Who Are These "Serious People"?
Serious People is an advisory and analytics company dedicated to accelerating positive change within the crypto industry. As passionate DeFi builders, we recognize that there are significant challenges within our space. Too often, projects rush to launch tokens without a clear business plan or understanding of their token utility. This leads to rampant token emissions and concerns about hyperinflation, undermining long-term sustainability. Additionally, activities like liquidity mining, airdrops, and yield farming are often pursued without careful consideration of their efficacy and the actual return a project receives (or lack thereof). Many projects also opt for centralized exchanges instead of keeping their token and liquidity on-chain. The great thing is, all of this can easily be avoided, setting you up for a much higher likelihood of success. We are here to challenge the status quo and help projects avoid these common pitfalls.
Our goal is to help our industry be taken, well, more seriously. We (including you, if you join us) are founders, entrepreneurs, TradFi ditchers, smart, efficient, serious builders.
Our ultimate dream is for Serious People to be a large ecosystem you can plug into to receive streamlined help on a number of services all centered around letting founders focus more on building their product and less on all the other complications that come with building in web3. As it stands, we are currently tackling two major challenges; firstly, helping projects better understand their business model, how their token fits into it, and how to ensure that their token is fully healthy and liquid on chain,and secondly, assisting projects in cross chain expansion and securing grants to deploy or grow on new chains.
We have a standard process to help you get a handle of your business model, token economy, emissions and liquidity. Additionally we work with a number of vetted partners for whatever support you may need. We are an efficiency play. We can save you hundreds of hours of time and multiple percentages of your total token supply. All you gotta do is come talk to us, plug in, trust our process and watch the value we can add.
Meet the Team
Ian
Ian, graduated Summa Cum Laude in Mathematical Finance from Seton Hall University. He began his career in traditional corporate finance and accounting at CNA Insurance after college, gaining valuable insights into basic business operations. Transitioning to Financial Institutions Underwriting after one and a half years, he managed hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance capacity, including pioneering the extension of capacity to various blockchain risks for entities like Coinbase, a16z, Sequoia Capital, and Silvergate Bank. After mastering underwriting and immersing himself in crypto during nights and weekends, Ian pivoted to become a DeFi Product Manager at a web3 startup, leading to the successful deployment of a lending network on Ethereum. Subsequently, he co-founded a DEX during the 2021 bull market, which reached a peak TVL of $750M and operated successfully for close to 2.5 years. Serious People was co-founded as a result of all the knowledge and experience gained from working in the web3 industry, to bring this methodology and experience to as many protocols and people as possible.
Taylor
Taylor Pedde, co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer at Serious People, brings a dynamic blend of educational leadership and hands-on business experience to the forefront of web3 innovation. Graduating with a BS in Secondary Education, Communication Arts after studying at a University of Toronto affiliate leadership training school (2012-2014) by furthering his studies in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2014-2017), Taylor initially channeled his skills into teaching high school English. Simultaneously, he honed his interpersonal and problem solving skills by working in fine dining as a server and bartender. With the onset of the 2020 pandemic, Taylor shifted his career trajectory drastically, diving deep into the realms of traditional and decentralized finance while embracing a nomadic lifestyle in a van with his fiancée, now wife, Violet–and their dog, Maggie. His relentless pursuit of knowledge combined with his adaptability led him to a major decentralized exchange (DEX), where he began as a Business Development Associate. Taylor's exceptional communication skills and work ethic rapidly propelled him through the ranks, culminating in a leadership role co-heading the business development team. Here, he not only spearheaded major partnerships but also played a crucial role in steering the DEX towards a new business model focused on sustainability and composability. The foundation of Serious People was a natural progression for Taylor, encapsulating his life-long "people-first" philosophy and extensive web3 industry experience. As CBDO, he ensures that all client and partner interactions are tailored to their unique needs, leveraging his comprehensive understanding of the industry's diverse verticals. Taylor's leadership is instrumental in guiding Serious People through the ever-evolving landscape of decentralized finance, fostering growth and innovation.
Keith
Keith Carlino serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Serious People, where he skillfully blends an entrepreneurial spirit with a profound mastery of decentralized finance (DeFi). A graduate of Seton Hall University with a degree in finance, Keith initially applied his knowledge by running a small business for four years. This foundational experience in navigating business dynamics and financial management seamlessly transitioned into his role in the rapidly evolving DeFi sector. His tenure in DeFi includes over four years of experience, highlighted by a significant leadership role as the Head of Business Development at a major decentralized exchange. During his leadership, the exchange reached a landmark $750 million in total value locked, demonstrating his capability to drive substantial growth and development under challenging market conditions. At Serious People, Keith continues to pioneer innovative strategies and foster robust development. His strategic initiatives are crucial for navigating the firm through the complex DeFi landscape, ensuring growth and sustainable innovation. Keith’s expertise and strategic approach not only shape the firm’s success but also contribute to defining the future of finance in the web3 space.
Gonz
Gonzalo, with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina, has always had a keen interest in sustainability and economics. He further explored this through a year-long exchange at the Technical University of Graz, Austria. This international experience enriched his perspective, focusing on Master’s level subjects that bridged the gap between environmental sustainability and economic viability. His professional journey began in energy consultancy, where he spent a year analyzing significant infrastructure projects that impacted cities and countries, honing his skills in efficiency and resource management. Subsequently, Gonzalo shifted to a more micro-scale business view as a project manager at a land development company for three years. Here, he gained valuable insights into the critical balance of time, resources, and market scarcity to drive profitability. Driven by a growing interest in finance and the burgeoning crypto industry, Gonzalo then moved into a leading role in analytics at a well-established decentralized exchange (DEX), where his team generated over $12 million in revenue. This experience cemented his belief in the potential of the Web3 industry to mature and consolidate. Now, as VP of Analytics at Serious People, Gonzalo is committed to enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and profitability of the crypto industry by leveraging his extensive background.
Jakub
Jakub began his career after earning a PhD in Philosophy with a focus on Aristotle from Humboldt University of Berlin. His early professional journey led him to a senior Product Manager role at a leading B2B summit company specializing in AI applications compliant with regulations in finance, banking, and healthcare sectors. Here, he was instrumental in accelerating the global adoption of AI, facilitating critical collaborations between startups, Fortune 500 companies, and the Big 5 consulting firms, as well as leading pioneering projects in AI-driven financial risk management and forecasting solutions. His success in the B2B sector transitioned well when he joined a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) in late 2021. Here, Jakub played a pivotal role in developing ecosystem partnerships with venture capitalists, incubators, launchpads, and market makers. His efforts were crucial in underwriting and onboarding individual projects, significantly contributing to the product development process that supported the DEX’s growth and profitability. At Serious People Jakub is at the forefront of our DeFi sales sector, where he continues to drive innovation and strategic partnerships. His unique blend of academic insight and practical expertise ensures that he remains a key asset in navigating complex ecosystems and shaping the future of financial technologies.
Serious Values
Only work with business models and people we are confident in
Bring solutions, not problems
Decentralization hedges corruption – do not support central points of failure
Factor in all data always
Be honest, especially when it is uncomfortable
Have a foxy mindset at all times and always seek the most effective tactic available (META)
Believe crypto’s success is inevitable
Build antifragile systems, do not proceed if it can be broken
Encourage competition and celebrate winning
The work is serious, but the people are not