Is Blockchain going to disrupt all of technology and finance? Or is that mostly just hype? This seminar will help you understand the technology underlying Blockchain and get a sense of its promise, perils and limitations. Blockchain is the underlying technology that enables cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. To its proponents, however, the Blockchain is nothing less than a radically new way to address foundational issues in technology, banking and commerce. It could enable cheaper money transfers, easier identity-verification and new modes of commerce via smart-contracts. However, much of this promise is yet to be realized– there are many unresolved questions about its applicability in the real world. Our panel of distinguished experts will help you to better understand this technology and its uses.
Where:
Cambridge Innovation Center,
Havana Conf. room, 5th Floor,
1 Broadway, Cambridge MA
When:
Saturday, May 19th, 2018 1:45 PM – 5 PM
Panelists
Space Courtesy CIC Cambridge
Shyam Kamadolli
Havell Rodrigues
Nick Lasurdo
Raghav Chawla
Rohit Singh
Shyam Kamadolli
Managing Partner, AVG Blockchain Fund
As the Managing Partner at AVG Blockchain Fund, Shyam leads venture capital style investments in blockchain/distributed ledger technology projects. This follows a long career as a technology entrepreneur, VC investor, and dealmaker for over 20 years in the Boston ecosystem. Most recently, he led venture capital investments in technology at Fidelity Investments’ Eight Roads and F-Prime Capital platforms. Shyam earned dual MBAs from Columbia Business School and London Business School; an MSEE from Clarkson University, and a BE in Comp. Engg. from Mumbai University.
Havell Rodrigues
CEO and Co-Founder of Adjoint
Havell Rodrigues is an accomplished finance and technology executive and innovator. He leads the Boston and London offices, leveraging blockchain and secure, accurate smart contracts to help their enterprise clients realize better margins and create new business models.
Prior to Adjoint, Havell spent eight years at an emerging markets hedge fund, Venus Capital, managing a hedge fund-of-funds portfolio, investing in OTC Derivatives and structured notes. Before that, he worked at Bodkin Design, a U.S. defense industry focussed research company that built high precision, imaging technology for military intelligence systems. He also served as CFO and Board Member of Greenbean Recycle, a payments/cleantech company that was acquired by Tomra Systems ASA in 2014. He holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Babson College and a BS in Statistics from the University of Mumbai. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst and a Charter Member of TiE-Boston.
Nick Lasurdo
Counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP
Nick Losurdo is counsel in Goodwin’s Financial Industry, FinTech, Digital Currency + Blockchain Technology and Privacy + Cybersecurity practices. Mr. Losurdo advises a variety of clients on regulatory, compliance, transactional and enforcement matters, including:
- Broker-dealers, ATSs, equity and option exchanges and investment advisers regarding SEC and FINRA regulations.
- Technology and other companies in the area of blockchain and digital currency, such as initial coin offerings (ICOs) and other crypto- or blockchain-based initiatives (including compliance with federal and state regulations).
- Private equity funds during strategic and financial acquisitions, dispositions and restructurings involving financial institutions.
Mr. Losurdo also utilizes his diverse capital markets and financial services experience (encompassing both in-house and private practice roles) to provide thoughtful and practical guidance on SEC rules and regulations, FINRA’s rules and membership, and the membership and compliance requirements of state regulators, equity and option exchanges, clearing organizations and other SROs.
Raghav Chawla
Director of Product Management, Fidelity Labs
Raghav is focused on building new products and services using cryptocurrencies, web 3.0 and blockchain technology. He is particularly interested in the topics of self-sovereign identity, governance, and the usability of DApps
Rohit Singh
Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager at Tech Square Trading (Panel Moderator)
Rohit Singh is the Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager at Tech Square Trading, a quantitative hedge fund based in Boston. Previously, he was at Merrill Lynch, on the firm’s proprietary trading desk, and at SAC Capital’s quantitative division. Rohit holds a PhD in Computer Science from MIT, where his dissertation won the George M. Sprowls award. He received his Masters degree from Stanford University and his undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, both in Computer Science.
