Three ex-Google executives have banded together to form xGoogler Blockchain Alliance (GBA), a community with a goal of developing and promoting blockchain innovations.
The GBA is active already in San Fransisco, Beijing, and Shanghai, with plans to soon expand the project.
xGoogler Blockchain Alliance
The project managers, investors, and advisors of GBA include Andy Tian, Hitters Xu, and Daniel Wang. As well as the prior experience at Google, each founder has a history in the broader technology sector.
Tian produced Ethereum-based gifting platform Gifto that currently maintains 20 million users. Xu developed the public blockchain network Nebulas, and Wang founded the decentralized token exchange protocol Loopring.
It is, however, their experience at tech conglomerate Google that they see as the biggest asset to bolstering the awareness around blockchain. Tian spoke on the matter, saying, ”Google has always been in the forefront of new technologies worldwide, from Android to AI. As Googlers, we can bring our unique experiences to expand blockchain’s influence, to everyone, everywhere.”
The blockchain industry
The GBA has the potential to become a valuable hub for blockchain startups. This is a much-needed development, as blockchain is the second fastest growing industry in the labor market. As reported by TechCrunch, there are 14 jobs opening up for every suitable developer.
Robbie Mitchnick, an MBA student at Stanford Business School, spoke to CNBC on the change in the norm for finance students. Previously, Wall St was the top job for such students, but an increasing number are leaving elite business schools and joining blockchain or cryptocurrency startups.
”We’ve got a lot of people who came from traditional finance backgrounds that are forgoing the chance to go back into that world to get involved in blockchain,” he said.
Top business schools have begun expanding their course offerings to include modules on Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain. Sao Paulo university Fundacao Getulio Vargas recently began to offer the first master’s degree in Bitcoin.
