Top Entrepreneurs To Follow in 2024

As we step into 2024, the landscape of entrepreneurship reflects the rapid evolution and transformation experienced in the previous year. A year marked by noteworthy developments and pivotal moments that have had a lasting influence on the business world. These have included organisations shoring up their supply chain integrity, and managing challenges in talent acquisition and retention, through to spikes in interest rates and inflation.

Amidst the dynamic shifts, we present a carefully curated list of business leaders poised to provide industry insights and guidance on the future of their fields. Ranging from [X to Y], their well-documented experience and commitment shine throughout their careers, providing steadfast support and encouragement to peers and emerging talents.

Brian Armstrong, Co-founder & CEO of Coinbase

Brian Armstrong, the Co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, has cultivated a diverse professional journey across financial technology, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. His leadership is distinguished by a methodical, data-driven approach to agile project management, ensuring a well-defined strategic direction and creating an environment that encourages experimentation and growth within his team.

At the core of Coinbase's success is its venture-centric model, seamlessly blending the nimbleness of a startup with the seasoned expertise of an established team. This dynamic integration enables Coinbase to swiftly explore new concepts, bring them to fruition, and strategically position products in the market, adapting to evolving consumer preferences and technological trends.

Against the backdrop of 2023's tech industry transformations, Coinbase's approach holds heightened significance. Positioned strategically for 2024, Brian and his team leverage Coinbase's distinctive mix of agility, industry expertise, and innovation, positioning the company to play a pivotal role in navigating the rapidly changing terrain of the tech industry.

Sergei Lagutenko, Co-founder of Yard[hub]

Sergei Lagutenko, co-founder of the web3 venture studio Yard[hub], has built a multifaceted career encompassing commercial IT projects, video games, and educational platforms. His leadership is characterised by an analytical, data-driven approach to agile project management. This ensures a clear strategic direction but also fosters an environment where his team can experiment and evolve.

The venture studio model used by Yard[hub] is key to its success in rapidly prototyping and developing products. It combines the agility and innovation of a startup with the deep expertise of an experienced studio team. It enables Yard[hub] to quickly test new ideas, develop them efficiently, and strategically place products in the market, keeping pace with evolving consumer needs and technological trends.

In the context of 2023's tech industry shifts Yard[hub]'s approach is particularly significant. With Web3 infrastructure advancing, Sergei and his team are strategically positioned for 2024 where Yard[hub]'s blend of agility, expertise, and innovation could play a crucial role in navigating the rapidly changing tech landscape.

Cecilia Hsueh, Co-founder & CEO of Morph

Cecilia Hsueh, Co-founder & CEO of Morph, exemplifies visionary entrepreneurship in the blockchain sphere. Her journey, marked by innovative leadership and strategic foresight, has been pivotal in shaping Morph's trajectory. With over a decade of experience, her journey began with J.C.Moritz Investment Consulting, which she founded in 2014, demonstrating her prowess in management consulting and market research. Transitioning into the Web3 space as an investor in 2018, Cecilia's insights into the evolving digital landscape are profound. Her role as CEO of Phemex from 2019 to 2022 further solidified her leadership skills. At Morph, Cecilia steers the company towards pioneering consumer-centric blockchain solutions, promising to revolutionise how everyday users interact with blockchain technology.

Under her leadership, Morph is carving a niche in the blockchain world, focusing on bridging the gap between complex technology and daily usability. Her vision is shaping Morph into a platform where blockchain becomes a tool for everyone, not just tech enthusiasts. This user-centric approach in a typically tech-heavy industry highlights Cecilia's innovative thinking and her ability to anticipate and respond to market needs. Her journey with Morph is the latest example of her capability to transform complex innovations into accessible solutions.

Faisal Khan, Co-founder & CEO of Planet Tota

Faisal Khan, the Co-founder and CEO of Planet Tota, is a thoroughbred creative storyteller and a seasoned marketing professional. With almost two decades focusing on consumer engagement, a user's experience with the brand is invariably intrinsic to his thinking and vividly evident in his entrepreneurial pursuits, including Planet Tota.

The complexly evolving consumer mindset, and increased struggle of brands to find resonance with the youth is what triggered the creation of Planet Tota. A brand culture enabled by IP, brand vibe, innovative entertainment products, and consumerism extending well into narrative ownership, involvement, co-creation coupled with tools to create uniquely personal experiences and personal IP, led the way to what Planet Tota came to become.

Envisioned as a platform of collaboration, Planet Tota aims to bring users, brands, creators, amongst others, through IP, products and tools. Despite it being only a few months since the brand's soft launch, the thinking behind Planet Tota has found resonance with the esteemed brands like Mastercard, renowned movie distributors like CJ CGV, along with revered creators, industry experts and audiences alike.

Joseph Lubin, Co-founder of Ethereum and founder of ConsenSys

Joseph Lubin is a key architect of the blockchain landscape. As a driving force behind Ethereum, he co-created a decentralised platform that revolutionised the possibilities of smart contracts and decentralised applications. Lubin's influence extends through ConsenSys, where he has fostered a vibrant ecosystem of blockchain development and innovation.

With a rich background in technology and finance, Lubin has become a guiding figure in the intersection of decentralised technology and real-world applications. His strategic vision has not only contributed to the growth of Ethereum but has also advanced the broader adoption of blockchain solutions across diverse industries. Lubin's commitment to decentralisation and technological innovation continues to shape the trajectory of the blockchain space, positioning him as a thought leader and innovator in the ever-evolving world of decentralised technologies.

Carol Zurita, Senior consultant at NEXTGEN BIZ & Co.

Carol Zurita is a seasoned strategist and author with over a decade of experience working in marketing and Web3 projects. With an interest in startups, she provides proven strategies to support their expansion and customer reach. Not just an expert in marketing, in 2016 she became involved in the mining process and blockchain support for several years, allowing for hands-on experience with the challenges that permeate the industry. Through her knowledge of Web3 technology and marketing she also supports established projects to integrate customer facing features like rewards, gamification, and real-world tokenization into their products.

Her essential guide for marketing in 2023, "20 Effective Marketing Tactics for Web3 Startups with Limited Budgets" is a comprehensive exploration of Web3's dynamic landscape and distils a strategic playbook crafted specifically for startups operating with financial constraints. The book dives into the tactical gems of guerrilla marketing, blockchain-backed strategies, community building, and LinkedIn branding, offering entrepreneurs actionable insights to redefine their marketing approaches.

Zurita's work emerges as a guiding light in the Web3 era, unravelling complexities and empowering startups to navigate success with limited resources. For entrepreneurs eager to capitalise on Web3's potential, Zurita's guide is a transformative resource, providing tangible takeaways for business growth.

Our curated list showcases some of the most forward-thinking figures in their respective industries. They have gained experience defining and advancing their fields while also reaching out to educate and inform their peers and the public. By sharing their knowledge and expertise they allow for further collaboration and growth throughout the technology sector.

As we prepare for the developments and disruptions of 2024 they are poised to provide insight and contextual clarity across what are often fast-moving and complex shifts in working practices and industry trends. By doing this they give established and emerging entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn and build upon their own businesses and trajectories.