Devcon Is Coming To MUMBAI | ETHMumbai In Conversation With Devcon Team

So, hey everyone. We're so excited to finally have all of you here and that we get to, you know, meet all of you. Um, how are all of you? How's it going?

If you can go from you can get started.

Women's first.

Not at all.

Yeah, doing great. Uh, so we've been here a few days already touring Mumbai, meeting local partners and including yourself. So, very glad to be here. Very glad to be in India.

Yeah, it's nice. First time in India for most of us.

Feeling the energy already since day one. So great.

That's that's so nice. We're super happy to hear that you guys are having a nice time. I hope you have a nice time ahead too for you know how long you guys are here. But uh I think before we begin with the actual round of questions uh we'd love for you to just introduce yourself like brief intro about you know your background what you do. Um maybe you

okay I'm Candela based in Argentina and I led the ecosystem efforts last year in dev connect the previous dev connect and now I'm helping with the econ ecosystem efforts here in in India and with Denver NI and all the community and and also with Mumbai as this is

hey everyone my name is Orla I am the volunteer coordinator uh for this year. Once again I did the um that role last year also with community hubs coordination and as college program so looking forward to contribute with those areas for devcon.

Lovely.

My name is Tommo. Um I'm designer foundation. Um I have been working like visualizing Ethereum foundation visions and uh sharing the world view about Ethereum and in Devcon I design that look and I also like created experience and event. I'm Nathan and I'm leading the defcon team. uh also leading for to this year in India.

That's good.

Yeah, I think part from ETH Mumbai, I think I look at all things operations for ETH Mumbai and love being around community. So yeah, love ETH Mumbai.

Yeah. So um I'm Denver. I'm co-founder of Defolio and also one of the co initiators of ETH India series of Ethereum community events that we've been doing um since 2018 and uh yeah like um super stoked to finally be able to bring uh Defcon uh to our uh home ground.

Yeah, that's that's lovely. Um bit about me. I'm Shaa. I uh work towards marketing at BMA. Um awesome.

So I think we could just begin with the questions. Um I think one of my first questions would be how's the prep for DECO going so far? Considering how we've all been super excited right from when you announced it during the end of November that it was happening here. So, I think everyone's just looking forward and we're also excited to know uh how it's going so far. What's it been like?

And yeah,

sure. I I'll take it. Uh so, we're getting started. So, we announced at Defcon last year that happened in Argentina on the last day. At the time, we only announced the quarter and the location that it was going to happen in Mumbai.

So, that was the end of November and then we wrapped uh the event. we wrapped things up um and we're getting started to to get things organized. So we recently announced the exact the exact date of the event. So from it will happen in Mumbai um from the 3rd to the 6th of uh November in Jio World Convention Center. Um so best venue in India I think and uh um and yeah so we're getting started.

We're here to uh to tour India. We've been to Bangalore now Mumbai meeting the local community partners uh service providers uh and yeah most importantly the Ethereum community including yourself um so very excited to be here and yes things things are getting started slowly but surely and it will only uh accelerate from now on. Yeah, I think I'll have like a question for to specifically towards like when you say like visual thing like what comes first to you in terms of India?

Oh, that's I'm actually learning by spending here. Um it's a lot of like diverse elements in history, culture in India. So and then especially Mumbai I see I spend a couple days here and I see a lot of like energy

and yeah energy of the city itself. So I would actually posing that and then we would like to

what's specific thing that you have seen like something special about Mumbai or Bangalore or Yeah. in general. Um, I'd say yeah. What? Um, I say a lot of information is a good way to describe.

No.

No. But there are a lot of colors, nature,

diversity,

traffic.

Traffic.

Yeah. You came from Bangalore, so I would I would understand. Well, so so this morning we're going through the uh places with someone who's who has been really like good at like studying about the India right now as well.

Um so she said you know like India is like such a five senses thing.

Yeah. Like smells and sound,

touch of the flowers, you know things, right? So I'd love to actually approach that way. So it's not as just a visual thing or it's just like something that you know a sub but more like just experience deposible

looking forward how everything's come like together and what is the final

pressure. Yeah, the diversity of things, the equilibrium there is between the different, you know, leaves and spirituality and how all of this connects.

Uh, I think the togetherness that we were talking a little bit earlier,

those things really speak to me. And I think for the community as a whole will also be a great message when they come here to live their

big part of the event is not just highlight the talent that there are a lot of we know and India is well known for their talent and we expect a big we expect the best profiles and in the conference but and also during this in in each edition Tommo and the team highlight the the culture, the the history, the country in a great way. And also we we were scouting and looking for um former merch ideas and these kind of things that are super important for the event.

Yeah, I think we might have something merch idea for you like at the end of this. Yeah.

Next question.

Yeah. Um yeah, I think uh this pretty much like I think it was nice that each of you covered some points about uh why why it is about that you specifically like uh but is there anything um else that you had in mind when I think all of you went through the whole process of you picking cities and why Mumbai specifically like hear each of your perspectives and there any other points? All right, I can cover the high level. So when we select location for Defcon, we try to go to places where we've never been. So we've been to Asia.

Two years ago, we've been to Bangkok with Defcon. Last year we went went to Latin America with Argentina. Uh and we've never been to India, which we call we can call a country or continent depending on the perspective. But I think it's a it's a massive place we've never been. um we consider the potential impact we can have on on the country on the region and we think that there is an untapped opportunity for Ethereum to grow in India and so this is one of the main reason why we decided to to go to this place um and uh there are other very important criteria uh the accessibility actually like it's very accessible as a country in terms of visa for example like most countries can get a visa online in 72 hours um some countries struggle a bit more but uh it's accessible for most mumbia Mumbai is a very international place um it's a big city where a lot of facilities are accessible you have a lot of hotels uh a big international airport um and also and most importantly a major venue uh which is the right size and uh has the right proper facilities for to welcome a DEFCON it's quite similar if you've been to DEFCON uh in Bangkok to the QSNCC I think it's comparable in terms of size and and caliber.

Um so yeah, this is at the high level why we we picked India. But again, I think that I would say that the main differentiator um for Defcon compared to other conferences or event worldwide is the the impact we want to have on the country. And we're very committed to at least we'll do our best to involve local communities and try to um to have a strong and lasting impact on on the country. Um and uh and I think we hopefully we can have one.

I can add I can add that I haven't mentioned but it's also the home of the biggest amount of developers uh in the crypto ecosystem.

Um and and I think there there is more that can be done. I can add more or so data that most entrepreneurs uh founders that are initially from India are actually not in India anymore. And we think that uh there might be an opportunity to create a better um structure for them to maybe come back or even inspire the these all these developers to build from India and maybe in India in the long term. So I think the developer base is something that uh that is super interesting for us. I'd like to add something here like from my perspective like I've been seeing like Ethereum's mission over the past few years there always the next the term that's talked about a lot is the next billion they even had a next billion program um a while back and from my perspective you think about impact uh we have the next billion right here

right

we are 16 of humanity And so like in terms of

true

ROI if like one event you know DevCon takes place and it has the chance to impact such a large group of people anywhere on the planet earth. I think India is uh like the most bang for the buck which is why we were super keen uh that you know as soon as the talk started we were like very excited um to you know try and make it happen and it's finally like happening

and I mentioned that we are going you're trying to go to places where we never been but I think we're trying to go to places I mean this time we're going to somewhere that no one ever been like I mean there has been some Macatons with is global with India and the work that defolio has been doing for many years but we have never seen a a large scale conference like defcon or any other uh event like that again without I mean of course if India and other conference like that but um we want to attract uh the worldwide community to uh to India u so yeah that's the opportunity

yeah also wanted to know like and you'll have like a good take on this as well like when when events like these come to a specific region let's say it was latam for like the last we have how does it help like communities around and like what should communities uh do in terms of getting the max value out of it for the people who are coming in our country as well as like how we can perceive the whole thing

yes well the community is a crucial part of the event mostly in the Ethereum events Because we are not we organize the event alone with the communities and a big part of the road to the connect is leading by the communities is in collaboration with the communities and as Natan say it's a unique opportunity to receive this event and you don't know how when any other kind of this event will come to your country. The same happened in Argentina and was hard to me explain the massive and the size of this event and but trust me that and you you you will get you will be um contacting for connecting for many project many people around the world and it's a yes it's a it's a great way to showcase them all of the things that happen in in in India and also to accelerate all the things that have you been doing the the previous um years. So it's fine to um hold on some things like social life. No, I'm I'm kidding. and and building and and yeah, try to achieve all your goals and and try to do something that you you feel proud of it because the the theme foundation give the platform and and DevCon is the perfect meeting point to do a lot of things and so yeah

I think then you are in the perfect city because Mumbai is also like the city that never stops like we everyone has to reach somewhere and everyone is on the go always if you see like 12:00 in the night 2 in the night 3 in the night it's always up

so yeah

I can I can add to that that throughout the year we'll be looking to engage with all local communities so if Mumbai is part of it in Mumbai but all local communities in different cities

uh we've been to Bengal so we'll be looking to engage with communities there uh activate existing communities and ideally find and and find and elevate some people in cities where maybe there's no existing like Ethereum community. I think it would be great that we can span out some new energy in and in new places that that would be great and we'll try to work with local communities to engage people throughout the year but in with the goal of uh for them to join the event and later to continue the effort in building on Ethereum and attract people to to Ethereum and build applications there. Uh so we'll be organizing events, supporting events, supporting people in local communities and yeah as I've mentioned um I mean talk to you can talk about Defcon throughout the year that would be very helpful for us. Uh and uh and yeah we'll be looking for advice on on various things through throughout the year as well. So this is another way you can contribute.

Sure. if you have anything to add here

like yeah like um this is like Ethereum's uh main festival uh you know the headliner festival is coming to India and like we want to welcome it with all the warmth that we have not just in our weather but in our hearts as well right um weather will be good during that time uh in India and yeah like it'll be you know super exciting to see uh what sort of uh what the broader Ethereum communities take is on the existing technology that is here on the engage with the existing tech ecosystem and broader u you know um you know context um I think which uh you know which will be very interesting to see how that uh what like the broader ecosystem makes of it and what interesting use cases can come questions. Uh I think just one question I I had in mind as well was uh what really is the difference between Devcon and uh Dev Connect? I think that's that's been a little caused confusion for me and a couple others that I know. So uh what would you say are the differences? Is it just in the name or

want to take this one?

Sure. Um well Dev Connect, well let's start first with Devcon. The con is the latest Ethereum conference. has more focus also like on research you know so everyone comes the latest updates regarding Ethereum are being shared with you know great specific talks so the community gathers around the world uh in different places and this will be edition number eight but in between along the way um Devcon connect was born and DevCon uh it was one physical space it continues to be one physical space so everyone is like uh there within the venue big venue all the talks there together. The difference with Devcon connect was that it was more decentralized in a way that's there was one co-working space uh where other the the event kind of grew throughout the city.

So the communities build like different events side events but everyone like took over the city. Obviously last year's edition with the first Ethereum worlds fair was was different because a lot of things was uh was happening right inside the venue was like a hybrid between Devcon and Devcon connect. um with that decentralized aspect with the community involvement plus the venue itself. Uh but this edition go back to what is devcon originally with everything focused in the geo world center within the venue. Um so yeah now it's going to be again an important gathering um a lot of focus on knowledge we have understood and learned here by being these days in India there's a lot of research regarding cryptography also privacy security and it will be great to see how that comes into play with the existing applications and and the learnings from Ethereum in the past 10 years so I think it's going to be a very special devcom that will like catapult all that research and connected with uh the application here and let's see what happens after that.

So yeah, that's kind of

Anyway, the the team each year the team raise and raise more um raise the quality of the event. So every year is different. every year has more um the more activities, spaces and and initiatives and fun things.

We're hoping that this is going to be the best DO and yeah, I think we're

also I think it is challenge for you guys to raise it after India. So I think you chose the best one now. So yeah,

do you have anything else before we wrap up?

Yeah, I think I had like a question more around communities. I think a lot of people right now want to help or like provide some like value out of it and stuff. But I think how do they channel all this together? Is there like a one place where they should go to okay these are the things that I can help with or these as a specific communities these are like the things that we excel in or that we have done this in the past for India. So how do these guys like all channel words like one goal other than like being scattered and everyone working in silos?

So is there like anything specific that we need to know in terms of just helping out or volunteering or contributing to

gettingol? So we'll start to publish more and more be more open about what we build. Um we are still in the stage where we define uh the goals and objectives and the shape of the event. Um we have some short-term objective like for example hiring uh local presence. We always work as we mentioned we always work with uh people uh locally and so we'll be hiring for new roles.

So this is one way people can get involved maybe to even join the team for for some like on the production or come side for example or the ecosystem side. Uh so this is one aspect. Um we we have a form ongoing on uh if you want to contribute you can fill out that form and then just uh let us know how you'd like to contribute to the event. Uh and there will be multiple opportunities throughout the year to to uh to contribute. So uh we mentioned the road to defcon where we are going we help and support uh events throughout the year.

So there will be uh there will be this initiative that hopefully we will release soon where people can submit their event ask for support financial non-financial um and we would love to to help there um and then uh I think the the opportunities or the way to collaborate will be more obvious in the coming weeks and months and uh we'll do our best to coordinate all the efforts. Uh but you should feel free to reach out if you have any uh suggestions or if you want to contribute in a way or another. Um generally I mean I've mentioned a few opportunities but we also have volunteer opportunities later on. Uh we'll have community hubs where we work with local and and global communities to get things organized during the event. We'll raise sponsorships with our supporters program.

And so this is another way local projects can get involved. We'll have speaker applications. So this if you're a local builder you can apply to DevCon to speak at Defcon. and um bonus points for if you're a local builder. Uh but uh yeah, those are ways you can get involved and people can get involved and there will be more concrete ways moving forward.

I would add on to that like um help us like build bridges. For example, if you know someone that is close to Ethereum that might, you know, be curious, this might be the perfect opportunity to be able to invite that person. It could be a professor. It could be a friend. It could be someone in your

I don't know in your co-working space

that is like right there in the boundaries and just you know can take that leap forward. Uh Dcom will be a great place um for them. So yes um help us build bridges here within India so that then we can have even more togetherness and and move forward for the future.

Yeah. And also to people is helpful for people know about the city in advance. So if you can share a list of movies or and nice coffees to go and around the venue, food places, all of the things that people can do before or after DevCon and it's good to to have

I think it's a must to be here before like a month or after a month because yeah, we are not leaving anyone without without that. I think um also if uh people from India wants to contribute I think helping to show how beautiful India is to the world is something you can definitely help. Uh I would say transparently that it's a bit uh it can be um uh different when you arrive or it can be a shock when you arrive but when you scratch the surface it's absolutely beautiful. The uh the depth of the culture and history and uh and the food and everything that that is to see and discover in India is absolutely amazing. the people uh uh and so I think people need to see that and I think local people I mean locals and people in local communities can help us to show that throughout the year uh and so I think we might need some some some push uh because uh we're we're from abroad and sometimes we come and we spend as much time as possible in the country but uh I think no one can do it better than you so yeah

yeah the community so far is super hospitality and Yeah, I think we were just discussing Mela and these guys and like we are like super super good on hospitality and like yeah we love people having people over all our festivals are like having people over and having fun and that's what like takes ethereum and I think India like the similar context where like we want everyone to like come together grow and nurture and like help each other and get something big out of it. So yeah, thanks thanks guys for like taking time out and tell if you have like any specific question for them or yeah do you have anything in mind you want to ask

questions like I've been discussing a lot of time and like I like what Nathan said like I think this trip we still this is like level one we tried not to be overwhelming

but uh yeah like Well, the time of Defcon uh whatever you think you're just not ready for it. It's going to be uh probably the biggest the hottest party in in town in the country. Uh and yeah, we'll be super excited to host the whole world uh in Mumbai.

That's cool.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

We have a tiny surprise so that you Yeah.

Oh, wow.

A

wow. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Beautiful flowers.

Oh. Oh wow.

Beautiful.

Wow.

I will use it tomorrow.

Nice.

My opening shirt.

Perfect. Thank you so much.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

I think we'll have

I will use it tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

We want you guys to like be in MIS with this.

Tomorrow we wear this.

Yes.

Yes. For tomorrow. Nice.

You guys like it?

Thank you so much.

A welcome to Mumbai.

Beautiful.

Amazing. Thank you so much.

A

Now you can judge.

Thank you.

Now you can judge her. She's great.