Groundbreakers: Episode 6 - Interview with Tony Plasencia, Co-founder of Underdog Protocol

In this episode of the Groundbreakers podcast, host Domingo interviews Tony Plascencia, co-founder of Underdog Protocol. Tony shares his career journey, starting from his upbringing in East Oakland to his experiences working at companies like Uber and Thumbtack. He discusses the challenges and learnings he faced in those roles, emphasizing the importance of hustle, collaboration, and having an opinion. Tony then dives into the story of how Underdog Protocol came to be, starting with their initial focus on social tokens and pivoting to reputation and community management. He highlights the value of NFTs as database markers and tools for businesses to attract, engage, and retain users. Tony also discusses the challenges of building a startup on Solana and the importance of people management, customer expectations, and distribution. He shares his advice for founders, emphasizing the significance of distribution, storytelling, and building a strong network.