Former Blockchain Australia boss Steve Vallas signs on as advisor to new impact startup ecosystem

New innovation and investment firm, Skafold signed on former Blockchain Australia CEO Steve Vallas as its new senior technology advisor.

The role is responsible for exploring and advising all Skafold activities related to blockchain, digital currencies, digital regulation and technology more broadly. Skafold’s diverse innovation and investment ecosystem works closely with innovators and entrepreneurs to discover, unlock, and realise value and impact.

Skafold principal Adam Jacoby said the company looked forward to working with Vallas to explore a range of next-generation ventures. 

“Skafold has been established to create a unique end-to-end innovation ecosystem that nurtures and develops scalable, sustainable and impactful start-ups and supports impact-driven founders,” he said.

“Steve’s market-leading expertise and networks will greatly assist what we want to achieve. Having his ideas and network as part of our team will enable us to uncover new opportunities and refer to his knowledge when engaging with businesses that have a particular technology focus.”

Brisbane-based Skafold is looking to “create the next generation of scalable, sustainable and impactful startups through a market-leading ecosystem of integrated innovation platforms”.

Vallas continues to provide input into a number of industry advisory groups including Blockchain APAC, NFT Fest Aus, and the ASEAN Blockchain Consortium after stepping down from the CEO role at Blockchain Australia in July following a two-year stint.

He said was excited to be working with a new innovation and investment model,

“Blockchain technology plays a major and increasingly relevant role in technology and commercial infrastructure in Australia and abroad, but its full potential is not always recognised in the early stages of a new idea or business,” he said. 

“The Skafold innovation and investment ecosystem will strengthen the Australian technology and start-up environment with targeted expertise, capital, and operational support, and contributing my industry knowledge to Skafold’s is a natural progression of my passion for this space.”