Blockchain companies are relatively new within the tech landscape. Cryptocurrency has also created a new investment class that many individuals and institutions are just starting to participate in. In the last 2 years almost everyone in tech has heard about blockchain, however not that many individuals get a look into the inner workings of a blockchain company. That was the idea behind this series, we want to introduce the core team of Hilo.io and share insights from the people behind the project.

In this week’s Meet the Team we talk with Brit Morgan Chief Business Development Officer of Hilo.io. Brit has been a important member of the team since the beginnings of Hilo.io and is responsible for managing much of the daily operations within Hilo.io. We talk to Brit about the origin of Hilo.io as a concept and how translating her trading experience influenced concepts within the Hilo.io platform. Brit also shares her perspective on blockchain as an industry and the importance of blockchain companies actually delivering on products.

Where did the idea for Hilo originate?

Everyone on the founding team is a crypto trader. We all wanted to have a product like Hilo.io somewhere on our journeys through crypto trading. A place where we can connect with experts, measure sentiment, track trades, and research new investments. A platform where we can send our friends and family to when they want to learn more about this new space.

What is the biggest problem that Hilo aims to solve?

It distills and consolidates market sentiment and allows traders to research and understand the projects they’re investing in. Hilo.io helps answer the question of why coin prices are moving in any given direction.

What personal experiences do you have that help you in the process of building Hilo?

I love building things and solving problems. Having worked in high growth startups since the beginning of my career I know how to handle the problems that arise when you are doing everything all at once. My experience allows me to focus on building a great product but also seeing things five moves ahead. I’m a visionary type and I can visualize where I want us to go while putting together all the small pieces and incremental steps to get us there.

What do you see as the biggest potential challenges Hilo faces as a project?

There are many challenges with any startup. For Hilo.io the biggest so far is the regulatory uncertainty around building a company with a token. Every dollar is runway to launch us to the next level. When we had to invest heavily into a law firm to help support us in our token sale it was to guarantee that we’re not only well represented, but also to ensure we’re launching our token with a verifiably working product. In a lot of ways the extra effort in this front puts us ahead.

What mistakes do you see a lot of crypto founders currently making?

There are a lot of projects with a great vision but no execution. I think that the biggest mistake is that a lot of blockchain entrepreneurs are raising huge amounts of money and it feels more like a money grab than an innovative operational endeavour.

What other companies in the blockchain space do you think highly of?

I am a huge fan of Stellar, Civic, Ledger, Propy, 0x and so many others. There are a lot of great companies with so much talent in this space.

Who or what influences or inspires you outside of crypto?

I find inspiration from nature, specifically the ocean. I’m a sailor, surfer, and open ocean swimmer. Nothing motivates me more than a day on or in the ocean, it recharges me and inspires me to think big while staying present.

Is there any trait or skill that you’ve developed or improved working on this project?

I have become very good at being decisive. When you go after your dreams there’s a lot of haters, and skeptics. At first it feels like everyone wants to help you because so many people want to get close and give all kinds of advice but it’s impossible to take everyone’s advice. Learning to follow through with the decisions that I make without second guessing myself is extremely powerful especially because we are building on a tight timeline.

Why is “now” an ideal time for Hilo?

There is so much pent-up demand for new entrants to get into the crypto space. Now is definitely the time for Hilo.io, which is why we are working so hard to get the product out.

What influenced the design and branding of Hilo?

Hilo.io is designed so that anyone can use it. User experience is at the forefront of everything that we are doing. When you interact with a product that is designed well you don’t notice it, and when you interact with a product that is designed poorly you notice all the issues and friction. We’re building a frictionless product.

How did you choose your advisors for this project?

They chose us! But yes, obviously we are lucky to have some of the best in the industry who support us with amazing advice and connections. Our advisors are incredible!

Hilo.io will bring together these different facets — news, alerts, social interactions, user-generated content, and learning from your peers — into a single platform. We look forward to watching the launch of the Hilo.io platform, the HILO token, and introduce Fantasy Crypto.

To learn more about Hilo.io, or cryptos in general, please visit the resources below: