FACES OF WEB3: Katerina Ali, Immersifi
October 2, 2024
Katerina’s journey into the Web3 space is as fascinating as it is inspiring. With a background in marketing, sales and investing, she found herself drawn into the world of cryptocurrency through a mentor’s advice. But it wasn’t just the trading aspect that captivated her; it was the potential for real-world applications that truly sparked her interest. Her story is one of curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for revolutionising the retail experience through the lens of Web3.
How did you get started in the Web3 space?
My entry into the Web3 space began with my background in trading and investing, specifically stocks. A mentor’s insistent advice to buy Bitcoin piqued my interest in cryptocurrency. However, it wasn’t just the trading aspect that captivated me. I dived into Oasis and realised there was a whole new market here. As I delved deeper, I became fascinated by the potential real-world applications of blockchain technology, interoperability and the concept of Web3. I was also into styling on Instagram and interested in merging the two and how Blockchain technology could revolutionise the retail experience.
What was your motivation to start Immersifi?
The inspiration for Immersifi came from a post-lockdown retail experience that left Katerina feeling disconnected and undervalued as a customer. She noticed a significant gap in how businesses recognised and served their loyal customers, especially in physical stores. This realisation sparked the idea for a platform that solved this issue, leveraging Web3 solutions to create more personalised, engaging, rewarding and data-driven retail experiences.
The definition of ‘Web3’ is quite broad and varies depending on the industry backgrounds of the people you speak to. How do you define the term?
Web3 is all about engagement, participation, community, and ownership. I see it as an evolution from Web1’s read-only nature and Web2’s read-write capabilities to a more interactive and user-centric model. In my view, Web3 empowers users to not just consume or create content but to truly own and control their digital experiences and assets.
What do you determine to be the biggest societal opportunities that Web3 brings?
I believe that data ownership is one of the most significant societal opportunities that Web3 brings. As people become increasingly aware of data privacy issues, controlling one’s own data becomes more valuable. I see Web3 technologies, particularly blockchain, as crucial for verifying and securing personal data in an age of rapidly advancing AI.
And what do you see as the biggest challenge that the Web3 community faces?
We have to make Web3 easy. The biggest challenge facing the Web3 community is making these technologies convenient and easy to use for the average person. We have to move beyond the “crypto bro” mentality and focus on creating seamless, user-friendly experiences. For Web3 to truly succeed, it needs to be as intuitive to use as current technologies without requiring users to understand the complex underlying mechanisms.
What are some career highlights in your Web3 journey so far?
One of my proudest achievements is the network I’ve built through Immersifi. I’m excited about the partnerships I’m forming with well-known brands (stay tuned). I also value the learning experiences I’ve had, especially in understanding how to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical business needs (whether Web3 is needed or not).
What’s coming up for you and Immersifi in 2024 and early 2025?
Looking ahead to late 2024 and early 2025, we are focused on several key milestones for Immersifi:
- Launching the Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
- Beginning beta testing with a select group of users.
- Onboarding smaller brands to refine the platform and use our tech to directly help brands and their stores provide personalised experiences.
- More partnerships and growth.
I see the closing of 2024 as the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Immersifi, with 2025 poised to be a year of significant growth and expansion.
What inspires you to stay motivated professionally?
I draw motivation from my vision of how Immersifi can transform the retail experience. I’m passionate about helping brands retain loyal customers while providing shoppers with personalised, exciting experiences. My team, including a creative director and CTO, inspires me and helps bring big-picture ideas to life. The potential impact of reducing returns, increasing customer loyalty, and creating more engaging shopping experiences continues to drive her forward.
When you’re not working, where would we most likely find you?
When I’m not working on Immersifi, you might find me:
- At the gym, not just for physical health but for mental wellbeing too.
- Spending time at the beach in Jamaica helping the community that has been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl.
- Shopping – not just for purchases, but to observe and understand the evolving retail landscape.
Katerina’s journey from investing to Web3 innovator showcases the transformative power of this technology. With Immersifi, she’s not just embracing the future of retail – she’s actively shaping it, one personalized experience at a time. Connect with Katerina on LinkedIn, X and via Immersfi on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
Loved Katerina’s story and want further inspiration? Discover more in our exciting “Faces of Web3” series via our blog.
