Meet the Member: The Avid Gymmer Who Eats Kimchi and Talks Blockchain
Stephane Laurent is a social entrepreneur, blockchain advocate, and a member at Dash Living in Hong Kong. He moved to the concrete jungle in September 2019 ago to start his fintech start-up, Rio Defi, with his business partners. Between working out at the gym and working on his protein bar project with other Dashers, we met up with Stephane to talk about how he ended up Asia, his entrepreneurial journey, and notable moments in his career.
Please introduce yourself
S: I grew up in France but left 15 years ago for work in Asia. Before I moved to Hong Kong, I was living in Shanghai for a few years, and that’s where I started working in the bitcoin industry.
Why did you choose to move to Asia?
S: At first I wanted to explore South Asia, so I volunteered at different NGO’s. I went back to get my MBA and then came back to Asia to work for various companies in the financial and real estate sector before moving into blockchain in 2017.
How did you get into blockchain?
S: I like to attend networking events because it’s a great way to make new connections when you’re new to a city. In spring 2017, I went to a guest speaking event where the organizer invites experts in their fields. They invited a blockchain specialist who was very passionate about it. It inspired me to get into this technology. I quit my job and got into this industry as soon as I could.
Why did you choose to start your startup in Hong Kong?
S: Hong Kong is much more progressive in blockchain technology, so that’s why my partners and I established our company here. I have visited Hong Kong many times, and I’ve always thought, “I would love to live here. It’s the best city in the world!”
Can you tell us more about your entrepreneurial journey?
S: I started a few companies before working in blockchain, including marketing agencies for fintech companies. I also started a social entrepreneur Community five years ago and have mentored a lot of startups in Shanghai.
Has there been any notable moments within your career as an entrepreneur?
S: In 2017, I worked on 2 start-ups which was highlighly successful and we raised US$32 million within 3-4 months. It was great because there was a lot of enthusiasm running in the space, but it was a good lesson to see how the whole blockchain industry crash. I learned a double-sided lesson: the potential to raise so much money and the potential for the market to crash.
We’ve heard you’ve been working on a project with Micheal [tenant at Dash Coliving], can you tell us more about it?
S: I’ve been hitting the gym for 20 years, and I never paid attention to gaining muscle mass the right way. I met Micheal who is a bodybuilder and he gave me a lot of dietary advice. So I followed his advice, and saw results quickly.
We’ve been discussing what’s the quickest way to get those nutrients, which I found out was powder and supplements. At this stage, it’s still a pet project but we hope to commercialize it. We’re still fine-tuning the recipe, the logo design and packaging at this stage.
Finally, can you tell us your favorite places to eat?
- Le Pain Quotidien – it’s a cozy spot to hang out
- Haidilao – great hot pot place
