The former Googler is set to bring XK Web3 public as a new consultant to Aptos Labs.
Aptos Labs – the team behind the Layer-1 blockchain platform Aptos, built by ex-Facebook employees – continues to strengthen its mission to enable billions of people to access decentralized assets.
On May 9, the Aptos Labs team introduced its new global advisors, including David Lawe, former vice president of corporate development at Google.
Lawe, who founded Alphabet's Capital G, an independent growth equity fund, will use Web2's consumer experience to introduce blockchain to the mainstream.
Pamela Drucker-Mann, chief revenue officer at global media firm Condé Nast Global, and Dan Bohn, professor of computer science at Stanford University, will join Aptos' advisory board.
Mann focuses on strengthening the culture of the Aptos ecosystem, while Boneh conducts research on cryptography and cybersecurity to advance infrastructure and security.
“Aptos Labs is on a clear mission to support global access to financial empowerment, digital experiences and social inclusion,” said Lawe. “I look forward to working closely with this thoughtful and technologically forward-thinking team to bring Web3 to the masses,” he added.
The news comes nearly a year after Lawe stepped down as CapitalG in March 2023 after 17 years with Alphabet, and partner Laella Sturdy became CapitalG's new leader.
In his role at Capital G, Lawe has increasingly moved into the cryptocurrency industry over the years. In the year In 2021, Capital G partnered with Digital Currency Group (DCG), a major cryptocurrency company founded by CEO Barry Silbert.
We believe that DCG will be able to invest in them and partner with them on their important journey to transform crypto. It is slated to become a major global asset class.
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Lawe's post came almost a year before the crypto industry was hit by the credit crunch, which led to the collapse of companies like Three Arrows Capital (3AC), which led to a massive contagion at companies like DCG.
In January 2023, the troubled Genesis Global subsidiary filed for bankruptcy, sparking serious financial issues for DCG.
Aptos – where Lawe continues his Web3 adventure – Founded in 2021 by Muhammad Sheikh and Avery Ching. Its original token, APT (APT), was the 31st-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at $3.6 billion at the time of writing, according to CoinGecko.
Since its launch, Aptos has raised $350 million from investors, including the venture capital arms of exchanges like Coinbase and Binance, as well as now-bankrupt firms like 3AC and FTX.
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