NFT Paris 2024, February 23-24 – About, Review
The digital frontier continues to evolve at a breathtaking pace, unlocking an ever-expanding array of possibilities for creatives, tech enthusiasts, and forward-thinking investors. A testament to this dynamic progress is the NFT Paris 2024 – the premier annual gathering for the non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystem, which took place at the iconic Grand Palais Éphémère in the heart of France’s cultural capital on February 23-24, 2024.
Co-founded by visionaries Alexandre Tsydenkov and Côme Prost-Boucle, this prestigious two-day event promises to be a beacon for Brands, Artists, Entrepreneurs, Investors and Collectors captivated by the transformative power of NFTs. Hosted within the Grand Palais, a legendary institution born from the Universal Exposition of 1900 and synonymous with groundbreaking innovation, NFT Paris 2024 will serve as a dynamic hub for immersive experiences, thought-provoking discussions, and cross-pollination of ideas across the realms of art, fashion, gaming, and cutting-edge technology.
As the co-founder Alexandre Tsydenkov reflects on the preparations for this landmark 3rd edition, he underscores the team’s commitment to elevating the attendee experience. «Our priority this year is to truly immerse our guests in the boundless possibilities of this space, whether through accessible generative art workshops or cutting-edge virtual fashion showcases», he explains. «We’ve learned from the logistical challenges of our inaugural event at the Grand Palais Éphémère, and are working tirelessly to ensure a seamless, high-impact experience for all who join us».
Undeterred by the broader economic climate, Tsydenkov remains optimistic, noting that “it’s better to be at the bottom of the wave, where people know it’s going to pick up again.” With a focus on fostering engagement and accessibility, the NFT Paris team is poised to deliver an unforgettable celebration of digital innovation, artistic expression, and the transformative potential of blockchain technology.
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The driving force behind the organization of this landmark event is a steadfast commitment to showcasing the remarkable maturity and transformative potential of the NFT ecosystem. As co-founder Alexandre Tsydenkov aptly notes, «Our aim is to highlight those who are truly driving Web3 forward – to shine a light on the innovators and visionaries shaping the future of this space».
Tsydenkov acknowledges that the NFT landscape has, at times, been marred by the proliferation of dubious projects, which have collectively tarnished perceptions. «Some people don’t want to see it, but the world of NFTs has been seen as a world of clowns because of bogus projects, and that has collectively penalized us», he concedes. Yet, he remains resolute in his belief that the tide is turning, as the underlying technology continues to mature and an ever-growing number of established companies chart their course into the Web3 frontier.
«Not everything is perfect, but there’s clearly more maturity. The technology is much more solid», Tsydenkov observes. «The aim is to show that the ecosystem is building, that things are happening. More and more companies are working on NFTs and Web3 projects». He points to trailblazing initiatives, like the Musée d’Orsay’s foray into the NFT space, as tangible evidence of this transformative progress.
Recognizing that crypto and Web3 may not yet appeal to the masses, Tsydenkov stresses the need for clarity and patience. «We know where we want to go, but there’s still a long way to go». In a bold move to foster a deeper, more immersive connection between the NFT Paris community and the event itself, the organizers have announced the launch of their own exclusive NFT collection – a project that has been meticulously crafted over the course of the past year.
«NFT Paris is more than an event with stands, it’s a community»,Tsydenkov affirms. «Just because NFT Paris only lasts 2 days doesn’t mean the experience has to stop there». Through this innovative NFT initiative, the team aims to offer a «more gamified experience» that will transcend the physical event, inviting attendees to become active participants in an ongoing, year-round celebration of the NFT revolution.
Initiated three years ago while Alexandre Tsydenkov was still a student at HEC Paris, the NFT Paris event is today a global reference in the world of WEB3. This is what Alexandre shares about his life path and career:
«I began with preparatory classes before pursuing the Grande École program at HEC Paris. However, I quickly realized that working in consulting groups wasn’t for me. Entrepreneurship was where I wanted to go. From my early years of study, I developed many projects around entrepreneurship, absorbing all available resources on the subject, and multiplying encounters with HEC Alumni entrepreneurs. My gap year was clearly the catalyst for this budding passion, and equipped me with skills entrepreneurs sometimes lack. I first worked in sales at Bouygues Telecom Entreprises to learn how to sell in a structured way, and then in product development at Okarito to understand how a product works. These experiences shaped my understanding of the business world, and strengthened my determination to create something meaningful.
During my studies, I was starting to become passionate about NFTs, collecting them and being very active on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). By then, I knew it was my field of predilection. For my final year of studies, I joined the MSc X-HEC Entrepreneurs program. There, I met many people who shared the same interest as me in NFTs. And since I had to come up with an entrepreneurial project, I decided to launch a project around NFTs with other classmates. The next day, we announced the first NFT Paris event on X, and that was it! No turning back. We had to deliver it in only four months.
We could manage to structure NFT Paris with the help of a motivated team. Four of us were originally working on the project, with Côme Prost-Boucle and myself leading the effort. Soon enough, 15 other people joined! As much as it was a collective endeavor, I was the one who initiated the project, and as a matter of fact the one bearing all the financial consequences – and we were talking about a €200,000 event. The road wasn’t easy. Organizing an event of this magnitude requires considerable resources: finding sponsors, securing the venue, gathering renowned speakers, and selling tickets. But our determination was unwavering.
We received a tremendous amount of support from the HEC Paris Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, which helped us secure the venue at Station F, and to find sponsors and speakers. Arianee, the Sandbox, and Ledger were among the first ones to take part in the adventure as partners. Working on all the aspects simultaneously was challenging, but our efforts paid off. The first edition of NFT Paris was an incredible success: it attracted over 800 participants.
The event resonated with the NFT events held in the USA. People were simply expecting a similar event to take place in France. Luckily for us, our competitor in New York had delivered an average event three years prior. We, on the contrary, focused on offering an event with an exceptionally high-quality standard. Additionally, hosting the second edition in an iconic venue such as the Palais Éphémère, located near the Eiffel Tower, contributed tremendously to its success. Finally, we gambled on a new approach, which involved expanding the event’s reach internationally. The idea was to target a broad and diverse audience, and to highlight France’s technological and cultural richness in arts, gaming, entertainment, music, film, and sports.
For the second edition, we moved from Station F’s 900 square meter space to 10,000 square meters at the Grand Palais Éphémère. This implied attracting 10 times more people and being 20 times more aggressive in terms of marketing outreach. In 2021, NFT Paris was a strictly French event, but by 2022 it had become the European reference».
Beyond the $NFTPARIS token, the NFT Paris 2024 agenda was brimming with exciting activities: a large hackathon, immersive installations, and a series of discussions led by renowned experts. These sessions were tailored to explore the frontiers of creativity within the NFT and web3 ecosystem, igniting engaging conversations around the future of digital art and technology.
The impressive list of speakers included:
- Sandeep Nailwal, Co-founder, Polygon
- Stani Kulechov, Founder & CEO, Aave & Lens
- Nelly Mensah, VP of Digital Innovation – Head of Crypto and Metaverse, LVMH
- Yat Siu, Co-founder & Chairman, Animoca Brands
- Megan Kaspar, Founder, RedDAO
- Ian Rogers, Chief Experience Officer, Ledger
- Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO & Co-Founder, MoonPay
- Sebastien Borget, Co-Founder & COO, The Sandbox
- Julian Holguin, CEO, Doodles
- Erick Calderon, CEO & Founder, Art Blocks
- Sandy Carter, SVP and Channel Chief, Unstoppable Domains
- Aleksander Leonard Larsen, Co-Founder and COO, Sky Mavis
- Richard Briffod, Global Strategic, eBay
- Pär Helgosson, Head of Web3 and Metaverse, Paris Saint-Germain
- Michael Lee, Senior Vice President / Growth, zkSync
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In 2024, representatives of Boosty Labs were pleased to participate in this wonderful event. The company hopes that next year and going forward, they will have the opportunity to continue communicating with friends, colleagues, and the general public within the framework of NFT Paris.