Key Takeaways
- Marek Olszewski is the CEO and Co-Founder of cLabs, the team behind the Celo blockchain, a mobile-first, low-cost payment network built on Ethereum Layer 2.
- While at MIT, he co-founded Locu, an app helping businesses manage online listings. GoDaddy bought Locu in 2013, and he became Vice President of Engineering.
- In 2021, he became president of Valora, a Web3 wallet made for easy crypto transactions, adding to his influence in decentralized finance (DeFi).
Who Is Marek Olszewski?
Marek Olszewski is the CEO and co-founder of cLabs, creators of the Celo blockchain, a mobile-first, low-cost payment network built on Ethereum Layer 2. He holds a BASc and MASc in Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto and a PhD, ABD, in Computer Science from MIT. Olszewski has interned as a software engineer at Microsoft and Google and worked as a research assistant at the University of Toronto and MIT.
Early Career at Locu
While studying at MIT, Olszewski co-founded Locu with Rene Reinsberg in November 2010. The app helped local businesses manage their online listings, focusing on search engine ranking and reviews. As the company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Olszewski played a key role in the app’s development and success.
In August 2013, GoDaddy bought Locu, and Olszewski became Vice President of Engineering at GoDaddy. He supervised engineering projects and tech improvements there and stayed with the company until January 2017.
Founding cLabs and Celo Foundation
In August 2017, Olszewski and Reinsberg co-founded cLabs, and the Celo Foundation focused on creating a decentralized financial system. As the CEO of cLabs, Olszewski led the creation of the Celo blockchain, a mobile-friendly, scalable platform designed for fast and cheap payments worldwide. Under his leadership, the Celo ecosystem grew quickly, gaining attention for its new approach to financial access and mobile technology.
Role in Celo Blockchain Development
As the CEO of cLabs, Olszewski has led the development of the Celo blockchain. This blockchain aims to create a decentralized and scalable financial system, especially for mobile users. Celo focuses on financial inclusion, allowing people without traditional bank access to join the global economy.
Under his leadership, cLabs has made significant progress in building a blockchain that supports decentralized apps and provides affordable payments worldwide, creating new opportunities for people in underbanked areas.
Leadership at Valora
In July 2021, Olszewski became president of Valora, a mobile-first Web3 wallet for cryptocurrencies, growing his role in the Web3 space. As president, he focuses on improving Valora’s features to help users quickly send, save, and manage digital currencies. His leadership keeps progressing in decentralized finance, meeting the increasing need for simple tools in the Web3 space.
Celo’s Mission
In a March 2023 episode of Empire, Marek Olszewski and Rene Reinsberg discussed how Celo is building a mobile-first blockchain focused on real-world uses. They shared how Celo started and makes scalable technology focusing on users. Olszewski and Reinsberg explained how Celo, along with its wallet Valora, is helping local communities worldwide by providing the tools for easy payments and financial services.
Olszewski’s Leadership in Web3 and DeFi
Olszewski’s leadership in Web3 goes beyond cLabs and Valora. He supports decentralized finance (DeFi) and has helped shape how blockchain can empower people and businesses.
His work with Celo and Valora shows his commitment to connecting traditional finance with new Web3 technologies, making it easier for people to use decentralized systems, trade cryptocurrencies, and manage assets safely.
Contributions to the Startup Ecosystem
Besides his work with cLabs and Valora, Olszewski has contributed significantly to the startup ecosystem. As a co-founder of Locu, he showed his ability to innovate in technology. After GoDaddy bought Locu, Olszewski continued working in startups and venture businesses, using his experience to mentor other entrepreneurs. His success with cLabs and Valora has made him an essential figure in the startup space, especially in blockchain, Web3, and decentralized finance.
The Future of Mobile-First Blockchain
Looking ahead, Olszewski is focused on growing mobile-first blockchain technologies. With Celo’s goal of providing fast, low-cost transactions on mobile devices, Olszewski believes the future of finance is mobile and decentralized.
His work aims to create more accessible financial tools for people everywhere, especially in developing countries where mobile phones are the primary way people access the internet. By using blockchain, Olszewski hopes to make finance more open and efficient.
Final Thoughts
Marek Olszewski has helped shape blockchain and digital finance, from co-founding Locu to leading cLabs and Valora. His work on the Celo blockchain shows his goal of making digital money more effortless, especially on mobile phones.
As he continues to work on mobile-friendly blockchain tools, he is focused on helping more people access financial services. His leadership in Web3 and DeFi continues to bring new ideas to digital payments and decentralized apps.
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