Pinata | Getting Creative at Scale | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Pinata CEO Kyle Tutt discusses building NFT storage infrastructure, navigating market challenges, and the future of decentralized content distribution.

Key Insights

• 📽️ Pinata's journey reflects the challenges and opportunities in the NFT market, from humble beginnings at hackathons to becoming a crucial infrastructure provider for NFT projects.
• 😌 The future of NFTs lies in attaching various types of data to NFTs and leveraging decentralized storage solutions like IPFS for content distribution.
• 😤 Pinata's approach to building diversity of thought within its distributed team fosters innovation and unique perspectives crucial for success in the web3 landscape.
• 🎮 Embracing counterculture and playing a different game than web2 giants is key to carving out a niche in the evolving web3 ecosystem.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did Kyle Tutt's background in motorsports lead him to the world of blockchain and NFTs?

Kyle's initial interest in Bitcoin and Ethereum eventually led him to quit his job and dive full-time into blockchain and crypto, seizing opportunities for innovation.

Q: What was the inspiration behind starting Pinata at the ETH Berlin hackathon, and how did the idea evolve over time?

Pinata's inception stemmed from the need to address the high cost of storing data on-chain by optimizing IPFS for speed and reliability, leading to the company's focus on media distribution and token gating.

Q: How did Pinata navigate the challenging period of low NFT adoption and crypto winter before experiencing success in the emerging NFT market?

Despite initial struggles, Pinata persisted by building relationships, educating the community, and adapting to meet the evolving needs of the market, ultimately positioning itself as a key player in the NFT ecosystem.

Q: What unique features does Pinata offer for NFT projects, such as Submarine and token gating, and how do they enhance content distribution and ownership?

Pinata's Submarine tool enables easy token gating of content, allowing creators to serve content based on NFT ownership, fostering new business models and enhancing user engagement.

Summary

In this video, Kyle Tutt, the CEO of Pinata, discusses his background and how he got started in the NFT space. He also talks about the founding of Pinata and its journey through the crypto winter. Kyle shares his thoughts on the future of NFTs and decentralized storage.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did you initially get involved in the crypto space?

Like many in the crypto space, I got into it because I bought some Bitcoin and got interested in Ethereum. I've always wanted to build my own company, so I saw the potential in blockchain technology and jumped in full-time in 2017.

Q: Can you provide some background on the founding of Pinata?

After quitting my job, I started attending hackathons to learn more about blockchain technology. I also started a blockchain Meetup Group in Omaha to connect with others in the space. That's where I met my co-founder and CTO, Matt. We had always been interested in NFTs, and that led us to the idea of making IPFS as fast and stable as possible. We launched Pinata at the Eth Berlin hackathon in 2018 and struggled for a couple of years before finding success in the NFT market.

Q: How did you navigate the crypto winter and limited adoption of NFTs?

Our conviction was that storing data on-chain at scale wouldn't work, so we focused on off-chain storage using IPFS. We knew that if the market needed to store more data off-chain, they would come to us. We kept going to hackathons, building our brand, and talking to as many projects as possible. We also blogged about the technical aspects of building in this space, which helped us gain traction. It was a challenging time, but we believed in the potential of NFTs and decentralized storage.

Q: Why did you choose to align Pinata closely with IPFS?

We view IPFS as a content addressable system, not just a peer-to-peer protocol. When you upload content to IPFS, it generates a unique Content Identifier (CID). This CID can be linked to an NFT, creating an immutable record of the file. From an accounting perspective, this is powerful because you can trust the data itself, not just who's holding it. IPFS can be as decentralized or centralized as you want it to be, which we see as an advantage.

Q: How does Pinata's functionality go beyond being a simple IPFS pinning service?

We realized that NFT projects needed fast and scalable media distribution. They were becoming their own media hubs and brands, so we focused on building that functionality. We also saw a shift towards token gating, where content is only served to those who own the corresponding NFT. We developed a feature called Submarine for token gating and created a product called Submarine.me that makes it easy for non-technical users to token gate content. We believe this allows creators to build their own business models using NFTs as permissioning mechanisms.

Q: Can you give examples of projects using Pinata's advanced functionality?

We've seen projects token gating games, music, and even full applications. NFTs are being used to provide access to content, experiences, and services. For example, you can token gate a music file that includes a video and a branded music player, creating a full application experience. We're excited to see what other innovative business models can be built using this token gating functionality.

Q: How do you envision the future of the NFT market in the next three to five years?

Initially, I thought NFTs would be used for transacting data between parties, but the market expanded beyond that. I believe NFTs and IPFS can be used for all types of data and transactions. We might see full applications being attached to NFTs, as well as the transacting of IoT data, algorithms, and more. In the broader NFT market, I think there will be a continued focus on unique business models and the permissioning of content using NFTs.

Q: What advice do you have for founders building through a crypto winter or in the Web3 space?

During downturns, it can be easier to focus and build because there's less noise and hype. Avoid following behaviors driven by hype, and make sure to build for lasting use cases. In terms of building a team, I recommend embracing diversity of thought by hiring talent from different backgrounds and locations. Play your own game, rather than trying to compete directly with Web2 companies. Embrace the uniqueness of Web3 and enjoy the process of coming up with your own solutions.

Q: What lessons have you learned from building a startup outside of a core market like Omaha?

Being in Omaha has given me a space to think clearly without external influences. Warren Buffett's insight about moving away from Wall Street to think independently resonates with me. However, being outside of a core market means access to information isn't as readily available. I make it a point to travel to places like San Francisco periodically to gather information and update my knowledge. It's important to leverage the advantages of your location and build towards its strengths. In Omaha, the supportiveness of the community has been incredibly helpful.

Q: What shoutouts would you like to give to those interested in Pinata or the NFT space?

You can find Pinata at pinata.cloud, and I'm on Twitter at @KyleTut. I encourage everyone to be curious and learn as much as they can about Web3 and NFTs. Our technical blog on Medium is a great resource for understanding the space and building in it.

Takeaways

Kyle Tutt emphasizes the importance of building for lasting use cases, even during a crypto winter. He advises founders to focus on unique business models and embrace the uniqueness of Web3. Building a diverse team with talent from different backgrounds and locations can lead to innovative solutions. Being in a non-core market has advantages in terms of clear thinking and an independent perspective. Leveraging those advantages and embracing the support of the local community is crucial. Finally, Kyle encourages continuous learning and curiosity in the Web3 and NFT space.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kyle Tutt, CEO of Pinata, shares his journey from discovering crypto to founding the company at ETH Berlin hackathon.

• Pinata began as an IPFS pinning service but evolved to serve the growing demand for media distribution and token gating in the NFT market.

• The future of NFTs and decentralized storage involves attaching data to NFTs for a variety of use cases beyond art and collectibles.