The Proof of Talk conference, where Web3 meets the elegance of Parisian flair, recently concluded its second edition on June 10-11 at the historic MAD Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre Palace in Paris. With over 2,500 attendees, including industry leaders, innovators, builders, and investors, this event was the crème de la crème of the Web3 world.
One of many regarded attendees, Lucien Mincu, Co-Founder of MultiversX, wasn’t short of compliments for the event — “Big congrats to the entire team. Proof of Talk 2024 was perhaps one of the best events I've ever attended. Keep up the awesome work.”
The summit featured a stellar lineup of more than 150 speakers, including notable figures like Joseph Lubin (Consensys), Jenny Johnson (Franklin Templeton), Tim Draper (DFJ), Yat Siu (Animoca Brands), and Stani Kulechov (Aave). The speakers tackled hot topics such as the future of DeFi, regulatory landscapes, AI integration, and infrastructure innovations in Web3, brewing a rich blend of ideas and conversations.
Dr. Saifedean Ammous's Delivers His Keynote on Why Bitcoin is the Best Money Ever
The event saw various pioneers share valuable insights into the future of Web3, giving us a glimpse of what is to come. Some of the biggest discussions included Jenny Johnson (President and CEO, Franklin Templeton) and Mo Shaikh (Co-Founder and CEO, Aptos Labs) talking about winning in the protocol economy; fireside chat with Joseph Lubin (Consensys & Ethereum) on the future of the ecosystem; and a panel discussion with Austin Federa (Head of Strategy, Solana Foundation), Beniamin Mincu (CEO & Founder, MultiversX), and Dominic Williams (Founder & Chief Scientist, DFINITY Foundation) talking about blockchain innovation.
Much like the last edition, the 2024 summit also received critical acclaim from the top attendees as well. Tim Grant, CEO of Deus X Capital, commented:
“Proof of Talk is the Louis Vuitton of conferences! It’s a lot more intimate than other conferences, and there are a lot more conversations going on here. The turnout of high-quality industry people has been phenomenal, and Proof of Talk is where you get to meet people who matter.”
Following the success of the event, Zohair Dehnadi, co-founder of Proof of Talk, commented:
"Proof of Talk is like the Web3 version of a Parisian café—where conversations are rich, ideas are bold, and connections are freshly brewed. Our aim? To be the epicenter of innovation where Web3 leaders get their caffeine kick and embark on their journey to revolutionize the world towards a more equitable and decentralized future."
A unique pitching experience
Apart from 20 panels, 10+ workshops, and over five keynotes and firesides on key topics shaping Web3’s future, the conference also featured an AI-powered startup competition for the top Web3 startups in the world—Proof of Pitch. Participants were initially judged by an internally developed AI-powered pitch deck analyzer that thoroughly analyzed all aspects of the pitch deck, crawled the internet for background checks, verified market size, and double-checked the competitive landscape for a detailed report in under a minute.
13 out of hundreds of startups made it to the final round in Paris, where they pitched in front of the jury. The jury featured eminent names from the Web3 VC industry, including Pantera Capital, Borderless Capital, The Spartan Group, Mechanism Capital, Arrington Capital, Animoca Brands, Flowdesk, Binance Labs, MultiversX, Flow Traders, Nexera, Greenfield Capital and Cointelegraph.
With €1 million worth of prizes on the line, including direct investments, targeted mentorship, Openmesh Xnodes, a media grant from CoinTelegraph, and a 12-week accelerator program, Soul Labs bagged the first position, while the following places went to Usual, Assisterr, and Rhuna.
Soul Labs won the Proof of Pitch competition and among other prizes, a media grant from Cointelegraph
Looking forward
As the curtains closed on Proof of Talk 2024, the event left a huge mark on the Web3 ecosystem. A one-of-a-kind startup competition, groundbreaking discussions between the industry’s best, and insightful workshops by leading Web3 companies have paved the way for multiple innovations and collaborations.
The next edition of Proof of Talk will take place next year in Paris, but in the closing speech, Zohair Dehnadi, co-founder of Proof of Talk, suggested something might be in the works before the main event. Follow Proof of Talk to learn more about future events.
Photos from the Proof of Talk 2024 summit can be found here.
About Proof of Talk
Proof of Talk is setting a new standard in the Web3 conference landscape, positioning itself not just as another web3 conference but as a pivotal forum where the promise of decentralization comes to life. The summit uniquely combines the essence of traditional economic forums with the dynamic, decentralized Web3 community, fostering an innovative ecosystem of dialogue and action. It stands as a platform for change, where every voice, from the seasoned economist to the radical Web3 founder, contributes to a collective vision of a decentralized economic future. By facilitating engaging discussions and unparalleled networking, participants shape this new landscape. Learn more at www.proofoftalk.io.
About XVentures
XVentures is a Germany-based digital assets investment fund dedicated to supporting and empowering entrepreneurs in the Web3 industry. Alongside its investment activities, X Ventures founded www.xschool.io, aiming to provide accessible education to future leaders worldwide.