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Business & Society

From Bartender to Web3 Pioneer: Alexandra’s Story Behind Thrilld Labs

When I logged into Zoom to interview Alexandra, the founder of Thrilld Labs, I could tell this was going to be special. She greeted me with a radiant smile, a mix of warmth and energy that immediately set the tone for our conversation. Yes, she was beautiful, but what captivated me was her story—her grit, resilience, and determination to bring value to the Web3 space.

When I logged into Zoom to interview Alexandra, the founder of Thrilld Labs, I could tell this was going to be special. She greeted me with a radiant smile, a mix of warmth and energy that immediately set the tone for our conversation. Yes, she was beautiful, but what captivated me was her story—her grit, resilience, and determination to bring value to the Web3 space.

Alexandra’s journey started with a simple yet powerful idea: making it easier for people in Web3 to connect. Thrilld Labs emerged from this vision, a platform that brings together projects, investors, developers, and service providers. Through her innovation, the Synergy-Machine, Alexandra created a space where real people meet, collaboration happens, and ideas flourish. Yes, partnerships take shape. I would say it’s Tinder for Web3.

Her journey wasn’t easy. Originally from the Netherlands, Alexandra moved to Italy over 10 years ago. I could even sense the warmth in her studio, all the way to my place in Sweden. Alexandra entered the Web3 world in 2017, not as a developer, but as a trader looking to pay off her student debt. I forgot to ask if she was successful in trading. With two Master’s degrees (one about Policy and the other in Political Science) under her belt she said that she wanted to change the world. 

Alexandra worked in hospitality, bartending to support herself through school. That experience taught her the value of hard work, adaptability, and persistence. I would say that these qualities are essential in launching Thrilld Labs. I could relate when she told me that it was not easy to raise capital when experiencing imposter syndrome as a non-developer and female founder in a male-dominated space. Imposter syndrome limits our personal growth if we succumb to it.

Her journey also involved profound personal loss. Alexandra lost both her father and stepfather to cancer and watched her mother battle the same disease. These tragedies pushed her to focus on what truly mattered.

“Losing my loved ones made me realize how short life is,” she told me. “It made me determined to create something meaningful.”

What I see in Alexandra’s story is a person who finds meaning in serving. In her case, she has even managed to make it a purpose in life. She really seems to be living a life worth living. Busy, but on her true path.

My T-shirt was not thin enough for that hot day. She smiled and fixed her blond hair. I laughed when I shared that I am single.

Now, Thrilld Labs is gearing up for its next phase. Alexandra plans to launch a utility token later this year, opening up investment opportunities to both large and small contributors. She was clearly happy about that milestone in her business.

But if there’s one thing I learned from our conversation, it’s that we need grit and many years, with or without a salary, before we are at our goal. Alexandra really seems to have the necessary grit to see it through. I invite you to check out the Thrilld App and get connected with fellow Web3 professionals.