Hello,
We did something cool for today’s issue. We had Brandon Kumar of Layer3 join us for a series involving founders. Who better than a founder to ask fellow operators about what it takes to build companies?
This is episode one of several we plan to do with founders in the future. Let’s go.
Running a successful (crypto) company requires more than just technical know-how. It takes an understanding of the human elements that bring an organisation to life. In the first episode of our operator-to-operator series, I explored exactly that with Matt Katz from Caldera, and my co-host Brandon from Layer3.
What sets this conversation apart is the deep dive into what makes Caldera tick behind the scenes. Matt's journey from Stanford student to CEO offers a compelling window into modern crypto entrepreneurship. Unlike many founders who focused solely on capitalising on the 2022 bull market, Matt was committed to building something fundamentally valuable— blockchain deployment through standardisation and accessibility.
Caldera's technical achievements are impressive; their modular approach has reduced blockchain deployment costs by two orders of magnitude while maintaining robust security. Major projects like Apecoin, Manta, Treasure, and Zerion trust Caldera's infrastructure, demonstrating the platform's reliability at scale.
Matt's reflections on managing a diverse team and balancing a “high-performance sports team” mindset with respect for individual working styles are lessons that apply to any startup. Just as the Dodgers excel at monetising talent to build championship teams, Caldera thinks deeply about aligning incentives across their ecosystem.
On the technical side, Caldera has faced challenges in scaling infrastructure while ensuring efficiency. One breakthrough has been developing interoperable solutions that make blockchain technology more accessible, enabling seamless integration across systems while maintaining performance.
A company thrives on its people. At DCo, direct feedback has always been part of our DNA. When Joel and I talk, we can be blunt—calling something 'garbage' if needed—but I've learned that not everyone responds well to this. As the team grows, focusing on empathy and understanding individual needs was a takeaway for me.
If you're curious about what it really takes to build a crypto company—from the tech to the team—this episode is worth your time. Matt's journey is inspiring, from his unique approach to customer support to navigating competition and developing interoperable blockchain solutions.
Exploring sentience,
Saurabh Deshpande
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