Amid the sunlit pavilions and designer yachts of Art Basel 2022, a different kind of early-morning meeting took place in a VIP lounge tucked behind the fair’s busiest corridors: a conversation with Ethan Beard, founder and then–CEO of Yoz Labs, the San Francisco–based Web3 startup that raised US$3.5 million to build an on-chain notification system. More than a technology founder, Beard represents a new generation of luxury entrepreneurs — blending blockchain, art, and business in ways that align naturally with the refined rhythms of the Basel elite.
From Zuckerberg to Web3: Beard’s Journey
Ethan Beard’s story is anything but ordinary:
He built his tech chops early, holding senior roles at Facebook and Ripple before turning his attention fully to decentralized communication.
By 2021, he had launched Yoz Labs, with a mission to make blockchain “on-chain” notifications accessible for developers and users alike.
Yoz Labs’ $3.5M funding round in 2023 — led by Electric Capital and backed by blockchain luminaries such as Naval Ravikant, Mike Krieger, and Coinbase Ventures — now positioned Beard as both a builder and a trendspotter.
At Basel, he appeared calm but sharp: a founder who understood that connecting developers with users was not just technical work — it was a cultural one.
Why Web3 Notifications Matter to the Art World
In a VIP conversation, Beard explained how Yoz Labs fits into the high-stakes world of luxury, art, and innovation:
“Artists, collectors, and cultural institutions move quickly. Whether it’s a drop, a token, or a digital piece, users need to be informed in real time — but securely and without friction.”
For art-world insiders, this is more than utility. It’s infrastructure:
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Gallery owners integrating token-gated access
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Auction houses notifying bidders on-chain for NFTs
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Museums using Web3 notifications for loyalty programs, VIP updates, or immersive experiences
Beard’s vision is elegant, almost poetic: real-time Web3 messaging as a bridge between blockchain developers and high-value users, not just in tech circles, but within the creative elite.
Crossing Paths With the VIPs at Basel
Ethan Beard’s presence at Art Basel was not accidental:
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He was a guest at a private yacht dinner, where crypto investors mingled with contemporary art collectors from Europe and Asia.
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He attended a closed-door panel on Web3 and the future of art — moderated by a leading curator, with participation from gallery directors.
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And in the VIP fair lounge, he hosted a small gathering for Web3-native creators, discussing how Yoz Labs could integrate with digital galleries and DAOs.
For many, meeting Beard in that context felt like glimpsing the future of art. He was not merely a founder. He was a pioneer, helping to shape how culture and technology will communicate.
Building Legacy: A Family and a Future
Beard also spoke personally in Basel: about mentoring young engineers, about the community he’s building, and about his aspiration for Yoz Labs to become more than a company — a platform for creative empowerment.
He mentioned his work with Venture Lab, a program connected to his alma mater (Wharton), which encourages students to build startups while engaging with cultural institutions.
He sees Yoz Labs as part of a broader legacy — one that connects technology and philanthropy, business and art.
The City4VIP Insight
In a world where crypto founders often choose conferences over canvases, Ethan Beard chose Art Basel. That choice tells you everything you need to know: he doesn’t just want to build Web3 notifications — he wants to integrate Web3 deeply into the cultural frameworks of the art world.
For VIP art investors, this means opportunity:
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Technology that enhances token-gated art experiences
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A founder deeply invested in bridging Web3 and art patrons
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Early access to projects where blockchain and creative culture truly converge
Meeting Beard in Basel wasn’t just networking.
It was witnessing the architecture of the next paradigm.
