decentralized data foundry — rewarding people for training AI and contributing real-world data.We cover:How Sapien is combining Web3 incentives with AI data collectionWhy real human input still matters for AI trainingBen’s best advice for marketing Web3/AI startupsStorytelling strategies for foundersHow to simplify complex ideas and drive viral messagingIf you’re building in AI, Web3, or growth marketing, this episode is packed with practical insights you can use immediately.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces the episode and previews key topics: AI, Web3, storytelling, and startup growth. [00:01:00] Ben’s Journey: How Ben got started in AI, left for Web3, and came full circle. [00:04:00] What Sapien Does: Decentralized data foundry explained — sourcing human expertise to train AI. [00:06:00] How It Works: How users earn rewards by contributing data to Sapien’s platform. [00:09:00] Customers and Use Cases: Sapien’s partnerships with enterprises like Alibaba, the UN, and others. [00:13:00] Safeguards: How Sapien prevents bots and fake data submissions. [00:15:00] Why Human Data Still Matters: The limits of AI and the need for human empathy and diversity. [00:19:00] Growth Strategies: Ben shares why partnerships and referrals outperform traditional marketing. [00:22:00] Web3 vs Web2 Marketing: The importance of authenticity, speed, and viral one-liners. [00:27:00] Future of AI: Will we see iterative improvements or major leaps? Ben’s perspective. [00:30:00] Storytelling Lessons: Why contextualizing numbers is crucial for effective messaging. [00:36:00] What’s Next for Sapien: Growing to 1M+ taskers and scaling the AI gig economy. [00:39:00] How to Get Involved: Sapien is closing their Series A and looking for users to join their data platform.Connecthttps://game.sapien.io/https://www.linkedin.com/company/playsapien/https://x.com/playsapienhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminmnoble/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
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251: From Bots to Breakthroughs — Bandit Network’s Plan to Reinvent Web3 Growth
How do you grow a Web3 startup without falling into the same old traps — airdrops, bots, and unsustainable hype?In this episode, I speak with Sandesh, founder of Bandit Network, who shares how they’re building growth infrastructure for Web3 — combining off-chain and on-chain data, enabling sustainable campaigns, and even launching their own rollup for deeper integrations.We explore:Why airdrops and point systems often failHow meme launchpads are evolving into engagement toolsMapping Twitter usernames to wallet addressesGrowth lessons from powering campaigns for Bonk, Brave, and ShardeumIf you care about Web3 user acquisition, retention, and real community-led engagement — this one's for you.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam sets up the episode and introduces Sandesh from Bandit Network. [00:01:00] Bandit Overview: Sandesh explains what Bandit does and how his journey from AI to Web3 began. [00:04:00] Early Web3 Involvement: Sandesh shares how his AI-powered creator startup was acquired and how that led to Bandit. [00:06:00] The Problem with Growth Tools: Why airdrop tools failed and how Bandit builds Lego-like infrastructure for campaigns. [00:09:00] Trends in Growth: Why meme launchpads are evolving into community engagement tools. [00:13:00] Meme Campaign Example: How one community uses roasts and meme voting as engagement loops. [00:15:00] Airdrops vs Bots: Sandesh explains how Bandit uses tools like Proof of Humanity and Bitcoin Passport to combat sybil attacks. [00:18:00] Challenges and Monetization: Bandit’s biggest challenge is staying trend-adaptable; revenue is SaaS + custom token deals. [00:21:00] What’s Next: Bandit is launching a rollup protocol for mapping Web2 identities to Web3 wallets. [00:24:00] The Bigger Vision: Building a decentralized growth protocol with support from QuickNode. [00:25:00] Fundraising: Bandit is raising $3–4M in their current seed round. [00:26:00] Closing Thoughts: Sam recaps why Bandit solves a real and pressing pain point in Web3 growth.Connecthttp://bandit.network/https://x.com/OnBndithttps://www.linkedin.com/company/onbndit/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeshbsuvarna/https://x.com/sandeshsuvarnaDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
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250: Meme Coins with a Mission: Neiro’s Journey from Rug Pull to Global Community
What happens when a meme coin gets rugged—and the community takes over?In this episode, Sam chats with S from Neiro, the community takeover lead, to explore the real mechanics behind meme coin takeovers, the evolution of the Neiro project, and how it became the spiritual successor to Dogecoin.From Vitalik-backed donations to exclusive IP licensing and thoughts on political meme coins like TrumpCoin and Milady, S shares what it takes to build a decentralized movement in a chaotic crypto market.They also dive into the current state of macroeconomic uncertainty, how meme coins can bridge to real-world products, and why community contributors matter more than token holders.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces S from Neiro and sets the tone for a deep dive into community-led meme coins.[00:01:00] Neiro Origins: S shares how he stumbled into Neiro after a developer rugged and the community took over.[00:03:00] What Is a Community Takeover?: S explains how decentralized contributors rebuild abandoned tokens.[00:07:00] Decentralization & Purpose: Why meme coins can create meaning and a sense of belonging.[00:09:00] Charity & Vitalik's Donation: How Neiro caught Vitalik’s attention and began its mission-led narrative.[00:11:00] IP Rights & Real-World Utility: S talks about exclusive Neiro licensing and monetization ideas like NFTs and pet food.[00:15:00] Meme Coins vs Political Tokens: Thoughts on TrumpCoin, Millennia, and the extractive nature of some meme trends.[00:20:00] Timing in Crypto: Why meme coin success (or failure) often depends on timing.[00:27:00] DeFi x Meme Coins: Can meme tokens integrate into lending, staking, and other financial products?[00:31:00] Dealing with Volatility: S shares mindset tips for surviving crypto market swings as a leader.[00:35:00] The Global Market Chaos: Thoughts on current macro uncertainty and political influence on the markets.[00:39:00] Final Ask: S encourages contributors to join Neiro’s mission—not just as investors, but as builders.Connecthttps://x.com/neirohttps://www.neiroeth.io/https://t.me/ETHNEIROCTODisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
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249: Building Web3’s First Gaming Franchise: Frank Cheng on Apeiron, DoodiPals & Beyond
Frank Cheng, founder of Apeiron and DoodiPals, joins Sam to unpack four years of building in Web3 gaming. From raising three funding rounds to building an entire gaming franchise, Frank shares practical lessons on tokenomics, community building, and how to retain real players. Learn why most Web3 games fail and how to fix them, what role AI will play, and why "fun" is the best utility of all.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Frank Cheng from Apeiron and DoodiPals.[00:01:00] Frank’s Background: From private equity to gaming founder.[00:03:00] Fundraising Journey: Raising 3 rounds and migrating to Ronin.[00:05:00] Web3 vs. eSports: Monetization struggles and similarities.[00:09:00] Tokenomics: Apeiron’s dual-token model and real utility.[00:11:00] Mobile Strategy: Expansion across SEA and Latin America.[00:13:00] Retention: DAU strategies, off-season drops, and incentives.[00:15:00] Community: How Frank built lasting connections on Discord.[00:18:00] Duty Pals: The IP and content strategy behind the Apeiron universe.[00:20:00] Future Trends: Web3 onboarding friction and AI’s potential.[00:23:00] Generative AI: Challenges, copyright, and training game agents.[00:28:00] Roadmap 2025: Memes with fundamentals, new token layers.[00:30:00] Inspirations: What Axie Infinity and Big Time get right.[00:32:00] Evolving Tokenomics: Why vesting by usage beats time-based unlocks.[00:35:00] Founder Reflections: What Frank would do differently.[00:38:00] Final Ask: Looking for investors, talent, and community partners.Connecthttps://apeironnft.com/https://x.com/ApeironNFThttps://www.doodipals.com/https://x.com/DoodiPalshttps://x.com/FrankTChenghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/franktcheng/DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
"Web 3.0 with Sam Kamani" is all about Web 3 and how it is going to change the world.
If you are interested in learning more about the 4th Industrial revolution then this podcast is for you.
Web 3.0 or Web 3 is often hailed as the technology that will usher in the 4th industrial revolution.
This revolution is going to affect every industry, business, government and person on this planet. Web 3.0 is a collection of technologies that are going to change how we collaborate with each other and interact with our environment.
Let's uncover the opportunities and risks of the new version of Web.
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