Mark Ross

MARK ROSS is a longtime media producer, investor and entrepreneur, with more than 35 years in the business of entertainment. He is the co-founder and CEO of Acme Innovation, a holding company that invests in and operates disruptive media and entertainment companies using blockchain technology. He has financed a multitude of entertainment-related companies and startups including Music Audience Exchange, Riptide Music Group, Dequency, Project M, and Audigent, the world’s leading entertainment and media data collection and management platform. He is also the co-founder with Sir George Martin of GrandMaster Music, a boutique production music library, which he sold to Sony Music. As a music executive, he signed several multi platinum artists, most notably Pantera, that have sold tens of millions of records. He is also the former Executive Director of Quincy Jones Productions, and founded and operated his own imprint label through Universal Music Group. Throughout his career Mark has been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of artists and greats such as Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, YK Osiris, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, AC/DC, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Andrea Bocelli, Metallica, and Frank Sinatra, and has forged strong personal and professional relationships with entertainment professionals across the industry.

Christina Gerakiteys

Christina Gerakiteys is a catalyst for change, alchemising impossible to possible through the unleashing of human potential. Her purpose is to facilitate the road to a Utopic society, through the opening of hearts and minds.

Christina is on a mission to enable the enablers and to empower and inspire leaders to converge minds, technology and fields, to have maximum impact and solve humanity's grand challenges.

As CEO of UtopiaX, Co-CEO of SingularityU Australia and Founder of IdeaSparx, Christina is a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and program designer, creating interactive educational experiences driven by design thinking, purpose, engagement, and play. The programs disrupt current mindsets to Moonshot thinking, exploring what is possible, rather than what is acceptable or limited. Christina has created highly customised programs for clients including Deloitte, IAG, Employment Hero, Entrepreneurs Organisation, Austrade, Bupa, Investa and Dulux.

Christina has presented key-notes and workshops for the Singularity University COVID-19 Summit, Entrepreneurs Organisation, Singularity University Global Summit, Front End of Innovation Conference in Boston, SingularityU Australia Summit, Vivid Ideas, Creative Innovation and Inspiring Women Leaders Digital Conference in Madrid.

Christina writes for several publications, hosts the SingularityU Australia Webinar Future Leaders series, the podcast Inspire for Impact, and speaks on radio about creativity and innovation. She is a contributor to the award-winning Front-End Innovation blog. She is an ambassador for Tech Central, Sydney, on the International Advisory Board for W Startup Community and sits on the Hunter Medical Research Foundation.

Christina is an advocate for innovation committees, produced the annual Hunter Innovation Festival, and lectures in Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She is a lifelong learner, undertaking doctorate studies in Creativity and Innovation.

Lisa Andrews

LISA ANDREWS (CEO WAVIA), is a sought after speaker and futurist who describes herself as an Energised Introvert inspired by a future of perfect knowledge, having her own Jarvis and Ironman suit as well as being able to send Care Bear Stare focus to the world.

With a financial, data and engineering background Lisa is working on the question ‘how to give everyone a fair start in life and maximise human potential at each stage throughout life’.

She is currently working on projects with international organisations such as Singularity University, United Nations, ACTAI, Extreme Tech Challenge and EO. Focusing on solving the worlds greatest challenges with exponential technologies. As a future maker and strategic planner - she sees the first step as achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the second creating a vision for the world in the next 100 years.

acme collider program

SUN 13TH NOV - THU 17TH NOV, 2022

At the core of Acme Innovation’s ethos is the belief that success in business begins with continuously re-examining your priors, maintaining a carefully calibrated growth mindset, embracing adjacent and orthogonal ideas, and staying aligned with respect to values. In short, we believe that collisions—not curation—leads to real innovation and growth.

To this end, Acme and WAVIA are excited to announce the launch of Collider, a hybrid conference-accelerator program advancing early-stage music, gaming, and creative IP startups operating in or developing Web3 deployment.

Like other accelerator programs, Collider provides founders the access they need to mentorship, domain expertise, and investor exposure in exchange for equity. But what makes Collider different is its emphasis on pushing those in the cohort to both learn from and also provide education to others in the program, all of whom bring different and diverse degrees of expertise. This approach encourages and embraces “collisions” between like-minded founders across adjacent or orthogonal industries, generating accretive value through unexpected ideas and breakthroughs, and amplifying creativity and unexpected learnings.

Additionally, Collider leverages Acme’s broad network to provide thought leadership from a range of experts, all aligned by a shared value of sustainability in its many forms.

Collider will bring together a cohort of 15-20 world-class businesses with Acme’s ecosystem of advisors, mentors, and investors, beginning with a five-day, in-person immersion in Southern California in November. This will be followed by a two-month series of online sprints to focus companies on their go-to-market and fundraising strategies, culminating in a demo day with Acme’s investor community.

Bill Tai

BILL TAI is a VC with >20 IPOs from startups I've funded. Educated as a computer chip designer, joined LSI Logic after college.

Issued Badge #A001 at the startup of TSMC, now (as of 2022) the 13th most valuable company in the world . Established the semiconductor practice at Alex. Brown & Sons positioning IPO's of Atmel, Cirrus Logic, Dallas Semiconductor, Zilog.

Co-founder & Chairman Treasure Data and MetaGood ; Founding Chairman of IPinfusion,(Tokyo:4813) , Chairman Hut8Mining (NASDAQ: HUT ; North America's largest publicly listed Bitcoin Mining operation), Founding Chairman and CEO iAsiaWorks (IPO via Goldman Sachs & Morgan Stanley). Past Board Director of 8 publicly listed companies.

Among the very first investors in Canva , ColorGenomics , Tweetdeck/Twitter , Wish.com and Zoom Video. Early angel in Dapper Labs and co-founding seed in OneOf .

Early proponent of P2P currency; creator Necker Blockchain Summit , and the ' Bitcoin Mining Lightbulb .' Early backer of Cryptokitties , advisor to Bitfury on silicon.

Established Silicon Valley office for CRV '03. Previously General Partner at IVP in the crazy Internet ramp of the '90's.

BSEE (Honors) U Illinois; MBA from Harvard; HonD PhD Curtin University . Founder of 501c3 non-profits: ACTAI Global supporting our environment and economic empowerment via entrepreneurship and cofounder ExtremeTechChallenge - bringing the world's best emerging companies aligned with the UN Sustainability Goals to the forefront via a worldwide competition.

Andrew Bull

Founding Partner, Bull Blockchain Law

ANDREW BULL is the founding partner of Bull Blockchain Law LLP, a law firm specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency law. After finding Bitcoin in 2011, Andrew formed a cryptocurrency investment fund and ran one of the first cryptocurrency mining companies in the United States. Andrew has written several publications for legal journals, spoken at international conferences, contributed to a European Union publication on U.S. blockchain legislation and developed some of the first blockchain-focused courses for graduate programs and law schools. He is also an adjunct professor of law, teaching Blockchain/Cryptocurrency Law at Drexel University. Bull Blockchain Law is a member of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance and Government Blockchain Association. Its clients include—among others—Splinterlands, Flux, tZERO, Enigma Securities, Nexus, Wave Financial, Climatecoin, Protos, Bumper, Securitize, and Accrue.

Michael Dorf

Founder & CEO, City Winery

MICHAEL DORF came to New York City in 1986 and founded the go-to venue for independent music, the Knitting Factory and served for the first 15 years as CEO, expanding the brand into Europe and Asia via tours, festivals, and producing over 200 recordings, TV shows, etc. Dorf was recognized as a pioneer in producing music on the Internet, through a variety of strategic relationships with Apple Computer, Intel, and Bell Atlantic. During this time he created the Digital Club Network and in 2002, he left the Knit to pursue other endeavors, including a Carnegie Hall concert fundraiser series, founding a Hebrew school, and winemaking.

In 2008, Dorf created City Winery –Manhattan’s first fully-functional winery, restaurant, music venue and private event space. In the past 14 years, Dorf has expanded City Winery to 14 locations including Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Hudson Valley, and has 5 more scheduled to open in 2022/23 in Detroit, St. Louis, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Grand Central Station.

Dorf has become one of the most prolific independent promoters in New York, an important music impresario, and according to The New Yorker, he has “perfected the art of the tribute concert.” Over 15 years, the fundraiser series has honored legends like Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Prince while raising over $1.5 million for music education non-profits. He serves on the board of The American Symphony Orchestra, Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals and is currently Chairman of LabShul/Storahtelling. He has received numerous honors from a variety of organizations including Humanitarian Awards from WFUV, Young Audiences, Little Kids Rock, among others.

Ian Anderson

Co-founder & CIO, Wisdom Gaming

IAN ANDERSON is the co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer for Wisdom Gaming , where he has been instrumental in establishing the company as the emerging leader in esports and gaming entertainment. Ian leads Wisdom’s Web3 development division, Wisdom Labs, creating products that will change the way people experience gaming and esports.

A serial entrepreneur, Ian has made a career by building profitable businesses out of the things he loves. His portfolio of successful businesses includes Afternoon Records, HeroesHearth, Afternoon Printing, Mead Hall Games & Comics, The Meadery, the Math Team and more. With his experiences ranging from founding esports organizations to providing consulting services for brands looking to enter the space, Ian is a creator at heart who is always looking to help grow the spaces that he loves.

Ian De Bode

Partner, McKinsey

IAN DE BODE is a partner in McKinsey’s San Francisco office. He leads McKinsey’s efforts on Web3 in North America, working closely with executives to educate them on its disruptive impact and to identify which new products, services, or businesses they can launch to compete in this new paradigm. He also helps Web3 start-ups understand what it takes to achieve enterprise adoption and actively builds bridges between the traditional and new Web3 world.

Tyler Harttraft

Partner, Bull Blockchain Law

TYLER HARTTRAFT is a Partner at Bull Blockchain Law LLP, focusing his practice on corporate law, capital markets law, and financial regulations.

Tyler provides strategic advice on the regulation of blockchain technology and digital assets. As counsel to various blockchain and cryptocurrency clients, Tyler provides critical legal advice on cryptocurrency, exchanges, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), decentralized finance (DeFi), securities and commodities laws compliance, gaming platforms, governance token structures, and venture financing. Tyler also advises a wide range of clients interacting with or investing in blockchain technology, including start-ups and emerging companies, publicly traded companies, regulated financial services entities, fund managers, and money services businesses.

Tyler is a member of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, a non-profit trade association created for financial market professionals and legal practitioners dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of developments in blockchain technology and smart contracts.

Aaron Gershenberg

Co-founder & Managing Partner, SVB Capital

AARON GERSHENBERG joined SVB in 1999. Over the last 20 years, he has created 10 fund of funds, five direct funds and five differentiated custom solutions as an extension of our limited partners’ teams. Aaron’s expertise is evaluating venture capital (VC) investments globally while building a unique value proposition for institutional investors seeking to access the innovation economy. He has published numerous articles on the future of VC and is frequently invited to speak and moderate panels at conferences in the US and overseas.

Before joining SVB, Aaron opened FirstCorp’s Northern California office, a VC leasing group focused on early-stage companies. In this capacity, Aaron was responsible for providing VC financing to more than 50 startup technology companies.

Aaron has combined his passion for cycling and philanthropy since 1984, raising more than $200,000 for Oxfam America. He also is a founder of the Hearst Castle Best Buddies ride, serves on the international board and has raised more than $3M for the organization. Since 2000, he has served as an ambassador for the sport of kiteboarding, introducing numerous entrepreneurs and investors to the sport and creating a community around the globe.

Aaron graduated from Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and African studies and earned a master’s degree in finance and public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Aaron resides in Menlo Park, California.

Franziska Iseli

Founder of Basic Bananas, The Business Hood, Oceanlovers and Moments of Humanity.

FRANZISKA ISELI is a maverick entrepreneur, leading marketing and brand strategist, mad adventurer, author and the founder of Basic Bananas, The Business Hood, Oceanlovers and Moments of Humanity.

In 2013 Franziska was awarded the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizing her innovation, creativity and philanthropic involvement.

As an EO member and past board member she launched an EO impact initiative called EOcean to inspire entrepreneurs to protect our ocean.

Franziska is the author of four bestselling books – Bananas About Marketing, Perception, The Courage Map (foreword by Sir Richard Branson) and Social Media for Small Business.

A Swiss born Australian (or Swaussie) with a sharp-witted humour and the ability to speak five languages, she is known to make up words, which keeps everyone amused.

The key to Franziska’s success is her down-to-earth attitude, infectious energy, integrity and courage to take the lead. She is an idea generation machine, loves solving complex challenges and her brain often seems to work on double-speed. Franziska is a big believer in social business and is heavily involved in various ocean conservation and sustainability projects.

Paul Gordon

Technical Director and CEO Catalyze

PAUL GORDON is Technical Director and CEO of Catalyze APAC; his roles include facilitation, design and implementation of strategy, decision-making and decision-support processes, senior client and stakeholder engagement, programme management and business development.

He is a highly accomplished business leader with over fifteen years’ experience in consulting. He has worked in a wide range of sectors and particularly extensively with the Defence and Security sectors in Australia, NZ, the UK and elsewhere over the past 15+ years. Paul has been involved in facilitating many key decision points for major programmes and strategic planning initiatives.

Paul’s earlier career experience includes successful facilitation and support for technology transfer, bringing together diverse consortia of research organisations and commercial companies to drive innovation and new thinking.

Paul is committed to transforming the way the world makes decisions – to conscious, structured, transparent, collaborative decision-making with clear, open communication – and frequently works with top teams in the public- and private-sectors to facilitate major decisions.

Paul is the author of the Amazon Best-Selling book “Hard Decisions Made Easy, how leaders in large organisations make complex decisions that stick”.