
Jean Herelle - CrunchDAO, Alpha-generating Insights from Decentralized Machine Learning, AI, and Data Scientists
02/16/25 • 67 min
In this conversation, Jean Harrell from CrunchDAO shares his journey into the Web3 space, detailing his background in econometrics and computer science. He discusses the inception of CrunchDAO as a two-sided marketplace connecting data providers and machine learning engineers. The conversation delves into the use of privacy-enhancing technologies, the role of coordinators, and the potential for machine learning models to create wealth. Jean also highlights the importance of decentralization, funding strategies, and the unique community that CrunchDAO fosters, emphasizing real-world demand for their solutions. In this conversation, Jean from Crunch discusses innovative contributions to the platform, the role of data coordinators, and the importance of ensuring data quality through incentive mechanisms. He elaborates on the design of effective coordination mechanisms, engagement with healthcare organizations, and the challenges faced in data preparation. The discussion also covers the learning experiences from the closed beta, marketing strategies for growth, the future of AI agents in Crunch, diverse use cases for the platform, and the significance of predictive tasks in data science. Jean emphasizes the need to build a new category in the data science space, positioning Crunch as a leader in this emerging field.
Takeaways
- Jean's background in econometrics and computer science led him to Web3.
- The need for decentralized currency was evident in Taiwan in 2014.
- CrunchDAO connects data monopolies with skilled data scientists.
- Privacy-enhancing techniques allow data sharing without revealing sensitive information.
- The role of coordinators is crucial in building products on CrunchDAO.
- Machine learning models can create recurring revenue for data scientists.
- Decentralization is key to scaling the CrunchDAO protocol.
- Funding from VCs helped build the CrunchDAO protocol.
- Building trust in a two-sided market is essential for success.
- The community plays a vital role in the development and signaling of the protocol. Crunch is focused on identifying future value creators.
- The integration of LLMs with unstructured data is key.
- User engagement has led to significant question generation.
- Data coordinators play a crucial role in data usability.
- Quality assurance is incentivized through financial penalties.
- Coordination mechanisms are designed based on internal experience.
- The beta period will help refine the coordination process.
- Data preparation challenges require skilled personnel.
- AI agents could enhance productivity in data science.
- Predictive tasks are essential for autonomous decision-making.
Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.
In this conversation, Jean Harrell from CrunchDAO shares his journey into the Web3 space, detailing his background in econometrics and computer science. He discusses the inception of CrunchDAO as a two-sided marketplace connecting data providers and machine learning engineers. The conversation delves into the use of privacy-enhancing technologies, the role of coordinators, and the potential for machine learning models to create wealth. Jean also highlights the importance of decentralization, funding strategies, and the unique community that CrunchDAO fosters, emphasizing real-world demand for their solutions. In this conversation, Jean from Crunch discusses innovative contributions to the platform, the role of data coordinators, and the importance of ensuring data quality through incentive mechanisms. He elaborates on the design of effective coordination mechanisms, engagement with healthcare organizations, and the challenges faced in data preparation. The discussion also covers the learning experiences from the closed beta, marketing strategies for growth, the future of AI agents in Crunch, diverse use cases for the platform, and the significance of predictive tasks in data science. Jean emphasizes the need to build a new category in the data science space, positioning Crunch as a leader in this emerging field.
Takeaways
- Jean's background in econometrics and computer science led him to Web3.
- The need for decentralized currency was evident in Taiwan in 2014.
- CrunchDAO connects data monopolies with skilled data scientists.
- Privacy-enhancing techniques allow data sharing without revealing sensitive information.
- The role of coordinators is crucial in building products on CrunchDAO.
- Machine learning models can create recurring revenue for data scientists.
- Decentralization is key to scaling the CrunchDAO protocol.
- Funding from VCs helped build the CrunchDAO protocol.
- Building trust in a two-sided market is essential for success.
- The community plays a vital role in the development and signaling of the protocol. Crunch is focused on identifying future value creators.
- The integration of LLMs with unstructured data is key.
- User engagement has led to significant question generation.
- Data coordinators play a crucial role in data usability.
- Quality assurance is incentivized through financial penalties.
- Coordination mechanisms are designed based on internal experience.
- The beta period will help refine the coordination process.
- Data preparation challenges require skilled personnel.
- AI agents could enhance productivity in data science.
- Predictive tasks are essential for autonomous decision-making.
Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.
Previous Episode

Growing a 10 Million Gamer Community from Bottom-up with Gabby Dizon from Yield Guild
Summary
In this conversation, Gabby from Yield Guild discusses the mission and evolution of the organization, emphasizing its role in the Web3 gaming community. The discussion covers the recent YGG Play Summit, the challenges of building during a bear market, and the transition from a guild to a guild protocol. Gabby highlights the importance of questing for player engagement and the strategies for community growth, including the Future of Work initiative that expands opportunities beyond gaming. The conversation concludes with insights on growth dynamics through guild leaders. In this conversation, Gabby Dizon from YGG discusses the strategies for engaging guild leaders, the importance of community-led events, and the role of the YGG token in the gaming economy. She emphasizes the need for effective marketing to attract Web2 gamers, the significance of storytelling in the Web3 space, and the geographic differences in gaming preferences. Gabby also shares insights on future goals for YGG and the potential for Web3 gaming in 2025.
Takeaways
- Yield Guild connects gamers to earn money while playing.
- The YGG Play Summit showcased Web3 games and community.
- Building in a bear market requires a clear mission.
- Yield Guild serves as a platform for various guilds.
- Questing engages players and incentivizes participation.
- Community building is a bottom-up process.
- The Future of Work Initiative expands earning opportunities.
- Guild leaders play a crucial role in community growth.
- Collaboration with game publishers enhances player engagement.
- Yield Guild's community has grown significantly across regions. Identifying guild leaders is crucial for community engagement.
- Community-led events can enhance player participation.
- The YGG token is integral to the gaming economy.
- Marketing strategies should focus on Web2 gamers.
- Storytelling is essential for connecting with audiences.
- Geographic differences influence gaming preferences.
- Partnerships with game publishers drive growth.
- The Metaverse Filipino Worker concept resonates with locals.
- Niche games are becoming mainstream in emerging markets.
- 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for Web3 gaming.
Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.
Next Episode

Alan Orwick--Quai Network: Exploring the Future of Scalable Blockchain with Proof-of-Entropy-Minima
In this conversation, Alan Orwick, co-founder of Quai Network, shares his journey into the world of cryptocurrency, detailing his early interest in technology and the founding of the Texas blockchain organization. He discusses the unique properties of Quai Network, emphasizing its proof of work model and the importance of energy in the economy. Alan explains Quai's dual token system and its focus on creating a user-friendly payment experience. He highlights the importance of building a supportive developer ecosystem and the network's approach to interoperability and attracting applications. The conversation concludes with a discussion on simplifying user experience while maintaining the complexity of the underlying technology. In this conversation, Alan discusses the strategic approach of Quai Network in the crypto space, emphasizing the importance of content marketing and community engagement. He highlights the diverse target audience, including developers, miners, and institutional investors, and the need for educational content to bridge the knowledge gap in crypto. Alan also shares insights on the upcoming Token Generation Event (TGE) and the response from the Bitcoin community, while outlining the long-term vision for Quai Network as a sustainable and innovative player in the blockchain ecosystem.
Takeaways
- Alan Orwick's journey into crypto began with a passion for technology.
- Quai Network is built on a proof of work model with unique properties.
- Energy is viewed as the backbone of the economy by Quai Network.
- Quai has a dual token system to enhance stability and usability.
- The focus on payments aims to create a Venmo-like experience for users.
- Quai is open to various applications, fostering a diverse ecosystem.
- Building a supportive environment for developers is crucial for Quai's success.
-Interoperability is key to attracting applications from other chains.
- User experience is prioritized to simplify complex blockchain interactions.
- Quai Network aims to decentralize RPCs to enhance network reliability.
- Content -marketing is crucial for educating the crypto community.
- Quai Network aims to engage with various audience segments.
- The focus is on building a sustainable and long-term community.
- Institutional interest is growing in the crypto space.
- The upcoming TGE is a significant milestone for Quai Network.
- Engaging with the Bitcoin community is essential for growth.
- Quai Network is focused on real-world applications of crypto.
- The team is dedicated to transparency and education.
- Building a vibrant community is a priority for Quai Network.
- The future of Quai Network looks promising with innovative solutions.
Timeline
00:00 Alan Orwick's Journey into Crypto
02:45 The Unique Properties of Quai Network
09:21 Energy as the Backbone of the Economy
11:31 Understanding Quai's Dual Token System
13:37 Quai's Focus on Payments
16:43 Building a Developer-Friendly Ecosystem
20:52 Interoperability and Attracting Applications
24:52 User Experience and Simplifying Complexity
31:22 The Importance of Content Marketing in Crypto
34:28 Target Audience and Community Engagement
39:50 Institutional Interest and Real-World Applications
44:34 Preparing for the Token Generation Event
46:10 Engaging with the Bitcoin Community
50:54 Building for the Future: Long-Term Vision
Follow me @shmula on X for upcoming episodes and to get in touch with me.
Block by Block: A Show on Web3 Growth Marketing - Jean Herelle - CrunchDAO, Alpha-generating Insights from Decentralized Machine Learning, AI, and Data Scientists
Transcript
We are rolling. Welcome Jean Harrell from CrunchDAO. Hi Peter.
Now for those that have not heard of CrunchDAO, we'd love to hear a little bit about it. But before we do, we'd love to hear your origin story. I think like most folks that enter the Web3 space with a strong quantitative background, I think yours will be very interesting to the rest of us. Tell us your origin story. Yeah, how far should I go? Actually, my background is in ec
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