'I want to build a billion-dollar company' - Solana Diaries #7

Hello everyone, this is 🎅.sol! Welcome back to another edition of Solana Diaries, where we dive deep into the minds of those shaping the Solana ecosystem. Today, I am thrilled to bring you a captivating interview with Yash Agarwal who self describes as ‘The FinTech Guy in Crypto’. Others might know him as the legendary SuperTeam bounty hunter - that’s how I first heard about him.

🎅: Hello Yash! I’m so excited to have you, you are an impressive member of the Solana community. So, tell us how did you get into this space? What made you stick around?

Yash Agarwal: I first entered this space in 2018 after the ICO boom but didn’t stick around due to a lack of resources and applications. At the time, I was primarily interning in the Indian FinTech space. However, in November 2021, I was bored with my internship at TradFi and started looking for interesting opportunities. That's when I came across an attractive bounty in Superteam, offering $500 for writing a research piece on "Creator Economy on Solana." I attempted the bounty and won the first prize. The amazing Superteam community helped me to engage more, and earning income directly via my research skills helped me to stick around.

🎅: What’s your proudest win?

Y: Getting into Superteam, a community started by one of the famous Indian comedians, had the biggest impact on my web3 journey. I was bullish that this community would eventually be a big thing. Eventually, Superteam also gave me an opportunity to work with Anna from Solana Foundation, helping with stablecoins and payments business development and research for 7-8 months.

🎅: Biggest ‘facepalm’ moment or regret?

Y: I tried starting my own venture in the payments field with one of my close friends, who didn't truly believe in crypto but thought it was a good opportunity. I think I made a mistake, as after the FTX crash, he began thinking crypto would come to an end, funding would be difficult, and eventually left the crypto space, leading to shutting down of the venture.

🎅: What’s the most exciting thing [in crypto or beyond] right now? Spill the tea.

Y: I believe in Balaji's concept of network states and how crypto can help bootstrap entire online communities. I think we will see this turn into reality in the next 5-7 years. Besides, I am most excited about stablecoins and Real World Assets, as they take existing traditional assets and put them into efficient crypto rails.

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🎅: What are you building? Why does it matter to you?

Y: Currently, I am helping a payments project on Solana called Ottr Finance with growth and business development. Ottr Finance is particularly interesting to me as it lies at the intersection of a few things I am most excited about:

1. Crypto Wallets as Super app

2. Mobile-first to onboard the next wave of consumers.

3. Stablecoins as a medium of exchange (crypto payments)

I also keep building public goods on Solana, like Solana Payments Hub (Discover Solana payment projects) and Solana Bridge (seamless bridge to and from Solana). Additionally, I keep writing about the Solana ecosystem, which has garnered over 15k+ reads: https://yashhsm.medium.com/.

🎅: As you look ahead, what personal goals are you chasing?

Y: In the next 1-2 years, I want to learn and make an impact as much as I can by contributing to the projects and the larger ecosystem. In the longer term, I want to start my own project and build a billion-dollar company.

Rapid fire:

• I’m bullish on: Stablecoins and Real World Assets

• I’m bearish on: On-chain reputation and Seed phrases

• Undervalued: Solana

• My degen secret: Specialisation for a niche and Diversification overall

• When next BTC ATH: Late 2025

• Next SOL ATH: Mid 2026

• Everyone should follow: Shoutout to folks who made an impact on my Web3 journey (@akshaybd, @scriblooooor, @gizmothegizzer)

• I want to see interviewed next: My friend @harsh4786, who is building the first light client for Solana called Tinydancer

Reflecting on our conversation with Yash Agarwal, it's impossible not to feel a wave of inspiration washing over us. The commitment and dedication he's shown towards carving out a meaningful and impactful place in the Solana ecosystem is truly motivating.

From 🎅 to Yash: your contributions to the Solana ecosystem and your ability to seize opportunities in the SuperTeam bounties arena are awe-inspiring. Your journey reinforces taking action and makes me want to grind even harder. Thank you!

Until next time, keep exploring the Solana universe and remember to smash that subscribe button!

Ho ho ho!🎅