When you think of CEOs with a background in traditional finance especially those which have the qualification of a chartered financial analyst, you might envision a stern, buttoned-up individual. However, Michael Wagner, the CEO of Star Atlas, defies these expectations entirely. Michael's journey from his early days as a member of a video gaming group to his current position at the helm of a cutting-edge crypto gaming company showcases his unique blend of technical expertise, financial acumen and an undeniable passion for gaming.
Michael's fascination with technology and gaming began during his high school years as a member of the "LANarchists," a gaming group where he honed his skills by building his own computers. It was here that he first experienced the thrill of the technology world, setting the stage for his future endeavours.
His introduction to the world of crypto occurred in 2013, during the peak of Bitcoin's bull market. As a technology advocate and avid gamer with a strong financial background, Michael's worlds collided upon discovering this new asset class. Intrigued by the possibilities after studying this emerging technology for 2 years, he made the bold decision in 2015 to leave behind his formal finance career and dive headfirst into the world of crypto, launching a mini-fund with a group of friends to trade and speculate on various digital assets.
Building upon his initial success, Michael ventured into the creation of Tokes, a pioneering decentralized financial services provider for the legal cannabis industry. Through this venture, he not only tackled the challenges faced by businesses in the cannabis sector but also formed valuable connections with his future co-founders of Star Atlas, Daniel Floyd and Jacob Floyd. Jacob, Star Atlas CTO, brings over 15 years of development experience and previous crypto industry CTO expertise, while Daniel, the CPO, possesses a strong background in graphics and UX design, making them invaluable additions to the Star Atlas leadership team.
Together, this remarkable trio shares a profound passion for gaming and conceptualized the idea of Star Atlas one weekend while all sat together, aiming to revolutionize the blockchain gaming space with a Triple-A game. Their collective experience, industry knowledge, and technical skills position them as leaders capable of disrupting the gaming industry as we know it with this ambitious project.
In conclusion, Michael Wagner' unique finance background, coupled with the expertise of his co-founders, sets the stage for Star Atlas to become a hugely successful blockchain game. Michael's infectious passion and commitment to pushing the boundaries of gaming make him an exceptional leader in the world of crypto gaming and it gives me the belief that he will at least execute this vision in some way shape or form.
This is a great podcast to listen to and get more of insight into Michael’s mind and his background:
https://naavik.co/podcast/michael-wagner-star-atlas Show Less
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