Why Real‑World Use Cases (Not Speculation) Will Save Web3
By Lucky Star, Responsible AI | Blockchain Educator & Consultant
[May 10, 2025] — Web3’s early promise of open, community‑driven innovation rings hollow if those who face the steepest hurdles remain on the margins. Historically, the experiences of Black women—across creative, technological, and entrepreneurial spheres—have served as a reliable indicator of an environment’s openness and fairness. When Black women thrive, the broader community benefits. When they encounter disproportionate challenges, it is a clear signal that complications persist that can otherwise be substantially remedied that have lasting implications for everyone. It is for this reason that we turn our attention, here and now, to their presence and treatment in Web3 and Blockchain Tech. While some success stories suggest otherwise, those cases do not reflect the broader reality. Consensus among researchers, practitioners, and community members confirms that Black women continue to encounter disproportionate hurdles, and recognizing their experiences is essential to improving Web3 for all.
Women and Black Founders in Web3: A Statistical Snapshot
- Women in Creatives & Development: Approximately 27 percent of staff at leading Web3 ventures are women—most in community or support roles rather than technical positions (BCG X, 2023).
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Women Founders: Only 13 percent of founding teams include at least one woman, and a mere 3 percent are led exclusively by female founders (BCG X, 2023).
- Black Founders’ Funding Share: In the United States, Black entrepreneurs receive roughly 1 percent of total blockchain‑focused venture capital, despite significant contributions to innovation (NFT Now, 2023).
- Trend Since 2023: Venture funding for Black‑founded startups declined to $228 million in H1 2024 (0.3 percent of U.S. startup funding), down from $699 million in full‑year 2023, marking a multiyear low even as overall capital increased (HBCUvc, 2024; PitchBook, 2024).
Too often, one individual is asked to stand in for an entire diaspora. Treating Black founders as a single, uniform group collapses the breadth of experiences—from West and East Africa to the Caribbean to North America—and stifles locally driven solutions. When decision‑making bodies lack this range of perspectives, their plans reflect only a narrow slice of needs. Inviting founders and community members from multiple backgrounds into governance not only brings new ideas but also speeds progress, as policies and tools better match real-world conditions. Without that breadth of input, important insights are lost, and the ecosystem’s growth stalls, along with potential innovation and economic opportunity for everyone.
Enduring Creations, Rooted in Purpose
Blockchain can do more than track trades—it can anchor stories with provenance, safeguard origins, and offer lasting artistic value. My recent collections show how thoughtful design and on‑chain provenance create works that resonate over time, illustrating the real‑world creative application potentials of Web3.
Bye Bye TT (Lucky Star, 2025a)
A seven‑piece non-AI collector’s puzzle capturing a unique moment. Each piece with its specific minting mechanic invites participants to steward its evolving narrative, so its significance deepens as more people discover and share its story.
Biolume Bloomcaps (Lucky Star, 2025b)
An abstract homage to life’s luminescent power, bringing the unseen to light. Years of botanical care and AI synthesis converge in digital sculptures that preserve the essence of living plants in stillness, demonstrating how technology can honor organic inspiration.
Memory Glass (Lucky Star, 2025c)
The series that inspired 'Memory Carousel' for Nairobi Design Week 2025’s “We Are the Ancestors,” this collection channels ancestral energy into layered geometric forms. On‑chain recording ensures each iteration becomes part of a living cultural archive, rich in symbolism and free from literal portrayal.
Realities of Participation
Blockchain’s core promise is transparency and equal access for all. Yet in practice within Web3 for creatives specifically, certain hurdles can slow momentum and are worth reflecting on:
- Initial Fees: Application or open call listing costs—from $20 to $200—can deter new creators before they begin.
- Detailed Submission Expectations: Requests for white papers, team profiles, and revenue histories can feel like stepping through corporate processes.
- Regional & Legal Requirements: Eligibility rules or demands for business registration and tax documentation may exclude those working informally or across borders or requiring anonymity for safety reasons.
- Shifting Guidelines: Prize amounts, deadlines, or criteria sometimes change mid-opportunity, disrupting plans.
- Network Partiality: Even “open” calls often bring forward familiar names, making it harder for fresh perspectives to be heard.
These examples invite a broader conversation about how to align real-world experience with blockchain’s founding ideals—ensuring that the technology truly serves everyone.
Pathways to a Stronger Web3
Web3’s promise lies in community value, creative depth, and real‑world impact. Here are key ideas to keep in mind and share with your network:
For Curious Supporters
- Stay Curious: Seek out projects tackling real challenges— like supply‑chain transparency, community governance, or preservation of traditions.
- Ask Questions: Learn how platforms support their contributors and how decisions are made.
- Share Insights: Pass along what you learn; broaden the conversation.
For Resource Contributors
- Invest in Purpose: Direct funds toward initiatives with clear social or community goals.
- Sponsor Opportunities: Back grants or contests that remove entry fees and simplify criteria.
- Enable Collaboration: Facilitate partnerships between blockchain developers and local community organizations.
- Monitor Outcomes: Support projects that publish clear reports on impact and spending.
Each of these actions encourages a shift from speculative hype toward projects that endure, innovate, and benefit all participants.
A Turning Point for Blockchain
By centering use cases that serve people, culture, and environment, Web3 can evolve beyond market cycles to deliver lasting value. Your engagement—reading, sharing, supporting—helps create a future where technology uplifts every voice, preserves tradition innovatively, and builds connections.
Sources & References
BCG X. (2023, February 16). Women are being shut out of Web3: Only 13 percent of founding teams include at least one woman, and only 3 percent are led exclusively by women. Boston Consulting Group. Retrieved from https://www.bcg.com/press/16february2023-women-are-being-shut-out-of-web3
HBCUvc. (2024, Q2). State of Black Venture Capital Q2 2024 Report. HBCUvc. Retrieved from https://www.hbcuvc.org/state-of-black-venture-capital-q2-2024
NFT Now. (2023, March 22). 11 Black founders driving innovation in Web3. Retrieved from https://nftnow.com/features/black-founders-driving-innovation-in-web3
PitchBook. (2024, July). 2024 Venture Capital Trends Report. PitchBook Data, Inc. Retrieved from https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/2024-venture-capital-trends
Lucky Star. (2025a). Bye Bye TT collection. Retrieved from https://luckystar.ai/pages/tt-bye-bye-collection
Lucky Star. (2025b). Biolume Bloomcaps. Retrieved from https://luckystar.ai/pages/biolume-bloomcaps
Lucky Star. (2025c). Memory Glass series. Retrieved from https://luckystar.ai/pages/memory-glass