Friends With Builders, a Web3 product development initiative, is revolutionizing the industry with its focus on utility and practical applications.
Friends With Builders: A New Era of Web3 Product Development
From Community to Practical Innovation
Friends With Benefits (FWB), the trendy crypto social club that burst onto the scene in 2020, has evolved into a serious organization focused on building practical products in music, film, and culture. The group’s new initiative, Friends With Builders, partners with major tech companies to support creative technologists in developing innovative projects.
Embracing Utility Over Hype
The program emphasizes ‘utility over crypto hype,’ aiming to create products with mainstream appeal and practical applications. This shift in focus is a key differentiator from the traditional hackathon model, which often prioritizes prize money and recognition over tangible results. FWB’s CEO, Greg Bresnitz, stresses that his initiative is not a hackathon, but rather a platform for builders to work collectively on early-stage projects.
Bundling Web3 into Everyday Products
Friends With Builders aims to bundle Web3 technology into everyday products, making it more accessible and user-friendly. This approach is exemplified by the restaurant loyalty app, Blackbird, which has mainstream appeal without emphasizing its crypto connection. Bresnitz believes that this type of product development is essential for bringing value back to the online world.
Web3 is a decentralized internet architecture that enables secure, transparent, and censorship-resistant data sharing.
It builds upon blockchain technology to create a more democratic and user-centric online environment.
Key features include decentralized applications (dApps), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and cryptocurrency payments.
Web3 promotes interoperability between different platforms and services, allowing for seamless interactions and data exchange.
A New Wave of Builders
The program’s cohort-based model invites creative technologists to work collectively on early-stage projects, using tools provided by partner groups. This approach encourages a new wave of builders to the space, focusing on utility and practical applications rather than just building for its own sake. Bresnitz argues that crypto has created great tooling infrastructure for builders, but now it’s time to develop products that de-emphasize the technology.
Builders have been a crucial part of human society for centuries, constructing everything from ancient temples to modern skyscrapers.
The earliest builders used primitive tools and techniques, such as stone masonry and wood framing.
As civilizations advanced, so did building technology, with the introduction of iron and steel in the Industrial Revolution.
Today, builders use sophisticated materials and methods, including prefabricated components and 3D printing.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 700,000 construction workers employed in the United States alone.
A Humble Approach
Bresnitz displays a humility towards crypto that isn’t always evident in conversations with other founders. He believes that Web3 still has yet to show what it can really do for the world, and FWB is trying something different. The initiative’s focus on practical innovation and mainstream appeal is a refreshing change from the hype surrounding many early-stage projects.
Greg Bresnitz is an American artist and writer known for his work in various mediums, including painting, photography, and performance.
Born in 1979, Bresnitz gained recognition for his satirical and often provocative pieces that explore the human condition.
He has exhibited his work internationally and published several books of short stories and essays.
Bresnitz's writing often blends humor with social commentary, making him a unique voice in contemporary art.
A New Era of Collaboration
Friends With Builders represents a new era of collaboration between creative technologists, major tech companies, and Web3 enthusiasts. As the program continues to grow and evolve, it will be exciting to see how these partnerships drive innovation and bring value back to the online world. With its focus on utility, practical applications, and humility, FWB is poised to make a meaningful impact in the world of Web3 product development.
- coindesk.com | Friends With Benefits Grows Up
