Ask the Attendees: @ChangeTip

Recently, we told you about TechStyle, an event held during Fashion Week that brought together fashion and technology.  The event had a wonderful turnout and attendees enjoyed the chance to celebrate NYC’s fashion week in techsy style!

But just who are the brands that attended the event? What’s their take on the event industry? And what did they think of TechsyStyle? We took the opportunity to interview a few of the attendees and over the next few days will be featuring their interviews, read on for a peek inside the guests’ heads:

We talked to Victoria van Eyk, VP Community Development. 

– First of all, please tell our readers about ChangeTip – what is the company all about?

Consider ChangeTip your money layer on the internet.  Specifically, we are focusing on micro payments – payments until $25 US.  But, big picture, there is no money we use for the internet now – and we are building this using bitcoin technology.  Just like e-mail modernized mail, and social media modernized sharing information and connecting… this modernizes money, for an internet era. (Did you know credit cards were made for department stores?? Not for the internet, that’s for sure.)

– What were the 3 keys to getting the company off the ground – where did you invest your time?

We invested our time in our community, we focused on getting feedback from our users and we kept our focus on building useful products that delight.  Without a great, robust and participative community, we would not be here.

– What was your experience like at TechStyle this year? What was your biggest takeaway?

The biggest take away for me was a better understanding of where bitcoin lies with the other industries. I have heard numerous times that the bitcoin and cryptocurrency communities are thriving in the NYC area. I agree, they are thriving in their own industries however there is an obvious need and a chance to push out bitcoin into other industries. When I talked to members of the Fashion industry about bitcoin, I was impressed with how hungry they were for information and how eager they were to learn more. I think with a few well placed demonstrations like the ones we gave during TechStyleNYC, we could see a large boost in the use of bitcoin in not only the fashion industry but other industries as well. It’s an avenue that has only really been walked down by techie types, but the view on this path is pleasing to all sorts of industries. I am excited by the excitement I saw and experienced about bitcoin at TechStyleNYC.

– How has social media brought users to your app?

We did one event earlier this year at CES – called CES Startup Debut – and it was awesome! People are so delighted when they find out they can send money over social media.  It’s truly delightful to watch peoples’ reactions as they engage with the technology and when the lightbulb goes off regarding all its potential applications!

– Have you seen a growth in users when you host activations at events?

We just did a joint campaign for Valentine’s Day with Newegg, and it was really, really great.  Newegg reports having the best engagement in their recent history, and customers were delighted to receive monetary gifts over social media from the brand.  We will be doing many more with brands in the future — it’s a win-win-win.  Brands get better engagement, customers get appreciation for their business, and we see the power of our platform being used.  And the best part is, it promotes bitcoin, which is a fascinating, powerful and largely misunderstood technology.

– Besides ChangeTip, what is your favorite app?

My favorite app is Twitter.  I love feeling connected to worldwide happenings in real time.  We are entering a huge decade ahead – where information, money and social change is accessible to us all.  It’s exciting to see these developments and know big social change is happening.