From Sports Analyst to Web3 Innovator: The Story of Zach Hirsch and Mozverse
Zach Hirsch, the 21-year-old CMO of Mozverse, is making waves in the web3 space with the web3 development platform he co-founded. His journey began with a childhood fascination with gaming and science fiction, which ignited his passion for creating immersive virtual worlds. Inspired by the groundbreaking novel “Snowcrash,” which introduced the terms “Metaverse” and “Avatar” to him for the first time, Hirsch set out on a path to bring these concepts to life.
The pivotal moment came when Hirsch started playing VRChat and watched the movie “Ready Player One.” These experiences cemented his belief that the future of the internet lay in a more immersive version known as the metaverse. The realization hit home when he watched the Travis Scott Fortnite concert in 2020, confirming that the Metaverse was not a distant dream but an imminent reality.
Life before Mozverse
Before launching Mozverse, Hirsch has already amassed a significant following on Instagram for his winning sports betting picks. Currently, his Instagram page @ipickwins has 2.2 million followers. His background in sports analytics stems from his early exposure to sports through his family. His innate talent for understanding plays, formations, and tendencies quickly became evident, leading to a remarkable achievement at just 11 years old when he won a football pool by correctly predicting all sixteen games against the spread. This early success solidified his passion for sports analysis and set the stage for future endeavors.
Hirsch’s participation in the Sloan MIT Sports Analytics Conference and completion of the Harvard Entrepreneurial Excellence Program have shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and deepened his understanding of the sports industry. Learning from top entrepreneurs and engaging with football coaching legend Coach Mike Leach has contributed to his confident analysis and predictions as he progressed through the years.
His impressive sports analytics skills led him to be cast alongside award-winning music artist Jadakiss as a co-host of the “Kiss and The Myst” podcast, which focuses purely on sports. The experience of co-hosting the podcast alongside Jadakiss has been transformative for Hirsch.
“We’ve become much more than co-hosts or even friends. Me and Kiss are family. We hang out outside the show. I’ve spent time with his family; he’s spent time with mine. On set, it’s also been great. We vibe and have natural chemistry as co-hosts. A funny secret: We never rehearse or even discuss a show before the cameras roll. Everything you see on “Kiss and The Myst” is real and natural. I feel privileged to work with a legend like Jada,” he revealed.
Besides his professional endeavors, he’s also a college student, though he’s taking time off school this summer to focus on his career. Despite his busy schedule, Hirsch manages to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in sports, culture, and web3. He immerses himself in reading articles, watching videos, and engaging with friends in the sports, tech, and entertainment communities. It’s a lifestyle that fuels his ability to provide valuable insights to his audience.
The birth of Mozverse
Armed with a newfound understanding of the connection between NFTs, the metaverse, and a future web3 economy after interviewing Logan Paul for a digital short, Hirsch embarked on a journey to transform his vision into reality. Recognizing the need for robust tools and infrastructure, he reached out to the brilliant technologist Danny Mozlin, who became his co-founder and partner in creating Mozverse.
Their hard work and dedication paid off when Mozverse’s web3 infrastructure engine, Ultranode, outshone its competitors in terms of speed, reliability, documentation, and analytics. This accomplishment led to Mozverse being honored with the prestigious Inc. Magazine award for Best Blockchain Product in 2022.
As a young entrepreneur and social media influencer, Hirsch faced his fair share of challenges while establishing Mozverse. However, he credits his eidetic memory and ADD as his superpowers, allowing him to excel in multitasking and accomplishing tasks quickly. Balancing his roles as a student, sports analyst, podcast co-host, and co-founder of Mozverse, Hirsch tackles each day with determination and adaptability.
The team behind Mozverse
Mozverse’s success is attributed to the exceptional team behind it. Hirsch credits his co-founder Danny Mozlin for handpicking a group of talented individuals from around the world. They benefit from the guidance of experienced professionals like CFO Ray Edwards and General Counsel Kelsey Monaghan, ensuring compliance and technical excellence.
“We have just over twenty full-time developers, but I think our CTO Denis and the whole engineering team are each capable of doing the work you’d expect from five top developers. We have a team of brilliant people who work, collaborate and make independent contributions. Danny will tell me something incredible Ruslan (Director of 3D Engineering) came up with or how Denis took an idea I’d had and made it into a reality.”
As a co-founder, Hirsch plays a crucial role in the strategic decision-making process at Mozverse, particularly regarding the development and launch of new products. While he brings forth initial ideas and product concepts, he acknowledges Danny Mozlin as the wizard behind turning those ideas into practical solutions. Their partnership thrives on mutual respect, shared goals, and complementary talents, making them a formidable force in the industry.
Mozverse boasts an impressive list of clients who have benefited from their services. They created a digital asset marketplace for IBM Japan and are working on a similar project for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Their expertise extends to enterprise-level projects for Tech Pedal and Solve Group, showcasing their versatility and ability to cater to diverse business needs. Furthermore, they are collaborating with renowned music producer Scott Storch on a web3 music project, further expanding their reach into the entertainment industry.
Looking toward the future, Hirsch envisions Mozverse as a driving force in shaping the metaverse. With major innovations in web3 payments and web3 data intelligence on the horizon, they aim to introduce more groundbreaking solutions this year. Their focus lies in democratizing the metaverse by making virtual worlds accessible to businesses of all sizes through their Verse platform, which will soon be launched. According to Hirsch, this platform will embody principles of interoperability and decentralization, providing exciting features without the exorbitant costs associated with traditional virtual land grabs that gave the metaverse a bad name.
The future of web3
When asked for advice for fellow Gen Zs aspiring to start businesses in the web3 space, Hirsch emphasizes the importance of following one’s passion, building a strong team, and being prepared to work. He believes that the future of web3 lies in the convergence of immersive gaming, live entertainment, and media.
“I think as a Gen Z influencer I’d recommend to every web3 company to insist everyone on your team play Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft and other immersive games. You want to know what the future holds? Just look what the future generations of consumers and leaders like. I think the convergence of immersive gaming, live entertainment and media is what will drive mass adoption of web3,”
he advised.
Acknowledging the challenges currently facing the metaverse and web3 industry, Hirsch identifies negative associations with the term “Metaverse” as a temporary setback.
“I think this is temporary as people realize in a couple of years that Meta Horizons, Decentraland, and Sandbox never were Metaverses or, for that matter, even good examples of virtual worlds,” he explained.
He believes that the true potential of the metaverse lies beyond what has been represented thus far and that the negative experiences of some investors will fade as the industry matures. The lack of readily available infrastructure and tooling for web3 development presents a hurdle that Mozverse is actively working to overcome.
Hirsch urges everyone to recognize that web3 is in its infancy, with only 1% of the global population currently possessing web3 wallets. He emphasizes that Mozverse is not merely a crypto project or blockchain company but a driving force behind the next iteration of the internet. With their dedication to building a better, more immersive online world, Mozverse strives to bring web3 to the masses.
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About The Author
Cindy is a journalist at Metaverse Post, covering topics related to web3, NFT, metaverse and AI, with a focus on interviews with Web3 industry players. She has spoken to over 30 C-level execs and counting, bringing their valuable insights to readers. Originally from Singapore, Cindy is now based in Tbilisi, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications & Media Studies from the University of South Australia and has a decade of experience in journalism and writing. Get in touch with her via [email protected] with press pitches, announcements and interview opportunities.
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Cindy is a journalist at Metaverse Post, covering topics related to web3, NFT, metaverse and AI, with a focus on interviews with Web3 industry players. She has spoken to over 30 C-level execs and counting, bringing their valuable insights to readers. Originally from Singapore, Cindy is now based in Tbilisi, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications & Media Studies from the University of South Australia and has a decade of experience in journalism and writing. Get in touch with her via [email protected] with press pitches, announcements and interview opportunities.
