Sibel discusses promoting her first NFT, turning jokes into realities and sticking with tasks till they succeed

On this version of our ongoing interview collection, we caught up with For the Tradition founder Sibel. We spoke about relationship-building in Web3 communities, attaining early success and creating real-life utility for NFT holders.

Launching a brand new NFT venture is troublesome and time-consuming. It may take all of a founder’s power and, generally, their cash. It additionally takes an enormous quantity of religion, as a result of not all of them obtain fame or success.

Our newest visitor, Sibel, has been a part of two tasks which have discovered a stage of engagement that the majority by no means get to take pleasure in. However she’s nonetheless working exhausting to seek out enhancements and guarantee she delivers true utility for her neighborhood.

How and when did you study concerning the NFT area? And what impressed you to become involved?

I heard the time period NFT in January of 2021. Earlier than that, I used to be investing in crypto. At first I didn’t fairly perceive what was happening, however with the $69m sale of Beeple on the finish of March, everybody was speaking about NFTs. That’s why I took additional curiosity. Then, somebody from this area texted me on Twitter and we grew to become mates. He inspired me to purchase an NFT. That is how I purchased my first NFT, cryptobabypunk. 

Then I began engaged on ideas I didn’t find out about NFTs to raised perceive market dynamics. After a number of days, I began to affix the communities and purchase and promote NFTs. After I offered one of many first NFTs I purchased, alien child punk, to an investor named 888 for five,888 ETH, I used to be capable of allocate a finances for myself and that is when my journey began precisely. 

Over time, chatting with folks within the communities I used to be concerned in, writing GM to Discord channels each morning, spending the entire evening in the identical discord channels began to really feel very enjoyable. Seven months in spite of everything of those, I graduated from college and give up my job and began to cope with NFTs full time.

There are two collections that you just’ve been a giant a part of (Fluffy Polar Bears and For The Tradition). What are you able to inform us about these two tasks?

Fluffy Polar Bears is my first NFT venture by which I used to be concerned as a co-founder. It’s been virtually a yr for the reason that venture got here out. Selçuk Erdem, considered one of Turkey’s most well-known cartoonists, is the artist of our venture.

I undertake duties corresponding to advertising, influencer, social media and neighborhood administration. Our venture offered out in about three seconds (10,000 NFTs) and made a giant splash. 

Though we couldn’t make a begin as we wished on account of some technical issues we skilled, we now have a fantastic neighborhood. We held a giant irl occasion in Istanbul with the participation of 300 folks.

On the identical time, we despatched six of our holders to Arctic journey. Furthermore, our artist Selçuk joined them. We’re having an excellent expertise collectively. I’m very blissful to be part of this staff. 

For the Tradition, then again, is a venture that I based fully. Really, I didn’t have a venture in thoughts. I tweeted purely as a joke and stated that I’ll make a venture that pays 0.01 ETH to anybody who mints. 

The tweet all of a sudden went viral and I grew to become accountable to those folks. So, I offered out a venture from scratch inside one week by buying two companions. We paid 0.01 ETH to everybody who minted in the identical transaction. I’ve launched the primary NFT venture that’s utterly free (together with fuel charge). Flooring worth got here as much as 0.5 ETH. 

It was a venture with out a roadmap, phrase or staff. We even designed the web site with assist from our neighborhood. It was a pleasant expertise and it was fairly enjoyable. Particularly on our Discord channel, opposite to the customized, there was a spot the place everybody may come and swear. 

We had been saying “fuck you” to all the things on the planet and it was fairly enjoyable.

How typically are you engaged on NFT tasks?

I’m at present working with these two tasks I discussed. Along with these, I give consultancy to some tasks / assist within the discipline of promoting. I’ve completely no want to launch a brand new venture. I cannot be in a special venture till the 2 tasks I’m concerned in are at their finest.

How would you finest describe your fashion?

Really, as could be understood from the For the Tradition venture, I’m an individual who likes to attempt new issues and have enjoyable. Opposite to what’s identified, I like doing experimental issues or collaborating in such issues.

For the Tradition was truly a venture that criticizes most of the matters I don’t like within the NFT discipline, utilizing jokes. I like giving these sorts of secret messages.

Apart from being a creator within the area, do you additionally gather NFTs? If you happen to do, what’s in your assortment and is there a sample to what you purchase/personal?

Sure, I at present personal loads of NFTs. I even have two wallets that nobody is aware of about/tracks as I don’t prefer to publicly show my NFTs. I preserve merchandise from many alternative tasks in these.

Shopping for and promoting collectible NFTs actually appeals to me. NFTs with a robust neighborhood are notably partaking. Aside from that, I often purchase issues which can be in style. If there’s hype, I’m in too!

Are you a fan of any crypto artists/creators particularly and what’s about them that you just’re drawn in the direction of?

I’m a fan of everybody who produces works in step with their goals and is part of artwork. There are numerous names I may give, however as an alternative of specifying particular people, I want to reply as all artists concerned on this business.

What do you think about as probably the most influential NFT collections, each for you and the business?

It will likely be a really basic reply, however BAYC is unquestionably one of the influential collections. It performs an enormous function in getting NFTs to succeed in the mainstream. As well as, collections corresponding to Doodles, Cool Cats, Pudgy Penguins have very robust communities and are usually pioneers of innovation. 

Lastly, I feel DeGods and new venture y00ts on the Solana community are nice. They created a really profitable system and did nice advertising. Every of those tasks and the creators of those tasks may be very influential for me.

Do you may have something that you just’re engaged on in the meanwhile?

We’re at present organizing a really huge occasion the place all NFT communities in Turkey will come collectively. I can say that the group of this occasion is taking on all my time proper now. We count on a few thousand folks to attend, possibly much more. We’re additionally growing a recreation for the For the Tradition venture.

The place can collectors discover your work?

They will entry their Fluffy Polar Bears and For the Tradition collections on a market like OpenSea or LooksRare.