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Meet the female founder using QR codes to bring portraits to life

QR codes: Digital-creative media is more significant than ever, with numerous NFT and Web3 agencies cropping up all over Europe. Web3 encompasses blockchain, NFTs, decentralised finance (or DeFi), and cryptocurrency. NFTs are digital files and can be a jpeg of a piece of art, a video or even real estate.

Using NFTs in art, artists can better establish ownership and collect royalties every timepieces are resold on secondary markets. This means profits will no longer be halved by sale commissions made by galleries and auction houses.

According to a report by Ocula, over 3,500 artists have contributed more than 427,000 new NFTs in 2021 alone, making it a growing industry. With NFT and Web3 Agencies working with new and emerging artists, people who wish to buy art can see it come to life by scanning QR codes. To find out more, we spoke to Anil Altas Brug, Co-founder of Turboslow NFT & Web3 Agency, which is based in Belgium.

Anil, can you tell us exactly what a Web3 and NFT agency is and how it works?

Web3 and NFT agencies are companies that produce digital-creative media projects related to NFT, Web3.0, blockchain technology, augmented reality, virtual reality and the metaverse. They combine brands with different perspectives in the new media industry and, by doing so, bring them to life.

They work with tech-generated companies, NFT artists, metaverse and augmented/virtual reality platforms, real and virtual art galleries, brands, architects and designers, and even agencies currently offer Web2 services to their clients. 

An NFT and Web3 agency provides a host of services, including NFT marketing and design, minting, training and consultancy, content and production. It also specialises in multidisciplinary support for the careers and projects of NFT artists, NFT art and Web3-related projects with different brands, NFT/Digital art exhibition curations and blockchain events. Some agencies like Turboslow offer an innovative perspective on Special Days or Christmas gifts by creating NFT and Web3 New Year products for the brands and their clients.

How did you first get involved with NFTs?

Turboslow NFT & Web3 Agency has existed for almost ten years. During the pandemic, we discovered the magic of NFTs and created our project entitled ‘Breathe With Me NFTs’, directly jumping into what was a rabbit hole! I believe learning by doing is the best philosophy in NFT and Web3 ecosystems. While working on it, we combined and designed all-in-one NFT and Web3 services for our clients.

Please tell us a bit about the NFT artists you work with. How do you find them?

As a Web3 and NFT agency, we like to scout new talented artists to allow them to find their path more easily. We do this by providing supervision, management and curation. We create meaningful, unique, engaging, humanist, interdisciplinary projects by creating real-life connections using the most immersive technologies. We then curate NFT exhibitions in real-life spaces with screens, billboards, movie theatres, NFT art festivals, conferences and events. 

Our portfolio has artists experienced in various disciplines, such as fashion, dance performance, literature, entertainment, audio-visual performance, AI, photography, 3D Animation and more. So far, we have worked with over 500 selected NFT Artists from 5 continents!

What are the biggest challenges when it comes to NFT Art?

The market for NFTs is still relatively new, and there is a risk of market volatility. In addition, their value can fluctuate significantly, and it can be challenging to predict which ones will be popular or even valuable in the future. The cost and technical knowledge required to create and sell NFTs can also be prohibitive, especially for smaller artists and creators. Legal and regulatory issues, such as taxation, intellectual property, and consumer protection, are still enormous challenges.

Combining art with NFTs: Meet the female founder using QR codes to bring portraits to life
Anil Altas Brug, Co-founder of Turboslow NFT & Web3 Agency

For example, questions about who owns the rights to digital content are often raised. Another challenge arises if the content is deleted, modified, or stolen. We don’t have the answers to these questions yet, but they may vary depending on the jurisdiction and platforms. This can create bubbles, scams, and frauds and affect the artistic value and quality of the works.

How do you find being a female founder in the Web3 and NFT space?

I think the lack of gender diversity in the NFT Space is a pressing issue. Diversity leads to better outcomes, and excluding any group can hinder progress and innovation. Promoting inclusivity in the NFT and Web3 space is needed to create a more vibrant, innovative, flourishing industry. By taking intentional steps to address the unique challenges I have faced as a female in the industry, the ecosystem can help ensure that Web3 is a space that is welcoming and accessible to all. 

What developments might we see in the NFT space over the next few years?

NFT adoption may increase in the next five years, owing to its popularity. We may see more event organizers minting NFT tickets onto a chosen blockchain, programming them to set a sale or resale price, or even running auctions where fans can bid for tickets. In the following years, NFTs could significantly influence a wide range of digital businesses and platforms in different industries, from gaming to identity and digital real estate. We will also hear more about metaverse and AI projects combined with NFTs and digital Tokenization.

What are your ambitions for your company?

To continue creating heartful, mindful, meaningful and scalable NFT and Web3 projects with brands, companies and artists. We want to work with international brands from different industries ready to enter Web3. Our dream is to continue growing and sharing everything with our partners in the markets we have not worked in before.

Do you believe there are enough women in the Web3 and NFT space?

Absolutely not! As I mentioned, I feel promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the Web3 space is needed to create a more vibrant, innovative, flourishing industry. By taking intentional steps to address the unique challenges facing women in the industry, the ecosystem can help ensure that Web3 is a space that is welcoming and accessible to all. That’s why I am a founding member of Crypto Female Germany. Through this group, we aim to create a voice for gender equality.

Last, has the TurboSlow Web3 NFT Agency plans for expansion?

Sure! We are constantly upgrading our existing product list and services. Soon, we plan on announcing a new partnership with a successful Web3 company which will be huge for us.

Rebecca Lee is a journalist and broadcaster of over 23 years. She also works in tech communications with ClearStory International. To date, she has written for and continues to contribute to The Business Post, The Irish Times, The Irish Daily Mail, The Sunday World, and, most importantly, European tech publication 4i Magazine. Rebecca also worked as a radio presenter for 13 years with leading Irish stations Q102 and FM104. Alongside balancing her PR and journalism work, Rebecca moderates events, WebSummit 2022 and Dublin Tech Summit being the most recent.