For episode 202, we’re excited to welcome Marc Vanlerberghe, Chief Marketing Officer atthe Algorand Foundation. Marc is a visionary leader with some impressive experience in the tech world, having previously led the launch of Android at Google, and is now focused on making blockchain useful, scalable, and impactful at Algorand.
In this episode, Marc shares what makes Algorand's infrastructure unique, and how it’s enabling gamechanging projects like HesabPay for real-time humanitarian payments in Afghanistan, Wholechain for ESG-focused supply chain transparency, and LabTrace for verifying scientific research in the age of AI, among other exciting use cases. He also dives into how YOU can get involved in the Algorand ecosystem, and some of the supports available for builders.
So whether you’re a builder, founder, or simply someone curious about how Web3 can drive systemic change—this episode is packed with insights on how to turn cutting-edge infrastructure into real-world outcomes
We discuss:
📱 Hiding the Blockchain, Scaling the Impact: For real-world adoption, user experience must come first. Algorand powers solutions like HesabPay, which enables real-time aid disbursements in Afghanistan via simple SMS—no crypto wallets, no jargon, just impact.
⚖️ Solving the Blockchain Trilemma: A prominent challenge in Web3 is the tradeoff between scalability, decentralization, and security. Algorand was built to overcome this limitation through its unique consensus mechanism and low-cost, sustainable blockchain infrastructure.
🔗 Decentralized Trust for Transparent Systems: Blockchain excels as a trust layer that no one owns and everyone can verify. In supply chains, this means tracking every step from production to consumption—creating accountability that can’t be faked.
PIPE gDAO is leveraging blockchain for their University Real World Asset IP Launchpad that helps bring groundbreaking ideas from lab to market. By joining the Pipe Associate Network (aka PAN), associates can create a profile highlighting their skills, be notified of opportunities, and then contribute fractional work to pre-IPO companies in return for equity and tokens.
Check out their Linktree for links to all of their socials so you can get involved and join this growing community!
01:50 - To kick things off, I’d love to hear a bit about your personal journey. What first drew you to the world of Web3 and ultimately led you to join the Algorand Foundation? Was there a specific “Ah hah” moment?
04:00 - You’ve worked at some iconic companies in the past, including helping launch Android. How does your experience in Web2 consumer tech influence how you think about building in Web3?
09:00 - For those newer to Algorand, can you give us a high-level explanation of what makes the technology behind Algorand unique—and why that matters for real-world adoption?
12:20 - Tell me more about Algorand’s consensus mechanism and what makes it unique.
15:15 - One of the most exciting projects in the Algorand ecosystem is HesabPay, which supports real-time salary and aid disbursements in Afghanistan. Can you share more about this initiative and why it’s such a powerful example of blockchain for inclusion?
23:05 - Another project that caught my eye is Wholechain, bringing supply chain traceability to the fishing industry. Why is blockchain a gamechanger for transparency in ESG and ethical sourcing?
29:45 - LabTrace is tackling something incredibly timely: the need to authenticate scientific research in the AI age. How is blockchain helping protect the integrity of research and academic IP?
37:05 - Do you have any other use cases you’d like to highlight?
39:40 - What advice do you have for builders and founders who are passionate about creating real-world impact and want to build on Algorand?
41:45 - Looking forward a few years into the future, where do you see Algorand – how do you see it impacting the average persons’ everyday life?
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While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
