Origin is building the next generation of Web3 products, with laser focus on seamless product design. Our team of investors, advisors, and employees have helped build companies such as YouTube, PayPal, Google, and Y Combinator. With such an impressive team, our Inside Origin series gives us a chance to spread the word about the people who are involved in Origin’s mission.
If you are reading about Origin for the first time, here are some notable facts about our world-class team:
In this edition, we are covering 3LAU, acclaimed electronic dance music producer, DJ, Web3 founder, and advisor to Origin. Leveraging 3LAU’s on-the-ground insights in the music industry, we are able to create and refine products that captivate the masses, enabling us to help onboard the next billion users to Web3.
Born in New York in 1991, 3LAU grew up with a musical upbringing, learning to play the piano and guitar during his formative years. In adulthood, 3LAU’s EDM and mixes rapidly found traction, leading to performances at renowned festivals such as Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival. 3LAU has also toured with the likes of Tiesto and Steve Aoki, and boasts official collaborations with Ariana Grande, Rihanna and Katy Perry.
3LAU’s successful music career has resulted in experiences that has made him a staunch believer in Web3. Presently, the majority of royalties and revenue in the music industry end up with labels that possess the copyrights, and other intermediaries. Numerous artists like Kanye West have spoken out against major labels, believing that artists are exploited through unfair contracts and terms posed by these companies.
In response to these challenges, 3LAU co-founded Royal.io, a Web3 platform that allows artists to retain a larger share of their copyrights while giving fans the ability to co-own them. This new approach to distribution fosters strong connections between fans, while optimizing earnings for artists.
With investment rounds totalling $16M and $55M each, Royal has received funding from leaders in the space, such as a16z, Coinbase Ventures, Paradigm, The Chainsmokers, Nas, Logic and Kygo.
Both Origin and 3LAU are aligned with the vision and ethos of Web3 and the creator economy. By providing users and creators with the tools to seize opportunities that were traditionally actionable only by large corporations and predatory middlemen, Origin democratizes the conventional rent-seeking model.
3LAU not only serves as an advisor and investor in Origin Story’s product, but is one of its most successful users of the platform. Through an online auction featuring 33 NFTs based on his Ultraviolet album, 3LAU made a record-shattering $11.68M in sales.
The auction not only demonstrates the potential for creators to thrive within Web3, but it also validates what Origin Story has built. By harnessing Story’s customizable and unique auction mechanics, 3LAU was able to set unprecedented records in the music NFT space.
We are thrilled to have 3LAU’s involvement as an advisor and power user of Origin products, helping us to continuously refine and enhance our offerings. By leveraging his experiences and active participation in the music industry and Web3, 3LAU’s guidance is invaluable as we pioneer in this nascent industry.
Backed by our exceptional team and network of advisors, we confidently push the forefront in this intersection of Web3 and the music industry together with 3LAU.
