Trailblazers Spotlight - with Nodo Ivanidze, CEO & Founder of MetaViu.io

Certainly! Here’s an organized transcript that separates Nodo Ivanidze’s and Dan’s sections from the interview:

Dan:

Welcome to Trailblazer Spotlight, where we meet the leading innovators in Web3 and Metaverse marketing and explore their stories and insights. We’re chatting today with Nodo Ivanidze, founder and CEO of MetaViu.io. This interview is particularly special to me because Nodo has become not only a close friend but also a business partner. To be honest, we originally planned for Nodo to be one of our first Trailblazer interviews, but since I’ve been advising his business and knew he was working on something exciting, we decided to wait for the right moment.

Nodo, thank you so much for joining us today. As my co-host on Beyond Pixels, we share a lot of screen time together, but today I’m really excited to dig deeper into your background and MetaViu’s journey. Let’s fast forward to where you are now and what you’re working on. Sound good?

Nodo Ivanidze:

Sounds awesome, Dan. I’m really excited to be here.

Dan:

I met you for the first time at the end of 2022 in Barcelona, at a Web3 AI event hosted by Keen Folks. Why don’t you tell our audience about how we met and how our relationship has grown since then?

Nodo Ivanidze:

I love this story. That conference was a turning point for me. It was my first time speaking at an event—I’d always applied to different conferences, but never been invited to speak before. I wasn’t even sure if it was real at first! But when I got there, the quality of the event was incredible. The speakers were handpicked, and I met so many amazing people, including you, Dan.

Right from the start, we clicked. You know how sometimes you meet people and just feel that connection? We ended up going to a bar afterward—classic, right?—and started talking. And I thought, this guy knows so much! We connected not only as friends but also as business partners, and that moment in Barcelona really changed how I approached partnerships. Now, I’m living in the same city as you, Dan, and it’s just wild how these connections grow.

Dan:

Absolutely! That event changed a lot for both of us, and it’s funny how quickly things in Web3 can shift. Speaking of change, since we met, the Web3 space has evolved quite a bit. How would you describe those changes?

Nodo Ivanidze:

Totally agree. Web3 is changing constantly. When we met, there was so much hype around brands jumping into the space with NFTs and loyalty programs, like what Starbucks was doing. But then, almost overnight, the focus shifted to AI. All those Web3 conferences started becoming AI conferences, and we had to adapt quickly. It was my first time building a business in such a volatile space, and it was a tough lesson. I learned that in Web3, three-month projections are more realistic than three-year plans. You have to be ready to pivot at any moment.

Dan:

Exactly. And I think what’s important, as you’ve pointed out, is how we learn to roll with those changes. Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about where you’re from. You’re originally from Georgia—the country, not the state—and you’ve built quite an empire from there. How did growing up in a smaller country influence your path?

Nodo Ivanidze:

Growing up in Georgia definitely shaped who I am. Coming from a small country, you quickly realize you need to push yourself to break out of that environment if you want to dream big. I wasn’t raised in the capital but in a small city with about 10,000 people. That pushed me to seek out opportunities beyond my surroundings. At 17, I got the chance to study in California for a year, and that opened my eyes to the world of possibilities. I realized that if I could make it from my small town to California, nothing was impossible.

When I came back to Georgia, I started building digital media platforms and later organized electronic music festivals. But there came a point where Georgia started feeling too small for me. That’s when I got involved in Web3 and Metaverse platforms like Decentraland and Sandbox. I saw the global potential immediately.

Dan:

And that’s when MetaViu.io started to take shape, right? I know MetaViu.io started with advertising, but it has since grown into something much bigger. Can you walk us through that journey?

Nodo Ivanidze:

Yes, MetaViu.io began as an advertising network for decentralized platforms like Decentraland and Sandbox, where we placed billboards in virtual spaces. But billboards never really excited me. What really captured my imagination was the idea of gamified experiences—how we could integrate brands natively into 3D environments in ways that were interactive and fun for users.

Over time, we moved away from simple billboards and started working on branded gaming experiences. Our recent launch, the gamified experiences marketplace, is now allowing brands to get directly involved in games across platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. It’s been amazing to watch it grow from that initial idea to where we are now.

Dan:

That’s a brilliant pivot. I think what sets MetaViu.io apart is the way you’ve built an entire marketplace that offers brands a seamless way to enter these 3D spaces. It’s like the Booking.com of gamified experiences! So, what’s next for MetaViu.io? Any exciting projects on the horizon?

Nodo Ivanidze:

I’m really excited about our newest project. We’re taking some of the most popular YouTube characters—like Giraffe Joseph, who is huge in Georgia—and turning them into interactive educational games for kids. The idea is to merge entertainment with education in a way that engages children beyond passive screen time. We’ve seen how kids can get addicted to YouTube, but imagine if we could direct that love for their favorite characters into learning experiences. We’re starting in Georgia, but we plan to expand globally.

Dan:

That’s such a fantastic initiative, Nodo. Merging education with entertainment in the gaming world is a huge opportunity. I can’t wait to see where that goes! Thank you for sharing your story and insights with us. If our listeners want to connect with you or learn more about MetaViu.io, where can they find you?

Nodo Ivanidze:

They can reach out to me on LinkedIn, where I’m most active. I’m always open to new collaborations, ideas, or just to chat about startups and immersive media!

Dan:

Great! Thanks again, Nodo. It’s been a pleasure. Looking forward to all the exciting things coming next from MetaViu.io!