POW With Nicco Viray

Introducing Nicco, the Chief Executive Officer of Ark of Dreams, an NFT-driven game that connects real-life experiences to the metaverse.

What were you doing before Web3?

Before Web3, I was helping with the day-to-day operations of each company under our Venture Capital Firm together with our Chairman. I had to ensure that each company we invested in and owned were making revenue and troubleshooting whatever challenge each company faced.

How did you get into Web3?

I first got into crypto before I got into Web3 by trading for a few months back in 2021. I then started hearing about this P2E Platform called Axie Infinity, that made every gamers dream or fantasy to come true.

As months flew by, the chairman & founder of our VC, started to talk to me about possible ideas for a Blockchain Project. At first, we were just throwing in random crazy ideas of what our business model would be, and the utilities we would provide. Eventually, he started pooling in other people where we would do the same. Slowly, what we thought would be crazy or weird started to make sense and some ideas started to connect with each other. From there, we started our own project. We started to conduct more research and slowly began immersing myself even more with the whole concept of Blockchain and Web3. I eventually fell in love with the whole idea and the people around it.

What was your first crypto or NFT project?

I actually had both since the beginning of my crypto career. I was HODLing a few ETH, XRP and other tokens at the start. Aside from that, I also owned a few Axies before during the hype of Axie Infinity. My first PFP was Wabi Sabi through which I started exploring more about the world of NFTs from there.

How would you explain what you do to someone outside of Web3?

Web3 is the next generation of the internet. It’s more democratic and user-controlled. It’s built on new technologies that enable the creation of decentralized applications, which are like apps that run on a network of users instead of a single company.

The goal of Web3 is to create a better internet for everyone. It is where people have more control over their data and online activities. So, it’s like a new and improved internet that’s more secure and user-friendly.

Which creator or thought leader do you enjoy learning from?

I’m honestly torn between John Maxwell and Robert Greene since I enjoy both of the books they’ve written. If you really were to ask me to pick, it would be John Maxwell. Maxwell’s books and teachings are grounded in principles of personal growth, self-awareness, and effective communication. These attributes align with my interest in empowering people and contributing to their overall lives.

What is the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Biggest highlight of my career would be the partnerships I’ve closed and the company representations I’ve had in the past few months. I closely collaborated with innovators and Business/Industry leaders that all shared one goal which was to further uplift and help the lives of everyone.

What tech or crypto trend are you watching this year?

I’ve recently been exploring AI. I have been curious about how the whole tech works and how it can revolutionize everything that we do. At the same time, help more people make their lives easier and simpler.

If you haven’t touched base on any AI platforms, I suggest you start doing so. Play around with it as much as you want. Study and make research about it. See how it could or would help you in anything that you do.

What advice would you give someone starting out in Web3?

Always keep the community in mind. Whether may it be your community or the general public, always keep them in mind whenever you want to introduce, innovate or improve on a certain product/service.

If you could do a TEDtalk on any topic, what would it be?

If I could do a TEDTalk, it would certainly be about Web3 and I would call it “Web3: The Magic Wand for Empowering People”. This aims to show how Web3 can be a powerful tool for empowering individuals and communities.

What is the one thing you would bring if you were stuck on a deserted Island?

A bottle of Knorr Seasoning. If I were to be stuck on a deserted island, I’d definitely want a bottle of Knorr with me. I can cook anything and anywhere and make it delicious but it never hurts to add more flavor to any dish.

Given all that time being stuck in a deserted island and the resources I’ll have within an arms reach, my goodness gracious, I might be able to discover a new dish during my stay.

POW stands for “Proof of Work.” It is a new feature article series in The Mega Maxi to highlight the savviest builders in the Web3 space.