{"id":"mashal-waqar","title":"Mashal Waqar","content":"**Mashal Waqar** is a marketing and strategy professional, entrepreneur, and speaker with experience in media, cybersecurity, and digital asset ecosystems. She has co-founded several ventures, including the digital media platform The Tempest and the early-stage accelerator 60 Day Startups. Waqar currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Octant Labs, where she leads marketing and ecosystem growth for the Ethereum-focused grants platform. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-SNJpbkvJla7XrNGD) \n\n## Education\n\nWaqar attended the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computing Security. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-CfzMaXDhm8wGOslu)​\n\n## Career\n\nWaqar began her career in media and technology, working as a content writer at *Young Times* from 2007 to 2008. She later held technical and coordination roles, including work in penetration testing and security research at TPS Worldwide in 2015, and served as a technology coordinator and student government president at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai between 2014 and 2016. During this period, she also worked in marketing, founded *WRITERS Magazine*, and, in 2016, co-organized a TEDx event. From 2016 onward, she became involved in entrepreneurship and media, co-founding *The Tempest*, where she served as Chief Operating Officer until 2021 and later as co-founder through 2022, contributing to the development of a digital media platform. Alongside this, she held advisory and mentorship roles with organizations such as Startup Weekend, Hatch & Boost, and Brulée Beauty, and served as an entrepreneur-in-residence and consultant on various initiatives in startups, media, and technology.\n\nIn 2020, Waqar co-founded 60 Day Startups, an accelerator focused on early-stage founders, and also began mentoring within the program. Between 2021 and 2024, she founded and led Milestone Ventures, working on community growth, content strategy, and entrepreneurship programs. During this period, she also held roles across the [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) and [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) space, including serving as Chief Operating Officer at VenturePunk, contributing to [BanklessDAO](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bankless-dao) in growth and partnerships, and participating in research initiatives with the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef). She was additionally involved in investment and advisory capacities, including participation in Female Angels and ONETOWATCH, and served on the alumni board of RIT. In October 2023, she joined [Octant Labs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant) as Head of Marketing, where she worked on marketing and ecosystem initiatives, and was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer in January 2026. Throughout her career, she has also served as a speaker at conferences and events on entrepreneurship, technology, and [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-CfzMaXDhm8wGOslu) \n\n## Interviews\n\n### Web3 Grants\n\nOn the Decentralized Voices podcast in March 2026, Waqar recounted her journey from a background in cybersecurity to becoming a key figure in media and technology. She highlighted the challenges faced by women in the Middle East, particularly in entrepreneurship, where cultural norms often stigmatize failure, unlike in the Western context, where it's more accepted. As the CMO of [Octant](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant), she emphasized the importance of aligning values with actions, noting that her organization funds public goods projects that foster community and sustainability in the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) ecosystem. Mashal also shared insights from her participation in the [Ethereum Foundation's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) Summer of Protocols program, outlining the relevance of making complex topics accessible and engaging to broader audiences. Through her experiences, she advocated for embracing personal growth while navigating the evolving landscape of technology, emphasizing that innovation requires engagement and a willingness to adapt to new tools without losing one's core creativity and voice. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-o8itlVB8PKm9Vtmj) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=swllsFlAuCw)\n\n### Rethinking Grants\n\nOn the Onchain Growth Club podcast in February 2026, Waqar discussed the evolution of grant funding in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) ecosystem. In previous bull markets, many projects launched grant programs without thorough consideration, resulting in a surplus of funds distributed with little accountability. However, as the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) landscape matured, a shift occurred toward more structured grant programs that required demonstrable results and accountability. Waqar reflected on her journey into the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) space, from anonymously writing about [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) to co-authoring significant reports on grants. She emphasized [Octant's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant) innovative funding model, which involves community-driven decision-making to allocate funds to impactful projects. The conversation highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships and the need for effective collaboration between marketing and grants teams. Waqar also foresaw a shift in [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) marketing strategies toward more refined, purposeful approaches, moving away from reliance on social media and conferences. By adopting a more nuanced view of marketing, ecosystems could better target their audiences and encourage greater participation and growth. Overall, the podcast captured the dynamic, evolving nature of grant funding and marketing in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) sector. [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-C2j6r0QyI5vwJpcx) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=R9q8S3D03mE)\n\n### Builder Incentives\n\nDuring the Onchain Growth Summit in June 2025, Waqar discussed the evolution of funding and grant programs, expressing doubts about the term \"public goods\" and suggesting a more specific terminology for projects seeking support. She highlighted the substantial $1.2 billion in grants distributed over the past five years and asserted that grants were evolving positively, with improved strategies for fund allocation. Waqar emphasized the importance of sustainability in ecosystems, noting challenges such as funding cuts during economic downturns, and advocated for enhanced support layers beyond financial aid to retain builders within ecosystems. She shared insights on effectively applying for grants, the significance of credible proposals, and the potential of marketing opportunities through grant programs. Furthermore, Waqar cited successful projects funded by Octton, including initiatives that fostered community engagement and creativity, while also addressing the need for better allocation processes in the rapidly changing [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) landscape. Overall, the summit underscored a commitment to refining grant methodologies to stimulate genuine project growth and industry sustainability. [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-d07zQhMeqKrAt0Nh) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=En4i8ejpn4g)\n\n## Panels\n\n### Octant V2\n\nIn May 2025, Artem, Ben Siegel, James Kiernan, and Waqar participated in a livestream discussion on the future of [Octant](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant) and the planned launch of [Octant V2](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant). During the session, Kiernan discussed impact-related initiatives, Artem outlined engineering developments, Siegel addressed product strategy, and Waqar platform had distributed over $8 million in funding through its grant model and discussed the role of community participation and transparency in its operations. The discussion also focused on the planned updates in [Octant V2](https://iq.wiki/wiki/octant), including changes to funding mechanisms, integration with [decentralized finance](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) systems, and adjustments to capital allocation processes. The team reflected on lessons from earlier iterations and outlined goals to improve decision-making and support ecosystem development within the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) network. They indicated a projected launch timeframe in late 2025, with an emphasis on usability and more efficient management of funding resources. [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-WlwkcsbbHcFxe4W5) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=5uKn_1EDGvQ)","summary":"Mashal Waqar is a marketing and strategy professional, co-founder of The Tempest, and CMO at Octant Labs. 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