DataGram Team

Jason "BitBender" Brink Co-Founder & CEO

Jason's vision for DataGram is not only to revolutionize decentralized infrastructure but also to address critical global challenges such as systemic economic inefficiencies. His journey toward making a tangible difference in the developing world began with his creation of the AidDollar concept, which earned him the 2014 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation / Global Development Network Prize. The AidDollar was designed to fix the broken foreign aid system by using blockchain technology to ensure that aid reached those who needed it most. This concept was born out of his experiences in post-earthquake Haiti, where he witnessed immense suffering and systemic failures in aid distribution. However, navigating governmental and NGO bureaucracy made implementing this solution difficult. This frustration ultimately led Jason to explore the gaming industry as a way to drive wealth transfer, particularly through play-to-earn and play-to-own models. His work in blockchain gaming at Gala Games demonstrated how these systems could empower players, particularly in developing countries, by enabling them to generate real value through their in-game activities. The potential for gaming economies to facilitate wealth transfer, bridging gaps between those in developed and developing countries, became clear, as evidenced by countless stories of lives transformed through these models. In his previous role as President of Blockchain at Gala Games, Jason "BitBender" Brink spearheaded one of the most ambitious decentralized physical infrastructure network (depin) projects in existence. Under his guidance, Gala Games developed a decentralized storage solution that currently supports 85% of all DHT (Distributed Hash Table) servers running IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a critical protocol for peer-to-peer storage and data sharing. This network has enabled a vast ecosystem of decentralized applications and content sharing, highlighting Jason’s expertise in building robust, scalable blockchain infrastructure. As CEO of DataGram, Jason is expanding this mission by leveraging decentralized technology to create more antifragile and resilient distributed systems to grow the decentralized world in a sustainable manner.

William H. Nguyen, Ph.D. Co-Founder & CTO

Dr. Nguyen has journeyed from his beginnings as a refugee to build a remarkable career as a visionary in decentralized technology, dedicated to advancing global communication and knowledge sharing. Growing up in the U.S., Dr. Nguyen pursued an innovative path to learning, mastering English through the study of physics and mathematical equations—a reflection of his distinctive approach to problem-solving. His commitment to growth and resilience earned him many prestigious fellowships at leading institutions, including the University of California, U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Harvard Medical School, where he was honored as an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow.

Inspired by his early experiences of hardship, Dr. Nguyen is committed to developing technologies that eliminate barriers to knowledge and communication. His belief in the transformative power of collaboration drives his innovations and serves as a guiding force in his work. His first major project, VoxyPAD, revolutionized remote interactions, making virtual communication as seamless as face-to-face meetings. This groundbreaking platform laid the groundwork for Datagram, his current venture, which elevates the principles of decentralized infrastructure to new heights.

Datagram embodies Dr. Nguyen’s vision of a future where technology empowers people to connect and collaborate without borders. Built to make Web3 technology invisible to users, Datagram offers secure, privacy-first messaging, peer-to-peer connections, and decentralized communication infrastructure. It enables businesses and individuals to benefit from the power of decentralization without needing to understand its complexities.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nguyen has remained committed to fostering human connectivity and knowledge exchange. Through Datagram, he is creating a platform that democratizes access to technology, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, can contribute, learn, and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. His life's work stands as a testament to the belief that true progress comes from empowering individuals and fostering collaboration on a global scale.