I met with Eniko Fodor, an Executive Director of BlockRules, the company creating a blockchain-driven platform that can automatically enforce applicable securities regulations for primary and secondary market transactions, and unlock global participation in capital markets. BlockRules envisions a world where all investments and financial instruments are tokenized and traded globally by anyone.
Eniko is also the COO and Co-Founder of Verseon, a computationally driven pharmaceutical company developing disruptive life-science technology to advance global health. She has extensive experience building cutting-edge technology organizations with highly effective operating, marketing, and IP strategies and is an inventor on more than 20 patents.
Could you give us a brief introduction about who you are and what you do?
I am a co-founder and Executive Director of blockchain fintech company BlockRules and COO and co-founder of Verseon Corporation. At BlockRules, we are pioneering the development of technology and services for the regulations-compliant sale, issuance, and trading of any form of security on the blockchain. BlockRules is a subsidiary of Verseon, where we are developing a fast-growing pipeline of drug programs, each of which addressing large unmet medical needs. Previously, I ran a company in the arena of digital signal processing. I am always interested in exploring scientific, technological, and business opportunities that arise when different traditional fields of endeavor converge.
How did you come across blockchain?
At Verseon, we have established a new and more efficient computer-driven approach of drug discovery to advance global health. An integral part of our team’s approach to solving problems is to not be constrained by the status quo. True to this philosophy, we are also rethinking the entire pharmaceutical R&D process, including how drug development is funded. As we explored ways to accelerate the growth of our own drug pipeline, we identified blockchain as a new technology that can transform access to investment opportunities for people around the world.
Conventional modes of fundraising are often limited in reach and burdensome to companies, and all too often require them to acquiesce to the demands of a small, geographically restricted pool of institutional investors and investment banking intermediaries. Security token offerings on the blockchain allow companies to raise money and share the potential rewards from their innovations with a much larger global investor community.
Where do you see blockchain succeed where other technologies failed?
Blockchains, or more generally public distributed ledger technologies, can revolutionize the mainstream model of securities issuance and trading. It can facilitate secure, open, and efficient trading that is available 24/7 and allows the direct participation of investors around the globe, both large and small. It holds the promise of bringing significant efficiencies and a much larger pool of liquidity to capital markets.
Can you give some details about the current use of blockchain in pharmaceutics?
Blockchain technology has continued to impact many industries over the last few years and the main focus to date in the pharmaceutical industry has been on the use of blockchain in logistics and data management applications. However, in my opinion, the number one impact that blockchain can have in the bio-pharma industry is by changing the way life-science innovations are funded. New financing models on the blockchain can help companies accelerate their development while allowing an international investor community to benefit from truly global, democratic access to investment opportunities.
“Building a company requires hard work, recognition of opportunities, willingness to take risks, and the ability to adapt and maneuver around challenges—qualities that have nothing to do with being male or female. However, sometimes it is harder for women to realize that, to be successful, they must also have the courage to ignore the doubters. I look forward to the day when our society has changed enough that no talented woman will be held back from reaching her full potential on account of her gender.”
Eniko Fodor
Eniko has extensive experience building cutting-edge technology organizations with highly effective operating, marketing, and IP strategies and is an inventor on more than 20 patents. She is an Executive Director of BlockRules and the COO and Co-Founder of Verseon.