A Shy Tech Enthusiast’s Journey: Pitching RDDL at T-Challenge

The Big Stage

The other day, I had the thrilling and nerve-wracking opportunity to represent the RDDL Foundation at the T-Challenge in Bonn. As an introvert, public speaking doesn’t come naturally to me, but this was an opportunity too good to pass up. The T-Challenge is a competitive platform where startups present their innovative ideas to Telekom and its partners, and the best ones get a chance to collaborate with them. Our pitch? A hardware secured identity, using a trust anchor, to enable secure machine-to-machine communication.

The Anticipation

The tension leading up to the presentation was palpable, my palms were sweaty and my heart was racing. I prepared, rehearsed, and then rehearsed some more. We were ready to unveil our idea of using a physical device, a Trust Anchor, attached to or integrated into a machine, to ensure secure data transmission.

The Breakdown

During the presentation, we demonstrated our concept using a green energy proof of origin scenario. A solar power plant equipped with a smart meter and our Trust Anchor logged its energy production securely on the RDDL Network. We also showcased a machine tracking its energy consumption. This allowed us to illustrate how hardware secured carbon certificates could be generated.

Overcoming the Hurdles

As I was talking, I could feel the butterflies in my stomach start to quiet down. I focused on the information and the solution we were providing. I reminded myself of the impact our technology could have, and this gave me the confidence to present passionately and convincingly.

The RDDL Network

The crux of the presentation was the RDDL Network, a decentralized data oracle that securely connects blockchains to external systems like machines and infrastructure. It’s a revolutionary system that uses decentralized identifiers and trust anchors to create secure machine identities, potentially paving the way for novel financial products such as machine NFTs, data markets, and more. Our network also ensures low fees, easy chain migration, and chain-agnostic DeFi/ReFi/MachineFi products, among other benefits.

The Trust Anchor

Our Trust Anchor, a small device that can be attached or integrated into any machine, played a significant role in the presentation. This device generates and securely stores a private key that never leaves it, and signs data with this private key. The corresponding public key, the machine’s identity, is stored on the blockchain. This ensures the integrity of the data and provides a mechanism to verify it.

The Aftermath

The presentation was a success, and the feeling afterward was indescribable. It felt like a great weight was lifted off my shoulders, and the sense of accomplishment was amazing. It was wonderful to see the interest and excitement around our technology, and it made all the anxiety leading up to it completely worth it.

Reflections and Looking Forward

This journey has been a testament to the fact that introverts can excel in situations that traditionally seem out of our comfort zones. The key is to focus on the passion for the topic and the potential impact it can have. As we continue to develop our Trust Anchor and the RDDL Network, I’m excited to see how they will revolutionize the way we interact with machines.

My experience at the T-Challenge has ignited a newfound passion within me to step up and speak more about our work in public forums. Despite my introverted nature, I now understand the importance of sharing our breakthroughs and insights with a wider audience. The power of communication in tech cannot be understated, and I am ready to embrace this new direction.

For more information about our work, feel free to visit our website rddl.io or reach out to me directly. I’m more than happy to discuss and hear your thoughts on how the Trust Anchor and the RDDL Network can be implemented in your projects. Despite my reserved nature, your curiosity and enthusiasm for our work encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and engage in these conversations.

Looking back, the experience was a fantastic opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. It was a reminder that stepping out of your comfort zone, though daunting, often leads to great things. So, here’s to many more pitches, conversations, and breakthroughs in the world of tech. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.