What It’s Really Like to Build a Startup in Web3

From startup lawsuits to DAO-powered launches, Willy (founder of Nounspace) shares his unfiltered Web3 founder journey. We talk about his early exits, how Nounspace evolved from a Nounish client into a full-blown platform, and the tough reality of building in crypto. This episode dives into funding, pivots, community ownership, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in Web3—especially when things don’t go as planned. 00:42 — Startup lessons: from lawsuit to successful exit 01:50 — Launching Nounspace with Nouns DAO funding 02:38 — What changed in DAO governance & the challenge of sustainability 03:46 — Revenue, traction… but still not enough? 04:38 — The reality of building to change the world 05:29 — Why community is Nounspace’s strongest asset 06:12 — From one community to many: growing through network effects 07:04 — Tokens, incentives, and the flywheel effect 08:39 — The problem with airdrop farming & how to avoid it 09:34 — Nounspace token model: aligned ownership via staking 10:15 — Letting communities experiment with their own incentive models 10:37 — Mini apps as a tool for community-led problem-solving 11:18 — White labeling Nounspace for non-Noun communities 12:37 — The path forward: dual-focus, bigger vision Connect with Willy / Nounspace: Website: nounspace.com Warpcast: warpcast.com/willywonka.eth Twitter/X: x.com/thenounspace Connect with Kris: Farcaster: warpcast.com/thekris LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thekrispartner For sponsorships & collaborations: Email: pod@optimism.show DISCLAIMER: This episode does not constitute financial advice. DAOs, Web3 tools, and token-based systems carry risks. Always do your own research (DYOR).