Building Solana Communities: Insights from Superteam UK Lead Cap

In this insightful episode of the Midcurve podcast, host Justin sits down with Cap, the dynamic lead of Superteam UK, to explore the exciting world of community building within the Solana ecosystem. Cap's journey from marketing and entrepreneurship to becoming a key figure in the Solana community offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to make their mark in the rapidly evolving blockchain space.

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Cap's Background in Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Cap's story begins with a solid foundation in marketing, having studied economics and behavioral economics at the University of Edinburgh. This broad education allowed him to delve into various subjects, including psychology and computer science, providing a multifaceted perspective that would later prove invaluable in the crypto space.

Rather than following a traditional career path, Cap's entrepreneurial spirit led him to explore various business ventures. He started with dropshipping during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, although not financially successful, provided crucial lessons in execution and brand building. Cap shares:

"It was an amazing crash course. I had to create the ads, do the whole production thing, edit it all myself, create the brand. It was a great learning experience."

This experience laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in social media marketing and eventually led him to the world of cryptocurrency.

The Journey into Crypto and Web3

Cap's entry into the crypto world began in January 2021 with his first Bitcoin purchase. However, it was his foray into NFTs in August of the same year that truly captured his interest. He recounts a pivotal moment:

"I flipped an NFT on ETH and made two K. It was like magical internet money. I was able to earn what I was almost on for a month working for a company."

This experience opened Cap's eyes to the potential of blockchain technology and digital assets. By November 2021, he had secured a role at a Web3 marketing agency, marking his full-time transition into the crypto space.

Lessons from the Near Ecosystem

Before fully immersing himself in the Solana ecosystem, Cap gained valuable experience working with projects on the Near blockchain. This period provided crucial insights into community building and ecosystem growth, especially in the wake of market downturns.

Cap emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation:

"You need that narrative about movement that believes, you know, you need that philosophy of like, yes, we all believe this and we're driving towards this."

He observed that Near lacked a robust early ecosystem growth strategy, highlighting the necessity of being deeply connected to the community and understanding its nuances. This experience shaped Cap's approach to community building in his future endeavors with Superteam.

The Superteam Vision

Superteam emerged as a response to the need for a localized, community-driven approach to talent and ecosystem development within Solana. Cap explains the concept of viewing blockchains as digital cities:

"It's when they kind of talk about how to view blockchains and what you should kind of see them as. The analogy that I got from Lily was the digital city that you should see it as this like, open land and anyone can go in and build something."

This perspective frames Superteam's mission: to act as the community talent layer for Solana, connecting local talent with opportunities and fostering ecosystem growth from the ground up.

Superteam UK: Achievements and Growth

Launched in June 2023, Superteam UK has made significant strides in a short period. Cap proudly shares some impressive statistics:

"For the UK, we've been able to get close to a million in like sports that we've been able to do, but that's been able to help secure them contracts and if I'm members of one hackathons, they've been able to secure jobs in the ecosystem."

The team has organized over 350 events, attracting more than 10,000 in-person attendees. This extensive outreach has allowed Superteam UK to build a core group of 150 dedicated members, forming the heart of their community.

Effective Community Building Strategies

When asked about the most effective methods for building communities and spreading awareness about Solana, Cap emphasizes the importance of establishing a core group of early supporters:

"You've got to have like, you talked about earlier on about those early disciples that is like a real thing of like, who are the first 10, like when you're literally building community from the very start."

He stresses the importance of identifying and nurturing these "super fans" who will form the foundation of the community. From there, Cap recommends a diverse approach to community engagement, including:

• Supporting hackathons
• Organizing dinners and mixers
• Hosting co-working Fridays
• Engaging in various cultural activities

The key, according to Cap, is to use these events as opportunities to grow "side communities" within the larger ecosystem, allowing for organic growth and deeper connections.

Scaling Community Building Efforts

To scale these community-building efforts effectively, Cap highlights the importance of having dedicated operators:

"What's super thin team then establish, if you want to scale that, so that philosophy, then you need an operator. So you need like a team to come in and that's what like the leads of the different regions."

This approach allows Superteam to act as a bridge, facilitating connections and events across various locations. Cap explains:

"We can do events anywhere across pick a city. We can go Ireland if you want to. Now we, we, we can go up certain and we're on Glasgow. Like we're, we're, we're going to all we line up because like the flood, the low and the operations of the access in that community on that side."

This extensive network enables projects like Jito to easily plug into existing communities and accelerate their growth in new regions.

Upcoming Events and Initiatives

Cap is particularly excited about the upcoming Apex Budapest event, where each EU city will host its own Solana village:

"In London, Berlin, Paris, all across Poland, Balkans, there's going to be these big startup villages going on, leading them into Budapest on the 21st."

This event, scheduled for June 21st, 2025, promises to be a significant milestone for the European Solana community. It follows the major Coliseum hackathon in April and May, for which Superteam UK will host a demo day and build station.

Additionally, Cap hints at summer conferences that will allow the community to "go touch grass" and celebrate their building achievements.

The Importance of Bear Markets

Despite the current market downturn, Cap sees this as an opportune time for community building and forging genuine connections. He shares a poignant observation:

"Whenever it's noisy, then you never know who you're speaking to. But whenever it's quiet, you know who you're speaking to."

This perspective aligns with the experiences of many successful projects and individuals in the crypto space who have used bear markets as periods of intense building and relationship formation.

The Jito Europa Initiative

An exciting development mentioned during the podcast is the launch of the Jito Europa Telegram channel. This initiative, a collaboration between Jito and various Superteam chapters, aims to bring together Europeans interested in building on Jito or simply engaging with the community.

Cap expresses enthusiasm for this project, seeing it as an opportunity to accelerate growth and tap into the potential of the European market:

"I'm really excited for what's happening in Europe right now. One, because I just love Europe in general. And, but I think that there, it's kind of like an untapped market. You don't really see too much coming out of Europe right now. But I know that there are a lot of like really cool builders there."

This initiative represents a strategic move to consolidate and amplify the efforts of Solana builders across Europe, potentially leading to a surge of innovation and adoption in the region.

The Value of Grassroots Community Building

Throughout the conversation, Cap consistently emphasizes the value of grassroots community building. He sees Superteam's role as creating a public good, facilitating connections and events that allow core teams to remain focused while still accessing international growth strategies.

This approach not only helps individual projects but also strengthens the entire Solana ecosystem by creating a network of interconnected, locally-rooted communities. Cap's vision for Superteam UK and the broader Superteam network is to continue fostering these connections, driving adoption, and supporting innovative projects across the Solana ecosystem.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Solana in Europe

As the conversation wraps up, there's a palpable sense of optimism about the future of Solana in Europe. Despite the current market challenges, both Cap and Justin see tremendous potential for growth and innovation in the coming years.

Cap's final thoughts encapsulate this forward-looking perspective:

"This is the time, this is the time, the time to make friends, make connections and start building."

This sentiment resonates strongly with the ethos of the Solana community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, persistence, and long-term vision in building a thriving blockchain ecosystem.

As Superteam UK and other regional chapters continue their work, the Solana ecosystem in Europe is poised for significant growth. With events like Apex Budapest on the horizon and ongoing grassroots efforts to connect and empower local communities, the future looks bright for Solana's European presence.

The conversation between Cap and Justin serves as an inspiring call to action for builders, developers, and enthusiasts in the Solana ecosystem. It highlights the critical role of community in driving blockchain adoption and innovation, and provides valuable insights for anyone looking to make an impact in this exciting and rapidly evolving space.

As the crypto market navigates through its cycles of boom and bust, the foundations laid by organizations like Superteam and the connections forged during these quieter periods will likely prove instrumental in shaping the future of blockchain technology and its adoption across Europe and beyond.

Facts + Figures

• Cap started his journey in cryptocurrency by purchasing his first Bitcoin in January 2021.
• His first NFT flip on Ethereum in August 2021 earned him 2,000 USD, equivalent to about a month's salary at his job.
• Superteam UK was launched in June 2023 as part of a global expansion of the Superteam initiative.
• Since its inception, Superteam UK has facilitated close to 1 million USD in sports-related contracts and job placements for its members.
• The team has organized over 350 events, attracting more than 10,000 in-person attendees.
• Superteam UK has built a core group of 150 dedicated members.
• The Apex Budapest event, scheduled for June 21st, 2025, will feature Solana villages in multiple European cities including London, Berlin, and Paris.
• A major Coliseum hackathon is planned for April and May, with Superteam UK hosting a demo day and build station.
• The Jito Europa Telegram channel is being launched as a collaborative effort between Jito and various Superteam chapters to unite European Solana enthusiasts and builders.
• Cap emphasizes the importance of identifying the first 10 "disciples" or super fans when building a community from scratch.
• The analogy of blockchains as "digital cities" is used to explain Superteam's approach to ecosystem development.
• Superteam operates in 19 different countries, providing a global network for Solana community building.
• Cap started his entrepreneurial journey with dropshipping during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, while not financially successful, provided valuable learning experiences.
• The Near blockchain ecosystem's challenges during market downturns provided important lessons for community building in the crypto space.
• Cap highlights the quieter periods in the market as the best times to build genuine connections and identify committed community members.

Questions Answered

What is Superteam and what is its purpose in the Solana ecosystem?

Superteam is a community-driven initiative that acts as the talent layer for the Solana ecosystem. Its purpose is to connect local talent with opportunities, foster ecosystem growth, and provide a bridge for projects looking to expand into new regions. Superteam operates through local chapters in various countries, allowing for culturally tailored approaches to community building and ecosystem development.

How did Cap get involved with Superteam and the Solana ecosystem?

Cap's journey into the Solana ecosystem began with his experiences in marketing and entrepreneurship. After exploring dropshipping and social media marketing, he entered the crypto space in 2021. His work with a Web3 marketing agency led him to various blockchain projects, including those on the Near blockchain. Eventually, his experience and passion for community building brought him to Superteam, where he became the lead for the UK chapter in June 2023.

What strategies does Superteam UK use for effective community building?

Superteam UK employs a multi-faceted approach to community building. Key strategies include identifying and nurturing early "disciples" or super fans, organizing diverse events such as hackathons, dinners, mixers, and co-working sessions, and creating "side communities" within the larger ecosystem. They also focus on being deeply connected to the local community, understanding its nuances, and adapting their approach accordingly. Additionally, they leverage their network to facilitate connections between projects and local talent.

What is the significance of the upcoming Apex Budapest event?

The Apex Budapest event, scheduled for June 21st, 2025, is a major initiative that will showcase Solana's presence across Europe. Each EU city will host its own Solana village, creating a network of interconnected events leading up to the main gathering in Budapest. This event represents a significant milestone for the European Solana community, bringing together builders, developers, and enthusiasts from across the continent. It follows other major events like the Coliseum hackathon and serves as a celebration of the ecosystem's growth and achievements.

How does Superteam view the current bear market in crypto?

Superteam, and Cap in particular, view the current bear market as an opportunity for genuine community building and forging strong connections. Cap emphasizes that during quieter market periods, it's easier to identify committed community members and build lasting relationships. This perspective aligns with the experiences of successful projects that have used bear markets as periods of intense development and community strengthening. The team sees this as an ideal time to lay foundations for future growth and innovation in the Solana ecosystem.

What is the Jito Europa initiative and how does it relate to Superteam's efforts?

The Jito Europa initiative is a collaborative effort between Jito and various Superteam chapters to create a unified Telegram channel for European Solana enthusiasts and builders. This initiative aims to bring together individuals interested in building on Jito or engaging with the broader Solana community in Europe. It represents a strategic move to consolidate and amplify the efforts of Solana builders across the continent, potentially leading to increased innovation and adoption in the region. This aligns with Superteam's goal of fostering interconnected, locally-rooted communities within the Solana ecosystem.

How does Superteam UK measure its success and impact?

Superteam UK measures its success through various metrics, including the number of events organized (over 350), the number of in-person attendees attracted (more than 10,000), and the value of contracts and job placements facilitated (close to 1 million USD). They also consider the growth of their core member group, which now stands at 150 dedicated individuals. Beyond these quantitative measures, they value the quality of connections made and the overall growth and vitality of the Solana ecosystem in their region.

What role does Superteam play in helping projects like Jito expand into new regions?

Superteam acts as a bridge for projects looking to expand into new regions. By having established local chapters with deep community connections, they can facilitate easier entry for projects like Jito into new markets. This includes organizing events, connecting with local talent, and providing insights into the local ecosystem. For example, the collaboration on the Jito Europa Telegram channel demonstrates how Superteam can leverage its network to help projects quickly establish a presence and community in new areas.

How does Cap envision the future of Solana in Europe?

Cap is optimistic about the future of Solana in Europe, seeing it as an untapped market with significant potential. He believes that the current period of building and connection-forming will lead to a surge of innovation and adoption in the coming years. Cap envisions a thriving ecosystem of interconnected communities across European cities, driven by grassroots efforts and strategic initiatives like the Apex Budapest event. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance during market downturns and the value of the foundations being laid now for future growth.

What advice does Cap offer for those looking to get involved in building Web3 communities?

Cap advises aspiring community builders to focus on identifying and nurturing a core group of committed supporters early on. He emphasizes the importance of understanding local cultures and adapting strategies accordingly. Cap recommends a diverse approach to community engagement, including various types of events and activities. He also stresses the value of building during market downturns, as these periods offer opportunities for genuine connection and laying strong foundations. Lastly, he encourages builders to stay deeply connected with their communities, understanding their needs and aspirations to drive meaningful growth and adoption.