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Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

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Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I understand about blockchain, these databases are append-only, right? Meaning someone can't go back and alter the past entries? That kind of assurance could be really useful in this space.

Yes correct. The immutability and provenance of data are key characteristics that make blockchain useful here.

What happens if someone adds incorrect entries by accident or intentionally?

How do you ensure parity between the real world and the Blockchain?

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#82
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which blockchain did you use? If it's privately run, wouldn't this be the same as a centralized DB? And if a public chain, how did you encrypt the data? Thank you

Right now, our products are built using Hyperledger Fabric or R3 Corda. In the future, as public blockchains like Ethereum and Avalanche scale and become proven in business use cases, we will migrate over to them, becoming fully decentralized and utilizing a consensus mechanism like Proof of Stake or Gossip Networks. Short term, we needed to use enterprise blockchain that was proven in a business setting and doesn’t…

+1 for chosing fabric

Consensus can be called Proof of Authority, established through negotiations. Highly scalable. This could be achieved without Fabric, or Blockchain, but Fabric has a lot of the common features needed for such a system anyhow.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#83

Hi, we’re Rob, April and Ivan, cofounders of DigiBuild ( https://digibuild.com/ ). We build construction software powered by blockchain. Our tools help large companies, like VCC Construction, improve the schedule and budget on projects and save over a million dollars annually. I grew up in construction with my dad and saw first hand the issues companies face everyday. The building process involves 50-100 stakeholders…

This is technology is going to disrupt the construction industry! Looking forward to increased adoption as DigiBuild continues the momentum they have developed.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#84

Hi, we’re Rob, April and Ivan, cofounders of DigiBuild ( https://digibuild.com/ ). We build construction software powered by blockchain. Our tools help large companies, like VCC Construction, improve the schedule and budget on projects and save over a million dollars annually. I grew up in construction with my dad and saw first hand the issues companies face everyday. The building process involves 50-100 stakeholders…

This seems like a great idea.

I assume a forward looking city could hook directly into your apis to process things faster.

By fair housing will become the biggest issue in the next 50 years or so.

Would love to see case studies where your shown to reduce costs by a significant amount. Good luck !

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We built a credit reporting engine on top of a traditional debit card. Traditional debit cards are meant to access your checking account directly.

I'm the case of identity theft/card #theft, credit cards provide limited liability, while debit cards do not, at least in the USA. How do you plan on protecting your customers if they want to use the card for on-line purchases and are therefore exposed to this risk? Or can you even us debit cards for online purchases?

You can use Sequin anywhere Visa is accepted (online, offline, etc). A cool feature is, you can actually set your daily limit on the card which protects against fraud - over traditional debit and even credit.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#86

Hi HN! We are a rather unusual team of six founders (Pei, Amit, Sunil, Jack, Bo, and Kartik) spread across India and China, building Karbon Cards ( https://www.karboncard.com/ ). We help companies in India get instant access to a corporate card. We came across this problem separately while Amit was doing VC and Sunil was running his own fintech. We saw that a startup with $1M in the bank was facing mind-numbing issue…

How’re you handling the MasterCard suspension? Are you able to onboard new accounts now?

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#87

Hi, we’re Rob, April and Ivan, cofounders of DigiBuild ( https://digibuild.com/ ). We build construction software powered by blockchain. Our tools help large companies, like VCC Construction, improve the schedule and budget on projects and save over a million dollars annually. I grew up in construction with my dad and saw first hand the issues companies face everyday. The building process involves 50-100 stakeholders…

I am excited to see this. I have been involved in both the physical and software side of large construction projects. This is an actual good use of a blockchain.

How will you respond when another vendor wants to participate in transactions? Is there a 3rd party API?

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#88

Hi, we’re Rob, April and Ivan, cofounders of DigiBuild ( https://digibuild.com/ ). We build construction software powered by blockchain. Our tools help large companies, like VCC Construction, improve the schedule and budget on projects and save over a million dollars annually. I grew up in construction with my dad and saw first hand the issues companies face everyday. The building process involves 50-100 stakeholders…

I am excited to see this. I have been involved in both the physical and software side of large construction projects. This is an actual good use of a blockchain. How will you respond when another vendor wants to participate in transactions? Is there a 3rd party API?

Yes we currently offer integrations into some of the current major software vendors out there so our tools can be utilized along side a customer's existing stack.... Our long term goal is that customers use DigiBuild across the board. But we needed a low friction way to let them try us on a smaller scale first. APIs like that do dilute the effectiveness of the blockchain a little bit, but the tech is still effective in removing uncertainty around information so it works.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#89

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

Cool startup! I like the name. In my locale, “sekin” is slang for money.

Re: Launch YC S21: Meet the Batch, Thread #8

#90

Hi, I'm Vrinda Gupta. I worked at Visa Inc. for years, launching popular credit cards. But when I applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve (the credit card I helped develop), I was rejected! I'm now the CEO and Co-Founder of Sequin, a debit card that builds credit for women risk-free with no credit history required. My co-founder, Mark Thomas, spent over a decade at PayPal leading ACH products in various EM roles. I wa…

This is wild! I had no idea such discrimination existed, though on reflection, my partner has had quite a hard time building her credit for not too dissimilar reasons. Congratulations on the launch.
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