Dan Jones, CEO and Co-Founder of Calyptus, has spent seven years in deep tech venture capital and blockchain startups, where he consistently witnessed the challenge web3 founders face in finding reliable talent. After consulting hundreds of startups on everything from go-to-market strategies to exit planning, Dan recognised both the problem and the opportunity to solve it using advanced technology.
How does Calyptus address the limitations of traditional resumes in the web3 and crypto industries, such as verifiability, project-based work, pseudonymity, and niche skills, to help professionals effectively showcase their experience and contributions?
At Calyptus, we’ve moved beyond the traditional resume format by using blockchain and AI to enhance how professionals present their work and skills. Instead of listing job titles, we aggregate data from platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, GitHub, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Farcaster — essentially anywhere users have made a meaningful contribution. We also incorporate skill assessments and reference checks to provide a more comprehensive view of someone’s expertise. This process creates a verified, data-backed representation of a candidate’s work and skills, highlighting their impact across multiple platforms.
To make things easier, we’ve introduced a gamified process for connecting data streams and earning credentials, making it more engaging and rewarding for users.
Our AI then analyses the entire dataset to create a coherent narrative, placing an individual’s skills and achievements at the forefront.
How does Calyptus support career growth and learning within its community?
Our goal at Calyptus is to make learning dynamic and rewarding by fostering a gamified ecosystem that incentivises personal growth. Our Learn-to-Earn initiative provides a direct route to career development, allowing users to work on real-world problems while earning rewards.
The two main curricula focus on Ethereum and Solana blockchain development, and to date, participants have earned over $25,000 in rewards for completing these courses. Our learners—over 5,000 of them—have created more than 15,000 individual projects, ranging from launching tokens to building decentralised exchanges.
We’ve maintained a high level of satisfaction, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from users. By consolidating data across platforms, we fast track users’ visibility to potential employers, easing the transition from learning to securing a job.
How does Calyptus ensure the legitimacy of job offers and protect users from scams?
Calyptus has built a hiring ecosystem that prioritises both transparency and security. Employers undergo a thorough verification process, which includes a one-on-one onboarding call with the Calyptus team to confirm their legitimacy.
In addition, we employ a gamified reporting system that enables users to flag suspicious activities, with our AI helping to investigate and address these concerns swiftly. Beyond these measures, we actively educate our community on best practices for avoiding scams.
With our multi-layered approach—combining employer vetting, AI-driven checks, and a vigilant community—Calyptus works to maintain a secure environment throughout the hiring process.
How do Calyptus Learn-to-Earn courses benefit aspiring developers compared to traditional models?
Our Learn-to-Earn model offers a fresh approach to education by allowing participants to earn while they build their web3 skills. The courses are structured to be engaging and gamified, helping learners feel as if they are progressing through levels in a game. Topics include Security Practices, NFTs, and DeFi, and participants receive rewards as they complete milestones.
Each course is launched monthly, often with an industry expert providing guidance and motivation at the start. The courses last 14 days, and the first 50 developers who pass with at least 70% on the quizzes share in a prize pool.
We believe this approach has the potential to reshape talent development in web3, an industry often clouded by uncertainty and negative press. By fostering a supportive learning environment, we aim to build confidence in blockchain technologies and encourage more developers to enter the space. Our community-based approach ensures that participants are not left to learn in isolation but are supported by peers, receiving continuous guidance and motivation.