Web3 Leader Spotlight: Suhail Kakar
This week, we had the opportunity to catch up with Suhail Kakar, Devrel at Livepeer, a decentralized video infrastructure network that enables live and on-demand streaming. Built on the Ethereum blockchain, Livepeer aims to provide affordable and scalable live-streaming solutions for innovators in the $70 billion video streaming market.
As a driving force behind Livepeer's community growth, Suhail puts Developer Experience (DevX) at the forefront of his work. With 47.4K followers on X, Suhail is a passionate educator on the topics of Web3 development and AI.
How did you enter Web3 and transition into becoming a DevRel?
My introduction to Web3 actually happened during a pretty intense time back in 2019 in my home country, Afghanistan (when I was living in India). When the government fell and banks shut down, access to traditional money was suddenly cut off. But I noticed something interesting – those who had their money in cryptocurrencies were still able to manage their finances. That got me curious. I started exploring Bitcoin, and before I knew it, I was deep into the whole Web3 and blockchain world. It was quite an eye-opener and a real turning point for me.
What's been your approach to building a great community at Livepeer?
When it comes to building up the community at Livepeer, my game plan has been all about focusing on ’DevX’ - that's Developer Experience. My main thing is to make sure that devs really get our tech stack. It's super important because if they understand it and can use it well, that means they're basically helping to grow our community and building applications on top of it. It's like, give the devs the right tools and knowledge, and watch the magic happen in terms of collaboration and innovation. That's been my approach, and it's been pretty exciting to see it all come together.
How is Livepeer disrupting major video-sharing platforms like YouTube?
Livepeer stands out quite a bit from platforms like YouTube. Livepeer is not a video-sharing app; it is a foundational video infrastructure layer that other apps can use for video transcoding. Livepeer’s design is decentralized, which is a major shift from the traditional centralized infrastructure where platforms rely on their own servers for video processing. Livepeer leverages a network of orchestrators, utilizing their GPU for video processing. This approach allows for more community involvement and governance, focusing on sustainability and the funding of public goods. It's a different, more community-oriented way of handling video infrastructure.
Any advice for budding DevRels in Web3?
For those just starting as DevRels in the Web3 space, my biggest piece of advice is to strike a balance. Coding and programming skills are crucial, it's important not to get too caught up in the fluctuations of the bull and bear market. Focus on understanding the underlying technology and its potential applications. Additionally, cultivate strong communication skills and a deep understanding of the community's needs and perspectives. Being a successful DevRel is about bridging the gap between technical and non-technical audiences, and fostering a strong, engaged community around the technology. Always keep learning and stay adaptable – the world of Web3 is constantly evolving.
