A CHAT WITH THE CHIEF CHILIZEN: ALEXANDRE DREYFUS TALKS RADICAL FAN ENGAGEMENT

We caught up with Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz, to talk about Malta, blockchain and the radical fan engagement being pioneered by the company.

With Malta emerging as a leading international blockchain hub, we caught up with Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz – the currency that fuels blockchain-backed platforms and products geared towards casual, mainstream consumers – to talk about building a blockchain business and driving the concept of radical fan engagement.

Given Malta’s blockchain and gaming friendly environment it’s not surprising that Chiliz chose to set-up there, but did you consider any other locations? If so, what clinched the deal for Malta?

I first relocated to Malta 12 years ago, after realising the potential of the gaming industry on the island and it soon became my home. Malta’s open and progressive attitude towards blockchain, coupled with a proactive approach to legislation made the island a natural home for Chiliz.

How have you found recruitment for Chiliz? Has there been any issues in finding the right talent in such a new sector?

Talent acquisition, especially for tech-related jobs, is difficult across the board, and more so on a tiny island like Malta. However, the fact there are over 200 gaming companies on the island, which attract talent from all over the world, helps us.

There aren’t issues around finding talent because of the newness of the industry; if anything, it’s one of the major selling points. Not only do we give candidates the opportunity to work with blockchain technology, the foundation of our product Socios.com, but also with some of the biggest and most recognised sports organisations in the world.

How has the reception been to the Chiliz concept from esports and sports organisations, and have you found more hesitation with traditional sports?

The response to Socios.com, our tokenized voting platform powered by Chiliz, has been very positive from sports organisations and the idea has really resonated with clubs and fans alike. For the first time, fans have the chance to experience enhanced fan engagement, while clubs benefit from a new revenue stream.

We love the concept of radical fan engagement, allowing fans to become influencers with a real say in how their teams are managed. Although, in reality, the concept doesn’t really change the business model of pro sports, but rather adds a new engagement vertical, have you had any pushback from those who perceive the ideas as too disruptive?

Actually, we’ve had the opposite reaction. We’ve been clear from the beginning that we’re not here to disrupt the industry.  Socios.com’s aim is to complement the existing ecosystem, by connecting sports organisations to their fans.

The fact that you have already managed to get Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, onboard with Socios.com clearly demonstrates the who concept of radical fan engagement has legs, but when do you feel the idea will hit critical mass and really take off?

We’re due to release the first version of the Socios.com mobile app in Q2, after months of intense development. As well as Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, we have many more club partnerships to announce before the launch, and many more to onboard post launch. Our aim is to build a global platform where we can connect the millions of football fans around the world, building community connected by their passion for their teams and the sport.

At AYO.NEWS we’ve been covering the rapid improvement in blockchain and crypto infrastructure around the world over the past year, but as you know, the crash in crypto prices, high-profile scams and poorly planned ICOs have created a serious distrust of anything ‘crypto’ or ‘token’ related in the mainstream media. Are Chilizens finding the atmosphere is thawing yet?

While there are signs that the crypto-winter has begun to thaw, the market adjustment was ultimately a good thing. It helped to re-focus attention on legitimate organisations that have a real shot at success and has eliminated poorly run projects in the process.

With so many blockchain entrepreneurs and businesses active in one location, what’s the atmosphere like at the Chiliz Blockchain Campus? Do you have plans to open other campuses elsewhere?

Not at the moment. The Chiliz Blockchain Campus already hosts some of the biggest names in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space within state-of-the-art offices. The collaborative environment houses a fully-equipped live streaming studio, meeting rooms with full connectivity. The Campus also has reciprocal agreements with other blockchain accelerators across the world, enabling companies to use the facilities.

Before we go, it’s a big “thank you” to Alexandre for taking the time to share his valuable industry insights with us here at AYO.NEWS. We hope to bring you more from the Chiliz team in the future, but in the meantime make sure you check out chiliz.com.

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