Insights from the VC & KOL Summit at Miami Art Week
Unlocking the Future of Digital Creativity and Innovation
During Miami Art Week, the VC & KOL Summit, organized by Cointelegraph Accelerator and BitBasel, brought together venture capitalists, startups, and blockchain visionaries. This premier event provided a platform for discussions about building ecosystems, integrating blockchain technologies, and reimagining the Web3 space.
Here’s a deeper dive into the event highlights:
1. Monetizing Creativity in the Digital Age
Moderator: Denis Belkevich, General Partner, Fuelarts
Speakers:
- Scott Spiegel (Co-Founder & CEO, BitBasel)
- Jorge Cortes (Co-Founder, BitBasel)
- Kelly Max (Digital Art Entrepreneur)
- Elena Zavelev (Head of Partnerships, LiveArt)
The panel explored how blockchain and NFTs are reshaping creative industries, focusing on ways these technologies can empower creators and businesses. While the potential is vast, the conversation centered around building the infrastructure to make ideas viable.

Key Insights:
- Fraud Prevention in Digital Art: Elena Zavelev highlighted that 30% of art sold globally is fraudulent, with blockchain offering a transparent and secure solution. Tools like nano-particle fingerprinting can help authenticate art and prevent fraud.
- NFTs as Commercial Tools: While the idea of renting a Beeple NFT or using NFTs for escrow-based smart contracts was discussed, these concepts are still aspirational. The panel emphasized that building the infrastructure and ecosystem to support such use cases is critical to unlocking their potential.
- Beyond Art: NFTs are being envisioned as tools to solve real-world problems, like enabling smart contracts for rentals or tokenizing real estate. These innovations represent a shift from viewing NFTs solely as collectibles to functional, practical assets.
- Collaborative Ecosystems: Partnerships, like the MOSAIX collaboration with Google and Gemini, show how combining blockchain, AI, and secure technologies can drive monetization and growth.
Kelly Max summed it up: “We’re at the beginning of redefining creativity and commerce, but the infrastructure to support this vision is key.”
2. The Art of Collaboration with Content Creators in Web3
Moderator: Olga Vox, CSO, Wow Cube
Speakers:
- Tommy Petrov (CEO, CopySight AI, ex-Meta, ex-Snap)
- The Bearable Bull (Content Creator)
- Felice Schimmel (Founder, TokenXcelerator)
This session tackled the challenges and opportunities for content creators in Web3, focusing on removing barriers like censorship and enabling creators to retain ownership of their work.

Deep-Dive Takeaways:
- Overcoming Bottlenecks: Web3’s decentralized frameworks tackle issues like attention bottlenecks and censorship. Creators can monetize their work directly, maintaining ownership and receiving royalties without relying on third-party platforms.
- AI + Blockchain Integration: Tommy Petrov explained how AI-assisted labeling on blockchain can simplify content ownership while creating opportunities for new revenue streams. This integration also allows for IP building and protection, ensuring creators can collaborate without fear of theft.
- Value-Driven Communities: The Bearable Bull emphasized the importance of creating movements based on trust and value. Web3 enables creators
to foster meaningful communities that focus on delivering value rather than chasing vanity metrics like likes and views. These communities are built on shared goals, not superficial engagement.
- Decentralized Monetization Models: Royalties and licensing frameworks allow creators to collaborate without losing ownership. Web3 empowers creators to negotiate fair revenue-sharing models, which could replace traditional content monetization systems.
The panelists agreed: the future of Web3 content creation lies in giving creators autonomy, equity, and opportunities for deeper collaborations.
3. Beyond Grants: New Strategies to Attract Builders
Moderator: Abhay Mavalankar, VP of Corporate Development and Investments, MoonPay Ventures
Speakers:
- Javier Arroyo (Regional Lead, ICP HUB Canada & US)
- Rohan Handa (Head of Strategic Investments/Partnerships, Mysten Labs)
- Alex Jivov (VP of Global Partnerships, SKALE Labs)
This session explored how startups can thrive beyond traditional grant systems. While grants provide initial support, the panelists stressed that sustainable success requires strategic partnerships, robust ecosystems, and a clear roadmap.

Key Insights:
- Strategic Partnerships: Grants are a starting point, but building strong relationships with investors and partners creates more opportunities. Rohan Handa highlighted the importance of a vision piece that aligns with long-term goals for investors and developers alike.
- Multi-Chain Interoperability: Alex Jivov described interoperability as the key to scalability. Projects should connect seamlessly across chains, such as Skale Labs’ dedicated chains for gaming, AI, and liquidity.
- Design with Scalability in Mind: Developers must anticipate challenges like high gas fees and plan for scalable infrastructure from the beginning to ensure long-term viability.
- Grassroots Innovation: Community-driven efforts remain essential. Founders must foster collaboration within developer communities to innovate effectively and expand their ecosystems.
The overarching message? Go beyond grants by creating ecosystems that attract talent, investors, and developers for the long haul.
4. VCs Unplugged: What They’re Really Looking For
Moderator: Anna Shakola, Head of BD, Cointelegraph Accelerator
Speakers:
- Jack Brukhman (Founder & CEO, CoinFund)
- Solene Fouillia (Principal, Borderless Capital)
- John Fiorelli (Partner, Kinetic Capital)
- Mike Zajko (Co-Founder, Lattice)
The final panel pulled back the curtain on what venture capitalists look for in Web3 startups, offering practical advice for founders hoping to secure investment.

Green Flags for Startups:
- Holistic Teams: Teams that blend technical, business, and leadership expertise stand out. It’s not just about having developers but also marketers, strategists, and visionaries.
- Depth of Market Knowledge: VCs want founders who deeply understand their market and users, not just their technology.
- Transparency: Being upfront about both opportunities and risks builds trust. Discuss your success factors, but also share potential challenges and your plans to overcome them.
- Vision-Driven Leadership: A compelling narrative about the company’s mission and future direction is essential. Founders who can inspire not just their teams but also their investors and token holders have a competitive edge.
- Scalable Roadmaps: VCs look for companies that start with testnets and mainnets, then strategically launch tokenized instruments when the timing is optimal.
Red Flags for Startups:
- Token-Only Models: Projects relying solely on token economics without deeper business use cases are a major turn-off.
- Over-Isolation: Founders who are too deep in niche markets or unable to pivot are seen as risky.
- Opportunistic Entrants: Teams that jumped into blockchain during the hype cycle without a genuine understanding of the space are less appealing.
- Lack of Focus: If a project has no clear product-market fit or no visible understanding of its ecosystem, it signals poor planning.
John Fiorelli summed it up perfectly: “Endurance and leadership are as important as the product. Founders must have the ability to inspire confidence, not just in their teams but also in their investors.”
Key Themes from the Summit
The VC & KOL Summit highlighted recurring themes that are shaping the future of Web3:
- Scalability is Key: Infrastructure, interoperability, and sustainability are critical for mainstream adoption.
- Creativity Meets Utility: NFTs and blockchain must evolve from speculative assets to tools that solve real-world problems.
- Leadership Drives Success: Visionary founders with the ability to execute and adapt will lead the next wave of innovation.
As Miami emerges as a hub for blockchain and creative technology, events like this demonstrate the city’s pivotal role in fostering collaboration, innovation, and decentralization.