In a recent podcast episode, Genfinity had the pleasure of interviewing Lucian Aguilar, a prominent figure in the crypto industry and Managing Director of the Foundation for the New Creative Economies, an initiative built on the LUKSO blockchain. With a background spanning both the artistic and technological realms, Lucian shared insights into the unique strengths of the LUKSO network and its role in shaping the future of creative economies.
From grant programs to potential use cases, the conversation delved into the innovative initiatives driving growth within the LUKSO ecosystem. Join us as we explore Lucian’s journey, vision, and the exciting developments to come!
Introducing Lucian Aguilar
Lucian Aguilar has been immersed in the crypto industry since 2014, initially as a private enthusiast and then transitioning to a full-time role in 2019. He spent almost four years working at Kraken Exchange. Additionally, Lucian has a rich background as an artist, music producer, and DJ.
His journey took a pivotal turn last year when he met Fabian Vogelsteller at a conference. They exchanged ideas about the future of creative economies, which sparked a continuing conversation. Furthermore, Lucian also crossed paths with Marjorie Hernandez, Co-Founder of LUKSO, at Art Basel in Miami. These encounters led to deeper discussions with both Fabian and Marjorie, ultimately opening up the opportunity for Lucian to join the Foundation for the New Creative Economies as their Managing Director this January.
Since January, Lucian has been diligently working behind the scenes, eagerly anticipating the launch of the grant program. He is excited about this new phase, which marks a significant step in their growth journey.
What Makes LUKSO Unique?
Genfinity sought Lucian’s insight into what distinguishes the LUKSO network and renders it valuable in comparison to other networks. Moreover, we were keen on understanding his perspective regarding the emergence of new creative economies and the user experience within the LUKSO ecosystem.
Aguilar elaborated on the unique strengths of the LUKSO network, highlighting its innovative standards. LUKSO boasts over 25 LUKSO Standard Proposals (LSPs) and counting. The centerpiece of these innovations is the smart contract account, known as the Universal Profile, which fundamentally changes the way interactions occur on the blockchain.
Focusing on new creative economies, LUKSO aims to empower social creators and cultural sectors, historically known for their rapid adaptation to innovation. Lucian drew parallels to the music industry’s evolution from analog to digital, emphasizing how artists have continually embraced new technologies. Similarly, simplifying user interactions will be crucial for the next wave of blockchain adoption.
Furthermore, Lucian referenced Fabian’s significant contribution with the ERC-20 standard, which greatly impacted the industry’s growth. With the Universal Profile tech at its core and the new standards in place, LUKSO is poised to drive a comparable level of adoption within the blockchain space.
The LUKSO Grants Program
Providing an in-depth overview of the Foundation for the New Creative Economies’ setup and goals, Lucian explained that their primary aim is to encourage builders to experiment with the available LSP standards, which are also subject to submission. The foundation focuses on developing tools and infrastructure, such as social media feed tools for community management, recovery tools, permission managers, and dashboards. Furthermore, they place a significant emphasis on education and awareness-related applications.
The foundation, based in Switzerland, is a regulated entity that undergoes an annual audit by official regulatory bodies. This regulatory framework has understandably taken time to establish. Now completing its first year since its founding, the foundation expects its initial audit later this year.
Operationally, the Foundation for the New Creative Economies runs similarly to a traditional organization, with Lucian as the Managing Director, supported by teams dedicated to operations, finance, and growth. They are also expanding their marketing efforts, with new colleagues joining to bolster these activities.
The mission of the foundation is to nurture and develop the LUKSO ecosystem, promoting and advancing blockchain technology. They support this through various means, including funding research and development, financing beneficial activities like hackathons and grants, and potentially creating tools such as an accelerator or an ecosystem venture fund.
Additionally, the foundation aims to promote LUKSO through events, meetups, and conferences. It will also engage in growth-related activities, such as forming partnerships with stakeholders and marketing the LUKSO protocol.
You Can Apply for a Grant Now
The foundation’s $1 million grant program, distributed in LYX tokens, operates in quarterly waves. Notably, the deadline for the first wave is June 16, 2024, and the team will review applications and respond within four weeks. These grants provide not only funding but also mentoring, support, master classes, and review sessions.
Interested applicants should visit the foundation’s grants website for detailed information and best practices, available in the FAQ section. It is important to utilize LUKSO Standard Proposals (LSPs) and additionally incorporate Universal Profiles. Applications should demonstrate usefulness and scalability for the LUKSO blockchain, focusing on enhancing user experience and fitting into the broader ecosystem.
Furthermore, grant sizes vary based on the number of applications, their quality, and their potential impact on the network. Clear milestones are crucial; applicants should include at least three measurable milestones to track and evaluate progress.
Potential Use Cases
As an artist and event organizer, Lucian imagines a future where innovative applications could transform the way we experience art and events. One example he gave was a sophisticated ticketing application, designed for conferences and events, that could streamline the entire process and enhance user experience.
Additionally, Lucian envisioned a dynamic platform for artists to create social tokens for their fans. This platform could feature complex rules, such as proof of attendance, where fans attending a concert might receive an airdrop of exclusive content or rewards. Similarly, fans who engage with an artist’s content could receive airdrops as a form of appreciation and engagement. These examples reflected Lucian’s dual perspective as both an artist and an event organizer.
While LUKSO focuses on social, creative, and cultural use cases, they encourage applicants to innovate and create something new rather than just mimicking existing solutions. The goal is to push the boundaries of what’s possible with LUKSO Standard Proposals (LSPs) and Universal Profiles.
More to Come
In closing our interview, Lucian emphasized the open and welcoming nature of the LUKSO community, where members can learn a great deal from one another. For grant recipients, the Foundation for the New Creative Economies ensures comprehensive support throughout their journey. Once a project is awarded a grant, the team will onboard the project, providing detailed information about available resources and support mechanisms.
Grant recipients gain access to office hours and technical assistance to overcome any roadblocks they encounter. Furthermore, the foundation offers workshops and masterclasses to aid projects both technically and developmentally. The entity also helps grantees gain exposure on social media and within the broader community.
Additionally, Lucian highlighted their commitment to supporting new builders who are eager to contribute significantly to the LUKSO ecosystem and community. This thorough support system is designed to help projects thrive and make a meaningful impact. Looking ahead, the foundation aims to offer a comprehensive value chain for builders. This includes everything from hackathons and grant programs to potential accelerators and an ecosystem venture fund.
In closing, the ultimate goal is to ensure that at every stage, from idea to implementation, the Foundation for the New Creative Economies is there to support builders and the community, helping the ecosystem to flourish and grow.
*Disclaimer: News content provided by Genfinity is intended solely for informational purposes. While we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, we do not offer financial or legal advice of any kind. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or legal decisions. Genfinity disclaims any responsibility for actions taken based on the information presented in our articles. Our commitment is to share knowledge, foster discussion, and contribute to a better understanding of the topics covered in our articles. We advise our readers to exercise caution and diligence when seeking information or making decisions based on the content we provide.
