1000 IQ interview | @simonbuilds from Alliance DAO Most of you read hundreds of posts, gaining 0 knowledge and useful info from them. I decided to fix it by interviewing 1000 iq members of Web3 space. People who are not just pushing some metas, but people, who are creating these metas. If you skip these interviews, don't ask yourself later why you are not making it in crypto. The 1st guest is Simon, Head of Growth @allianceDAO, accelerator, who helped PumpFun explode and whose projects you use every day. 1) How would you describe what you do in 10 words, for those who may not know you yet? Backing world-class founders building in crypto and AI to scale faster. 2) Which founders do you recommend following for those interested in becoming entrepreneurs or simply looking to learn something new? • @balajis – for systems thinking across tech, crypto, and society. • @naval – timeless lessons on wealth, leverage, and judgment. • @vitalikbuterin – deep insights on crypto governance, protocol design, and philosophy. • @patrickc (Stripe) – clarity of thought around scaling and talent. • @jessepollak (Base/Coinbase) – great operator with practical lessons on shipping. • @alexandr_wang (Scale AI) – frontier builder in applied AI. • @cdixon (a16z) – strong lens on crypto’s long-term arcs. 3) In your opinion, how will Genius Act impact the crypto space? Do you see potential opportunities for retail investors? The Genius Act (if passed and implemented effectively) signals more clarity for U.S. crypto regulation. This reduces uncertainty for builders, encourages institutional capital inflow, and legitimizes the asset class further. For retail investors, the biggest opportunity comes from: •Broader access to compliant on-ramps and tokenized assets. •Safer retail markets with reduced scams/rug-pulls. •Potential new categories (e.g., tokenized treasuries, Bitcoin-backed products) entering mainstream. The short term might feel slow, but long term this is a net-positive tailwind. 4) What are your thoughts on the future of AI—do you believe it will be mostly positive or negative for the majority of people? Mostly positive, but uneven. AI will: •Massively increase productivity (software writing software, automation of repetitive work). •Unlock new scientific and medical breakthroughs. •Create entirely new business models and markets. Negatives come from: •Displacement of certain jobs without fast retraining. •Concentration of power if only a few companies control foundational models. •Misinformation and manipulation risks. Net outcome: if open-source, decentralized models and AI + crypto rails scale together, AI becomes an empowering force rather than just a centralizing one. 5) What are the top 10 projects you believe are worth keeping an eye on right now? Honestly, a ton, but best bet is to follow the projects @alliancedao is investing in through X or our website. 6) What are five traits or qualities that helped you achieve success? 1. Curiosity – I dive deep into systems (crypto, AI, economics, neuroscience) and connect dots others don’t see. 2. Courage – I make bold bets, whether starting companies, moving countries, or backing contrarian founders. 3. Discipline – Consistency in work, fitness, and learning compounds over years. 4. Network obsession – I treat relationships like assets—investing, nurturing, and compounding them long-term. 5. Bias for building – I prefer shipping, experimenting, and learning in public over just analyzing. I guess guys, this is the Tier-1 content, that will change lives of everyone, who treat it right. So if you read it till this point, the best you can do is following me and @simonbuilds and repost this post. GL!(Hanzo ㊗️)