During the process of organizing and attending the inaugural Yale Blockchain Conference in April, we gained valuable insights into crypto regulation, emerging industry trends, and how to drive student engagement. But as leaders of the Yale Blockchain Club, we came away with a burning question: How could academic groups like ours come together to share resources, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in this developing industry?
We started discussing this issue casually during a conference debrief. But over several weeks, we articulated a bold vision for an entirely new event. We envisioned a thriving global network of blockchain enthusiasts, founders, mentors, and investors to support the Web3 student community. Our main goal was to enable students to learn, adopt and adapt this technological tool to drive meaningful change across all sectors. In July, after receiving an initial sponsorship from venture capitalist Tim Draper, we committed to hosting the first Collaborative University Blockchain Ecosystem (CUBE) Summit.
Preparing for the event was a whirlwind of last-minute scrambles, sleepless nights, adrenaline-fueled energy and moments of euphoria. Our planning team was invaluable, but nonetheless required immense coordination, communication and precision to manage the expectations of more than 50 stakeholders. We had to secure funding from sponsors, effectively communicate our vision to get buy-in from speakers, and find optimal locations for the event and after-party. Alongside these major tasks, we juggled countless finer details, including seating locations, catering logistics, and agenda planning. In the end, every challenge was worth it: the result exceeded all expectations.
On October 3, our vision came to life in the heart of Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood. Held in the stunning offices of blockchain platform Solana, with panoramic views of New York, the summit welcomed more than 300 participants, bringing together a vibrant community of students, alumni, industry experts and close-knit investors by the theme of the event: the intersection of AI and Blockchain. The day was filled with insightful discussions as leading startup founders shared the stage with leading investors, exploring the critical challenges facing these two emerging technologies.
Participants came from all over, including students from our co-initiating universities and other institutions such as Dartmouth, Emory, Fordham, Georgia Tech, Rice, and the University of Connecticut. With participants representing various regions, hoping to tackle different challenges through blockchain, the event highlighted how different sectors are working together to drive blockchain innovation.
Looking back, it is gratifying to see that the conversations did not end with the summit. University club leaders have generated new initiatives and several businesses have expressed strong interest in supporting and growing this vibrant student community across multiple campuses. We are truly grateful to our sponsors, speakers and participants, without whom the event would not have been a success.
As we reflect on our experience organizing this summit, we realize how much our time at Yale SOM prepared us for this work. The courses we took shaped our understanding of blockchain and prepared us to tackle the complexities of producing a large-scale event like the CUBE Summit. Professor Daylian Cain and Barry Nalebuff’s negotiation course allowed us to imagine win-win solutions with sponsors and partners. We also took inspiration from the Entrepreneurship in the Art Market course, taught by Magnus Resch, to curate a unique conference experience. The strategies developed by art gallery owners helped us design an organic event flow, facilitate personal interactions, and create an inviting atmosphere to ensure attendees felt part of something truly special.
We are excited to bring the valuable insights learned at the summit back to SOM and foster meaningful collaboration across the university. As we plan the second annual Yale Blockchain Conference, our goal is to connect and integrate Yale’s diverse student bodies to approach blockchain technology from a holistic perspective. By hosting panels with thought leaders from various industries, we aim to explore new applications of blockchain and inspire interdisciplinary solutions.
Innovation knows no boundaries, and by bringing together Yale’s diverse schools, we hope to unlock revolutionary ideas and expand the potential of this transformative technology. Together we will continue to learn, build and shape the future of blockchain.
We are currently seeking feedback as we begin planning the second annual Yale Blockchain Conference. If you have any ideas, please register your interest.
