A.I Mansbridge, Co-Founder of Soulbound • Interview Series

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Heads up, streamers — TwitchCon San Diego is on the cusp of opening up the floodgates for countless opportunities for fledgling creators and aspiring platforms to establish their presence in the gaming community. Take Soulbound, for example—the “Twitch of Web3” ecosystem in which users are able to engage directly with their content providers through the power of StreamFi and GambleFi technologies. As it turns out, the company will be looking to broaden the scope of blockchain adoption by presenting an in-depth dive into the future of the platform over the course of the three-day event.

To learn a bit more about Soulbound ahead of the TwitchCon gathering in San Diego, I caught up with co-founder A.I Mansbridge.

It’s great to hear from you. Before we delve into TwitchCon and all things blockchain-related, please could you tell us a bit about Soulbound? How did the idea of developing a sustainable web3 gaming ecosystem come to fruition, and what are you aiming to achieve as a platform?

A.I: Soulbound was born from our desire to bridge the gap between gamers, streamers, and blockchain technology in a meaningful way. We saw the potential for blockchain to truly revolutionize digital ownership and engagement in the gaming space, but we noticed something was missing—sustainability and ease of use. With Soulbound, we aim to create a StreamFi ecosystem where users can meaningfully interact with their favorite streamers and games, in new and exciting ways, all while earning real rewards.

One of the major issues we’ve noticed in the current streaming ecosystem, on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube, is that smaller streamers struggle to earn unless they hit certain viewer, follower, or subscriber thresholds to become partners or affiliates. Blockchain opens up a solution to this by enabling payments and rewards directly from fans and games, regardless of a streamer’s size. This levels the playing field for everyone—whether you have a few loyal viewers or a massive audience, you can still earn and build a thriving community. It’s all about making web3 gaming accessible, exciting, and rewarding for everyone involved, no matter where they are in their journey.

Could you tell us more about how Soulbound works, as well as how it aims to elevate digital ownership and streamer-to-audience engagement in the blockchain space?

A.I: Soulbound positions itself as the Twitch of Web3, creating a complete gaming and streaming ecosystem. By introducing StreamFi and GambleFi technologies, we're transforming how users engage directly with streamers, making it the most interactive TV experience available online.

We turn viewers from passive consumers into active participants who feel genuinely invested in the journey. The engagement goes both ways—streamers can reward their most loyal fans, and viewers are no longer just spectators but key players in the community.

On current platforms, user-generated content (UGC) often lacks proper incentivization, leading to passive consumption. Soulbound flips that dynamic by putting robust fan interaction and creator-audience engagement at the forefront. It’s a solution to the limited monetization options and algorithmic saturation that creators face today. We introduce transparent, player-centric blockchain solutions and unlock new paths for creators to thrive, without the complicated reliance on platforms like Patreon or other middlemen with fees and restrictions.

Our vision is to recapture the essence of gaming, where the player is at the heart of the experience—a place defined by collaboration, enjoyment, and true ownership over in-game accomplishments. Whether it's creating UGC, earning rewards, or expanding community engagement, we believe in a future where gaming thrives on fairness, trust, and the passion of both players and creators. It’s about empowering creators and streamers to build their communities, regardless of size, and helping players feel like they genuinely belong in that ecosystem.

Ultimately, it’s a place to see and be seen.

How is Soulbound's economic model based on hourly payouts changing the game compared to traditional live streaming?

A.I: Soulbound’s hourly payout model is a game-changer because it allows streamers to earn money just for the time they spend streaming, regardless of audience size. Unlike traditional live streaming platforms that rely on ad revenue, subscriptions, or tipping, Soulbound offers creators—especially smaller ones—a chance to start earning from the moment they go live. This removes the pressure of hitting follower or viewer thresholds to get paid and ensures everyone has a fair opportunity to monetize their content.

By moving away from the ad-based revenue model and focusing on hourly payouts, Soulbound provides streamers with immediate and reliable earnings. Plus, creators can further boost their income through bounties or promotional campaigns from game developers, making it an even more rewarding experience. It's a model that levels the playing field, empowering streamers of all sizes to take control of their earnings without relying on complex contracts or audience size restrictions.

Ready to Level Up? 🕹️

Soulbound: Where streamers, gamers & content creators unite!🥳

Level up your game with DRIP 💧. Your quest starts here…

We are kicking off September with some major updates and announcements so stay tuned and hit the reminder button to not miss out. 👀 pic.twitter.com/A96whHVevy

— Soulbound (@Soulbound_GG) September 9, 2024

Tell us a bit about Bounties and Quests. How do these things work, and what are some of the benefits users can obtain from engaging with them?

A.I: Bounties on Soulbound are an exciting opportunity for verified streamers to play games, make money, and boost their viewers—all without the usual hurdles. Firstly, game developers deposit a prize pool into a secured smart contract. This pool can consist of tokens, stablecoins, NFTs, or other digital assets. Then, Bounty Hunters (our verified streamers) play the game and stream it for a set period over the course of the campaign—this is “The Bounty.” At the end of the campaign, the prize pool is divided among successful streamers based on how long they streamed and the size of their audience.

What’s great is that Soulbound has over 100 game partners (and counting!), and we match streamers with these games to pay them to stream for a few hours each day. It’s all handled through the bounty pool, so streamers get paid without complex contracts, tipping from fans, or relying on clunky ads and affiliate links. No pushy sales, no annoying overlays—just play games you love, stream them to your existing audience (and pick up a few new followers along the way), and then get immediate payouts. Simple, transparent, and rewarding!

Do you have any words of advice for those who are interested in launching a stream or looking to gain a standing in the Soulbound community?

A.I: Absolutely! First of all, don’t be afraid to dive in. The Soulbound community is super supportive, so even if you’re just starting, there’s always someone willing to help. As for streamers, I’d say don’t just focus on numbers—focus on building relationships. Engage with your audience, be consistent, have a schedule, and use Bounties and Predictions to turn passive viewers into active participants. You can also set up a community for your followers on Soulbound itself. The more interactive and authentic you are, the more loyal your community will become.

Let’s talk about TwitchCon San Diego. How will Soulbound be participating in the global showcase, and what can we expect to see over the course of the event?

A.I: TwitchCon in San Diego is going to be epic for Soulbound! Hot on the tail of TwitchCon Rotterdam, we’re going all out with a booth, interactive showcases, live Bounty and streaming demonstrations, and some exciting surprises for attendees. You’ll get to see first-hand how streamers can engage with their fans in a whole new way using blockchain. Plus, there’ll be a chance to win exclusive Soulbound rewards that will be available only at the event. We’re also hosting panels and meeting with industry leaders to discuss the future of web3 in gaming, so there’s a lot to look forward to!

So, how’s the fourth quarter looking for the Soulbound platform? Do you have any plans to further expand the ecosystem over the coming weeks or months? If so, please could you tell us a bit about what it is that you’re working on?

A.I: Q4 is shaping up to be massive for Soulbound! We’re rolling out some major updates, including an entire platform-wide facelift we’re calling Soulbound: Reloaded and additional blockchain integrations to make asset transfers even smoother. We’re also expanding partnerships with streamers and gaming platforms, so users can expect more interactive experiences across multiple games.

There's a lot of buzz around our upcoming Soulbucks (SBX) token airdrop campaign, too, which will reward our most engaged users and really boost the whole ecosystem—so keep your eyes peeled for that! 

We’re also super excited about live streaming directly on Soulbound: it will open up more ways for streamers to connect with their communities without relying on third-party platforms. And, if you love predictions, we’ve got a fun new predictions app coming soon, available both on Soulbound and Telegram, where users can predict outcomes and win rewards. There’s nothing like it in the space right now—high octane, instant validation live-stream predictions, you certainly won’t have to wait hours or days for outcomes, we’re talking seconds here!

Overall, it’s all about scaling and innovating to deliver the best possible experience for both streamers and viewers. Big things are ahead!

💰 Stream. Play. Earn.

Claim game bounties by streaming the best of web3 gaming!

Time to level up your wallet while doing what you love.

Level Up your earnings with Soulbound! pic.twitter.com/YT0Z5bMMJx

— Soulbound (@Soulbound_GG) September 13, 2024

How can we stay up to date with Soulbound? Aside from the TwitchCon event, are there any other important spots to acquire information on the platform?

A.I: Definitely! You can always catch the latest updates on our official website, as well as our social media channels—Twitter, Discord, and Telegram are where we’re most active. We also publish detailed articles on Medium where we dive into everything from product updates to community events. And, of course, if you’re attending TwitchCon, make sure to stop by our booth. But if you can’t make it, don’t worry—we’ll be streaming key moments live, so you can follow along from anywhere.

Would you like to add anything for our readers?

A.I: Just that we’re incredibly excited about the future of Soulbound and the broader web3 gaming ecosystem. We’re building this platform for the gaming community, and we’re always open to feedback and ideas. Whether you’re a gamer, streamer, or just curious about blockchain, we’d love for you to join us on this journey. There’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

We’re looking forward to it! Thanks for your time. See you at TwitchCon!

For more information on Soulbound’s ongoing efforts to broaden its gaming ecosystem, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social channel here. You can also visit the website for additional updates and coverage here.

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