From Angel Investor to COO: My Journey with a Blockchain Startup

Hello Everyone,

I am writing to reflect on a piece that I wrote when beginning my work with CakeCodes, Inc. on my personal blog [link to my post on ArryinSeattle] back in June 2017. In that piece, I gave my readers an update on what was going on with some changes in my life at that time. Now that it has been about a month and a half later, I’m sharing with you five reflections on why this was the right thing for me.

1. Vision Alignment: I LOVE the opportunity that we have with CakeCodes , Inc. — the ability to create a meta-market maker that has true impact on a global scale. The ability for people, anywhere, at any time, with any one, to transact is a battle cry personally for me (what I was trying to do with GiftStarter), and also for CakeCodes, Inc. It was really easy for me to jump in to work on Storm, a micro-task marketplace platform that really democratizes access ways for people everywhere to earn, at any time, from any device.
2. CEO Alignment: My husband and I were one of the earliest angel investors into CakeCodes, Inc. (mostly due to the insightful eye of my husband). We love the idea of blockchain, cryptocurrencies and the traction that the company has been able to achieve, with such little resources. We especially love the CEO, Simon. I often tell people that he’s kind of a “boy wonder”. For someone so young, he already has reached expert level on the ability to 1) influence others to join him, and 2) use his business acumen with his quick decision making ability to move fast. I marvel at it and find myself learning every day.
3. Team Fit: Before I even joined the team, I was helping advise Simon with sales and fundraising. One day before a trip to New York City for Consensus, Esther, our first employee and a fullstack developer, came in that morning with two bags filled with advil, snacks, and gum for the travelers. That kind of “others first” mantra is what I love to see in team members.
4. Timing: Finding product-market-fit is the hardest thing for a startup to do. CakeCodes found it with BitMaker — and now, we’re taking that and expanding on it with StormMarket.
5. Value: Knowing I could jump in immediately and add real value to the project in a meaningful way is also very important. Having been in the trenches of businesses and startups, I know very quickly where to add lift, and when I can get out.

To learn more about our progress, keep following us by signing up for our email list at www.stormtoken.com.

Storm!

— Arry, COO

Originally posted via Medium at: https://blog.stormtoken.com/from-angel-investor-to-coo-my-journey-with-a-blockchain-startup-92f14692fcd7