079: $3.9M in 8 Minutes, Utility NFTs, and the Future of Crypto with Jian Tam

Jian Tam is a marketer, NFT and crypto investor, and the CEO and co-founder of Samurai Saga, a Web 3.0 gaming project centered on NFT artwork, utility-based tokens, and a play-to-earn gaming experience. Before crypto, Jian made his first $1M selling camera lenses on eBay. Soon after, he started a DTC clothing business and found an untouched niche after selling $50,000 of customized sweatpants in a single day.  After buying Bitcoin in 2009 and selling it early for $400, Jian made another venture into the crypto space, turning $20K into $2M with Dogecoin. Finally, he transitioned into NFTs, using a creative marketing approach to earn $3.9M in the first 8 minutes of an NFT drop. While NFTs and crypto have fallen out of favor in 2023, Jian believes they’re poised to make a comeback. In today’s episode, you’ll hear about the specific type of NFTs Jian is focusing on moving forward, how potential investors should look at the space, and successful NFT launching strategies.  You’ll also hear about how AI could be leveraged in the NFT and crypto space, how to raise funds for NFT projects, and marketing techniques that work across various industries.  Key Takeaways with Jian Tam The unorthodox marketing strategy that brought in $3.9M in the first 8 minutes of Jian’s first NFT drop.  The new vehicle for raising capital that can keep founders from diluting their ownership.  The part people are skipping when it comes to laying the groundwork for successful online sales.  What is the next trendy industry that could take off like NFTs and crypto?  The future of NFTs, how they may change as they stage a comeback, and how investors can take advantage. The strategy for success when launching a product in the NFT community.  The core principles of sales success that are just as applicable to selling clothing as they are to selling NFTs.  How can you market in the crypto space when ads are banned?  Taking a close look at the structure and benefits of blockchain-based video game platforms. Who are the ideal influencers to engage with in the crypto and NFT universes? Why Jian transitioned from eBay and Amazon to DTC sales through his own website.  How Jian went from making $7.50/hour to making $1M flipping camera lenses on eBay. Subscribe to the Podcast We hope you enjoy this episode and that you find some golden nuggets within this interview. Trust us, it's there! If you want episodes delivered straight to your inbox, consider subscribing to the show and we'll email you each time a new episode is released! Thanks for tuning it & keep being awesome. BAM! 💥