MEET THE CANDIDATE: NFTSasha Is Running For Special Council

ApeCoin DAO contributor and Special Council nominee, NFTSasha, is looking to bring his past experiences in software, gaming, and crypto to the DAO's Special Council to empower builders within the community.

The election season of 2023 is underway at the ApeCoin DAO, with 21 contributors officially running to replace Yat Siu or Alexis Ohanian on the DAO's Special Council this summer.

Among the candidates vying for a position on the ApeCoin DAO's Special Council is ApeCoin DAO contributor NFTSasha.

"I want to push the web3 revolution forward and I see ApeCoin DAO at the head of it,” NFTSasha wrote on his ApeCoin candidate page. “We have an amazing opportunity to nurture an environment in which web3 innovation can thrive and help seed hundreds of promising ideas, many of which will grow to define our daily culture for years to come. As a Venture Partner at Stacks Accelerator in '21, my primary responsibility was to help startups navigate legal and business environments, whether it was helping them solidify product-market fit, connecting with crypto lawyers, assisting with tokenomics, or introducing to potential investors and hires. This involved a lot of coordination and required both the ability to zoom out for bigger picture as well as being hands-on with specific challenges present for both the startups and the accelerator itself. I think digital property ownership is an inalienable right without which freedom in the metaverse is not possible. I think the future of web3 and the metaverse will be built by many and the ApeCoin DAO will be a major enabler of that. It would be an honor and a privilege of a lifetime to apply my experiences in software, gaming, venture, and crypto to play my part in fostering the best environment for the builders of our web3-enabled future."

To find out more about NFTSasha and why he’s the right $Ape for the job, the Bored Ape Gazette reached out to him for an interview. Check it out below:

1.How did you get into the ApeCoin DAO?

“I used to be an ape. I took a year to travel, finalize divorce, learn new cultures (mostly in Asia), and write a fantasy book about NFTs. I came back to the DAO in April and have been an active member since. Love the mission, love being a part of something bigger than myself. Very grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received - this quarter, my posts have gotten the highest number of likes per day out of all other forum users.”

2.In a sentence or two, why should the community vote for you?

“I have built careers in three distinct areas in my life so far: software, gaming, and crypto. I am an overachiever, worked for both startups and large companies, ran my own business, and mentored a dozen or so others. I’ve dealt with lawyers and regulations, landed large business deals, and have both raised investment and helped others raise money. Having lived on three continents, I have empathy for builders worldwide and a broad understanding of various cultures. I bring a culture of excellence and execution with me, am detail-oriented, and work hard. If you believe this kind of real, diverse, and versatile experience is what a Special Council seat should have, vote for me.”

3.What would you like to accomplish if elected?

“Ultimately, none of what we’re doing matters without the builders. My top priority will be reaching out to the best devs in web3 as well as web2. The former can incorporate ApeCoin into the best crypto products while the latter can partner with us to expand ApeCoin’s utility to their existing and future products. Dr. Disrespect, for example, whom I’ve met in person during my esports career, is building a great web3 game. There’s no reason why ApeCoin shouldn’t be accepted as a payment method for game items there. It only benefits all of us if we expand our horizons and make ApeCoin the obvious choice for all builders and communities. I would also like to maximize transparency - this is a DAO after all, not a company. All internal processes, expenses, etc. must be clearly visible real-time and always. Finally, I’d like us to tackle the challenge of gas costs for ApeCoin and see how we can reduce gas without moving the coin to another chain. Perhaps we can create WAPE, or Wrapped $APE, and move most transactions to that. I don’t know if that’s even a feasible idea, I’m just thinking on the go right now. I’d love to actively explore this area with top devs in the space because it will open up immense opportunity in terms of utility and adoption.”

4. Where do you see the DAO a year from now?

“I see the DAO as a major engine of growth for web3 culture and innovation. I’m not sure when we really start firing on all cylinders, a year from now or two, but I’d love to be among the people who help the DAO get there.”

5. What makes you different from the other candidates?

“One, I’ve been active in DAO-related governance and discussions, helping proposal authors craft the best versions of their AIPs, and identifying red flags for the rest of the community before the election season started. Some candidates only become active when they’re running for a position. Two, I have experience in software, gaming, entrepreneurship, and venture. I think wider rather than narrower experience is important for a role like Special Council. And three, I’ve spent half of my life in Europe, half - in North America, and soon more than a year in Asia. It’s not just India, China, Korea, and Japan; many nations in South-East Asia are now also highly developed and brimming with incredible talent. Thailand is very crypto-friendly. Vietnam has one of the best crypto dev communities, and Bali is a staple for expats from all over. Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan don’t need an introduction. Malaysia is not far behind. Not to mention parts of Middle East, South America and Africa. We will only be stronger and accomplish so much more if we all build together. I am your #1 champion for that.”

6. Do you have anything else you’d like to add or say?

“It’s hard to express the gratitude and honor I would feel if elected. I’ve never shilled a coin, never took money to promote a project, and in everything I’ve done I have tried to lead by example. Nobody is perfect, and we have some great candidates applying, but know that I will work hard to help make the DAO the best promoter of innovation and culture that it can be. Thank you, let’s build!”

ApeCoin DAO Contributors who would like to find out more about NFTSasha’s campaign can reach out to him via Twitter @NFTSasha

The window to vote in the ApeCoin DAO's first round of Special Council voting opens on June 15th, and $Ape holders will have until June 21st to cast their votes and support their preferred nominees. After the first round of voting, the top five nominees with the most votes will proceed to the second round of voting and officially become candidates. The DAO will then conduct one more election from June 22nd to 28th, during which the community will elect two Special Council members to replace Yat Siu and Alexis Ohanian on the board. Take a look at the full Election season timeline below:

The Bored Ape Gazette has reached out to all 21 candidates for an interview and will be publishing them as they reply. Stay tuned for updates!